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Show *98 The WIVES EXCUSE: Or, ^^. If you can't makeover your Mony, makeoy your . ' Wtt. C o m m o n Conveyances both in our Sex, Sir. Wild. A Maiden-head's a Jewel of no value in Marri age Wit. 'Tis never fet d o w n indeed, in the Particular of Woman's Eftate. Wild. And therefore leaft mifs'd by a Husband, of as thing, lhe brings along with her. Wit. If indeed, by the Articles of Marriage, a M fhould covenant for a Maiden-head, the Woman, in a gal Honefty, ought to fatisfie the Bargain ; but the M never mention that, for fear of inflaming the Jointure, Wild. And the W o m e n never put 'em upon'r. Wit. Out of a Confcience in their Dealings to be fir for fear they fhould not always be able to be as good their Word?. Wild. I fee, Madam, w e differ only in our Sexes j now, if you pleafe, w e will beget a right Underftand: between them too. Wit. H o w , Sir ! Wild. I'll fhew you h o w : Have a Care what you Madam, 'tis a vepy difficult Matter, let m e tell you, refufe a M a n handfomly ; look you, Madam, I wo have you make a decent Refiftance, a little of it enhaun the Favour, and keeps up the value of your Perfon; too much on't is an undervaluing of mine. Nay, oij when it once comes to fighting, you often ruin wli you would raife. Strugling too long, is as much to yo Difadvantage, as not ftrugling at all ; and you know1! the fame thing to a W o m a n , a Man's being indiffera as his being incapable to oblige h e r - C o m e , Come, ( nough of this- Wtt. So I fay too, Sir, the Jeft will go no further, fce [Unmashs, he declines into a Fefteft ttb Wild. Mrs. Wiwoud I I did not exped to fee yo here, indeed, Madam. Wit I came upon Bufinefs, Mr* Wilding, but the Ten •ation'of a Vkard Mask, and the Pleafure of prating* on fuch an Occafion, has carried m e a little beyond ft* Cuckolds make Themfelves. *99 m I am oblig'd to you for a great deal of Wit> i^ble for an oWAcquaintance, to anfwer your E^ Kt To°kaew "owTvalue your Vifit and the Regard , f f for Y O U I will give fome necelTary Orders in the k X t o P e n t you? neing feen in m y Lodging, and T^^SSSirik^ Care of my Reputation, I I fLhlno defign upon it himfelf: Not that I have nt fig" -Pon Mr. Wilding; but I am forry to find hit evefy Man has not a Defign upon m e ; for fince Want s he rate of things, I k n o w no real value of Reputation Vr in regard of c o m m o n W o m e n , w h o have none; no S S r i S y Worth of a Maiden-head, but as ' « • T e m p - ation to the Man to take it away; and the beft^Com-ndation of Virtue is, that every Man has a Defign to Jt it to the Trial. It vexes m e tho' to think he fhould W o tame, upon the Sight of m e ; not that I believe, 'had any thing in m y F a d that alter'd him; fomething d that's#ccrtfin ; by which I find 'cis not enough for a u> l . , \rJ ^1 .rt. k- n r\a«rtk*hllftV f\F f woman to be handfom, there muft be a probability of aking that handfom W o m a n kind, to make a M a n m Jove with her, for no Man is in love without fome Encouragement to hope upon: N o w from one of m y Cha-jader, w ho have imperuncntly prated away fo m u c h ot ny time, (in fetting up for a Wit, to the ituitf of other 'eoples Pleafure, and lofs of m y o w n ) what Encouragement or Probability can there be, bat thar, as I have liv'd a Fool, I ought to die repeating, anpity'd and a Maid: if I had dy'd a Maid, 'tis but what I deferv'd for laughing fo many honeft Gentlemen off their charitable Defign ot making m e otherwife. Wilding enters to her. Wild. N o w , Madam, you m a y command me. Wit. It fhall be to do your felf a Favour then, M K ftdd'mg, to rid you of an Incumbrance, which lyes as heavy upon your Pkafures, as a Wife upon her Husband, |
