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Show H r • JsA> Wmm\ 3 ?S The W i V E S E X C U S E : Or, I Cuckolds make Themfelves. 13 9 A/La T* * »* • • ^-+ ** • .1 • -__ I *r Mrs. Fri Every W o m a n carries her Crofs in this World A Husband happens to be mine, and I muft bear it, Well as I can. Love. I would eafe you of it. Mrs. Fri. N o more upon this Subject, you have carri the Argument fo tar, 'tis allowing what you fay,to lift any longer. But Mr, Lovemore, I will give youwl, Satisfaction I have in m y Power, and Praife is theR ward of Virtue, you k n o w * 1 think you have proceed like a M a n of Experience in this Bufinefs, and taken tk natural Road to undermine moft Women. I muft d you this Juftice, that nothing has been wanting ony Love. I would have nothing wanting on my fide, Mada Mrs. Fri. And however you came by the Knowledge Mr.Fr«R</a//,sWeakne:iTes,you have improv'd'emasmu, as they could bear upon the Conduct of his Wife: If 4 have not carry'd m e as far as you defign'd; 'tis the Fat, of m y Heavinefs, perhaps, that can't be tranfportedkn the W o m a n you'd have m e. Love. There's a Fault fomewhere. Mrs. Fri. Mr. Lovemore, fome W o m e n won't fpeak plain, but I will o w n to you, I can't think the worfe you for thinking well of m e : Nay, I don't blame y for defigning upon me, Cuftom has fafhion'd it into t w a y of living among the Men; and you may be ? right to all the T o w n : But let m e be i'th' right too m y Sex and to m y felf; Thus far may beexcus'd:You' prov'd your Pafiion, and m y Virtue try'd; but allbeyo that Ttyal is m y Crime, and not to be forgiven: Thei fore I intrcat you, don't make it impoflible to me' the future, to receive you as a Friend; for I mufto I would fecure you always for m y Friend: Nay moil 1 will confefs m y Heart to you: If I could make-mine Love. For ever Yours. Mrs. fri. But I a m marry'd, only pity m e - • [Goes from e in yw. Pity her! She does not deferve ir, that won't letter her Conditio a w h e n fhe m y ; But fhe's marry'd* he lays j why, that was the beft of m y Reafons of folding her at firft; and I like her To well,as (he'sanother Han's Wife, I fhould hardly mend the matter by making I my own. I won't think yet m y two Months ^own away upon her: O n e time or other, fome w ay it other, I may be the better for her; at leaft with fome icr W o m e n : But I begin to believe that every M an Its his Labour this w a y fometimes. Si^bt. W h o can that W o m a n be ? [Obferving V/ilding and WitwouoV 0. Wilding's the M a n , I k n o w. S%kt. Then it m a y be m y good Coufin Witwoud. /;//. Prefuming upon the Scarf, which is very like rs, I ventured, and fpake to her. I (hould have k n o wn xWitwoiid, I believe. Sitkt. Pray try if you can learn w h o (he is. [They pari in a low Voice. fit. This Place ii too publick for a Vindication of this lature, if you retire into the next R o o m , I m a y accept yourExcufes; upon your Promife of good Behaviour, better Conduct for the Future. WiU. I'll follow you - [Witwood retires: Wellvile to Wilding. Will. You wiil be thc M a n I fee, Wilding: T h e Lady's lithdrawn; don'c let her ftay for you. T\U, Faith, Wellvile, 'tis a Fortune thrown upon m e; fince it came without m y fceking, methinks you ild hardly think it worth your Courting : She'll bring ibout one way or other, you find. IK, You fpeak as if I k n e w the Lady. TU. I would have you k n o w fo much, that (he is worth the honourable Care you have of her. fill Of w h o m ? Ml As if you did not k n o w her. WI. Why, 'tis not Mrs. Sightly. Ml 1 have declin'd it as m u c h as I could in regard '.Friend; but w h e n fhe follows m - Q> * mil. 4 1 m* I |