Cynt. [Afide.] I'm amaz'd to find her of our fide, for I'm fure the lov'd him. L. P. I know my Lady Touchwood has no Kindness for him; and befides I have been inform'd by Mr. Careless, that Mellefont had never any thing more than a profound Refpe&tThat he has own'd himself to be my Admirer 'tis true, but he was never fo prefumptuous to entertain any difhonourable Notions of Things; fo that if this be made plain-I don't see how my Daughter can in Confcience, or Honour, or any thing in the WorldSir Paul. Indeed if this be made plain, as my Lady your Mother fays, Child L. P. Plain! I was inform'd of it by Mr. CarelessAnd I assure you Mr. Careless is a Perfon-that has a most extraordinary Refpect and Honour for you, Sir Paul. Cynt. [Afide.] And for your Ladyship too, I believe, you had not chang'd Sides so soon; now I begin or elfe to find it. Sir Paul. I am much obliged to Mr. Careless really, he is a Perfon that I have a great Value for, not only for that, but because he has a great Veneration for your Lady ship. L. P. O las, no indeed, Sir Paul; 'tis upon your Ac count. Sir Paul. No I protest and vow, I have no Title to his Efteem, but in having the Honour to appertain in fome Measure to your Ladyfhip, that's all. L. P. O law now, I swear and declare, it shan't be so; ~ you're too modeft, Sir Paul. Sir Paul. It becomes me, when there is any Comparifon made, between L. P. O fy, fy, Sir Paul, you'll put me out of Countenance- Your very obedient and affectionate Wife; that's all- And highly honour'd in that Title. Sir Paul. Gads-bud I am transported! Give me leave to kifs your Ladyship's Hand. Cynt. That my poor Father fhould be fo very filly! [Afide. L. P. L. P. My Lip indeed, Sir Paul, I swear you fhall. [He kiffes her, and bows very low. Sir Paul. I humbly thank your Ladyship-I don't know whether I fly on Ground, or walk in Air-Gadsbud, fhe was never thus before-Well, I must own my felf the most beholden to Mr. Careless-As fure as can be this is all his doing,--fomething that he has faid; well, 'tis a rare thing to have an ingenious Friend. Well, your Ladyfhip is of Opinion that the Match may go forward. L. P. By all means- -Mr. Careless has fatisfy'd me of the Matter. Sir Paul. Well, why then, Lamb, you may keep your Oath, but have a care of making rash Vows; come hither to me, and kiss Papa. L. P. I fwear and declare, I am in fuch a twitter to read Mr. Careless his Letter, that I can't forbear any longer -But though I may read all Letters first by Prerogative, yet I'll be fure to be unfufpected this time.Sir Paul. Sir Paul. Did your Ladyship call? L. P. Nay, not to interrupt you, my Dear-Only lend me your Letter, which you had from your Steward to Day: I would look upon the Account again; and may be increase your Allowance. Sir Paul. There it is, Madam ; Do you want a Pen and Ink? [Bows and gives the Letter. L. P. No, no, nothing else, I thank you, Sir PaulSo now I can read my own Letter under the Cover of his. Afide. I'm Sir Paul. He? And wilt thou bring a Grandson at nine Months end He? A brave chopping Boy. I'll fettle a thousand Pound a Year upon the Rogue as foon as ever he looks me in the Face, I will Gads-bud. overjoy'd to think I have any of my Family that will bring Children into the World. For I would fain have fome Refemblance of my self in my Pofterity, he Thy? Can't you contrive that Affair, Girl? Do Gads-bud, think OR on thy old Father; heh? Make the young Rogue as like as you can. Cynt. I'm glad to fee you fo merry, Sir. Sir Paul. Merry, Gads-bud I'm ferious, I'll give thee 500 l. for every Inch of him that resembles me; ah this Eye, this left Eye! A thousand Pound for this left Eye. This has done Execution in its time, Girl; why thou haft my Leer, Huffy, juft thy Father's Leer.- -Let it be tranfmitted to the young Rogue by the help of Imagination; why 'tis the Mark of our Family, Thy; our Houfe is diftinguish'd by a languishing Eye, as the House of Auftria is by a thick Lip.-Ah! when I was of your Age, Huffy, I would have held fifty to one, I could have drawn my own Picture-Gads-bud I could have donenot fo much as you neither, blufh but nay, don't Cynt. I don't blush, Sir, for I vow I don't understandSir Paul. Pfhaw, Pfhaw, you fib, you Baggage, you do understand, and you shall understand; come don't be fo nice, Gads-bud don't learn after your Mother-in-law my Lady here: Marry Heav'n forbid that you should follow her Example, that would spoil all indeed. Bless us, if you should take a Vagarie and make a rash Resolution on your Wedding Night, to die a Maid, as fhe did; all were ruin'd, all my Hopes loft- My Heart would break, and my Eftate would be left to the wide World, he? I hope you are a better Chriftian than to think of living a Nun; he? Answer me. Cynt. I'm all Obedience, Sir, to your Commands. L. P. [Having read the Letter.] O dear Mr. Careless, I fwear he writes charmingly, and he looks charmingly, and he has charm'd me, as much as I have charm'd him; and fo I'll tell him in the Wardrobe when 'tis dark. O Crimine! I hope Sir Paul has not feen both Letters. [Puts the wrong Letter baftily up, and gives him her own. Sir Paul, here's your Letter, to Morrow Morning I'll fettle Accounts to your Advantage. SCENE Brisk. Sir Paul, Gads-bud you're an uncivil Perfon, let me tell you, and all that; and I did not think it had been in you. Sir Paul. O Law, what's the matter now? I hope you are not angry, Mr. Brisk. Brisk. Duce take me I believe you intend to marry your Daughter your felf; you're always brooding over her like an old Hen, as if she were not well hatch'd, I’gad, he? Sir Paul. Good ftrange! Mr. Brisk is such a merry facetious Perfon, he, he, he. No, no, I have done with her, I have done with her now. Brisk. The Fiddles have ftay'd this Hour in the Hall, and my Lord Froth wants a Partner, we can never begin without her. Sir Paul. Go, go, Child, go, get you gone and dance and be merry, I'll come and look at you by and by.Where's my Son Mellefont? L. P. I'll fend him to them, I know where he isBrisk. Sir Paul, will you fend Careless into the Hall if you meet him ? Sir Paul. I will, I will, I'll go and look for him on purpose. SCENE SCENE V. Brisk alone, Brisk. So now they are all gone, and I have an Opportunity to practise.Ah! My dear Lady Froth! She's a moft engaging Creature, if he were not fo fond of that damn'd coxcombly Lord of hers; and yet I am forced to allow him. Wit too, to keep in with him No matter, fhe's a Woman of Parts, and I'gad Parts will carry her. She faid she would follow me into the Gallery- Now to make my Approaches-Hem hem! Ah Ma- [Bows] dam! Pox on't, why should I difparage my Parts by thinking what to say? None but dull Rogues think; witty Men, like rich Fellows, are always ready for all Expences; while your Blocheads, like poor needy Scoundrels, are forced to examine their Stock, and forecaft the Charges of the Day. Here she comes, I'll seem not to see her, and try to win her with a new airy Invention of my own, hem! SCENE VI. [To him] Lady Froth, [Brisk Sings, walking about] I'm fick with Love, ha, ha, ha, pr'ythee come cure me. I'm fick with, &c. O ye Pow'rs! O my Lady Froth, my Lady Froth! My Brisk. |