1 ligion, or fome such Cant. Then the has told me the whole History of Sir Pauls nine Years Courtship; how he has lain for whole Nights together upon the Stairs, before her Chamber-Door; and that the first Favour he received from her, wasa Piece of an old Scarlet Petticoat for a Stomacher; which since the Day of his Marriage, he has, out of a Piece of Gallantry, converted into a Night-Cap, and wears it still with much Solennity on his Anniversary WeddingNight. Mel. That I have seen, with the Ceremony thereunto belonging - For on that Night he creeps in at the Beds Feet, like a gull'd Bafla that has marry'd a Relation of the Grand Signior; and that Night he has his Arms at Liberty. Did not the tell you at what a Distance the keeps him? He has confefs'd to me that but at some certain times, that is I suppose when she apprehends being with Child, he never has the Privilege of using the Familiarity ofa Husband with a Wife. He was once given to scrambling with his Hands and sprawling in his Sleep; and ever fince the has him swaddled up in Blankets, and his Hands and Feet swath'd down, and so put to Bed : and there he lies with a great Beard, like a Ruffian Bear upon a drift of Snow. You are very great with him; I wonder he never told you his Grievances; he will I warrant you. Care. Exceffively foolish! But that which gives me most Hopes of her is her telling-me of the many Temptations she has refifted. , Mel. Nay, then you have her; for a Womans bragging to a Man that she has overcome Temptations, is an Argument that they were weakly offer'd, and a Challenge to him to engage her more irresistibly. 'Tis only an inhancing the Price of the Commodity, by telling you how many Customers have underbid her. Care. Nay, I don't despair - But still she has grudging to you- I talk'd to her t'other Night at my Lord Froths Masquerade, when I'm fatisfy'd the knew me, and I had no Reason to complain of my Reception; but I find Women are not the same barefaced and in Masks, and a Vizor disguises their Inclinations as much as their Faces. Mel. 'Tis a Mistake, for Women may most properly be said to be unmask'd when they wear Vizors; for that secures them from Blushing, and being out of Countenance; and next to being in the Dark, or alone, they are most truly themselves in a Vizor-Mask. Here they come, I'll leave you. Ply her close, and by and by clapa Billet doux into her Hand: Fora Woman never thinks a Man truly in Love with her, 'till he has been Fool enough to think of her out of her Sight, and to lose so much time as to write to her. : SCENE VI. CARELESS, Sir PAUL and Lady PLYANT. Sir PAUL. SHAN HAN'T we disturb your Meditation, Mr. Careless: You wou'd be private. Care. You bring that along with you, Sir Paul, that shall be always welcome to my Privacy. Sir Paul. O, sweet Sir, you load your humble Servants, both me and my Wife, with cotinual Fa yours. L. P. Sir Paul, what a Phrase was there? You will be making Answers and taking that upon you, which ought to lie upon me. That you should have have so little Breeding to think Mr. Careless did not apply himself to me.Pray what have you about you to entertain any Bodies Privacy? Ilwear and declare in the Face of the World I'm ready to blush for your Ignorance. Sir Paul. Iacquiefce, my Lady; but don't snub fo loud. [Afide to her. L. P. Mr. Careless, if a Person that is wholly illiterate might be supposed to be capable of being qualify'd to make a suitable Return to those Obligations which you are pleased to confer upon one that is wholy incapable of being qualify'd in all those Circumstances, I'm sure I shou'd rather attempt it than any thing in the World, [Courtefies] for I'm fure there's nothing in the World that i would rather. [Courtefies) But I know Mr. Careless is fo great a Critick and so fine a Gentleman, that it is impossible for me Care. O Heav'ns! Madam, you confound me. L. P. O Lord! Sir, pardon me; we Women have not those Advantages: I know my own Imperfections But at the fame time you must give me leave to declare, in the Face of the World, that no Body is more sensible of Favours and Things; for with the Reserve of my Honour I affure you, Mr. Careless, I don't know any thing in the World I would refuse to a Person so meritorious pardon my Want of Expression. , You'll Care. Ó your Ladyship is abounding in all Ex cellence, particularly that of Phrafe. L. P. You are so obliging, Sir. Care. Your Ladyship is so charming. Sir Paul. So, now, now; now, my Lady. L. P. So well bred. Care. So furprizing. L. P. So well drest, so bonne mine, so eloquent, D fo so unaffected, so cafie, so free, so particular, fo agreeable Sir Paul. Ay, so, so, there. Care. O Lord, I beseech you, Madam, don't fire Shape, so fine Limbs , so fine Linnen, and I don't doubt but you have a very good Skin, Sir. Care. For Heav'ns fake, Madam - I'm quite out of Countenance. Sir Paul. And my Lady's quite out of Breath; or else you should hear - Gad'sbud, you inay talk of my Lady Froth. Care. Ofie, fie, not to be named of a Day My Lady Froth is very well in her Accomplishments --- Sut it is when my Lady Plyant is not thought of--- If that can ever be. L. P. O you overcome me---That is so exceffive. ty. Sir Paul. Nay, I swear, and vow that was pret Care. O Sir Paul, you are the happiest Man alive. Such a Lady! that is the Envy of her own Sex, and the Admiration of ours. Sir Paul. Your humble Servant, I am I thank Heav'n in a fine way of living, as I may say, peacefully and happily, and I think need not envy any of my Neighbours, blessed be Providence - Ay, truly, Mr. Careless, my Lady is a great Bleffing, a fine, discreet, well spoken Woman as you shal fee- If it becomes me to say so; and welivevery comfortably together; the is a little hasty some. times, and so am I; but mine's foon over, and then I'm so sorry-O, Mr. Careless, if it were not for one thing SCE SCENE VI I. CARELESS, Sir PAUL, Lady PLYANT, Boy with a Letter which he offers to Sr PAUL. Lady PLYANT. OW often have you been told of that HJackanapes? Sir Paul. Gad so, gad's bud - Tim. carry it to my Lady; you should have carry'd it to my Lady first. Boy. 'Tis directed to your Worship. Sir Paul. Well, well, my Lady reads all Letters first-Child, do so no more; d'ye hear Tim? Boy. No, an't please you. SCENE VIII. 39 CARELESS, Sir PAUL, Lady PLYANT. A Sir PAUL. Humour of my Wifes , you know Women have little Fancies - - - But as I was telling you. Mr. Careless, if it were not for one thing, I should think my felf the happiest Man in the World: indeed that touches me near, very near. Care. What can that be, Sir Paul? Sir Paul. Why, I have, I thank Heaven, a very plentiful Fortune a good Estate in the Country, Home Houses in Town, and some Mony; a pretty τοσ |