Teach me to bear this killing sight, or let And, barefaced, front him with my wrongs. I'm lost again-The ease of a few tears And duty, too, forbids me to insult, But Heaven best knows what both of us deserve: But Heaven offended may o'ertake his crime, [Takes a steinkirk off her neck, and lays it gently on his head. And, if he should wake offended at my too busy care, let my heart-breaking patience, duty, and my fond affection, plead my pardon. [Exit. [After she has been out some time, a bell rings; EDGING wakes, and stirs Sir CHARLES. Edg. Oh! Sir Cha. How now! what's the matter? Edg. Oh, bless my soul! my lady's come home. Sir Cha. Go, go, then. [Bell rings. Edg. Oh lud! my head's in such a condition, too. [Runs to the glass.] I am coming, madamOh lud! here's no powder, neither-Here, madam. [Exit. Sir Cha. How now! [Feeling the steinkirk upon his head.] What's this? How came it here? [Puts on his wig.] Did not I see my wife wear this to-day?-Death! she cann't have been here, sure-It could not be jealousy that brought her home-for my coming was accidental-so, too, I fear, was hers-How careless have I been?-not to secure the door, neither-'Twas foolish-It must be so! She certainly has seen me here sleeping with her woman: if so, how low an hypocrite to her must that sight have proved me! The thought has made me despicable, even to myself-How mean a vice is lying, and how often have these empty pleasures lulled my honour and my conscience to lethargy, while I grossly have abused her, poorly skulking behind a thousand falsehoods!-Now I reflect, this has not been the first of her discoveries-How contemptible a figure must I have made to her! A crowd of recollected circumstances confirms me now, she has been long acquainted with my follies; and yet, with what amazing prudence has she borne the secret pangs of injured love, and wore an SCENE VI.-Changes to another Room. Enter Lady EASY and EDGING. Lady Easy. Where have you been, Edging? Edg. Been, madam ! I—I—I—I came as soon as I heard you ring, madam. Edg. Yes, madampect any thing. Lady Easy. How guilt confounds her! but she's below my thought-Fetch my last new sack hither-I have a mind to alter it a little-make haste. -I see she does not sus[Exit. Lady Easy. Heigh ho! [Sitting down.] I had forgot-but I'm unfit for writing now- 'Twas an hard conflict- -yet it's a joy to think it over; a secret pride, to tell my heart my conduct has been just How low are vicious minds, that offer injuries! how much superior innocence, that bears them! Still there's a pleasure, even in the melancholy of a quiet conscience-Away, my fears; it is not yet impossible-for, while his human nature is not quite shook off, I ought not to despair. Re-enter EDGING, with a Suck. Edg. Here's the sack, madam. Lady Easy. So, sit down there—and, let me see-here-rip off all that silver. Edg. Indeed, I always thought it would become your ladyship better without it-But, now, suppose, madam, you carried another row of gold round the scollops, and then you take and lay this silver plain all along the gathers, and your ladyship will perfectly see, it will give the thing ten thousand times another air. Lady Easy. Pr'ythee, don't be impertinent; do as I bid you. Edg. Nay, madam, with all my heart; your ladyship may do as you please. Lady Easy. This creature grows so confident; and I dare not part with her, lest he should think it jealousy. [Aside. Sir Cha. Leave the room. Edg. Lord, sir! I cann't stir-I must stay toSir Cha. Go[Angrily. Edg. Throwing down the work hastily, and erying, aside.] If ever I speak to him again, I'll be burned! [Exit EDGING. Sir Cha. Sit still, my dear-I came to talk with you—and, which you well may wonder at, what I have to say is of importance, too; but it is in order to my hereafter always talking kindly to you. Lady Easy. Your words were never disobliging, nor can I charge you with a look that ever had the appearance of being unkind. Sir Cha. The perpetual spring of your good humour lets me draw no merit from what I have appeared to be, which makes me curious now to know your thoughts of what I really am: and never having asked you this before, it puzzles me: nor can I (my strange negligence considered) reconcile to reason your first thought of venturing upon marriage with me. Lady Easy. I never thought it such a hazard. Sir Cha. How could a woman of your restraint in principles, sedateness, sense, and tender disposition, propose to lead an happy life with one (now I reflect) that hardly took an hour's pains, even before marriage, to appear but what I am : a loose, unheeded wretch, absent in all I do, civil, and as often rude, without design, unseasonably thoughtful, easy to a fault, and, in my best of praise, but carelessly good-natured? How shall I reconcile your temper with having made so strange a choice? Lady Easy. Your own words may answer you -Your having never seemed to be but what you really were; and, through that carelessness of temper, there still shone forth to me an undesigning honesty, I always doubted of in smoother faces: thus, while I saw you took least pains to win me, you pleased and wooed me most; nay, I have thought, that such a temper could never be deliberately unkind; or, at the worst, I knew that errors, from the want of thinking, might be borne; at least, when, probably, one moment's serious thought might end them: these were my worst of fears; and these, when weighed by grow. ing love, against my solid hopes, were nothing. Sir Cha. My dear, your understanding startles me, and justly calls my own in question. I blush to think I've worn so bright a jewel in my bosom, and, till this hour, have scarce been curious once to look upon its lustre. Lady Easy. You set too high a value on the common qualities of an easy wife. Sir Cha. Virtues, like benefits, are double, when concealed: and, I confess, I yet suspect you of an higher value far than I have spoke you. Lady Easy. I understand you not. Sir Cha. I'll speak more plainly to you-Be free, and tell me-Where did you leave this handkerchief? Lady Easy. What shall I say? my fears confound me. [Aside. Sir Cha. Be not concerned, my dear; be easy in the truth, and tell me. Lady Easy. I cannot speak-and I could wish you'd not oblige me to it-'tis the only thing I ever yet refused you; and though I want reason for my will, let me not answer you. I Sir Cha. Your will, then, be a reason; and since see you are so generously tender of reproaching me, it is fit I should be easy in my gratitude, and make, what ought to be my shame, my joy. Let me be therefore pleased to tell you now, your wondrous conduct has waked me to a sense of your disquiet past, and resolution never to disturb it more And (not that I offer it as a merit, but yet in blind compliance to my will) let me beg you would immediately discharge your woman. Lady Easy. Alas! I think not of her-O, my dear, distract me not with this excess of goodness. [Weeping. Sir Cha. Nay, praise me not, lest I reflect how little I have deserved it; I see you are in pain to give me this confusion. Come, I will not shock your softness by my untimely blush for what is past, but rather sooth you to a pleasure at my sense of joy for my recovered happiness to come. Give, then, to my new-born love what name you please; it cannot, shall not, be too kind: O! it cannot be too soft for what my soul swells up with emulation to deserve-Receive me, then, entire at last, and take, what yet no woman ever truly had, my conquered heart! Lady Easy. O, the soft treasure! O, the dear reward of long-deserving love!-Now am I blest indeed, to see you kind without the expence of pain in being so, to make you mine with easiness: thus! thus to have you mine, is something more than happiness; 'tis double life, and madness of abounding joy. But it was a pain intolerable to give you a confusion. Sir Cha. O thou engaging virtue! But I am too slow in doing justice to thy love: I know thy softness will refuse me; but remember, I insist upon it- -let thy woman be discharged this mi nute. Lady Easy. No, my dear; think me not so low in faith, to fear, that, after what you have said, it will ever be in her power to do me future injury. When I can conveniently provide for her, I'll think on it; but to discharge her now, might let her guess at the occasion; and methinks I would have our difference, like our endearments, be equally a secret to our servants. Sir Cha. Still my superior every way!—be it as you have better thought-Well, my dear, now I'll confess a thing that was not in your power to accuse me of;-to be short, I own this creature is not the only one I have been to blame with. Lady Easy. I know she is not, and was always less concerned to find it so; for constancy in errors might have been fatal to me. Sir Cha. What is it you know, my dear? [Surprised. Lady Easy. Come, I'm not afraid to accuse you now- -my lady Graveairs-Your carelessness, my dear, let all the world know it; and it would have been hard indeed, had it been only to me a secret. Sir Cha. My dear, I will ask no more questions, for fear of being more ridiculous; I do confess, I thought my discretion there had been a master-piece-How contemptible must I have looked all this while! Lady Easy. You sha'n't say so. Sir Chu. Well, to let you see I had some shame, as well as nature in me, I had writ this to my lady Graveairs, upon my first discovering that you knew I had wronged you: read it. Lady Easy. [Reads.] "Something has happened that prevents the visit I intended you; and I could gladly wish, you never would reproach me if I tell you, 'tis utterly inconvenient that I should This, indeed, was more ever see you more." than I had merited. Enter a Servant. Sir Cha. Who is there? Here-Step with this to Lady Graveairs. [Seals the Letter, and gives it the Servant. Serv. Yes, sir-Madam, my lady Betty's come. Lady Easy. I'll wait on her. Sir Cha. My dear, I am thinking there may be other things my negligence may have wronged you in; but be assured, as I discover, all shall be corrected.Is there any part or circumstance in your fortune that I can change or yet make easier to you? Lady Easy. None, my dear; your good nature never stinted me in that; and now, methinks, I have less occasion there than ever. Re-enter Servant. Serv. Sir, my lord Morelove's come. Sir Cha. I am coming-I think I told you of the design we had laid against Lady Betty. Lady Easy. You did, and I should be pleased to be myself concerned in it. Sir Cha. I believe we may employ you: I know he waits for me with impatience. But, my dear, won't you think me tasteless to the joy you have given me, to suffer, at this time, any concern but you to employ my thoughts? Lady Easy. Seasons must be obeyed; and since I know your friend's happiness depending, I could not taste my own, should you neglect it. Sir Cha. Thou easy sweetness!-O! what a waste of thy neglected love has my unthinking brain committed! but time, and future thrift of tenderness, shall yet repair it all. The hours will come when this soft gliding stream that swells my heart, uninterrupted shall renew its SCENE VII.-Changes to another Room. Re-enter Lady EASY and Lady BETTY. Lady Bet. You have been in tears, my dear, and yet you look pleased, too. Lady Easy. You will pardon me, if I cannot let you into circumstances; but be satisfied, Sir Charles has made me happy, even to a pain of joy. Lady Bet. Indeed, I am truly glad of it; though I am sorry to find, that any one who has generosity enough to do you justice, should, unprovoked, be so great an enemy to me. Lady Easy. Sir Charles your enemy! Lady Bet. My dear, you will pardon me if I always thought him so, but now I am convinced of it. Lady Easy. In what, pray? I cannot think you will find him so. Lady Bet. O! madam, it has been his whole business, of late, to make an utter breach between my lord Morelove and me. Lady Easy. That may be owing to your usage of my lord: perhaps he thought it would not disoblige you. I am confident you are mistaken in him. Lady Bet. O! I don't use to be out in things of this nature; I can see well enough: but I shall be able to tell you more when I have talked with my lord. Lady Easy. Here he comes; and because you shall talk with him-No excuses-for positively I will leave you together. Lady Bet. Indeed, my dear, I desire you will stay, then; for I know you think now, that I have a mind to Lady Easy. To-to- -ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. Well! I'll remember this. [Going. Ld More. I hope I don't fright you away, madam? Lady Easy. Not at all, my lord; but I must beg your pardon for a moment; I will wait upon you immediately. [Exit. Lady Bet. My lady Easy gone? Ld More. Perhaps, madam, in friendship to you; she thinks I may have deserved the coldness you of late have shewn to me, and was willing to give you this opportunity to convince me you have not done it without just grounds and reason. Lady Bet. How handsomely does he reproach me! but I cannot bear that he should think I know it. [Aside.]-My lord, whatever has passed between you and me, I dare swear that could not be her thoughts at this time; for, when two people have appeared professed enemies, she cannot but think one will as little care to give, as the other receive, a justification of their actions. Ld More. Passion, indeed, often does repeat2 U ed injuries on both sides; but I don't remember, in my heat of error, I ever yet professed myself your enemy. Lady Bet. My lord, I shall be very free with you-I confess, I do not think, now, I have a greater enemy in the world. Ld More. If having loved you to my own disquiet, be injurious, I am contented then to stand the foremost of your enemies. Lady Bet. O my lord, there's no great fear of your being my enemy that way, I dare say Ld More. There is no other way my heart can bear to oth nd you now; and I foresee in that it will persist to my undoing. Lady Bet. Fie, fie, my lord! we know where your heart is well enough. Ld More. My conduct has, indeed, deserved this scorn; and therefore 'tis but just I should submit to your resentment, and beg (though I am assured in vain) for pardon. [Kneels. Enter Sir CHARLES. Sir Cha. How, my lord! [Lord MORELOVE rises. Lady Bet. Ha! He here! This was unlucky. [Aside. Ld More. O, pity my confusion! [To Lady BETTY. Sir Cha. I am sorry to see you can so soon forget yourself: methinks the insults you have borne from that lady, by this time should have warned you into a disgust of her regardless principles. Ld More. Hold, Sir Charles, while you and I are friends! I desire you would speak with honour of this lady-'Tis sufficient I have no complaint against her, and———— Lady Bet. My lord, I beg you would resent this thing no farther: an injury like this is better punished with our contempt; apparent malice should only be laughed at. Sir Cha. Ha, ha! the old resource. Offers of any hopes to delude him from his resentment, and then as the Grand Monarque did with Cavalier: and then you are sure to keep your word with him. Lady Bet. Sir Charles, to let you know how far I am above your little spleen,-my lord, your hand! from this hour Sir Cha. Pshaw! pshaw ! all design! all pique! mere artifice and disappointed woman. Lady Bet. Look you, sir, not that I doubt my lord's opinion of me; yet Sir Cha. Look you, madam; in short, your word has been too often taken, to let you make up quarrels, as you used to do, with a soft look, and a fair promise you never intended to keep. Lady Bet. Was ever such insolence! He won't give me leave to speak. Ld More. Sir Charles! Lady Bet. No, pray, my lord, have patience; and since his malice seems to grow particular, I dare his worst, and urge him to the proof on't: Pray, sir, wherein can you charge me with breach of promise to my lord? Sir Cha. Death! you won't deny it? How often, to piece up a quarrel, have you appointed him to visit you alone; and, though you have promised to see no other company the whole day, when he was come he has found you among the laugh of noisy fops, coquettes, and coxcombs, dissolutely gay, while your full eyes ran over with transport at their flattery, and your own vain power of pleasing? How often, I say, have you been known to throw away, at least, four hours of your good humour upon such wretches, and, the minute they were gone, grew only dull to him, sunk into a distasteful spleen, complained you had talked your self into the head-ache, and then indulged upon the dear delight of seeing him in pain, and, by that time you had stretched and gaped him heartily out of patience, of a sudden most importantly remember you had outsat your appointment with my lady Fiddle-faddle, and immediately order your coach to the park? Lady Bet. Yet, sir-have you done? Sir Cha. No-though this might serve to shew the nature of your principles: but the noble conquest you have gained at last over defeated sense of reputation, too, has made your fame immortal. Ld More. How, sir? Lady Bet. My reputation? Sir Cha. Ay, madam, your reputation-My lord, if I advance a falsehood, then resent it. I say your reputation—It has been your life's whole pride of late to be the common toast of every public table, vain even in the infamous addresses of a married man, my lord Foppington; let that be reconciled with reputation, I will now shake hands with shame, and bow me to the low contempt which you deserve from him; not but I suppose you will yet endeavour to recover him. Now you find ill usage in danger of losing your conquest, 'tis possible you will stop at nothing to preserve it. Lady Bet. Sir Charles [Walks disordered, and he after her. Sir Cha. I know your vanity is so voracious, it will even wound itself to feed itself; offer him a blank perhaps, to fill up with hopes of what nature he pleases, and part even with your pride to keep him. Lady Bet. Sir Charles, I have not deserved this of you. [Bursting into tears. Sir Cha. Ah! true woman! drop him a soft dissembling tear, and then his just resentment must be hushed of course. Ld More. O Charles! I can bear no more; those tears are so reproaching. Sir Cha. Hist, for your life! [Aside, and then aloud.] My lord, if you believe her, you are undone; the very next sight of my lord Foppington would make her yet forswear all that she can pro mise. Lady Bet. My lord Foppington! Is that the mighty crime that must condemn me, then? You know I used him but as a tool of my resentment, which you yourself, by a pretended friendship to us both, most artfully provoked me to Ld More. Hold, I conjure you, madam ; I want not this conviction. Lady Bet. Send for him this minute, and you and he shall both be witnesses of the contempt and detestation I have for any forward hopes his vanity may have given him, or your malice would insinuate. Sir Cha. Death! you would as soon cat fireas soon part with your luxurious taste of folly, as dare to own the half of this before his face, or any one, that would make you blush to deny it to Here comes my wife; now we shall see―Нa! and my lord Foppington with her-Now! now, we shall see this mighty proof of your sincerity Now! my lord, you'll have a warning sure, and henceforth know me for your friend, indeed. Enter Lady EASY and Lord FOPPINGTON. Lady Easy. In tears, my dear! what's the matter? Lady Bet. O, my dear, all I told you is true: Sir Charles has shewn himself so inveterately my enemy, that, if I believed I deserved but half his hate, 'twould make me hate myself. Ld Fop. Hark you, Charles; pr'ythee what is this business? Sir Cha. Why, yours, my lord, for aught I know-I have made such a breach betwixt them -I cannot promise much for the courage of a woman; but if hers holds, I am sure it is wide enough; you may enter ten abreast, my lord. Ld Fop. Say'st thou so, Charles? Then, I hold six to four, I am the first man in the town. Lady Easy. Sure there must be some mistake in this: I hope he has not made my lord your enemy. Lady Bet. I know not what he has done. Ld More. Far be that thought! Alas! I am too much in fear myself, that what I have this day committed, advised by his mistaken friendship, may have done my love irreparable prejudice. Lady Bet. No, my lord; since I perceive his little arts have not prevailed upon your good nature to my prejudice, I am bound in gratitude, in duty to myself, and to the confession you have made, my lord, to acknowledge now, I have been to blame, too. Ld More. Ha! is it possible? can you own so much? O my transported heart! Lady Bet. He says I have taken pleasure in seeing you uneasy-I own it-but 'twas when that uneasiness I thought proceeded from your love; and if you did love'twill not be much to pardon it. Ld More. O let my soul, thus bending to your power, adore this soft descending goodness! Lady Bet. And, since the giddy woman's slights I have shewn you too often, have been public, 'tis fit, at last, the amends and reparation should be so: therefore, what I offered to Sir Charles, I now repeat before this company, my utter detestation of any past or future gallantry, that has, or shall be offered by me, to your uneasiness. Ld More. Oh! be less generous, or teach me to deserve it--Now blush, Sir Charles, at your injurious accusation. Ld Fop. Ah! Pardi, voila quelque chose d'extraordinaire! Lady Bet. As for my lord Foppington, I owe him thanks for having been so friendly an instrument of our reconciliation; for though, in the little outward gallantry I received from him, I did not immediately trust him with my design in it, yet I have a better opinion of his understanding, than to suppose he could mistake it. Ld Fop. I am struck dumb with the deliberation of her assurance! and do not positively remember, that the nonchalance of my temper ever had so bright an occasion to shew itself before. Lady Bet. My lord, I hope you will pardon the freedom I have taken with you. Ld Fop. Oh, madam, do not be under the confusion of an apology upon my account; for, in cases of this nature, I am never disappointed, but when I find a lady of the same mind two hours together-Madam, I have lost a thousand fine women in my time, but never had the ill manners to be out of humour with any one for refusing me, since I was born. Lady Bet. My lord, that's a very prudent temper. Ld Fop. Madam, to convince you that I am in an universal peace with mankind, since you own I have so far contributed to your happiness, give me leave to have the honour of completing it, by joining your hand, where you have already offered up your inclination. Lady Bet. My lord, that's a favour I cannot refuse you. Ld More. Generous, indeed, my lord! [Lord FOPPINGTON joins their hands. Ld Fop. And, stop my breath, if ever I was better pleased since my first entrance into human nature! Sir Cha. How now, my lord! what? throw up the cards before you have lost the game? Ld Fop. Look you, Charles, 'tis true I did design to have played with her alone: but he that will keep well with the ladies, must sometimes be content to make one at a pool with them; and since I know I must engage her in my turn, I don't see any great odds in letting him take the first game with her. Sir Cha. Wisely considered, my lord! Sir Cha. And now, madam, I'll save you the trouble of a long speech, and, in one word, confess that every thing I have done in regard to you this day, was purely artificial-I saw there was no way to secure you to my lord Morelove, but by alarming your pride with the danger of losing him; and, since the success must have by this time convinced you, that in love nothing is more ridiculous than an over-acted aversion, I am sure you won't take it ill, if we at last congratulate your good nature, by heartily laughing at the fright we had put you in: ha, ha, ha! Lady Easy. Ha, ha, ha! Lady Bet. Why- -Well, I declare it now, I hate you worse than ever. 7 |