Sir _Charles_. But what?
Lord _Love._ If the reverse of this shou'd chance to be the bitter
disappointment, what wou'd the life be then?
Sir _Charles_. A damn'd one.
Lord _Love._ And what relief?
Sir _Charles_. A short one; leave it, and return to that you left, if
you can't find a better.
Lord _Love._ He says right--that's the remedy, and a just one----for if
I sell my liberty for gold, and I am foully paid in brass, shall I be
held to keep the bargain?
[_Aside._.
Sir _Charles_. What are you thinking of?
Lord _Love._ Of what you have said.
Sir _Charles_. And was it well said?
Lord _Love._ I begin to think it might.
Sir _Charles_. Think on, 'twill give you ease----the man who has
courage enough to part with a wife need not much dread the having one;
and he that has not, ought to tremble at being a husband----But perhaps
I have said too much; you'll pardon however the freedom of an old
friend, because you know I am so; so your servant.
[_Exit._
Lord _Love._ _Charles_, farewell, I can take nothing as ill-meant that
comes from you. Nor ought my wife to think I mean amiss to her; if I
convince her I'll endure no longer that she would thus expose herself
and me. No doubt 'twill grieve her sorely. Physick's a loathsome thing,
'till we find it gives us health, and then we are thankful to those
who made us take it. Perhaps she may do so by me, if she does, 'tis
well; if not, and she resolves to make the house ring with reprisals:
I believe (tho' the misfortune's great) he'll make a better figure in
the world, who keeps an ill wife out of doors, than he that keeps her
within.
+ACT+ III. +SCENE+ I.
_Enter Lady ~Headpiece~ and Mrs. ~Motherly~._
Lady _Head._ So, you are acquainted with Lady _Arabella_, I find.
Mrs. _Moth._ Oh, Madam, I have had the honour to know her Ladyship
almost from a child, and a charming woman she has made.
Lady _Head._ I like her prodigiously; I had some acquaintance with her
in the country two years ago; but she's quite another woman here.
Mrs. _Moth._ Ah, Madam, two years keeping company with the polite
people of the town will do wonders in the improvement of a lady, so she
has it but about her.
Lady _Head._ Now 'tis my misfortune, Mrs. _Motherly_, to come late to
school.
Mrs. _Moth._ Oh! don't be discourag'd at that, Madam, the quickness of
your ladyship's parts will easily recover your loss of a little time.
Lady _Head._ O! You flatter me! But I'll endeavour by industry and
application to make it up; such parts as I have shall not lie idle. My
Lady _Arabella_ has been so good to offer me already her introduction,
to those assemblies, where a woman may soonest learn to make herself
valuable to every body.
Mrs. _Moth._ But her husband. [_Aside._] Her Ladyship, Madam, can
indeed, better than any body, introduce you, where every thing that
accomplishes a fine lady, is practised to the last perfection; Madam,
she herself is at the very tip-top of it----'tis pity, poor lady, she
shou'd meet with any discouragements.
Lady _Head._ Discouragements! from whence pray?