_Ter._ Then to all the small Villages, call"d little Freedoms, Kissing, Playing, Fooling, Sighing, Dying--and so on to the last Stage, where Whip and Spur laid by, all tir"d and dull, you lazily lie down and sleep.
_Geo._ No, I"m a more vigorous Lover: And since in the Country of True Love there remains a _Terra Incognita_, I shall always be making new Discoveries.
_Ter._ True Love! is there such a thing in the whole Map of Nature?
_Geo._ Yes, I once discover"d it in my Voyage round the World.
_Ter._ Sure "tis some enchanted Place, and vanishes as soon as "tis approach"d.
Enter Sir _Rowland_.
_Geo._ Faith, let"s set out for it, and try; if we lose our Labour, we shall, like Searchers for the Philosophers Stone, find something that will recompense our pains.-- [Lady _Youthly_ sees her, and sends her Woman to take her from him.
Ha, gone--I must not part so with you--I"ll have you in my Eye.
[The _Spanish_ Dance: Whilst they dance, the _Prince_ talks to _Mirtilla_.
_Mir._ This Night gives you an a.s.signation--I tremble at the thought--Ah, why will you pursue me thus to Ruin? Why with resistless Charms invade my Heart, that cannot stand their Force--alone--without my Woman?--the Enterprize with you would be too dangerous.
_Prince._ Dangerous to be ador"d! and at your Feet behold your Slave making eternal Vows?
_Mir._ If I were sure that you would pa.s.s no further--
_Prince._ Let the fond G.o.d of Love be my Security--will you not trust a Deity?
_Mir._ Whom should she trust, that dares not trust her self?
_Geo._ That is some Lover, whom I must observe. [Aside.
_Mir._ Alas, the Foe"s within that will betray me, Ambition, and our s.e.x"s Vanity--Sir, you must prevail--
_Prince._ And in return, for ever take my Soul.
_Mir._ Anon I"ll feign an Illness, and retire to my Apartment, whither this faithful Friend shall bring you, Sir.
[Pointing to _Manage_.
_Geo._ Hum!--that looks like some Love Bargain, and _Manage_ call"d to Witness. By Heav"n, gay Sir, I"ll watch you.
_Ter._ But hark ye, my Fellow-Adventurer, are you not marry"d?
_Geo._ Marry"d--that"s a Bug-word--prithee if thou hast any such Design, keep on thy Mask, lest I be tempted to Wickedness.
_Ter._ Nay, truth is, "tis a thousand pities to spoil a handsom man, to make a dull Husband of: I have known an old batter"d Bully of Seventy, unmarry"d, more agreeable for a Gallant, than any scurvy, out-of-humour"d Husband at Eight and Twenty.
_Geo._ Gad, a thousand times.
_Ter._ Know, I have Five Hundred Pounds a Year.
_Geo._ Good.
_Ter._ And the Devil and all of Expectations from an old Woman.
_Geo._ Very good.
_Ter._ And this Youth, and little Beauty to lay out in love.
[Pulls off her Mask.
_Geo._ _Teresia!_ the lovely Maid design"d for my Mother! now, what a Dog am I? that gives me the greater Gust to her, and wou"d fain cuckold my Father.
[Talks to her aside. _Mirtilla_ seems to faint.
_Man._ My Lady faints--help, help.
_Mir._ Only the Heat oppresses me--but let it not disturb the Company, I"ll take the Air a little, and return.
[Goes out with _Manage_.
_Geo._ Is this design"d or real?--perhaps she is retir"d for me--Mrs.
_Manage_.-- [_Manage_ re-enters, he pulls her by the Sleeve.
_Man._ Hah! Monsieur _Lejere_! what shall I feign to put him off withal.
[Aside.
_Geo._ Why dost thou start? How does my dear _Mirtilla_?
_Man._ Reposing, Sir, awhile, but anon I"ll wait on her for your admittance.
[Prince _Frederick_ puts on _Welborn"s_ Cloke, goes out, and _Welborn_ enters into the Company dress"d like the _Prince_.
_Geo._ Ha, she spoke in pa.s.sing by that gay thing--What means it, but I"ll trace the Mystery.
Sir _Row._ The young People are lazy, and here"s nothing but gaping and peeping in one another"s Vizards; come, Madam, let you and I shame "em into Action.
[Sir _Rowland_ and Lady _Youthly_ dance. After the Dance, _Olivia_ enters with a Letter, and gives it to _Welborn_.
_Wel._ Ha! what"s this, Sir, a Challenge?
_Oliv._ A soft one, Sir.
_Wel._ A Billet--whoever the Lady be, [Reads.
She merits something for but believing I am worth her Mirth.
_Oliv._ I know not, Sir, how great a Jest you may make of it; but I a.s.sure you the Lady is in earnest, and if you be at leisure to hear Reason from her--
_Wel._ Fair and softly, my dear Love-Messenger, I am for no hasty Bargains; not but I shou"d be glad to hear Reason from any of the s.e.x--But I have been so d.a.m.nably jilted--Is she of Quality?
_Oliv._ Yes.
_Wel._ Then I"ll not hear any thing from her: they are troublesome, and insolent; and if she have a Husband, to hide her Intrigues she has recourse to all the little Arts and Cunnings of her s.e.x; and she that jilts her Husband, will her Lover.
_Oliv._ She is not troubled with a Husband, Sir.
_Wel._ What, she"s parted from the Fool! then she"s expensive, and for want of Alimony, jilts all the believing Block-heads that she meets with.