Love for Love [42]
publish it.
TATT. Ay, my dear, so they will, as you say.
ANG. Oh, you'll agree very well in a little time; custom will make it easy to you.
TATT. Easy! Pox on't, I don't believe I shall sleep to-night.
SIR SAMP. Sleep, quotha! No; why, you would not sleep o' your wedding-night? I'm an older fellow than you, and don't mean to sleep.
BEN. Why, there's another match now, as thof a couple of privateers were looking for a prize and should fall foul of one another. I'm sorry for the young man with all my heart. Look you, friend, if I may advise you, when she's going--for that you must expect, I have experience of her--when she's going, let her go. For no matrimony is tough enough to hold her; and if she can't drag her anchor along with her, she'll break her cable, I can tell you that. Who's here? The madman?
SCENE the Last.
VALENTINE, SCANDAL, SIR SAMPSON, ANGELICA, FORESIGHT, MRS FORESIGHT, TATTLE, MRS FRAIL, BEN, JEREMY, BUCKRAM.
VAL. No; here's the fool, and if occasion be, I'll give it under my hand.
SIR SAMP. How now?
VAL. Sir, I'm come to acknowledge my errors, and ask your pardon.
SIR SAMP. What, have you found your senses at last then? In good time, sir.
VAL. You were abused, sir: I never was distracted.
FORE. How! Not mad! Mr Scandal -
SCAN. No, really, sir. I'm his witness; it was all counterfeit.
VAL. I thought I had reasons--but it was a poor contrivance, the effect has shown it such.
SIR SAMP. Contrivance! What, to cheat me? to cheat your father? Sirrah, could you hope to prosper?
VAL. Indeed, I thought, sir, when the father endeavoured to undo the son, it was a reasonable return of nature.
SIR SAMP. Very good, sir. Mr Buckram, are you ready? Come, sir, will you sign and seal?
VAL. If you please, sir; but first I would ask this lady one question.
SIR SAMP. Sir, you must ask me leave first. That lady? No, sir, you shall ask that lady no questions till you have asked her blessing, sir: that lady is to be my wife.
VAL. I have heard as much, sir; but I would have it from her own mouth.
SIR SAMP. That's as much as to say I lie, sir, and you don't believe what I say.
VAL. Pardon me, sir. But I reflect that I very lately counterfeited madness; I don't know but the frolic may go round.
SIR SAMP. Come, chuck, satisfy him, answer him. Come, come, Mr Buckram, the pen and ink.
BUCK. Here it is, sir, with the deed; all is ready. [VALENTINE goes to ANGELICA.]
ANG. 'Tis true, you have a great while pretended love to me; nay, what if you were sincere? Still you must pardon me if I think my own inclinations have a better right to dispose of my person than yours.
SIR SAMP. Are you answered now, sir?
VAL. Yes, sir.
SIR SAMP. Where's your plot, sir? and your contrivance now, sir? Will you sign, sir? Come, will you sign and seal?
VAL. With all my heart, sir.
SCAN. 'Sdeath, you are not mad indeed, to ruin yourself?
VAL. I have been disappointed of my only hope, and he that loses hope may part with anything. I never valued fortune but as it was subservient to my pleasure, and my only pleasure was to please this lady. I have made many vain attempts, and find at last that nothing but my ruin can effect it; which, for that reason, I will sign to-- give me the paper.
ANG. Generous Valentine! [Aside.]
BUCK. Here is the deed, sir.
VAL. But where is the bond by which I am obliged to sign this?
BUCK. Sir Sampson, you have it.
ANG. No, I have it, and I'll use it as I would everything that is an enemy to Valentine. [Tears the paper.]
SIR SAMP. How now?
VAL. Ha!
ANG. Had I the world to give you, it could not make me worthy of so generous and faithful a passion. Here's my hand: --my heart was always yours, and struggled very hard to make this utmost trial of your virtue. [To VALENTINE.]
VAL. Between pleasure and amazement I am lost. But on my knees I take the blessing.
SIR SAMP. Oons, what is the meaning of this?
BEN. Mess, here's the wind changed
TATT. Ay, my dear, so they will, as you say.
ANG. Oh, you'll agree very well in a little time; custom will make it easy to you.
TATT. Easy! Pox on't, I don't believe I shall sleep to-night.
SIR SAMP. Sleep, quotha! No; why, you would not sleep o' your wedding-night? I'm an older fellow than you, and don't mean to sleep.
BEN. Why, there's another match now, as thof a couple of privateers were looking for a prize and should fall foul of one another. I'm sorry for the young man with all my heart. Look you, friend, if I may advise you, when she's going--for that you must expect, I have experience of her--when she's going, let her go. For no matrimony is tough enough to hold her; and if she can't drag her anchor along with her, she'll break her cable, I can tell you that. Who's here? The madman?
SCENE the Last.
VALENTINE, SCANDAL, SIR SAMPSON, ANGELICA, FORESIGHT, MRS FORESIGHT, TATTLE, MRS FRAIL, BEN, JEREMY, BUCKRAM.
VAL. No; here's the fool, and if occasion be, I'll give it under my hand.
SIR SAMP. How now?
VAL. Sir, I'm come to acknowledge my errors, and ask your pardon.
SIR SAMP. What, have you found your senses at last then? In good time, sir.
VAL. You were abused, sir: I never was distracted.
FORE. How! Not mad! Mr Scandal -
SCAN. No, really, sir. I'm his witness; it was all counterfeit.
VAL. I thought I had reasons--but it was a poor contrivance, the effect has shown it such.
SIR SAMP. Contrivance! What, to cheat me? to cheat your father? Sirrah, could you hope to prosper?
VAL. Indeed, I thought, sir, when the father endeavoured to undo the son, it was a reasonable return of nature.
SIR SAMP. Very good, sir. Mr Buckram, are you ready? Come, sir, will you sign and seal?
VAL. If you please, sir; but first I would ask this lady one question.
SIR SAMP. Sir, you must ask me leave first. That lady? No, sir, you shall ask that lady no questions till you have asked her blessing, sir: that lady is to be my wife.
VAL. I have heard as much, sir; but I would have it from her own mouth.
SIR SAMP. That's as much as to say I lie, sir, and you don't believe what I say.
VAL. Pardon me, sir. But I reflect that I very lately counterfeited madness; I don't know but the frolic may go round.
SIR SAMP. Come, chuck, satisfy him, answer him. Come, come, Mr Buckram, the pen and ink.
BUCK. Here it is, sir, with the deed; all is ready. [VALENTINE goes to ANGELICA.]
ANG. 'Tis true, you have a great while pretended love to me; nay, what if you were sincere? Still you must pardon me if I think my own inclinations have a better right to dispose of my person than yours.
SIR SAMP. Are you answered now, sir?
VAL. Yes, sir.
SIR SAMP. Where's your plot, sir? and your contrivance now, sir? Will you sign, sir? Come, will you sign and seal?
VAL. With all my heart, sir.
SCAN. 'Sdeath, you are not mad indeed, to ruin yourself?
VAL. I have been disappointed of my only hope, and he that loses hope may part with anything. I never valued fortune but as it was subservient to my pleasure, and my only pleasure was to please this lady. I have made many vain attempts, and find at last that nothing but my ruin can effect it; which, for that reason, I will sign to-- give me the paper.
ANG. Generous Valentine! [Aside.]
BUCK. Here is the deed, sir.
VAL. But where is the bond by which I am obliged to sign this?
BUCK. Sir Sampson, you have it.
ANG. No, I have it, and I'll use it as I would everything that is an enemy to Valentine. [Tears the paper.]
SIR SAMP. How now?
VAL. Ha!
ANG. Had I the world to give you, it could not make me worthy of so generous and faithful a passion. Here's my hand: --my heart was always yours, and struggled very hard to make this utmost trial of your virtue. [To VALENTINE.]
VAL. Between pleasure and amazement I am lost. But on my knees I take the blessing.
SIR SAMP. Oons, what is the meaning of this?
BEN. Mess, here's the wind changed