The Love-Chase [12]
love and prudence hold! [Aside.]
W. Green. How highly he is wrought upon! His hands Are clenched!--I warrant me his frame doth shake! Poor Master Waller! I have filled his heart Brimful with passion for me. The delight Of proving thus my power!
Sir Wil. Dear Widow Green! - She hears not! How the ring hath set her thinking! I'll try and make her jealous. [Aside.]--Widow Green!
W. Green. Sir William Fondlove!
Sir Wil. Would you think that ring Could tell a story?
W. Green. Could it? Ah, Sir William, I fear you are a rogue.
Sir Wil. O no!
W. Green. You are!
Sir Wil. No, on my honour! Would you like to hear The story of the ring?
W. Green. Much--very much.
Sir Wil. Think'st we may venture draw our chairs apart A little more from Master Waller?
W. Green. Yes. He'll bring it to a scene! Dear--dear Sir William, How much I am obliged to him! A scene! Gods, we shall have a scene!--Good Master Waller, Your leave I pray you for a minute, while Sir William says a word or two to me. - He durst not trust his tongue for jealousy!--[Aside.] Now, dear Sir William!
Sir Wil. You must promise me You will not think me vain.
W. Green. No fear of that.
Sir Wil. Nor given to boast.
W. Green. O! dear Sir William!
Sir Wil. Nor A flirt!
W. Green. O! who would take you for a flirt?
Sir Wil. How very kind you are!
W. Green. Go on, Sir William.
Sir Wil. Upon my life, I fear you'll think me vain! I'm covered with confusion at the thought Of what I've done. 'Twas very, very wrong To promise you the story of the ring; Men should not talk of such things.
W. Green. Such as what? As ladies' favours?
Sir Wil. 'Pon my life, I feel As I were like to sink into the earth.
W. Green. A lady then it was gave you the ring?
Sir Wil. Don't ask me to say yes, but only scan The inside of the ring.--How much she's moved. [Aside.]
Wal. They to each other company enough! I, company for no one but myself. I'll take my leave, nor trouble them to pay The compliments of parting. Lydia! Lydia!
[Goes out.]
W. Green. What's here? "Eliza!" So it was a lady! - How wondrously does Master Waller bear it! He surely will not hold much longer out.--[Aside.] Sir William! Nay, look up! What cause to cast Your eyes upon the ground? What an it were A lady?
Sir Wil. You're not angry?
W. Green. No!
Sir Wil. She is. I'll take the tone she speaks in 'gainst the word, For fifty crowns.--I have not told you all About the ring; though I would sooner die Than play the braggart!--yet, as truth is truth, And told by halves, may from a simple thing, By misconstruction, to a monster grow, I'll tell the whole truth!
W. Green. Dear Sir William, do!
Sir Wil. The lady was a maid, and very young; Nor there in justice to her must I stop, But say that she was beautiful as young; And add to that that she was learned too, Almost enough to win for her that title, Our sex, in poor conceit of their own merits, And narrow spirit of monopoly, And jealousy, which gallantry eschews, Do give to women who assert their right To minds as well as we.
W. Green. What! a blue-stocking?
Sir Wil. I see--she'll come to calling names at last.--[Aside.] I should offend myself to quote the term. But, to return, for yet I have not done; And further yet may go, then progress on That she was young, that she was beautiful. A wit and learned are naught to what's to come - She had a heart! -
W. Green. [Who during SIR WILLIAM'S speech has turned gradually.] What, Master Waller gone! [Aside.]
Sir Wil. I say she had a heart -
W. Green. [Starting up--SIR WILLIAM also.] A plague upon her!
Sir Wil. I knew she would break out! [Aside.]
W. Green. Here, take the ring. It has ruined me!
Sir Wil. I vow thou hast no cause For anger!
W. Green. Have I not? I am undone, And all about that bauble of a ring.
Sir Wil. You're right, it is a bauble.
W. Green. And the minx That gave it thee!
Sir Wil. You're right, she was a minx. I knew she'd come to calling names
W. Green. How highly he is wrought upon! His hands Are clenched!--I warrant me his frame doth shake! Poor Master Waller! I have filled his heart Brimful with passion for me. The delight Of proving thus my power!
Sir Wil. Dear Widow Green! - She hears not! How the ring hath set her thinking! I'll try and make her jealous. [Aside.]--Widow Green!
W. Green. Sir William Fondlove!
Sir Wil. Would you think that ring Could tell a story?
W. Green. Could it? Ah, Sir William, I fear you are a rogue.
Sir Wil. O no!
W. Green. You are!
Sir Wil. No, on my honour! Would you like to hear The story of the ring?
W. Green. Much--very much.
Sir Wil. Think'st we may venture draw our chairs apart A little more from Master Waller?
W. Green. Yes. He'll bring it to a scene! Dear--dear Sir William, How much I am obliged to him! A scene! Gods, we shall have a scene!--Good Master Waller, Your leave I pray you for a minute, while Sir William says a word or two to me. - He durst not trust his tongue for jealousy!--[Aside.] Now, dear Sir William!
Sir Wil. You must promise me You will not think me vain.
W. Green. No fear of that.
Sir Wil. Nor given to boast.
W. Green. O! dear Sir William!
Sir Wil. Nor A flirt!
W. Green. O! who would take you for a flirt?
Sir Wil. How very kind you are!
W. Green. Go on, Sir William.
Sir Wil. Upon my life, I fear you'll think me vain! I'm covered with confusion at the thought Of what I've done. 'Twas very, very wrong To promise you the story of the ring; Men should not talk of such things.
W. Green. Such as what? As ladies' favours?
Sir Wil. 'Pon my life, I feel As I were like to sink into the earth.
W. Green. A lady then it was gave you the ring?
Sir Wil. Don't ask me to say yes, but only scan The inside of the ring.--How much she's moved. [Aside.]
Wal. They to each other company enough! I, company for no one but myself. I'll take my leave, nor trouble them to pay The compliments of parting. Lydia! Lydia!
[Goes out.]
W. Green. What's here? "Eliza!" So it was a lady! - How wondrously does Master Waller bear it! He surely will not hold much longer out.--[Aside.] Sir William! Nay, look up! What cause to cast Your eyes upon the ground? What an it were A lady?
Sir Wil. You're not angry?
W. Green. No!
Sir Wil. She is. I'll take the tone she speaks in 'gainst the word, For fifty crowns.--I have not told you all About the ring; though I would sooner die Than play the braggart!--yet, as truth is truth, And told by halves, may from a simple thing, By misconstruction, to a monster grow, I'll tell the whole truth!
W. Green. Dear Sir William, do!
Sir Wil. The lady was a maid, and very young; Nor there in justice to her must I stop, But say that she was beautiful as young; And add to that that she was learned too, Almost enough to win for her that title, Our sex, in poor conceit of their own merits, And narrow spirit of monopoly, And jealousy, which gallantry eschews, Do give to women who assert their right To minds as well as we.
W. Green. What! a blue-stocking?
Sir Wil. I see--she'll come to calling names at last.--[Aside.] I should offend myself to quote the term. But, to return, for yet I have not done; And further yet may go, then progress on That she was young, that she was beautiful. A wit and learned are naught to what's to come - She had a heart! -
W. Green. [Who during SIR WILLIAM'S speech has turned gradually.] What, Master Waller gone! [Aside.]
Sir Wil. I say she had a heart -
W. Green. [Starting up--SIR WILLIAM also.] A plague upon her!
Sir Wil. I knew she would break out! [Aside.]
W. Green. Here, take the ring. It has ruined me!
Sir Wil. I vow thou hast no cause For anger!
W. Green. Have I not? I am undone, And all about that bauble of a ring.
Sir Wil. You're right, it is a bauble.
W. Green. And the minx That gave it thee!
Sir Wil. You're right, she was a minx. I knew she'd come to calling names