The Love-Chase [18]
made bold to follow you, For I esteem you as a man, and fain Would benefit by your kind offices. But let me tell you first, to your reproof, I am indebted more than e'er I was To praise of any other! I am come, sir, To give you evidence I am not one Who owns advice is right, and acts not on't.
True. Pray you explain.
Wal. Will you the bearer be Of this to one has cause to thank you, too, Though I the larger debtor?--Read it, sir.
True. [Reading the letter.] "At morn to-morrow I will make you mine; Will you accept from me the name of wife - The name of husband give me in exchange?"
Wal. How say you, sir?
True. 'Tis boldly--nobly done!
Wal. If she consents--which affectation 'twere To say I doubt--bid her prepare for church, And you shall act the father, sir, to her You did the brother by.
True. Right willingly, Though matter of high moment I defer, Mind, heart, and soul, are all enlisted in!
Wal. May I implore you, haste! A time is set! - How light an act of duty makes the heart!
[They go out together.]
SCENE III.--Another Chamber in Sir William's house.
[CONSTANCE discovered.]
Con. I'll pine to death for no man! Wise it were, Indeed, to die for neighbour Wildrake--No! - I know the duty of a woman, better - What fits a maid of spirit! I am out Of patience with myself, to cast a thought Away upon him. Hang him! Lovers cost Nought but the pains of luring. I'll get fifty, And break the heart of every one of them! I will! I'll be the champion of my sex, And take revenge on shallow, fickle man, Who gives his heart to fools, and slights the worth Of proper women! I suppose she's handsome! My face 'gainst hers, at hazard of mine eyes! A maid of mind! I'll talk her to a stand, Or tie my tongue for life! A maid of soul! An artful, managing, dissembling one! Or she had never caught. Him!--he's no man To fall in love himself, or long ago I warrant he had fall'n in love with me! I hate the fool--I do! Ha, here he comes. What brings him hither? Let me dry my eyes; He must not see I have been crying. Hang him, I have much to do, indeed, to cry for him!
[Enter WILDRAKE]
Wild. Your servant, neighbour Constance.
Con. Servant, sir! Now what, I wonder, comes the fool to say, Makes him look so important?
Wild. Neighbour Constance, I am a happy man.
Con. What makes you so?
Wild. A thriving suit.
Con. In Chancery?
Wild. Oh, no! In love.
Con. Oh, true! You are in love! Go on!
Wild. Well, as I said, my suit's a thriving one.
Con. You mean you are beloved again!--I don't Believe it.
Wild. I can give you proof.
Con. What proof? Love letters? She's a shameless maid To write them! Can she spell? Ay, I suppose With prompting of a dictionary!
Wild. Nay Without one.
Con. I will lay you ten to one She cannot spell! How know you she can spell? You cannot spell yourself! You write command With a single M-C-O-M-A-N-D: Yours to Co-mand.
Wild. I did not say she wrote Love letters to me.
Con. Then she suffers you to press Her hand, perhaps?
Wild. She does.
Con. Does she press yours?
Wild. She does.--It goes on swimmingly! [Aside.]
Con. She does! She is no modest woman! I'll be bound, Your arm the madam suffers round her waist?
Wild. She does!
Con. She does! Outrageous forwardness! Does she let you kiss her?
Wild. Yes.
Con. She should be -
Wild. What?
Con. What you got thrice your share of when at school, And yet not half your due! A brazen face! More could not grant a maid about to wed.
Wild. She is so.
Con. What?
Wild. How swimmingly it goes! [Aside.]
Con. [With suppressed impatience.] Are you about to marry, neighbour Wildrake? Are you about to marry?
Wild. Excellent. [Aside.]
Con. [Breaking out.] Why don't you answer me?
Wild. I am.
Con. You are - I tell you what, sir--You're a fool!
Wild. For what?
Con. You are not fit to marry. Do not know Enough of the world, sir! Have no more experience, Thought, judgment, than a schoolboy! Have
True. Pray you explain.
Wal. Will you the bearer be Of this to one has cause to thank you, too, Though I the larger debtor?--Read it, sir.
True. [Reading the letter.] "At morn to-morrow I will make you mine; Will you accept from me the name of wife - The name of husband give me in exchange?"
Wal. How say you, sir?
True. 'Tis boldly--nobly done!
Wal. If she consents--which affectation 'twere To say I doubt--bid her prepare for church, And you shall act the father, sir, to her You did the brother by.
True. Right willingly, Though matter of high moment I defer, Mind, heart, and soul, are all enlisted in!
Wal. May I implore you, haste! A time is set! - How light an act of duty makes the heart!
[They go out together.]
SCENE III.--Another Chamber in Sir William's house.
[CONSTANCE discovered.]
Con. I'll pine to death for no man! Wise it were, Indeed, to die for neighbour Wildrake--No! - I know the duty of a woman, better - What fits a maid of spirit! I am out Of patience with myself, to cast a thought Away upon him. Hang him! Lovers cost Nought but the pains of luring. I'll get fifty, And break the heart of every one of them! I will! I'll be the champion of my sex, And take revenge on shallow, fickle man, Who gives his heart to fools, and slights the worth Of proper women! I suppose she's handsome! My face 'gainst hers, at hazard of mine eyes! A maid of mind! I'll talk her to a stand, Or tie my tongue for life! A maid of soul! An artful, managing, dissembling one! Or she had never caught. Him!--he's no man To fall in love himself, or long ago I warrant he had fall'n in love with me! I hate the fool--I do! Ha, here he comes. What brings him hither? Let me dry my eyes; He must not see I have been crying. Hang him, I have much to do, indeed, to cry for him!
[Enter WILDRAKE]
Wild. Your servant, neighbour Constance.
Con. Servant, sir! Now what, I wonder, comes the fool to say, Makes him look so important?
Wild. Neighbour Constance, I am a happy man.
Con. What makes you so?
Wild. A thriving suit.
Con. In Chancery?
Wild. Oh, no! In love.
Con. Oh, true! You are in love! Go on!
Wild. Well, as I said, my suit's a thriving one.
Con. You mean you are beloved again!--I don't Believe it.
Wild. I can give you proof.
Con. What proof? Love letters? She's a shameless maid To write them! Can she spell? Ay, I suppose With prompting of a dictionary!
Wild. Nay Without one.
Con. I will lay you ten to one She cannot spell! How know you she can spell? You cannot spell yourself! You write command With a single M-C-O-M-A-N-D: Yours to Co-mand.
Wild. I did not say she wrote Love letters to me.
Con. Then she suffers you to press Her hand, perhaps?
Wild. She does.
Con. Does she press yours?
Wild. She does.--It goes on swimmingly! [Aside.]
Con. She does! She is no modest woman! I'll be bound, Your arm the madam suffers round her waist?
Wild. She does!
Con. She does! Outrageous forwardness! Does she let you kiss her?
Wild. Yes.
Con. She should be -
Wild. What?
Con. What you got thrice your share of when at school, And yet not half your due! A brazen face! More could not grant a maid about to wed.
Wild. She is so.
Con. What?
Wild. How swimmingly it goes! [Aside.]
Con. [With suppressed impatience.] Are you about to marry, neighbour Wildrake? Are you about to marry?
Wild. Excellent. [Aside.]
Con. [Breaking out.] Why don't you answer me?
Wild. I am.
Con. You are - I tell you what, sir--You're a fool!
Wild. For what?
Con. You are not fit to marry. Do not know Enough of the world, sir! Have no more experience, Thought, judgment, than a schoolboy! Have