The School For Scandal [14]
be exposed at last.
[Exit.]
SCENE III.--At SIR PETER'S
--ROWLEY and SIR OLIVER--
SIR OLIVER. Ha! ha! ha! and so my old Friend is married, hey?--
a young wife out of the country!--ha! ha! that he should have stood
Bluff to old Bachelor so long and sink into a Husband at last!
ROWLEY. But you must not rally him on the subject Sir Oliver--'tis
a tender Point I assure you though He has been married only seven
months.
SIR OLIVER. Ah then he has been just half a year on the stool
of Repentance--Poor Peter! But you say he has entirely given up
Charles--never sees him, hey?
ROWLEY. His Prejudice against him is astonishing--and I am sure
greatly increased by a jealousy of him with Lady Teazle--which
he has been industriously led into by a scandalous Society--
in the neighbourhood--who have contributed not a little to Charles's
ill name. Whereas the truth is[,] I believe[,] if the lady
is partial to either of them his Brother is the Favourite.
SIR OLIVER. Aye--I know--there are a set of malicious prating
prudent Gossips both male and Female, who murder characters to kill
time, and will rob a young Fellow of his good name before He has years
to know the value of it. . . but I am not to be prejudiced against
my nephew by such I promise you! No! no--if Charles has done nothing
false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance.
ROWLEY. Then my life on't, you will reclaim him. Ah, Sir, it gives
me new vigour to find that your heart is not turned against him--
and that the son of my good old master has one friend however left--
SIR OLIVER. What! shall I forget Master Rowley--when I was at his
house myself--egad my Brother and I were neither of us very prudent
youths--and yet I believe you have not seen many better men than your
old master was[.]
ROWLEY. 'Tis this Reflection gives me assurance that Charles may yet
be a credit to his Family--but here comes Sir Peter----
SIR OLIVER. Egad so He does--mercy on me--He's greatly altered--
and seems to have a settled married look--one may read Husband
in his Face at this Distance.--
Enter SIR PETER
SIR PETER. Ha! Sir Oliver--my old Friend--welcome to England--
a thousand Times!
SIR OLIVER. Thank you--thank you--Sir Peter--and Efaith I am
as glad to find you well[,] believe me--
SIR PETER. Ah! 'tis a long time since we met--sixteen year I doubt
Sir Oliver--and many a cross accident in the Time--
SIR OLIVER. Aye I have had my share--but, what[!] I find you are
married--hey my old Boy--well--well it can't be help'd--and so I wish
you joy with all my heart--
SIR PETER. Thank you--thanks Sir Oliver.--Yes, I have entered into
the happy state but we'll not talk of that now.
SIR OLIVER. True true Sir Peter old Friends shouldn't begin
on grievances at first meeting. No, no--
ROWLEY. Take care pray Sir----
SIR OLIVER. Well--so one of my nephews I find is a wild Rogue--hey?
SIR PETER. Wild!--oh! my old Friend--I grieve for your disappointment
there--He's a lost young man indeed--however his Brother will make you
amends; Joseph is indeed what a youth should be--everybody in the
world speaks well of him--
SIR OLIVER. I am sorry to hear it--he has too good a character to be
an honest Fellow. Everybody speaks well of him! Psha! then He has
bow'd as low to Knaves and Fools as to the honest dignity of Virtue.
SIR PETER. What Sir Oliver do you blame him for not making Enemies?
SIR OLIVER. Yes--if He has merit enough to deserve them.
SIR PETER. Well--well--you'll be convinced when you know him--'tis
edification to hear him converse--he professes the noblest Sentiments.
SIR OLIVER. Ah plague on his Sentiments--if he salutes me with
a scrap sentence of morality in his mouth I shall be sick directly--
but however don't mistake me Sir Peter I don't mean to defend
Charles's Errors--but before I form my judgment of either of them,
I intend to make a trial of their Hearts--and my Friend Rowley
and I have planned something for the Purpose.
ROWLEY.
[Exit.]
SCENE III.--At SIR PETER'S
--ROWLEY and SIR OLIVER--
SIR OLIVER. Ha! ha! ha! and so my old Friend is married, hey?--
a young wife out of the country!--ha! ha! that he should have stood
Bluff to old Bachelor so long and sink into a Husband at last!
ROWLEY. But you must not rally him on the subject Sir Oliver--'tis
a tender Point I assure you though He has been married only seven
months.
SIR OLIVER. Ah then he has been just half a year on the stool
of Repentance--Poor Peter! But you say he has entirely given up
Charles--never sees him, hey?
ROWLEY. His Prejudice against him is astonishing--and I am sure
greatly increased by a jealousy of him with Lady Teazle--which
he has been industriously led into by a scandalous Society--
in the neighbourhood--who have contributed not a little to Charles's
ill name. Whereas the truth is[,] I believe[,] if the lady
is partial to either of them his Brother is the Favourite.
SIR OLIVER. Aye--I know--there are a set of malicious prating
prudent Gossips both male and Female, who murder characters to kill
time, and will rob a young Fellow of his good name before He has years
to know the value of it. . . but I am not to be prejudiced against
my nephew by such I promise you! No! no--if Charles has done nothing
false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance.
ROWLEY. Then my life on't, you will reclaim him. Ah, Sir, it gives
me new vigour to find that your heart is not turned against him--
and that the son of my good old master has one friend however left--
SIR OLIVER. What! shall I forget Master Rowley--when I was at his
house myself--egad my Brother and I were neither of us very prudent
youths--and yet I believe you have not seen many better men than your
old master was[.]
ROWLEY. 'Tis this Reflection gives me assurance that Charles may yet
be a credit to his Family--but here comes Sir Peter----
SIR OLIVER. Egad so He does--mercy on me--He's greatly altered--
and seems to have a settled married look--one may read Husband
in his Face at this Distance.--
Enter SIR PETER
SIR PETER. Ha! Sir Oliver--my old Friend--welcome to England--
a thousand Times!
SIR OLIVER. Thank you--thank you--Sir Peter--and Efaith I am
as glad to find you well[,] believe me--
SIR PETER. Ah! 'tis a long time since we met--sixteen year I doubt
Sir Oliver--and many a cross accident in the Time--
SIR OLIVER. Aye I have had my share--but, what[!] I find you are
married--hey my old Boy--well--well it can't be help'd--and so I wish
you joy with all my heart--
SIR PETER. Thank you--thanks Sir Oliver.--Yes, I have entered into
the happy state but we'll not talk of that now.
SIR OLIVER. True true Sir Peter old Friends shouldn't begin
on grievances at first meeting. No, no--
ROWLEY. Take care pray Sir----
SIR OLIVER. Well--so one of my nephews I find is a wild Rogue--hey?
SIR PETER. Wild!--oh! my old Friend--I grieve for your disappointment
there--He's a lost young man indeed--however his Brother will make you
amends; Joseph is indeed what a youth should be--everybody in the
world speaks well of him--
SIR OLIVER. I am sorry to hear it--he has too good a character to be
an honest Fellow. Everybody speaks well of him! Psha! then He has
bow'd as low to Knaves and Fools as to the honest dignity of Virtue.
SIR PETER. What Sir Oliver do you blame him for not making Enemies?
SIR OLIVER. Yes--if He has merit enough to deserve them.
SIR PETER. Well--well--you'll be convinced when you know him--'tis
edification to hear him converse--he professes the noblest Sentiments.
SIR OLIVER. Ah plague on his Sentiments--if he salutes me with
a scrap sentence of morality in his mouth I shall be sick directly--
but however don't mistake me Sir Peter I don't mean to defend
Charles's Errors--but before I form my judgment of either of them,
I intend to make a trial of their Hearts--and my Friend Rowley
and I have planned something for the Purpose.
ROWLEY.