The School For Scandal [15]
And Sir Peter shall own he has been for once mistaken.
SIR PETER. My life on Joseph's Honour----
SIR OLIVER. Well come give us a bottle of good wine--and we'll
drink the Lads' Healths and tell you our scheme.
SIR PETER. Alons [Allons], then----
SIR OLIVER. But don't Sir Peter be so severe against your old
Friend's son.
SIR PETER. 'Tis his Vices and Follies have made me his Enemy.--
ROWLEY. Come--come--Sir Peter consider how early He was left
to his own guidance.
SIR OLIVER. Odds my Life--I am not sorry that He has run out
of the course a little--for my Part, I hate to see dry Prudence
clinging to the green juices of youth--'tis like ivy round
a sapling and spoils the growth of the Tree.
END OF THE SECOND ACT
ACT III
SCENE I.--At SIR PETER'S
SIR PETER, SIR OLIVER, and ROWLEY
SIR PETER. Well, then, we will see the Fellows first and have our
wine afterwards.--but how is this, Master Rowley--I don't see
the Jet of your scheme.
ROWLEY. Why Sir--this Mr. Stanley whom I was speaking of, is nearly
related to them by their mother. He was once a merchant in Dublin--
but has been ruined by a series of undeserved misfortunes--and now
lately coming over to solicit the assistance of his friends here--
has been flyng [flung] into prison by some of his Creditors--
where he is now with two helpless Boys.--
SIR OLIVER. Aye and a worthy Fellow too I remember him. But what
is this to lead to--?
ROWLEY. You shall hear--He has applied by letter both to Mr. Surface
and Charles--from the former he has received nothing but evasive
promises of future service, while Charles has done all that his
extravagance has left him power to do--and He is at this time
endeavouring to raise a sum of money--part of which, in the midst of
his own distresses, I know He intends for the service of poor Stanley.
SIR OLIVER. Ah! he is my Brother's Son.
SIR PETER. Well, but how is Sir Oliver personally to----
ROWLEY. Why Sir I will inform Charles and his Brother that Stanley
has obtain'd permission to apply in person to his Friends--and as they
have neither of them ever seen him[,] let Sir Oliver assume his
character--and he will have a fair opportunity of judging at least
of the Benevolence of their Dispositions.
SIR PETER. Pshaw! this will prove nothing--I make no doubt Charles
is Coxcomb and thoughtless enough to give money to poor relations
if he had it--
SIR OLIVER. Then He shall never want it--. I have brought
a few Rupees home with me Sir Peter--and I only want to be sure
of bestowing them rightly.--
ROWLEY. Then Sir believe me you will find in the youngest Brother
one who in the midst of Folly and dissipation--has still, as our
immortal Bard expresses it,--
"a Tear for Pity and a Hand open as the day for melting Charity."
SIR PETER. Pish! What signifies his having an open Hand or Purse
either when He has nothing left to give!--but if you talk of humane
Sentiments--Joseph is the man--Well, well, make the trial, if you
please. But where is the fellow whom you brought for Sir Oliver
to examine, relative to Charles's affairs?
ROWLEY. Below waiting his commands, and no one can give him better
intelligence--This, Sir Oliver, is a friendly Jew, who to do him
justice, has done everything in his power to bring your nephew to
a proper sense of his extravagance.
SIR PETER. Pray let us have him in.
ROWLEY. Desire Mr. Moses to walk upstairs.
[Calls to SERVANT.]
SIR PETER. But Pray why should you suppose he will speak the truth?
ROWLEY. Oh, I have convinced him that he has no chance of recovering
certain Sums advanced to Charles but through the bounty of Sir Oliver,
who He knows is arrived; so that you may depend on his Fidelity to his
interest. I have also another evidence in my Power, one Snake, whom
I shall shortly produce to remove some of YOUR Prejudices[,] Sir
Peter[,] relative to Charles and Lady Teazle.
SIR PETER. I have heard too much on that subject.
ROWLEY. Here comes
SIR PETER. My life on Joseph's Honour----
SIR OLIVER. Well come give us a bottle of good wine--and we'll
drink the Lads' Healths and tell you our scheme.
SIR PETER. Alons [Allons], then----
SIR OLIVER. But don't Sir Peter be so severe against your old
Friend's son.
SIR PETER. 'Tis his Vices and Follies have made me his Enemy.--
ROWLEY. Come--come--Sir Peter consider how early He was left
to his own guidance.
SIR OLIVER. Odds my Life--I am not sorry that He has run out
of the course a little--for my Part, I hate to see dry Prudence
clinging to the green juices of youth--'tis like ivy round
a sapling and spoils the growth of the Tree.
END OF THE SECOND ACT
ACT III
SCENE I.--At SIR PETER'S
SIR PETER, SIR OLIVER, and ROWLEY
SIR PETER. Well, then, we will see the Fellows first and have our
wine afterwards.--but how is this, Master Rowley--I don't see
the Jet of your scheme.
ROWLEY. Why Sir--this Mr. Stanley whom I was speaking of, is nearly
related to them by their mother. He was once a merchant in Dublin--
but has been ruined by a series of undeserved misfortunes--and now
lately coming over to solicit the assistance of his friends here--
has been flyng [flung] into prison by some of his Creditors--
where he is now with two helpless Boys.--
SIR OLIVER. Aye and a worthy Fellow too I remember him. But what
is this to lead to--?
ROWLEY. You shall hear--He has applied by letter both to Mr. Surface
and Charles--from the former he has received nothing but evasive
promises of future service, while Charles has done all that his
extravagance has left him power to do--and He is at this time
endeavouring to raise a sum of money--part of which, in the midst of
his own distresses, I know He intends for the service of poor Stanley.
SIR OLIVER. Ah! he is my Brother's Son.
SIR PETER. Well, but how is Sir Oliver personally to----
ROWLEY. Why Sir I will inform Charles and his Brother that Stanley
has obtain'd permission to apply in person to his Friends--and as they
have neither of them ever seen him[,] let Sir Oliver assume his
character--and he will have a fair opportunity of judging at least
of the Benevolence of their Dispositions.
SIR PETER. Pshaw! this will prove nothing--I make no doubt Charles
is Coxcomb and thoughtless enough to give money to poor relations
if he had it--
SIR OLIVER. Then He shall never want it--. I have brought
a few Rupees home with me Sir Peter--and I only want to be sure
of bestowing them rightly.--
ROWLEY. Then Sir believe me you will find in the youngest Brother
one who in the midst of Folly and dissipation--has still, as our
immortal Bard expresses it,--
"a Tear for Pity and a Hand open as the day for melting Charity."
SIR PETER. Pish! What signifies his having an open Hand or Purse
either when He has nothing left to give!--but if you talk of humane
Sentiments--Joseph is the man--Well, well, make the trial, if you
please. But where is the fellow whom you brought for Sir Oliver
to examine, relative to Charles's affairs?
ROWLEY. Below waiting his commands, and no one can give him better
intelligence--This, Sir Oliver, is a friendly Jew, who to do him
justice, has done everything in his power to bring your nephew to
a proper sense of his extravagance.
SIR PETER. Pray let us have him in.
ROWLEY. Desire Mr. Moses to walk upstairs.
[Calls to SERVANT.]
SIR PETER. But Pray why should you suppose he will speak the truth?
ROWLEY. Oh, I have convinced him that he has no chance of recovering
certain Sums advanced to Charles but through the bounty of Sir Oliver,
who He knows is arrived; so that you may depend on his Fidelity to his
interest. I have also another evidence in my Power, one Snake, whom
I shall shortly produce to remove some of YOUR Prejudices[,] Sir
Peter[,] relative to Charles and Lady Teazle.
SIR PETER. I have heard too much on that subject.
ROWLEY. Here comes