+SCENE+, _~Constant~'s Lodgings_. _Enter ~Constant~ and ~Heartfree~._ _Const._ But what dost think will become of this Business? _Heart._ 'Tis easier to think what will not come on't. _Const._ What's that? _Heart._ A Challenge. I know the Knight too well for that; his dear Body will always prevail upon his noble Soul to be quiet. _Const._ But tho' he dare not challenge me, perhaps he may venture to challenge his Wife. _Heart._ Not if you whisper him in the Ear, you won't have him do't; and there's no other way left, that I see. For as drunk as he was, he'll remember you and I were where we shou'd not be; and I don't think him quite Blockhead enough yet to be persuaded we were got into his Wife's Closet only to peep into her Prayer-Book. _Enter a Servant with a Letter._ _Serv._ Sir, here's a Letter; a Porter brought it. _Const._ O ho, here's Instructions for us. _Reads:_ _The Accident that has happen'd has touch'd our Invention to the quick. We wou'd fain come off, without your help; but find that's impossible. In a Word, the whole Business must be thrown upon a Matrimonial Intrigue between your Friend and mine. But if the Parties are not fond enough to go quite through with the matter, 'tis sufficient for our Turn, they own the Design. We'll find Pretences enough to break the Match._ Adieu. ----Well, Woman for Invention! How long wou'd my Block-Head have been producing this!----Hey, _Heartfree_? What, musing, Man? Pr'ythee be chearful. What say'st thou, Friend, to this matrimonial Remedy? _Heart._ Why, I say, 'tis worse than the Disease. _Const._ Here's a Fellow for you! There's Beauty and Money on her Side, and Love up to the Ears on his: and yet---- _Heart._ And yet, I think, I may reasonably be allow'd to boggle at marrying the Niece, in the very Moment that you are debauching the Aunt. _Const._ Why, truly, there may be something in that. But have not you a good Opinion enough of your own Parts, to believe you cou'd keep a Wife to yourself? _Heart._ I shou'd have, if I had a good Opinion enough of her's, to believe she cou'd do as much by me. For to do 'em right, after all, the Wife seldom rambles, till the Husband shews her the way. _Const._ 'Tis true, a Man of real Worth scarce ever is a Cuckold, but by his own Fault. Women are not naturally lewd; there must be something to urge 'em to it. They'll cuckold a Churl, out of Revenge; a Fool, because they despise him; a Beast, because they loath him. But when they make bold with a Man they once had a well-grounded Value for, 'tis because they first see themselves neglected by him. _Heart._ Nay, were I well assured that I should never grow Sir _John_, I ne'er shou'd fear _Belinda_, wou'd play my Lady. But our Weakness, thou knowest, my Friend, consists in that very Change we so impudently throw upon (indeed) a steadier and more generous Sex.