_Aman._ I shall begin to think I have cause, if you persist in making it a Secret. _Lov._ I'll then convince you you have none, by making it no longer so. Know then, I happen'd in the Play to find my very Character, only with the Addition of a Relapse; which struck me so, I put a sudden Stop to a most harmless Entertainment, which till then diverted me between the Acts. 'Twas to admire the Workmanship of Nature, in the Face of a young Lady that sat some distance from me, she was so exquisitely handsome---- _Aman._ So exquisitely handsome! _Lov._ Why do you repeat my Words, my Dear? _Aman._ Because you seem'd to speak them with such Pleasure, I thought I might oblige you with their Echo. _Lov._ Then you are alarmed, _Amanda_? _Aman._ It is my Duty to be so, when you are in danger. _Lov._ You are too quick in apprehending for me; all will be well when you have heard me out. I do confess I gaz'd upon her, nay, eagerly I gaz'd upon her. _Aman._ Eagerly! That's with Desire. _Lov._ No, I desir'd her not: I view'd her with a World of Admiration, but not one Glance of Love. _Aman._ Take heed of trusting to such nice Distinctions. _Lov._ I did take heed; for observing in the Play, that he who seem'd to represent me there, was, by an Accident like this, unwarily surpriz'd into a Net, in which he lay a poor intangled Slave, and brought a Train of Mischiefs on his Head, I snatch'd my Eyes away; they pleaded hard for leave to look again, but I grew absolute, and they obey'd. _Aman._ Were they the only things that were inquisitive? Had I been in your place, my Tongue, I fancy, had been curious too: I shou'd have ask'd her Name, and where she liv'd (yet still without Design:)--Who was she, pray? _Lov._ Indeed I cannot tell. _Aman._ You will not tell. _Lov._ By all that's sacred, then, I did not ask. _Aman._ Nor do you know what Company was with her? _Lov._ I do not. _Aman._ Then I am calm again. _Lov._ Why, were you disturb'd? _Aman._ Had I then no cause? _Lov._ None certainly. _Aman._ I thought I had. _Lov._ But you thought wrong, _Amanda_; For turn the Case, and let it be your Story; Should you come home, and tell me you had seen a handsome Man, shou'd I grow jealous because you had Eyes? _Aman._ But shou'd I tell you he were exquisitely so; that I had gaz'd on him with Admiration; that I had look'd with eager Eyes upon him; shou'd you not think 'twere possible I might go one Step further, and enquire his Name? _Lov._ [_Aside._] She has Reason on her side, I have talk'd too much; but I must turn it off another way. [_To Aman._] Will you then make no difference, _Amanda_, between the Language of our Sex and yours? There is a Modesty restrains your Tongues, which makes you speak by halves when you commend; but roving Flattery gives a loose to ours, which makes us still speak double what we think: You shou'd not therefore, in so strict a Sense, take what I said to her Advantage.