Lord _Town._ When I am spoken of, where without favour this action may be canvass'd, relate but half my provocations, and give me up to censure. [_Going._ Lady _Town._ Support me! save me! hide me from the world! [_Falls on Lady ~Grace~'s neck._ Lord _Town._ [_Returning._]----I had forgot me--You have no share in my resentment; therefore, as you have liv'd in friendship with her, your parting may admit of gentler terms than suit the honour of an injur'd husband. [_Offers to go out._ _Man._ [_Interposing._] My Lord, you must not, shall not leave her thus! one moment's stay can do your cause no wrong! If looks can speak the anguish of the heart, I'll answer with my life, there's something labouring in her mind, that would you bear the hearing, might deserve it. Lord _Town._ Consider! since we no more can meet; press not my staying to insult her. Lady _Town._ Yet stay my Lord----the little I would say, will not deserve an insult; and undeserv'd, I know your nature gives it not. But as you've call'd in friends, to witness your resentment, let them be equal hearers of my last reply. Lord _Town._ I shan't refuse you that, Madam----be it so. Lady _Town._ My Lord, you ever have complain'd I wanted love; but as you kindly have allowed I never gave it to another; so when you hear the story of my heart, though you may still complain, you will not wonder at my coldness. Lady _Grace._ This promises a reverse of temper. [_Apart._ _Man._ This, my Lord, you are concern'd to hear! Lord _Town._ Proceed, I am attentive. Lady _Town._ Before I was your bride, my Lord, the flattering world had talk'd me into beauty; which, at my glass, my youthful vanity confirm'd: wild with that fame, I thought mankind my slaves, I triumph'd over hearts while all my pleasure was their pain: yet was my own so equally insensible to all, that when a father's firm commands enjoin'd me to make choice of one, I even there declin'd the liberty he gave, and to his own election yielded up my youth----his tender care, my Lord, directed him to you----Our hands were join'd! But still my heart was wedded to its folly! My only joy was power, command, society, profuseness, and to lead in pleasures! The husband's right to rule, I thought a vulgar law, which only the deform'd or meanly spirited obey'd! I knew no directors, but my passions; no matter but my will! even you, my lord, some time o'ercome by love, was pleas'd with my delights; nor, then foresaw this mad misuse of your indulgence----And, though I call myself ungrateful, while I own it, yet as a truth, it cannot be deny'd----That kind indulgence has undone me! it added strength to my habitual failings, and in a heart thus warm, in wild unthinking life, no wonder if the gentler sense of love was lost.