[_Exit ~Flippanta~._ _Gripe._ I don't know that, I don't know that: But this I do know, that an honest man, who has marry'd a jade, whether she's pleas'd to spend her time at home or abroad, had better have liv'd a batchelor. _Enter ~Brass~._ _Brass._ O, Sir, I'm mighty glad I have found you. _Gripe._ Why, what's the matter, pr'ythee? _Brass._ Can no body hear us? _Gripe._ No, no, speak quickly. _Brass._ You han't seen _Araminta_, since the last letter I carry'd her from you? _Gripe._ Not I, I go prudently; I don't press things like your young firebrand lovers. _Brass._ But seriously, Sir, are you very much in love with her? _Gripe._ As mortal man has been. _Brass._ I'm sorry for't. _Gripe._ Why so, dear _Brass_? _Brass._ If you were never to see her more now? Suppose such a thing, d'ye think 'twou'd break your heart? _Gripe._ Oh! _Brass._ Nay, now I see you love her; wou'd you did not. _Gripe._ My dear friend. _Brass._ I'm in your interest deep: you see it. _Gripe._ I do: but speak, what miserable story hast thou for me? _Brass._ I had rather the devil had, phu----flown away with you quick, than to see you so much in love, as I perceive you are, since---- _Gripe._ Since what?----ho. _Brass._ _Araminta_, Sir. _Gripe._ Dead? _Brass._ No. _Gripe._ How then? _Brass._ Worse. _Gripe._ Out with't. _Brass._ Broke. _Gripe._ Broke! _Brass._ She is, poor lady, in a most unfortunate situation of affairs. But I have said too much. _Gripe._ No, no, 'tis very sad, but let's hear it. _Brass._ Sir, she charg'd me on my life never to mention it to you, of all men living. _Gripe._ Why, who should'st thou tell it to, but to the best of her friends? _Brass._ Ay, why there's it now, it's going just as I fancy'd. Now will I be hang'd if you are not enough in love to be engaging in this matter. But I must tell you, Sir, that as much concern as I have for that most excellent, beautiful, agreeable, distress'd, unfortunate lady, I'm too much your friend and servant, ever to let it be said, 'twas the means of your being ruin'd for a woman----by letting you know she esteem'd you more than any other man upon earth. _Gripe._ Ruin'd! what dost thou mean? _Brass._ Mean! Why! I mean that women always ruin those that love 'em, that's the rule. _Gripe._ The rule! _Brass._ Yes, the rule; why wou'd you have them ruin those that don't? How shall they bring that about? _Gripe._ But is there a necessity then, they shou'd ruin somebody? _Brass._ Yes, marry is there; how wou'd you have 'em support their expence else? Why, Sir, you can't conceive now----you can't conceive what _Araminta_'s privy-purse requires. Only her privy purse, Sir! Why, what do you imagine now she gave me for the last letter I carry'd her from you? 'Tis true, 'twas from a man she lik'd, else, perhaps, I had had my bones broke. But what do you think she gave me?