'Tis not the lover's merit wins the field, But to themselves alone the beauteous yield. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I.--MRS. CLERIMONT'S _Room._ _Enter_ MRS. CLERIMONT, FAINLOVE _(carrying her lap-dog), and_ JENNY. _Jen._ Madam, the footman that's recommended to you is below, if your ladyship will please to take him. _Mrs. Cler._ O fie; don't believe I'll think on't. It is impossible he should be good for anything--The English are so saucy with their liberty--I'll have all my lower servants French. There cannot be a good footman born out of an absolute monarchy. _Jen._ I am beholden to your ladyship for believing so well of the maidservants in England. _Mrs. Cler._ Indeed, Jenny, I could wish thou wert really French; for thou art plain English in spite of example. Your arms do but hang on, and you move perfectly upon joints; not with a swim of the whole person--But I am talking to you, and have not adjusted myself to-day: What pretty company a glass is, to have another self! [_Kisses the dog._] To converse in soliloquy! To have company that never contradicts or displeases us! The pretty visible echo of our actions! [_Kisses the dog._] How easy, too, it is to be disencumbered with stays, where a woman has anything like shape; if no shape, a good air--But I look best when I'm talking. [_Kisses the lap-dog in_ FAINLOVE'S _arms._ _Jen._ You always look well. _Mrs. Cler._ For I'm always talking, you mean so; that disquiets thy sullen English temper; but I don't really look so well when I am silent. If I do but offer to speak, then I may say that--Oh, bless me, Jenny, I am so pale, I am afraid of myself--I have not laid on half red enough--What a dough-baked thing was I before I improved myself, and travelled for beauty! However, my face is very prettily designed to-day. _Fain._ Indeed, madam, you begin to have so fine an hand, that you are younger every day than other. _Mrs. Cler._ The ladies abroad used to call me Mademoiselle Titian, I was so famous for my colouring; but prithee, wench, bring me my black eyebrows out of the next room.[92] _Jen._ Madam, I have 'em in my hand. _Fain._ It would be happy for all that are to see you to-day, if you could change your eyes, too. _Mrs. Cler._ Gallant enough--no, hang it, I'll wear these I have on; this mode of visage takes mightily. I had three ladies last week came over to my complexion. I think to be a fair woman this fortnight, till I find I'm aped too much--I believe there are an hundred copies of me already. _Jen._ Dear madam, won't your ladyship please to let me be of the next countenance you leave off? _Mrs. Cler._ You may, Jenny; but I assure you it is a very pretty piece of ill-nature, for a woman that has any genius for beauty to observe the servile imitation of her manner, her motion, her glances, and her smiles. _Fain._ Ay, indeed, madam, nothing can be so ridiculous as to imitate the inimitable.