Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. AitkenSteele, Richard, Sir
General
Richard Steele: Edited, with an Introduction and Notes by G. A. Aitken
Steele, Richard, Sir
English drama (Comedy); Steele, Richard, Sir, 1672-1729
_Ind._ See, sir, my aunt already has succeeded, and brought him to your
wishes.
_Enter_ ISABELLA, _with_ SIR JOHN BEVIL, BEVIL, JUN., MRS. SEALAND,
CIMBERTON, MYRTLE, _and_ LUCINDA.
_Sir J. Bev._ [_Entering._] Where, where's this scene of wonder? Mr.
Sealand, I congratulate, on this occasion, our mutual happiness----Your
good sister, sir, has, with the story of your daughter's fortune,
filled us with surprise and joy. Now all exceptions are removed; my son
has now avowed his love, and turned all former jealousies and doubts to
approbation; and, I am told, your goodness has consented to reward him.
_Mr. Seal._ If, sir, a fortune equal to his father's hopes can make
this object worthy his acceptance.
_Bev. Jun._ I hear your mention, sir, of fortune, with pleasure only
as it may prove the means to reconcile the best of fathers to my love.
Let him be provident, but let me be happy.--My ever-destined, my
acknowledged wife! [_Embracing_ INDIANA.
_Ind._ Wife! Oh, my ever loved! My lord! my master!
_Sir J. Bev._ I congratulate myself, as well as you, that I had a son
who could, under such disadvantages, discover your great merit.
_Mr. Seal._ Oh, Sir John! how vain, how weak is human prudence! What
care, what foresight, what imagination could contrive such blest
events, to make our children happy, as Providence in one short hour has
laid before us?
_Cimb._ [_To_ MRS. SEALAND.] I am afraid, madam, Mr. Sealand is a
little too busy for our affair. If you please, we'll take another
opportunity.
_Mrs. Seal._ Let us have patience, sir.
_Cimb._ But we make Sir Geoffry wait, madam.
_Myrt._ O, sir, I am not in haste.
[_During this,_ BEV., JUN., _presents_ LUCINDA _to_ INDIANA.
_Mr. Seal._ But here! here's our general benefactor! Excellent young
man, that could be at once a lover to her beauty and a parent to her
virtue.
_Bev. Jun._ If you think that an obligation, sir, give me leave to
overpay myself, in the only instance that can now add to my felicity,
by begging you to bestow this lady on Mr. Myrtle.
_Mr. Seal._ She is his without reserve; I beg he may be sent for.
Mr. Cimberton, notwithstanding you never had my consent, yet there
is, since I last saw you, another objection to your marriage with my
daughter.
_Cimb._ I hope, sir, your lady has concealed nothing from me?
_Mr. Seal._ Troth, sir, nothing but what was concealed from
myself--another daughter, who has an undoubted title to half my estate.
_Cimb._ How, Mr. Sealand? Why, then, if half Mrs. Lucinda's fortune is
gone, you can't say that any of my estate is settled upon her. I was
in treaty for the whole; but if that is not to be come at, to be sure
there can be no bargain. Sir, I have nothing to do but take my leave
of your good lady, my cousin, and beg pardon for the trouble I have
given this old gentleman.
_Myrt._ That you have, Mr. Cimberton, with all my heart. [_Discovers
himself._
_All._ Mr. Myrtle!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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