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
Brumpton? The creature! She called as Frank's mother was? Brumpton! The
succuba! What a devil incarnate have I had in my bosom? Why, the common
abandoned town women would scruple such an action as this. Though
they have lost all regard to their own chastity, they would be tender
of another's. Why, sure she had no infancy. She never had virginity,
to have no compassion through memory of her own former innocence. This
is to forget her very humanity--her very sex. Where is my poor boy?
Where's Frank? Does not he want? How has he lived all this time? Not a
servant, I warrant, to attend him--what company can he keep? What can
he say of his father?
_Tru._ Though you made him not your heir, he is still your son, and has
all the duty and tenderness in the world for your memory.
_Ld. B._ It is impossible, Trusty; it is impossible. I will not rack
myself with the thought, that one I have injured can be so very
good--keep me in countenance--tell me he hates my very name, would not
assume my title because it descends from me. What's his company?
_Tru._ Young Tom Campley; they are never asunder.
_Ld. B._ I am glad he has my pretty tattler--the cheerful innocent
Harriot. I hope he'll be good to her; he's good-natured and well-bred.
_Tru._ But, my lord, she was very punctual in ordering the funeral. She
bid Sable be sure to lay you deep enough, she had heard such stories
of the wicked sextons taking up people; but I wish, my lord, you would
please to hear her and Tattleaid once more----
_Ld. B._ I know to what thy zeal tends; but I tell you, since you
cannot be convinced but that I have still a softness for her--I say
though I had so, it should never make me transgress that scrupulous
honour that becomes a peer of England. If I could forget injuries
done myself thus gross, I never will those done my friends. You knew
Sharlot's worthy father--No, there's no need of my seeing more of
this woman. I behold her now with the same eyes that you do; there's
a meanness in all she says or does; she has a great wit but a little
mind--something ever wanting to make her appear my Lady Brumpton.
She has nothing natively great. You see I love her not; I talk with
judgment of her.
_Tru._ I see it, my good lord, with joy I see it, nor care how few
things I see more in this world. My satisfaction is complete. Welcome
old age; welcome decay; 'tis not decay, but growth to a latter being.
[_Exit, leading_ LORD BRUMPTON.
_Re-enter_ TRUSTY, _meeting_ CABINET.
_Tru._ I have your letter, Mr. Cabinet.
_Cab._ I hope, sir, you'll believe it was not in my nature to be guilty
of so much baseness; but being born a gentleman, and bred out of all
roads of industry in that idle manner too many are, I soon spent a
small patrimony; and being debauched by luxury, I fell into the narrow
mind to dread no infamy like poverty, which made me guilty, as that
paper tells you; and had I not writ to you, I am sure I never could
have told you of it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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