The Comedies of William Congreve: Volume 1 [of 2]Congreve, William
General
The Comedies of William Congreve: Volume 1 [of 2]
Congreve, William
Comedy plays
SHARP. No, 'tis gone, 'tis lost--ten thousand devils on that chance
which drew me hither; ay, here, just here, this spot to me is hell;
nothing to be found, but the despair of what I've lost. [_Looking about
as in search_.]
SIR JO. Poor gentleman! By the Lord Harry I'll stay no longer, for I
have found too--
SHARP. Ha! who's that has found? What have you found? Restore it
quickly, or by--
SIR JO. Not I, sir, not I; as I've a soul to be saved, I have found
nothing but what has been to my loss, as I may say, and as you were
saying, sir.
SHARP. Oh, your servant, sir; you are safe, then, it seems. 'Tis an ill
wind that blows nobody good. Well, you may rejoice over my ill fortune,
since it paid the price of your ransom.
SIR JO. I rejoice! agad, not I, sir: I'm very sorry for your loss, with
all my heart, blood and guts, sir; and if you did but know me, you'd
ne'er say I were so ill-natured.
SHARP. Know you! Why, can you be so ungrateful to forget me?
SIR JO. O Lord, forget him! No, no, sir, I don't forget you--because I
never saw your face before, agad. Ha, ha, ha!
SHARP. How! [_Angrily_.]
SIR JO. Stay, stay, sir, let me recollect--he's a damned angry fellow--I
believe I had better remember him, until I can get out of his sight; but
out of sight out of mind, agad. [_Aside_.]
SHARP. Methought the service I did you last night, sir, in preserving
you from those ruffians, might have taken better root in your shallow
memory.
SIR JO. Gads-daggers-belts-blades and scabbards, this is the very
gentleman! How shall I make him a return suitable to the greatness of
his merit? I had a pretty thing to that purpose, if he ha'n't frighted
it out of my memory. Hem! hem! sir, I most submissively implore your
pardon for my transgression of ingratitude and omission; having my entire
dependence, sir, upon the superfluity of your goodness, which, like an
inundation, will, I hope, totally immerge the recollection of my error,
and leave me floating, in your sight, upon the full-blown bladders of
repentance--by the help of which, I shall once more hope to swim into
your favour. [_Bows_.]
SHARP. So-h, oh, sir, I am easily pacified, the acknowledgment of a
gentleman--
SIR JO. Acknowledgment! Sir, I am all over acknowledgment, and will not
stick to show it in the greatest extremity by night or by day, in
sickness or in health, winter or summer; all seasons and occasions shall
testify the reality and gratitude of your superabundant humble servant,
Sir Joseph Wittoll, knight. Hem! hem!
SHARP. Sir Joseph Wittoll?
SIR JO. The same, sir, of Wittoll Hall in _Comitatu_ Bucks.
SHARP. Is it possible! Then I am happy to have obliged the mirror of
knighthood and pink of courtesie in the age. Let me embrace you.
SIR JO. O Lord, sir!
SHARP. My loss I esteem as a trifle repaid with interest, since it has
purchased me the friendship and acquaintance of the person in the world
whose character I admire.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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