_Y. Mir._ Hold, hold, madam, not so fast--As you have variety of vanities
to make coxcombs of us; so we have vows, oaths, and protestations, of
all sorts and sizes, to make fools of you--And this, in short, my dear
creature, is our present condition. I have sworn, and lied, briskly, to
gain my ends of you; your ladyship has patched and painted violently, to
gain your ends of me; but, since we are both disappointed, let us make a
drawn battle, and part clear on both sides.
_Oriana._ With all my heart, sir! give me up my contract, and I'll never
see your face again.
_Y. Mir._ Indeed, I won't, child!
_Oriana._ What, sir! neither do one nor t'other?
_Y. Mir._ No, you shall die a maid, unless you please to be otherwise,
upon my terms.
_Oriana._ What do you intend by this, sir?
_Y. Mir._ Why, to starve you into compliance;--lookye, you shall never
marry any man; and you had as good let me do you a kindness as a
stranger.
_Oriana._ Sir, you're a----
_Y. Mir._ What am I, ma'am?
_Oriana._ A villain, sir.
_Y. Mir._ I'm glad on't--I never knew an honest fellow in my life, but
was a villain upon these occasions. Han't you drawn yourself, now, into
a very pretty dilemma? ha! ha! ha! the poor lady has made a vow of
virginity, when she thought of making a vow to the contrary. Was ever
poor woman so cheated into chastity?
_Oriana._ Sir, my fortune is equal to yours, my friends as powerful, and
both shall be put to the test, to do me justice.
_Y. Mir._ What! you'll force me to marry you, will ye?
_Oriana._ Sir, the law shall.
_Y. Mir._ But the law can't force me to do any thing else, can it?
_Oriana._ Pshaw, I despise thee--Monster!
_Y. Mir._ Kiss and be friends, then--Don't cry, child, and you shall
have your sugar plumb--Come, madam, d'ye think I could be so unreasonable
as to make you fast all your life long! No, I did but jest, you shall
have your liberty--here, take your contract, and give me mine.
_Oriana._ No, I won't.
_Y. Mir._ Eh! What, is the girl a fool?
_Oriana._ No, sir, you shall find me cunning enough to do myself
justice; and since I must not depend upon your love, I'll be revenged,
and force you to marry me, out of spite.
_Y. Mir._ Then I'll beat thee out of spite, and make a most confounded
husband!
_Oriana._ O, sir, I shall match ye! A good husband makes a good wife at
any time.
_Y. Mir._ I'll rattle down your china about your ears.
_Oriana._ And I'll rattle about the city, to run you in debt for more.
_Y. Mir._ I'll tear the furbelow off your clothes, and when you swoon
for vexation, you shan't have a penny, to buy a bottle of hartshorn.
_Oriana._ And you, sir, shall have hartshorn in abundance.
_Y. Mir._ I'll keep as many mistresses as I have coach horses.
_Oriana._ And I'll keep as many gallants as you have grooms.
_Y. Mir._ But, sweet madam, there is such a thing as a divorce!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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