_Mart._ Within a Day of Matrimony; it is too quick; I have not yet had
sufficient Time to prepare her Mind for that solemn Sacrament.
_Old Lar._ Prepare her Mind for a young Fellow; prepare your Mind for a
Bishoprick.
_Mart._ Sir, there are Ceremonies requisite, I shall be as expeditious
as possible, but the Church has Rules.
_Old Lar._ Sir, you may be as expeditious or as slow as you please, but
I will not have my Boy disappointed of his Happiness one Day, for all
the Rules in _Europe_.
SCENE V.
Martin, Isabel.
_Mart._ I shall bring this Haughtiness to a Penance, you may not like.
Well, my dear Daughter, I hope your Account is not long. You have not
many Articles since our last Reckoning.
_Isa._ I wish you do not think it so, Father. First, telling nine Lyes
at the Opera the other Night to Mr. _Laroon_; yesterday talk'd during
the whole Mass to a young Cavalier, [_he groans._] Nay, if you groan
already, I shall make you groan more before I have done; last Night
cheated at Cards, scandalized three of my Acquaintance, went to Bed
without saying my Prayers, and dreamt of Mr. _Laroon_.
_Mart._ Oh!--Tell me the Particulars of that Dream.
_Isa._ Nay, Father, that I must be excus'd.
_Mart._ Modesty at Confession is as unseasonable as in Bed, and your
Mind should appear as naked to your Confessor, as your Person to your
Husband.
_Isa._ I thought he embraced me with the utmost Tenderness.
_Mart._ But were you pleased therewith?
_Isa._ You know, Father, a Lye now would be the greatest of Sins. I was
not displeased I assure you. But I have often heard you say, there is no
Sin in Love.
_Mart._ No, in Love it self there is not: Love is not _Malum in se_. Nor
in the Excess is there sometimes any: but then it must be rightly
placed, must be directed to a proper Object. The Love a Daughter bears
her Confessor is no doubt not only innocent, but extremely laudable.
_Isa._ Yes, but that--that is another sort of Love, you know.
_Mart._ You are deceived, there is but one sort of Love which is
justifiable, or, indeed, desirable.
_Isa._ I hope my Love for _Laroon_ is that.
_Mart._ That I know not, I wish it may; however, I have some Dispute as
yet remaining with me concerning it; 'till that be satisfied, it will be
improper for you to proceed any farther in the Affair. All the Penance,
therefore, I shall enjoin you on this Confession, is to defer your
Marriage one Week; by which time I shall have resolved within my self
whether you shall marry him at all.
_Isa._ Not marry him at all? Sure, Father, you are not in earnest.
_Mart._ I never jest on these Occasions.
_Isa._ What Reason can you have?
_Mart._ My Reasons may not be so ripe for your Ears at present. But,
perhaps, better things are designed for you.
_Isa._ A Fidlestick! I tell you, Father, better things cannot be
designed for me. I suppose, you have found out some old Fellow with
twenty Livres a Year more in his Power; but I can assure you, if I marry
not _Laroon_, I'll not marry any.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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