AR. Is there anything in it that offends honour? SGAN. Why, if you marry her, she may demand the same freedom which she enjoyed as a girl? AR. Why not? SGAN. And you so far agree with her as to let her have patches and ribbons? AR. Doubtless. SGAN. To let her gad about madly at every ball and public assembly? AR. Yes, certainly. SGAN. And the beaux will visit at your house? AR. What then? SGAN. Who will junket and give entertainments? AR. With all my heart. SGAN. And your wife is to listen to their fine speeches? AR. Exactly. SGAN. And you will look on at these gallant visitors with a show of indifference? AR. Of course. SGAN. Go on, you old idiot. (_To Isabella_). Get indoors, and hear no more of this shameful doctrine. SCENE III.--ARISTE, SGANARELLE, LÉONOR, LISETTE. AR. I mean to trust to the faithfulness of my wife, and intend always to live as I have lived. SGAN. How pleased I shall be to see him victimized! AR. I cannot say what fate has in store for me; but as for you, I know that if you fail to be so, it is no fault of yours, for you are doing everything to bring it about. SGAN. Laugh on, giggler! Oh, what a joke it is to see a railer of nearly sixty! LEO. I promise to preserve him against the fate you speak of, if he is to receive my vows at the altar. He may rest secure; but I can tell you I would pass my word for nothing if I were your wife. LIS. We have a conscience for those who rely on us; but it is delightful, really, to cheat such folks as you. SGAN. Hush, you cursed ill-bred tongue! AR. Brother, you drew these silly words on yourself. Good bye. Alter your temper, and be warned that to shut up a wife is a bad plan. Your servant. SGAN. I am not yours. SCENE IV.--SGANARELLE, _alone_. Oh, they are all well suited to one another! What an admirable family. A foolish old man with a worn-out body who plays the fop; a girl-mistress and a thorough coquette; impudent servants;--no, wisdom itself could not succeed, but would exhaust sense and reason, trying to amend a household like this. By such associations, Isabella might lose those principles of honour which she learned amongst us; to prevent it, I shall presently send her back again to my cabbages and turkeys. SCENE V.--VALÈRE, SGANARELLE, ERGASTE. VAL. (_Behind_). Ergaste, that is he, the Argus whom I hate, the stern guardian of her whom I adore. SGAN. (_Thinking himself alone_). In short, is there not something wonderful in the corruption of manners now-a-days? VAL. I should like to address him, if I can get a chance, and try to strike up an acquaintance with him. SGAN. (_Thinking himself alone_). Instead of seeing that severity prevail which so admirably formed virtue in other days, uncontrolled and imperious youth here-about assumes... (_Valère bows to Sganarelle from a distance_). VAL. He does not see that we bow to him. ERG. Perhaps his blind eye is on this side. Let us cross to the right.