_Cel_. But since my Brother came from _Italy_,
And brought young _Bellmour_ to our House,
How very little thou hadst said of him!
How much above thy Praise, I found the Youth!
_Nur_. Very pretty! You are grown a notable Proficient in Love--And you
are resolv’d (if he please) to marry him?
_Cel_. Or I must die.
_Nur_. Ay, but you know the Lord _Plotwell_ has the Possession of all
his Estate, and if he marry without his liking, has Power to take away
all his Fortune, and then I think it were not so good marrying him.
_Cel_. Not marrying him! Oh, canst thou think so poorly of me?
Yes, I would marry him, though our scanty Fortune
Cou’d only purchase us
A lonely Cottage, in some silent Place,
All cover’d o’er with Thatch,
Defended from the Outrages of Storms
By leafless Trees, in Winter; and from Heat,
With Shades, which their kind Boughs wou’d bear anew;
Under whose Covert we’d feed our gentle Flock,
That shou’d in gratitude repay us Food,
And mean and humble Clothing.
_Nur_. Very fine!
_Cel_. There we wou’d practise such degrees of Love,
Such lasting, innocent, unheard of Joys,
As all the busy World should wonder at,
And, amidst all their Glories, find none such.
_Nur_. Good lack! how prettily Love teaches his Scholars to prattle.--
But hear ye, fair Mrs. _Celinda_, you have forgot to what end and purpose
you came to Town; not to marry Mr. _Bellmour_, as I take it--but Sir
_Timothy Tawdrey_, that Spark of Men.
_Cel_. Oh, name him not--Let me not in one Moment
Descend from Heaven to Hell--
How came that wretched thing into thy Noddle?
_Nur_. Faith, Mistress, I took pity of thee, I saw you so elevated with
Thoughts of Mr. _Bellmour_, I found it necessary to take you down a
degree lower.
_Cel_. Why did not Heaven make all Men like lo _Bellmour_?
So strangely sweet and charming!
_Nur_. Marry come up, you speak well for your self;
Oh intolerable loving Creature!
But here comes the utmost of your Wishes.
_Cel_. My Brother, and _Bellmour_! with strange Men!
_Enter_ Friendlove, Bellmour, _Sir_ Timothy, Sham, _and_ Sharp.
_Friend_. Sister, I’ve brought you here a Lover, this is the worthy
Person you have heard of, Sir _Timothy Tawdrey_.
Sir _Tim_. Yes, faith, Madam, I am Sir _Timothy Tawdrey_, at your
Service--Pray are not you Mrs. _Celinda Dresswell_?
_Cel_. The same, but cannot return your Compliment.
Sir _Tim_. Oh Lord, oh Lord, not return a Compliment. Faith, _Ned_, thy
Sister’s quite spoil’d, for want of Town-Education; ‘tis pity, for she’s
devilish pretty.
_Friend_. She’s modest, Sir, before Company; therefore these Gentlemen
and I will withdraw into the next Room.
_Cel_. Inhuman Brother! Will you leave me alone with this Sot?
_Friend_. Yes, and if you would be rid of the trouble of him, be not
coy, nor witty; two things he hates.
_Bel_. ‘Sdeath! Must she be blown upon by that Fool?
_Friend_. Patience, dear _Frank_, a little while.
[_Exeunt_ Friend. Bell. Sham _and_ Sharp.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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