The Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 12Fielding, Henry
General
The Works of Henry Fielding, vol. 12
Fielding, Henry
English literature -- 18th century
_Luck_. Discharge all your ill-nature on me, madam, but spare
poor Miss Harriot.
_Money_. Oh! then it is plain. I have suspected your familiarity
a long while. You are a base man. Is it not enough to stay three
months in my house without paying me a farthing, but you must ruin my
child?
_Luck_. I love her as my soul. Had I the world I'd give it her
all.
_Money_. But, as you happen to have nothing in the world, I
desire you would have nothing to say to her. I suppose you would have
settled all your castles in the air. Oh! I wish you had lived in one
of them, instead of my house. Well, I am resolved, when you have gone
away (which I heartily hope will be very soon) I'll hang over my door
in great red letters, "No lodgings for poets." Sure never was such a
guest as you have been. My floor is all spoiled with ink, my windows
with verses, and my door has been almost beat down with duns.
_Luck_. Would your house had been beaten down, and everything but
my dear Harriot crushed under it!
_Money_. Sir, sir----
_Luck_. Madam, madam! I will attack you at your own weapons; I
will pay you in your own coin.
_Money_. I wish you'd pay me in any coin, sir.
_Luck_. Look ye, madam, I'll do as much as a reasonable woman can
require; I'll shew you all I have; and give you all I have too, if you
please to accept it. [_Turns his pockets Inside out_.
_Money_. I will not be used in this manner. No, sir, I will be
paid, if there be any such thing as law.
_Luck_. By what law you will put money into my pocket I know not;
for I never heard of any one who got money by the law but the
lawyers. I have told you already, and I tell you again, that the first
money I get shall be yours; and I have great expectations from my
play. In the mean time your staying here can be of no service, and you
may possibly drive some line thoughts out of my head. I would write a
love scene, and your daughter would be more proper company, on that
occasion, than you.
_Money_. You would act a love-scene, I believe; but I shall
prevent you; for I intend to dispose of myself before my daughter.
_Luck_. Dispose of yourself!
_Money_. Yes, sir, dispose of myself. 'Tis very well known that I
have had very good offers since my last dear husband died. I might
have had an attorney of New Inn, or Mr Fillpot, the exciseman; yes, I
had my choice of two parsons, or a doctor of physick; and yet I
slighted them all; yes, I slighted them for--for--for you.
_Luck_. For me?
_Money_. Yes, you have seen too visible marks of my passion; too
visible for my reputation. [_Sobbing_.
_Luck_. I have heard very loud tokens of your passion; but I
rather took it for the passion of anger than of love.
_Money_. Oh! it was love, indeed. Nothing but love, upon my
soul!
_Luck_. The devil! This way of dunning is worse than the other.
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