The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02Dryden, John
General
The works of John Dryden, now first collected in eighteen volumes. Volume 02
Dryden, John
English literature
_Const_. I have given 'em the slip in the garden, to come and
overhear thee: No fat overgrown virgin of forty ever offered herself
so dog-cheap, or was more despised; methinks now this should mortify
thee exceedingly.
_Isa_. Not a whit the more for that: Cousin mine, our sex is not
so easily put out of conceit with our own beauties.
_Const_. Thou hast lost the opinion of thy honesty, and got
nothing in recompence: Now that's such an oversight in a lady--
_Isa_. You are deceived; they think me too virtuous for their
purpose; but I have yet another way to try, and you shall help me.
_Enter_ LOVEBY, _new habited_.
_Const_. Mr Loveby, welcome, welcome: Where have you been this
fortnight?
_Lov_. Faith, madam, out of town, to see a little thing that's
fallen to me upon the death of a grandmother.
_Const_. You thank death for the windfall, servant: But why are
you not in mourning for her?
_Lov_. Troth, madam, it came upon me so suddenly, I had not time:
'Twas a fortune utterly unexpected by me.
_Isa_. Why, was your grandmother so young, you could not look for
her decease?
_Lov_. Not for that neither; but I had many other kindred, whom
she might have left it to; only she heard I lived here in fashion, and
spent my money in the eye of the world.
_Const_. You forge these things prettily; but I have heard you
are as poor as a decimated cavalier, and had not one foot of land in
all the world.
_Lov_. Rivals' tales, rivals' tales, madam.
_Const_. Where lies your land, sir?
_Lov_. I'll tell you, madam, it has upon it a very fair manor
house; from one side you have in prospect an hanging garden.
_Isa_. Who was hanged there? not your grandmother, I hope?
_Lov_. In the midst of it you have a fountain: You have seen
that at Hampton-court? it will serve to give you a slight image of
it. Beyond the garden you look to a river through a perspective of
fruit-trees; and beyond the river you see a mead so flowery!--Well, I
shall never be at quiet, till we two make hay there.
_Const_. But where lies this paradise?
_Lov_. Pox on't; I am thinking to sell it, it has such a
villanous unpleasant name, it would have sounded so harsh in a lady's
ear. But for the fountain, madam--
_Const_. The fountain's a poor excuse, it will not hold water;
come, the name, the name.
_Lov_. Faith, it is come so lately into my hands, that I have
forgot the name on't.
_Isa_. That's much, now, that you should forget the name, and yet
could make such an exact description of the place.
_Lov_. If you would needs know, the name's Bawdy.--Sure this
will give a stop to their curiosity. [_Aside_.
_Isa_. At least you will tell us in what county it lies, that my
cousin may send to enquire about it: come, this shall not serve your
turn; tell us any town that's near it.
_Lov_. 'Twill be somewhat too far to send; it lies in the very
north of Scotland.
_Isa_. In good time, a paradise in the Highlands; is't not so,
sir?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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