English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
_Spark._ Nay, egad, I am sure you do admire her extremely; I see't in
your eyes.--He does admire you, madam.--By the world, don't you?
_Har._ Yes, above the world, or the most glorious part of it, her whole
sex: and till now I never thought I should have envied you, or any man
about to marry, but you have the best excuse for marriage I ever knew.
_Alith._ Nay, now, sir, I'm satisfied you are of the society of the
wits and raillieurs, since you cannot spare your friend, even when he
is but too civil to you; but the surest sign is, since you are an enemy
to marriage,--for that I hear you hate as much as business or bad wine.
_Har._ Truly, madam, I was never an enemy to marriage till now, because
marriage was never an enemy to me before.
_Alith._ But why, sir, is marriage an enemy to you now? because it robs
you of your friend here? for you look upon a friend married, as one
gone into a monastery, that is, dead to the world.
_Har._ 'Tis indeed, because you marry him; I see, madam, you can guess
my meaning. I do confess heartily and openly, I wish it were in my
power to break the match; by Heavens I would.
_Spark._ Poor Frank!
_Alith._ Would you be so unkind to me?
_Har._ No, no, 'tis not because I would be unkind to you.
_Spark._ Poor Frank! no gad, 'tis only his kindness to me.
_Pinch._ Great kindness to you indeed! Insensible fop, let a man make
love to his wife to his face! [_Aside._
_Spark._ Come, dear Frank, for all my wife there, that shall be, thou
shalt enjoy me sometimes, dear rogue. By my honour, we men of wit
condole for our deceased brother in marriage, as much as for one dead
in earnest: I think that was prettily said of me, ha, Harcourt?--But
come, Frank, be not melancholy for me.
_Har._ No, I assure you, I am not melancholy for you.
_Spark._ Prithee, Frank, dost think my wife that shall be there, a fine
person?
_Har._ I could gaze upon her till I became as blind as you are.
_Spark._ How as I am? how?
_Har._ Because you are a lover, and true lovers are blind, stock blind.
_Spark._ True, true; but by the world she has wit too, as well as
beauty: go, go with her into a corner, and try if she has wit; talk to
her anything, she's bashful before me.
_Har._ Indeed if a woman wants wit in a corner, she has it nowhere.
_Alith._ Sir, you dispose of me a little before your time--[_Aside to_
SPARKISH.
_Spark._ Nay, nay, madam, let me have an earnest of your obedience,
or--go, go, madam--[HARCOURT _courts_ ALITHEA _aside._
_Pinch._ How, sir! if you are not concerned for the honour of a wife, I
am for that of a sister; he shall not debauch her. Be a pander to your
own wife! bring men to her! let 'em make love before your face! thrust
'em into a corner together, then leave 'em in private! is this your
town wit and conduct?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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