English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
_Har._ Damned, senseless, impudent, virtuous jade! Well, since she
won't let me have her, she'll do as good, she'll make me hate her.
[_Aside._
_Alith._ A common bubble--
_Spark._ Pshaw!
_Alith._ A coward--
_Spark._ Pshaw, pshaw!
_Alith._ A senseless, drivelling idiot--
_Spark._ How! did he disparage my parts? Nay, then, my honour's
concerned, I can't put up that, sir, by the world--brother, help me
to kill him--[_Aside_] I may draw now, since we have the odds of
him:--'tis a good occasion, too, before my mistress--[_Offers to draw._
_Alith._ Hold, hold!
_Spark._ What, what?
_Alith._ [_Aside._] I must not let 'em kill the gentleman neither, for
his kindness to me: I am so far from hating him, that I wish my gallant
had his person and understanding. Nay, if my honour--
_Spark._ I'll be thy death.
_Alith._ Hold, hold! Indeed, to tell the truth, the gentleman said
after all, that what he spoke was but out of friendship to you.
_Spark._ How! say, I am, I am a fool, that is, no wit, out of
friendship to me?
_Alith._ Yes, to try whether I was concerned enough for you; and made
love to me only to be satisfied of my virtue, for your sake.
_Har._ Kind, however. [_Aside._
_Spark._ Nay, if it were so, my dear rogue, I ask thee pardon; but why
would not you tell me so, faith?
_Har._ Because I did not think on't, faith.
_Spark._ Come, Horner does not come; Harcourt, let's be gone to the new
play.--Come, madam.
_Alith._ I will not go, if you intend to leave me alone in the box, and
run into the pit, as you use to do.
_Spark._ Pshaw! I'll leave Harcourt with you in the box to entertain
you, and that's as good; if I sat in the box, I should be thought no
judge but of trimmings.--Come away, Harcourt, lead her down. [_Exeunt_
SPARKISH, HARCOURT, _and_ ALITHEA.
_Pinch._ Well, go thy ways, for the flower of the true town fops, such
as spend their estates before they come to 'em, and are cuckolds before
they're married. But let me go look to my own freehold.--How!
_Enter_ Lady FIDGET, Mrs. DAINTY FIDGET, _and_ Mrs. SQUEAMISH.
_Lady Fid._ Your servant, sir: where is your lady? We are come to wait
upon her to the new play.
_Pinch._ New play!
_Lady Fid._ And my husband will wait upon you presently.
_Pinch._ [_Aside._] Damn your civility.--[_Aloud._] Madam, by no means;
I will not see Sir Jasper here, till I have waited upon him at home;
nor shall my wife see you till she has waited upon your ladyship at
your lodgings.
_Lady Fid._ Now we are here, sir?
_Pinch._ No, Madam.
_Mrs. Dain._ Pray, let us see her.
_Mrs. Squeam._ We will not stir till we see her.
_Pinch._ [_Aside._] A pox on you all!--[_Goes to the door, and
returns._] She has locked the door, and is gone abroad.
_Lady Fid._ No, you have locked the door, and she's within.
_Mrs. Dain._ They told us below she was here.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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