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SHARP。 I wait on you; sir。 Nay; pray; Captain; you are Sir Joseph's back。
SCENE III。
ARAMINTA; BELINDA; BETTY waiting; in Araminta's apartment。
BELIN。 Ah! nay; dear; prithee; good; dear; sweet cousin; no more。 O Gad! I swear you'd make one sick to hear you。
ARAM。 Bless me! what have I said to move you thus?
BELIN。 Oh; you have raved; talked idly; and all in commendation of that filthy; awkward; two…legged creature man。 You don't know what you've said; your fever has transported you。
ARAM。 If love be the fever which you mean; kind heaven avert the cure。 Let me have oil to feed that flame; and never let it be extinct till I myself am ashes。
BELIN。 There was a whine! O Gad; I hate your horrid fancy。 This love is the devil; and; sure; to be in love is to be possessed。 'Tis in the head; the heart; the blood; theall over。 O Gad; you are quite spoiled。 I shall loathe the sight of mankind for your sake。
ARAM。 Fie! this is gross affectation。 A little of Bellmour's company would change the scene。
BELIN。 Filthy fellow! I wonder; cousin …
ARAM。 I wonder; cousin; you should imagine I don't perceive you love him。
BELIN。 Oh; I love your hideous fancy! Ha; ha; ha; love a man!
ARAM。 Love a man! yes; you would not love a beast。
BELIN。 Of all beasts not an asswhich is so like your Vainlove。 Lard; I have seen an ass look so chagrin; ha; ha; ha (you must pardon me; I can't help laughing); that an absolute lover would have concluded the poor creature to have had darts; and flames; and altars; and all that in his breast。 Araminta; come; I'll talk seriously to you now; could you but see with my eyes the buffoonery of one scene of address; a lover; set out with all his equipage and appurtenances; O Gad I sure you wouldBut you play the game; and consequently can't see the miscarriages obvious to every stander by。
ARAM。 Yes; yes; I can see something near it when you and Bellmour meet。 You don't know that you dreamt of Bellmour last night; and called him aloud in your sleep。
BELIN。 Pish; I can't help dreaming of the devil sometimes; would you from thence infer I love him?
ARAM。 But that's not all; you caught me in your arms when you named him; and pressed me to your bosom。 Sure; if I had not pinched you until you waked; you had stifled me with kisses。
BELIN。 O barbarous aspersion!
ARAM。 No aspersion; cousin; we are alone。 Nay; I can tell you more。
BELIN。 I deny it all。
ARAM。 What; before you hear it?
BELIN。 My denial is premeditated like your malice。 Lard; cousin; you talk oddly。 Whatever the matter is; O my Sol; I'm afraid you'll follow evil courses。
ARAM。 Ha; ha; ha; this is pleasant。
BELIN。 You may laugh; but …
ARAM。 Ha; ha; ha!
BELIN。 You think the malicious grin becomes you。 The devil take Bellmour。 Why do you tell me of him?
ARAM。 Oh; is it come out? Now you are angry; I am sure you love him。 I tell nobody else; cousin。 I have not betrayed you yet。
BELIN。 Prithee tell it all the world; it's false。
ARAM。 Come; then; kiss and friends。
BELIN。 Pish。
ARAM。 Prithee don't be so peevish。
BELIN。 Prithee don't be so impertinent。 Betty!
ARAM。 Ha; ha; ha!
BETTY。 Did your ladyship call; madam?
BELIN。 Get my hoods and tippet; and bid the footman call a chair。
ARAM。 I hope you are not going out in dudgeon; cousin。
SCENE IV。
'To them' FOOTMAN。
FOOT。 Madam; there are …
BELIN。 Is there a chair?
FOOT。 No; madam; there are Mr。 Bellmour and Mr。 Vainlove to wait upon your ladyship。
ARAM。 Are they below?
FOOT。 No; madam; they sent before; to know if you were at home。
BELIN。 The visit's to you; cousin; I suppose I am at my liberty。
ARAM。 Be ready to show 'em up。
SCENE V。
'To them' BETTY; with Hoods and Looking…glass。
I can't tell; cousin; I believe we are equally concerned。 But if you continue your humour; it won't be very entertaining。 (I know she'd fain be persuaded to stay。) 'Aside。'
BELIN。 I shall oblige you; in leaving you to the full and free enjoyment of that conversation you admire。
BELIN。 Let me see; hold the glass。 Lard; I look wretchedly to… day!
ARAM。 Betty; why don't you help my cousin? 'Putting on her hoods。'
BELIN。 Hold off your fists; and see that he gets a chair with a high roof; or a very low seat。 Stay; come back here; you Mrs。 Fidgetyou are so ready to go to the footman。 Here; take 'em all again; my mind's changed; I won't go。
SCENE VI。
ARAMINTA; BELINDA。
ARAM。 So; this I expected。 You won't oblige me; then; cousin; and let me have all the company to myself?
BELIN。 No; upon deliberation; I have too much charity to trust you to yourself。 The devil watches all opportunities; and in this favourable disposition of your mind; heaven knows how far you may be tempted: I am tender of your reputation。
ARAM。 I am obliged to you。 But who's malicious now; Belinda?
BELIN。 Not I; witness my heart; I stay out of pure affection。
ARAM。 In my conscience I believe you。
SCENE VII。
'To them' VAINLOVE; BELLMOUR; FOOTMAN。
BELL。 So; fortune be praised! To find you both within; ladies; is …
ARAM。 No miracle; I hope。
BELL。 Not o' your side; madam; I confess。 But my tyrant there and I; are two buckets that can never come together。
BELIN。 Nor are ever like。 Yet we often meet and clash。
BELL。 How never like! marry; Hymen forbid。 But this it is to run so extravagantly in debt; I have laid out such a world of love in your service; that you think you can never be able to pay me all。 So shun me for the same reason that you would a dun。
BELIN。 Ay; on my conscience; and the most impertinent and troublesome of dunsa dun for money will be quiet; when he sees his debtor has not wherewithal。 But a dun for love is an eternal torment that never rests …
BELL。 Until he has created love where there was none; and then gets it for his pains。 For importunity in love; like importunity at Court; first creates its own interest and then pursues it for the favour。
ARAM。 Favours that are got by impudence and importunity; are like discoveries from the rack; when the afflicted person; for his ease; sometimes confesses secrets his heart knows nothing of。
VAIN。 I should rather think favours; so gained; to be due rewards to indefatigable devotion。 For as love is a deity; he must be served by prayer。
BELIN。 O Gad; would you would all pray to love; then; and let us alone。
VAIN。 You are the temples of love; and 'tis through you; our devotion must be conveyed。
ARAM。 Rather poor silly idols of your own making; which upon the least displeasure you forsake and set up new。 Every man now changes his mistress and his religion as his humour varies; or his interest。
VAIN。 O madam …
ARAM。 Nay; come; I find we are growing serious; and then we are in great danger of being dull。 If my music…master be not gone; I'll entertain you with a new song; which comes pretty near my own opinion of love and your sex。 Who's there? Is Mr。 Gavot gone? 'Calls。'
FOOT。 Only to the next door; madam。 I'll call him。
SCENE VIII。
ARAMINTA; BELINDA; VAINLOVE; and BELLMOUR。
BELL。 Why; you