the old bachelor-第10章
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HEART。 Ay； ay； in old days people married where they loved； but that fashion is changed； child。
SILV。 Never tell me that； I know it is not changed by myself： for I love you； and would marry you。
HEART。 I'll have my beard shaved； it sha'n't hurt thee； and we'll go to bed …
SILV。 No； no； I'm not such a fool neither； but I can keep myself honest。 Here； I won't keep anything that's yours； I hate you now； ＇throws the purse＇ and I'll never see you again； 'cause you'd have me be naught。 ＇Going。＇
HEART。 Damn her； let her go； and a good riddance。 Yet so much tenderness and beauty and honesty together is a jewel。 Stay； SilviaBut then to marry； why； every man plays the fool once in his life。 But to marry is playing the fool all one's life long。
SILV。 What did you call me for？
HEART。 I'll give thee all I have； and thou shalt live with me in everything so like my wife； the world shall believe it。 Nay； thou shalt think so thyselfonly let me not think so。
SILV。 No； I'll die before I'll be your whoreas well as I love you。
HEART。 ＇Aside。＇ A woman； and ignorant； may be honest； when 'tis out of obstinacy and contradiction。 But； s'death； it is but a may be； and upon scurvy terms。 Well； farewell thenif I can get out of sight I may get the better of myself。
SILV。 Wellgood…bye。 ＇Turns and weeps。＇
HEART。 Ha！ Nay； come； we'll kiss at parting。 ＇Kisses her。＇ By heaven； her kiss is sweeter than liberty。 I will marry thee。 There； thou hast done't。 All my resolves melted in that kissone more。
SILV。 But when？
HEART。 I'm impatient until it be done； I will not give myself liberty to think； lest I should cool。 I will about a licence straightin the evening expect me。 One kiss more to confirm me mad； so。
SILV。 Ha； ha； ha； an old fox trapped …
SCENE XI。
＇To her＇ Lucy。
Bless me！ you frighted me； I thought he had been come again； and had heard me。
LUCY。 Lord； madam； I met your lover in as much haste as if he had been going for a midwife。
SILV。 He's going for a parson； girl； the forerunner of a midwife； some nine months hence。 Well； I find dissembling to our sex is as natural as swimming to a negro； we may depend upon our skill to save us at a plunge； though till then； we never make the experiment。 But how hast thou succeeded？
LUCY。 As you would wishsince there is no reclaiming Vainlove。 I have found out a pique she has taken at him； and have framed a letter that makes her sue for reconciliation first。 I know that will dowalk in and I'll show it you。 Come； madam； you're like to have a happy time on't； both your love and anger satisfied！ All that can charm our sex conspire to please you。
That woman sure enjoys a blessed night； Whom love and vengeance both at once delight。
ACT IV。SCENE I。
SCENE： The Street。
BELLMOUR； in fanatic habit； SETTER。
BELL。 'Tis pretty near the hour。 ＇Looking on his watch。＇ Well； and how； Setter； hae； does my hypocrisy fit me； hae？ Does it sit easy on me？
SET。 Oh； most religiously well； sir。
BELL。 I wonder why all our young fellows should glory in an opinion of atheism； when they may be so much more conveniently lewd under the coverlet of religion。
SET。 S'bud； sir； away quickly： there's Fondlewife just turned the corner； and 's coming this way。
BELL。 Gad's so； there he is： he must not see me。
SCENE II。
FONDLEWIFE； BARNABY。
FOND。 I say I will tarry at home。
BAR。 But； sir。
FOND。 Good lack！ I profess the spirit of contradiction hath possessed the ladI say I will tarry at home； varlet。
BAR。 I have done； sir； then farewell five hundred pound。
FOND。 Ha； how's that？ Stay； stay； did you leave word； say you； with his wife？ With Comfort herself？
BAR。 I did； and Comfort will send Tribulation hither as soon as ever he comes home。 I could have brought young Mr。 Prig to have kept my mistress company in the meantime。 But you say …
FOND。 How； how； say； varlet！ I say let him not come near my doors。 I say； he is a wanton young Levite； and pampereth himself up with dainties； that he may look lovely in the eyes of women。 Sincerely； I am afraid he hath already defiled the tabernacle of our sister Comfort； while her good husband is deluded by his godly appearance。 I say that even lust doth sparkle in his eyes and glow upon his cheeks； and that I would as soon trust my wife with a lord's high…fed chaplain。
BAR。 Sir； the hour draws nigh； and nothing will be done here until you come。
FOND。 And nothing can be done here until I go； so that I'll tarry； de'e see。
BAR。 And run the hazard to lose your affair； sir！
FOND。 Good lack； good lackI profess it is a very sufficient vexation for a man to have a handsome wife。
BAR。 Never； sir； but when the man is an insufficient husband。 'Tis then； indeed； like the vanity of taking a fine house； and yet be forced to let lodgings to help pay the rent。
FOND。 I profess a very apt comparison； varlet。 Go and bid my Cocky come out to me； I will give her some instructions； I will reason with her before I go。
SCENE III。
FONDLEWIFE alone。
And in the meantime I will reason with myself。 Tell me； Isaac； why art thee jealous？ Why art thee distrustful of the wife of thy bosom？ Because she is young and vigorous； and I am old and impotent。 Then why didst thee marry； Isaac？ Because she was beautiful and tempting； and because I was obstinate and doting； so that my inclination was （and is still） greater than my power。 And will not that which tempted thee； also tempt others； who will tempt her； Isaac？ I fear it much。 But does not thy wife love thee； nay； dote upon thee？ Yes。 Why then！ Ay； but to say truth； she's fonder of me than she has reason to be； and in the way of trade； we still suspect the smoothest dealers of the deepest designs。 And that she has some designs deeper than thou canst reach； thou hast experimented； Isaac。 But； mum。
SCENE IV。
FONDLEWIFE； LAETITIA。
LAET。 I hope my dearest jewel is not going to leave meare you； Nykin？
FOND。 Wifehave you thoroughly considered how detestable； how heinous； and how crying a sin the sin of adultery is？ Have you weighed it； I say？ For it is a very weighty sin； and although it may lie heavy upon thee； yet thy husband must also bear his part。 For thy iniquity will fall upon his head。
LAET。 Bless me； what means my dear？
FOND。 ＇Aside。＇ I profess she has an alluring eye； I am doubtful whether I shall trust her； even with Tribulation himself。 Speak； I say； have you considered what it is to cuckold your husband？
LAET。 ＇Aside。＇ I'm amazed。 Sure he has discovered nothing。 Who has wronged me to my dearest？ I hope my jewel does not think that ever I had any such thing in my head； or ever will have。
FOND。 No； no； I tell you I shall have it in my head …
LAET。 ＇Aside。＇ I know not what to think。 But I'm resolved to find the meaning of it。 Unkind dear！ Was it for this you sent to call me？ Is it not affliction enough that you are to leave me； but you must study to increase it by unjust suspicions？ ＇Crying。＇ Wellwellyou know my fondness； and you love to tyranniseGo on； cruel man； do： triumph over my poor heart while it holds； which cannot be long； with this usage of yours。 But that's what you want。 Well； you will have your ends soon。 You willyou will。 Yes； it will break to oblige you。 ＇Sighs。＇
FOND。 Verily； I fear I have carried the jest too far。 Nay； look you now if she does not weep'tis the fondest fool。 Nay； Cocky； Cocky； nay； dear Cocky； don't cry； I was but in jest； I was not； ifeck。
LAET。 ＇Aside。＇ Oh then； all's safe。 I was terribly frighted。 My affliction is always your jest； barbarous man！ Oh； that I should love to this degree！ Yet …
FOND。 Nay； Cocky。
LAET。 No； no； you are weary of me； that's itthat's all； you would get another wifeanother fond fool； to break her heart Well； be as cruel as you can to me； I'll pray for you； and when I am dead with grief； may you have one that will love you as well as I have done： I shall be contented to lie at peace in my cold gravesince it will please you。 ＇Sighs。＇
FOND。 Good lack； good lack； she would melt a heart of oakI profess I can hold no longer。 Nay； dear Co
