I must confess, indeed, I owe you more Than ever I can hope or think to pay. There always was a friendship 'twixt our families; swear, 361 Pol. 'Twas Heav'n ordain'd it so, to make me happy. Was never in the right! y'are always false Now smile, then frown; now sorrowful, then glad; Ev'ry rank fool goes down Mon. Indeed, my Lord, 380 I own my sex's follies; I have 'em all. I'd rather run a savage in the woods Amongst brute beasts, grow wrinkled and deform'd, "As wildness and most rude neglect could make me," So I might still enjoy my honour safe From the destroying wiles of faithless men. [Exit. Pol. Who'd be that sordid foolish thing call'd man, To cringe thus, fawn, and flatter for a pleasure, Which beasts enjoy so very much above him? The lusty bull ranges through all the field, And from the herd singling his female out, Enjoys her, and abandons her at will. It shall be so; I'll yet possess my love; Wait on, and watch her loose unguarded hours; 400 Beat down her guard of honour all before me, [Exeunt Pol. and Page. ACT II. SCENE 1. A Salloon. Enter ACASTO, CASTALIO, and POLYDORE. Acasto. To-day has been a day of glorious sport. The ugly, brindled monster to the heart. Cast. The actions of your life were always wond'rous. Acast. No flattery, boy! an honest man can't live by't; It is a little sneaking art, which knaves Use to cajole and sotten fools withal. If thou hast flattery in thy nature, out with it, "Pol. Why there? "Acast. 'Tis, next to money, current there; "To be seen daily in as many forms "As there are sorts of vanities, and men; 20 "The supercilious statesman has his sneer, "To sooth a poor man off with, that can't bribe him; "The grave dull fellow of small business sooths "The humourist, and will needs admire his wit. "Who, without spleen, could see a hot-brain'd atheist, "Thanking a surly doctor for his sermon ; "Or a grave counsellor meet a smooth young lord, "Squeeze him by the hand, and praise his good com"plexion? "Pol. Courts are the places where best manners "flourish; "Where the deserving ought to rise, and fools "Make shew. Why should I vex and chafe my spleen, "To see a gaudy coxcomb shine, when I "Have seen enough to sooth him in his follies, "And ride him to advantage as I please ? "Acast. Who merit, ought indeed to rise i'th' world; "But no wise man that's honest shou'd expect it. "What man of sense would rack his generous mind, "To practise all the base formalities 41 "And forms of business? force a grave starch'd face, "When he's a very libertine in's heart? "Seem not to know this or that man in public, Cast. Your lordship's wrongs have been 2 Were she a common mistress, kind to all, Her worth wou'd cease, and half the world grow idle. Acast. Go to, y'are fools, and know me not; I've learn'd Long since, to bear, revenge, or scorn my wrongs, You both wou'd fain be great, and to that end find Corruption, envy, discontent, and faction, Almost in ev'ry band. How many men 60 Have spent their blood in their dear country's service, Like deadly locusts, eat the honey up, Which those industrious bees so hardly toil'd for. Cast. These precepts suit not with my active mind; Methinks I would be busy. Pol. So would I, Not loiter out my life at home, and know No farther than one prospect gives me leave. Acast. Busy your minds then, study arts and men; Learn how to value merit, though in rags, And scorn a proud ill-manner'd knave in office. Enter SERINA. Ser. My Lord, my father! |