Lear. My good Lord does my Daughter too much Honour. Ah that the Wench wou'd but do her Part! [Aside going off.]——Hark, you, Hussy——[Turning back to Euphronia, aside.]——You can give yourself Airs sometimes, you know you can. Do you remember what work you made with yourself at Church t'other Day? Play your Tricks over again, once more, for my Pleasure, and let me have a good Account of this Statesman, or, d'ye hear?——You shall die a Maid; go chew upon that; go.
[Exit Lear.
Esop. Here I am left, fair Damsel, too much expos'd to your Charms, not to fall your Victim.
Euph. Your Fall will then be due to your own Weakness, Sir; for, Heaven's my Witness, I neither endeavour nor wish to wound you.
Esop. I understand you, Lady; your Heart's already dispos'd of; 'tis seldom otherways, at your Age.
Euph. My Heart dispos'd of!
Dor. Nay, never mince the Matter, Madam. The Gentleman looks like a civil Gentleman, e'en confess the Truth to him: He has a good Interest with your Father, and no Doubt will employ it to break the Heathenish Match he proposes to you. [To Esop.] Yes, Sir, my young Lady has been in love these two Years, and that with as pretty a Fellow as ever entered a Virgin's Heart; tall, strait, young, vigorous, good Clothes, long Perriwig, clean Linen; in brief, he has every thing that's necessary to set a young Lady a-longing, and to stay it when he has done: but her Father, whose Ambition makes him turn Fool in his old Age, comes with a back Stroke upon us, and spoils all our Sport. Wou'd you believe it, Sir? He has propos'd to her to-day the most confounded ugly Fellow! Look, if the very Thoughts of him don't set the poor Thing a-crying! And you, Sir, have so much Power with the old Gentleman, that one Word from you would set us all right again. If he will have her a Wife, in the Name of Venus, let him provide her a handsome Husband, and not throw her into the Paws of a Thing, that Nature, in a merry Humour, has made half Man, half Monkey.
Esop. Pray, what's this Monster's Name, Lady?
Euph. No matter for his Name, Sir; my Father will know what you mean, at first Word.
Esop. But you shou'd not always chuse by the Outside alone: believe me, fair Damsel, a fine Perriwig keeps many a Fool's Head from the Weather: Have a Care of your young Gallant.