OLIVIA. What generofity! But can you forget the many falfehoods, the diffimulation CROAKER. You did indeed diffemble, you urchin you; but where's the girl that won't diffemble for an hufband? My wife and I had never been married, if we had not diffembled a little beforehand. OLIVIA. It fhall be my future care never to put fuch generofity to a fecond trial. And as for the partner of my offence and folly, from his native honour, and the juft fenfe he has of his duty, I can answer for him that Enter LEONTINE. LEONTINE. Permit him thus to answer for himfelf. (Kneeling.) Thus, Sir, let me speak my gratitude for this unmerited forgivenefs. Yes, Sir, this even exceeds all your former tenderness: I now can boaft the most indulgent of fathers. The life he gave, compared to this, was but a trifling bleffing. CROAKER. And, good Sir, who fent for you, with that fine tragedy face, and flourishing manner? I don't know what we have to do with your gratitude upon this occafion. LEON LEONTINE. How, Sir! Is it poffible to be filent, when fo much obliged! Would you refufe me the pleasure of being grateful! of adding my thanks to my Olivia's! of fharing in the tranfports that you have thus occafioned? CROAKER. Lord, Sir, we can be happy enough, without your coming in to make up the party. I don't know what's the matter with the boy all this day; he has got into fuch a rhodomontade manner all this morning! LEONTINE. But, Sir, I that have so large a part in the benefit, is it not my duty to fhew my joy? is the being admitted to your favour fo flight an obligation is the happiness of marrying my Olivia so small a bleffing? CROAKER. Marrying Olivia! marrying Olivia! marrying his own fifter! Sure the boy is out of his fenfes. His own fifter! CROAKER. What does the booby mean? or has he any meaning? Eh, what do you mean, you blockhead you? LEONTINE. Mean, Sir-why, Sir-only when my fifter is to be married, that I have the pleasure of marrying her, Sir, that is, of giving her away, Sir-I have made a point of it. CROAKER. Give her away. O, is that all. You have made a point of it. Then you had as good make a point of first giving away yourself, as I'm going to prepare the writings between you and Mifs Richland this very minute. What a fufs is here about nothing! Why, what's the matter now? I thought I had made you at least as happy as you could wish. OLIVIA. O! yes, Sir, very happy. CROAKER. Do you forefee any thing, child? You look as if you did. I think if any thing was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look out as another: and yet I forefee nothing. LEONTINE, OLIVIA. OLIVIA. LEONTINE. What can it mean? [Exit. He knows fomething, and yet for my life I can't tell what. OLIVIA. OLIVIA. It can't be the connection between us, I'm pretty certain. LEONTINE. Whatever it be, my deareft, I'm refolved to put it out of fortune's power to repeat our mortification. I'll hafte and prepare for our journey to Scotland this very evening. My friend Honeywood has promifed me his advice and affiftance. I'll go to him, and repofe our diftreffes on his friendly bofom: and I know so much of his honeft heart, that if he can't relieve our uneafineffes, he will at least share them. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE, Young HONEYWOOD's House. BAILIFF, HONEYWOOD, FOLLOWER. BAILIFF. LOOKEY, Sir, I have arrested as good men as you in my time: no difparagement of you neither. Men that would go forty guineas on a game of cribbage. I challenge the town to fhew a man in more genteeler practice than myself. HONEYWOOD. Without all queftion, Mr.. I forget your name, Sir? BAILIFF. How can you forget what you never knew; he! Then, pray, Sir, what is your name, Sir? BAILIFF. |