Term
| LADY REVELLER: My uncle's gone, you may come in! Ha!Ha!Ha! |
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Definition
| Fie, cousin, does it become you to laugh at those that give you counsel for your good? |
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Term
| ALPIEW: Nor I, for the soul of me. |
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Definition
| Should all the rest of the world follow your Ladyship's example the order of nature would be inverted, and every good designed by heaven become a health and plenty no longer would be known among us. You cross the purpose of the day and night. You wake when you should sleep, and make all who have any dependence on you wake when you repose. |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: Bless me! May not any person sleep when they please? |
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Definition
| No. There are certain hours that good manners, modesty, and health require your care. For example, disorderly hours are neither healthful nor modest. And 'tis not civil to make company wait dinner for your dressing. |
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Term
| ALPIEW: Besides, 'tis out of fashio to dine by and so I told Sir Richard yesterday, madam. |
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Definition
| No doubt but you did, Mrs. Alpiew. And then you entertain such a train of people cousin, that my Lady Reveller is as noted as a public dining-room, where every fool with money finds a welcome. |
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Term
REVELLER:...without diversions?
ALPIEW: No, certainly. |
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Definition
| I think the playhouse the much more innocent and commendable diversion. |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: To be seen there every night, in my opinion, is more destructive to the reputation. |
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Definition
| Well, I had rather be noted every night in the front box, than by my absence once be suspected of gaming. One ruins my estate and character, the other diverts my temper, and improves my mind. Then you have such a number of lovers... |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: Oh, Cupid! Is it a crime to have a number of lovers? If it be, 'tis the pleasantest crime in the world. A crime that falls not every day to every woman's lot. |
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Definition
| I dare be positive every woman does not wish it. |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: Because wishes have no effect, cousin, ha! Ha! |
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Definition
| Methinks my Lord Worthy's assiduity might have banished the admiring crowd by this time. |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: Banished 'em! Oh, mon coeur! What pleasure is there in one lover? 'Tis like being seen always in one suit of clothes. A woman with one admirer will ne'er be a reigning toast. |
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Definition
| I am sure those that encourage more will never have the character of a reigning virtue. |
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Term
| ALPIEW: Nay, and among the unfashionable sort of people too, madam, for persons of breeding and quality will allow that gallantry and virtue are not inseparable. |
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Definition
| But coquetry and reputation are. And there is no difference in the eyes of the world between having really committed the fault, and lying under the scandal. For my own part, I would take as much care to preserve my fame, as would you your virtue. |
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Term
| LADY REVELLER: A little pains will serve you for that, cousin, for I never once heard you named. A mortification would break my heart, ha! ha! |
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Definition
| 'Tis better never to be named than to be ill spoke of. But your reflections shall not disorder my temper. I could wish, indeed, to convince you of your error because you share my blood, but since I see the vanity of the attempt, I shall desist. |
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Term
| Lady Reveller:...Cousin Lucy, good morrow. I'll leave you to better company. There's a person at hand may prevent your six o'clock prayers. |
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Definition
Ha! Sir James Courtly. I must own I think him agreeable, but am sorry she believes I do. I'll not be seen, for if what I scarce know myself be grown so visible to her, perhaps he, too, may discover it, and then I am lost.
While in the breast our secrets close remain
It's out of Fortune's power to give us pain. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Umph, she was not addressed to. |
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Definition
| He seems neither to want sense, honour, nor true courage, and methinks there is a beauty in his plain delivery. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: No. Though you would wake desire in every beholder, I resign you to my worthy friend. |
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Definition
| And the rest of the company have no pretence to you. |
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Term
| MRS. SAGO:So, not a word to me. Are these his vows? |
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Definition
| There's one upon the tease already. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: I said, madam! I hope I never say anything to offend the ladies. The devil's in these married women. They can't conceal their own intrigues, though they swear us to secrecy. |
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Definition
| You mistake, cousin. 'Tis his saying nothing to her that has put her upon the fret. |
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Term
| MRS. SAGO: I despise them, dear Lady Reveller. Let's in to piquet. I suppose Lady Lucy would be pleased with Sir James alone to finish her remarks. |
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Definition
| Nay, if you remove the cause, the discourse ceases. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: This you draw upon yourself. You will discover it. |
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Definition
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Term
| MRS. SAGO: No, no, he can't leave her. |
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Definition
| They play gold, Sir James. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Madam, were your heart the stake I'd renounce all engagements to win that, or retrieve my own. |
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Definition
| I must like the counter-stake very well e'er I play so high. |
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Term
| MRS. SAGO: Sir James, hark ye, one word with you. |
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Definition
| Ha, ha, I knew she could not stir. I'll remove your constraint, but with my wonted freedom will tell you plainly, your husband's shop would better become you than gaming and gallants. O shame to virtue, that women should copy men in their most reigning vices! Of virtue's wholesome rules unjustly we complain,/When search of pleasures give us greater pain,/How slightly we our reputation guard,/Which lost but once can never be repaired. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Ha, Lady Lucy! Is your Ladyship reconciled to basset yet? Will you give me leave to lose this purse to you, madam? |
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Definition
| I thank fortune, I neither wish, nor need it, Sir James. I presume the next room is furnished with avarice enough to serve you in that affair if it is a burthen to you, or Mrs. Sago's ill luck may give you an opportunity of returning some of the obligations you lie under. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Your sex, madam, extorts a duty from ours, and a well-bred man can no more refuse his money to his lady than a sword to a friend. |
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Definition
| That superfluity of good manners, Sir James, would do better converted into charity. This town abounds with objects. Would it not leave a more glorious fame behind you to be the founder of some pious work, when all the poor, at mention of your name, shall bless your memory, than that posterity shall say you wasted your estate on cards and women. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: 'Tis a pity she were not a man, she preaches so emphatically. Faith, madam, you have a very good notion, but something too early. When I am old I may put your principles in practice, but youth for pleasure was design'd. |
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Definition
| The truest pleasure must consist in doing good, which cannot be in gaming. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Everything is good in its kind, madam. Cards are harmless bits of paper, dice insipid Bones, and women made for men. |
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Definition
| Right, Sir James. But all these things may be perverted. Cards are harmless bits of paper in themselves, yet through them what mischiefs have been done? What orphans wronged? What tradesmen ruined? What coaches and equipages dismisssed for them? |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: But then, how many coaches and equipages have they set up, madam? |
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Definition
| Is it the more honourable for that? How many misses keep coaches too? Which arrogance in my opinion only makes them more eminently scandalous... |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Oh! Those are such as have a mind to be damned in this state, madam. But I hope your Ladyship don't rank them amongst us gamesters. |
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Definition
| They are inseparable, Sir James. Madam's grandeur must be upheld, though the baker and butcher shut up shop. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES:Oh! Your Ladyship wrongs us middling gentlemen there. To ruin tradesmen is the quality's perogative only, and none beneath a Lord can pretend to do't with an honourable air. Ha, Ha! |
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Definition
| Their example always the meaner sort. I grieve to think that Fortune should exalt such vain, such vicious souls, whilst virtue's clothed in rags. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Ah! Faith, Virtue would make but a scurvy figure at Court, madam. The statesmen and politicians would suppress her quickly. But whilst she remains in your breast she's safe and makes us all in love with that fair covering. |
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Definition
| Oh! Fie, fie Sir James, you could not love one that hates your chief diversion. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: I should hate it too, madam, on some terms that I could name. |
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Definition
| What would make that conversion, pray? |
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Term
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Definition
| I could pay that price. But dare not venture upon one so wild. First let me see the fruit, e'er I take a lease of the garden, Sir James. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Oh! Madam, the best way is to secure the ground, and then you may manure and cultivate it as you please. |
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Definition
| That's a certain trouble, and uncertain profit, and in this affair I prefer the theory before the practice. But I detain you from the table, Sir James. You are wanted to tally. Your servant. |
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Term
| Ha, Lady Lucy! Having succeeded for my friend, who knows but this may be my lucky minute too? Madam, you come opportunely to hear. |
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Definition
| Stand off, basest of men, I have heard too much. Could'st thou choose no house but this to act thy villainies in? And coulds't thou offer vows to me, when thy heart, poisoned with vicious thoughts, harboured this design against my family! |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Very fine, Faith, this is like to be my lucky minute with a witness. But madam... |
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Definition
| Offer no excuse, 'tis height of impudence to look me in the face. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Egad! She loves me. Oh! Happy rogue! This concern can proceed from nothing else. |
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Definition
| My heart, till now unused to passion, swells with this affront, would reproach thee, would reporach myself, for having harboured one favourable thought of thee. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Why, did you, madam? Egad I owe more to her anger than ever I did to her morals. |
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Definition
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Term
| SIR JAMES: The only kind word you ever uttered. |
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Definition
| Yes, imposter. Know to they confusion that I did love thee, and fancied I discovered some seeds of virtue amongst that heap of wickedness, but this last action has betrayed the fond mistake, and showed thou art all o'er fiend. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Give me leave, madam... |
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Definition
| Think not this confession meant to advance thy impious love, but hear my final resolution. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Egad, I must hear it, I find, for there's no stopping her. |
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Definition
| From this moment I'll never... |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Nay, nay, nay...Egad I'm out of breath! |
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Definition
| Oh! Coulds't thou prove this? |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: I can, if by the proof you'll make me happy. My Lord shall convince you. |
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Definition
| To him I will refer it, on this truth your hopes depend. In vain we strive our passions to conceal,/Our very passions do our loves reveal/When once the heart yields to the tyrant's sway/ The eyes our tongue will soon the flame betray. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: But see the bride and bridegroom. |
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Definition
| This match, which I have now been witness to, is what I long have wished. Your course of life must of necessity be changed. |
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Term
| SIR JAMES: Then I should be paid in interest, my Lord. |
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Definition
| My fault is consideration you know, I must think a little longer on't. |
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Term
| MR. SAGO: I wish your Ladyship joy, and hope I shall keep my Keecky to myself now. |
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Definition
| With all my heart, Mr. Sago. She has had ill luck of late, which I am sorry for. |
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