Volume Iii Part 27 (2/2)

_Friend_. 'Tis such an Honour, Sir, that my Grat.i.tude, without the mighty Pa.s.sion I have for her, would make me ever thankful.

_Lord_. This Term, we shall make the former Marriage void; till then love on, and fear no Frowns from Fortune--but Nephew--now I hope your Brother shall have his Portion.

_Bel_. My dearest _Charles_, forgive me all that's past, And share the Fortune Heaven has given thy Brother.

_Char_. The Joy I have, Sir, to be undeceived, Is much the greatest Blessing Heav'n can send me.

_Enter Sir_ Timothy, _follow'd by_ Phillis, Sham, Sharp, _and_ Betty Flaunt.i.t.

Sir _Tim_. I am pursu'd by two impertinent Women; prithee, _Friendlove_, tell 'em I am gone out at the Backdoor, and send 'em away.

_Lord_. What's the News here?

Sir _Tim_. How, _Celinda_ here, and _Bellmour_ too! Nay, now wou'd I compound for my Life, at any rate, by Fortune.

_Phil_. Sir, this Villain here has abus'd me, and with a false Marriage has rob'd me of my Honour.

_Bel_. How!

Sir _Tim_. My Lord, I say this young Jilt would have rob'd me of my self; and courting her, and enjoying her only for a Miss, would persuade me I am married to her.

_Flaunt_. Sir, I say, I am doubly wrong'd; first by this false Knight, who has belong'd to me this three Years, which gives me a right to him, as good as if I were married to him; who has now unlawfully left my Bed, for that of this Gilflurt, who, on the other side, takes away my Knight, and consequently eats the Bread out of my Mouth.

_Bel_. What means all this?

Speak some of ye that know.

_Flaunt_. Oh Lord! Who's here? The fine Squire? [_Aside_.

_Trust_. Sir _Timothy Tawdry_, Sir, is married to Mrs. _Phillis_.

Sir _Tim_. How can that be a Marriage, when he who join'd us, was but a hired Fellow, dress'd like a Parson?

_Trust_. Sir, 'twas Parson _Tickletext_ that marry'd 'em.

Sir _Tim_. Oh, what a d.a.m.n'd lying Pimp is this!--_Sham_, didst thou not hire a Fellow, (because I was d.a.m.nably in Love, and in haste) to marry us, that was no Parson?

_Sham_. Why, truly, Sir--I did go to hire such a one--

Sir _Tim_. Look ye there now.

_Sham_. But you'd meet with none; and because you said you shou'd die if you enjoy'd her not presently, and that she would not yield on any other Terms, but those of Marriage, I e'en brought the Parson that _Trusty_ had provided for you.

Sir _Tim_. Oh Villain, to betray me! and for no Reward!

_Trust_. Yes, indeed, Sir, the four hundred Guineas you left behind my young Mistress's Looking-gla.s.s fell to his share.

Sir _Tim_. What's my Money gone! and I am marry'd too! This 'tis not to use to go to Church; for then I might have chanc'd to know the Parson.

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