Volume Iv Part 113 (2/2)

But where's the mighty Crime?

_Geo._ No, I expect thou shouldst out-face my Eyes, out-swear my Hearing, and out-lye my Senses.--The Prince! the Prince! thou faithless dear destruction.

_Mir._ The Prince! good Heaven! Is all this Heat for him?

_Geo._ Thou own'st the Conquest then?

_Mir._ With as much Vanity as thou wouldst do, if thou hadst won his Sword: Hast thou took care wisely to teach me all the Arts of Life, and dost thou now upbraid my Industry? Look round the World, and thou shalt see, _Lejere_, Ambition still supplies the place of Love. The worn-out Lady, that can serve your Interest, you swear has Beauties that out-charms Fifteen; and for the Vanity of Quality, you feign and languish, lye, protest, and flatter--All Things in Nature cheat, or else are cheated.

_Geo._ Well said; take off thy Veil, and shew the Jilt.

_Mir._ You never knew a Woman thrive so well by real Love, as by Dissimulation: This has a thousand Arts and Tricks to conquer; appears in any Shape, in any Humour; can laugh or weep, be coy or play, by turns, as suits the Lover best, while simple Love has only one Road of Sighs and Softness; these to _Lejere_ are due: But all my Charms, and Arts of gay dissembling, are for the credulous Prince.--Ha--he's here!--and with him the dear Youth that has enslav'd me, who triumphs o'er the rest.

[Aside.

Enter Prince _Frederick_, _Olivia_ following, sees _Mirtilla_, and withdraws.

_Oliv._ Ha! _Mirtilla_, and my Brother here? Oh, how I long to see that Stranger's Face.

[Aside.

_Prince._ _Mirtilla_, thou Charmer of Life's dull and tedious Hours, how fares thy Heart? Dwells any Pantings there, but those that Love, and his dear Joys create?

_Mir._ Or if there do, you shou'd excuse it now.

_Geo._ How many Devils reign in beauteous Woman!

_Prince._ My dear _Lejere_, congratulate my Joys; take all my Friends.h.i.+p thou--but thou my Soul. Come, come, my Friend, let us retire together; I'll give thee leave to gaze upon my Heaven, and feed on all the Sweets that Friends.h.i.+p may: But all the rest of the vast Store is mine.

_Man._ Madam, _Endimion_ is already here. [Aside to her.

_Mir._ Thou hast reviv'd me--Let him wait my Call.

[Exit _Prince_ with _Mirtilla_, _George_ goes out, and peeps at the Door. _Olivia_ comes forward.

_Oliv._ Spite, Spite, and dire Revenge seize my fond Soul!--Oh, that I were a Man, a loose leud Man; how easily wou'd I rob him of her Heart, and leave him but the shadow of Enjoyment!

Re-enter _George_.

_Geo._ Now, my dear Sister, if thou ever lov'dst me, revenge thy Brother on this perjur'd Woman, and s.n.a.t.c.h her from this gallant Rival's Arms.

She loves thee--Dissemble thou to love again; meet her Advances with an equal Ardour, and when thou hast wound her up to dalliance, I'll bring the Prince a witness of her Shame.

_Oliv._ But what if he shou'd kill me--

_Geo._ I'll take care of that.

_Oliv._ Then e'er the morning dawns, you shall behold it: She languishes to see me, and I wait on purpose for her Commands.

_Geo._ As I cou'd wish: Be sure to act the Lover well. [Exit.

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