LADY WISHFORT, MRS. MILLAMANT, MIRABELL, MRS. FAINALL, SIR WILFULL, PETULANT, WITWOUD, FOIBLE, MINCING, WAITWELL.
LADY WISHFORT
O daughter, daughter, 'tis plain thou hast inherited thy mother's prudence.
MRS. FAINALL
Thank Mr. Mirabell, a cautious friend, to whose advice all is owing.
LADY WISHFORT
Well, Mr. Mirabell, you have kept your promise, and I must perform mine. First, I pardon for your sake Sir Rowland there and Foible. The next thing is to break the matter to my nephew, and how to do that -
MIRABELL
For that, madam, give yourself no trouble; let me have your consent. Sir Wilfull is my friend: he has had compassion upon lovers, and generously engaged a volunteer in this action, for our service, and now designs to prosecute his travels.
SIR WILFULL WITWOUD
'Sheart, aunt, I have no mind to marry. My cousin's a fine lady, and the gentleman loves her and she loves him, and they deserve one another; my resolution is to see foreign parts. I have set on't, and when I'm set on't I must do't. And if these two gentlemen would travel too, I think they may be spared.
PETULANT
For my part, I say little. I think things are best off or on.
WITWOUD
I'gad, I understand nothing of the matter: I'm in a maze yet, like a dog in a dancing school.
LADY WISHFORT
Well, sir, take her, and with her all the joy I can give you.
MILLAMANT
Why does not the man take me? Would you have me give myself to you over again?
MIRABELL
Ay, and over and over again. [Kisses her hand.] I would have you as often as possibly I can. Well, heav'n grant I love you not too well; that's all my fear.
SIR WILFULL WITWOUD
'Sheart, you'll have time enough to toy after you're married, or, if you will toy now, let us have a dance in the meantime; that we who are not lovers may have some other employment besides looking on.
MIRABELL
With all my heart, dear Sir Wilfull. What shall we do for music?
FOIBLE
Oh, sir, some that were provided for Sir Rowland's entertainment are yet within call. [A dance.]
LADY WISHFORT
As I am a person, I can hold out no longer: I have wasted my spirits so to-day already that I am ready to sink under the fatigue; and I cannot but have some fears upon me yet, that my son Fainall will pursue some desperate course.
MIRABELL
Madam, disquiet not yourself on that account: to my knowledge his circumstances are such he must of force comply. For my part I will contribute all that in me lies to a reunion. In the meantime, madam [to MRS. FAINALL], let me before these witnesses restore to you this deed of trust: it may be a means, well managed, to make you live easily together.
From hence let those be warned, who mean to wed,
Lest mutual falsehood stain the bridal-bed:
For each deceiver to his cost may find
That marriage frauds too oft are paid in kind.
