the old bachelor-第8章
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BELL。 A very certain remedy； probatum est。 Ha； ha； ha； poor George； thou art i' th' right； thou hast sold thyself to laughter； the ill…natured town will find the jest just where thou hast lost it。 Ha； ha； how a' struggled； like an old lawyer between two fees。
VAIN。 Or a young wench between pleasure and reputation。
BELL。 Or as you did to…day； when half afraid you snatched a kiss from Araminta。
VAIN。 She has made a quarrel on't。
BELL。 Pauh； women are only angry at such offences to have the pleasure of forgiving them。
VAIN。 And I love to have the pleasure of making my peace。 I should not esteem a pardon if too easily won。
BELL。 Thou dost not know what thou wouldst be at； whether thou wouldst have her angry or pleased。 Couldst thou be content to marry Araminta？
VAIN。 Could you be content to go to heaven？
BELL。 Hum； not immediately； in my conscience not heartily。 I'd do a little more good in my generation first； in order to deserve it。
VAIN。 Nor I to marry Araminta till I merit her。
BELL。 But how the devil dost thou expect to get her if she never yield？
VAIN。 That's true； but I would …
BELL。 Marry her without her consent； thou 'rt a riddle beyond woman …
SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ SETTER。
Trusty Setter； what tidings？ How goes the project？
SETTER。 As all lewd projects do； sir； where the devil prevents our endeavours with success。
BELL。 A good hearing； Setter。
VAIN。 Well； I'll leave you with your engineer。
BELL。 And hast thou provided necessaries？
SETTER。 All； all； sir； the large sanctified hat； and the little precise band； with a swinging long spiritual cloak； to cover carnal knaverynot forgetting the black patch； which Tribulation Spintext wears； as I'm informed； upon one eye； as a penal mourning for the ogling offences of his youth； and some say； with that eye he first discovered the frailty of his wife。
BELL。 Well； in this fanatic father's habit will I confess Laetitia。
SETTER。 Rather prepare her for confession； sir； by helping her to sin。
BELL。 Be at your master's lodging in the evening； I shall use the robes。
SCENE V。
SETTER alone。
SETTER。 I shall； sir。 I wonder to which of these two gentlemen I do most properly appertain： the one uses me as his attendant； the other （being the better acquainted with my parts） employs me as a pimp； why； that's much the more honourable employmentby all means。 I follow one as my master； the other follows me as his conductor。
SCENE VI。
＇To him＇ Lucy。
LUCY。 There's the hang…dog； his manI had a power over him in the reign of my mistress； but he is too true a VALET DE CHAMBRE not to affect his master's faults； and consequently is revolted from his allegiance。
SETTER。 Undoubtedly 'tis impossible to be a pimp and not a man of parts。 That is without being politic； diligent； secret； wary； and so forthand to all this valiant as Herculesthat is； passively valiant and actively obedient。 Ah； Setter； what a treasure is here lost for want of being known。
LUCY。 Here's some villainy afoot； he's so thoughtful。 May be I may discover something in my mask。 Worthy sir； a word with you。 ＇Puts on her mask。＇
SETTER。 Why； if I were known； I might come to be a great man …
LUCY。 Not to interrupt your meditation …
SETTER。 And I should not be the first that has procured his greatness by pimping。
LUCY。 Now poverty and the pox light upon thee for a contemplative pimp。
SETTER。 Ha！ what art who thus maliciously hast awakened me from my dream of glory？ Speak； thou vile disturber …
LUCY。 Of thy most vile cogitationsthou poor； conceited wretch； how wert thou valuing thyself upon thy master's employment？ For he's the head pimp to Mr。 Bellmour。
SETTER。 Good words； damsel； or I shallBut how dost thou know my master or me？
LUCY。 Yes； I know both master and man to be …
SETTER。 To be men； perhaps； nay； faith； like enough： I often march in the rear of my master； and enter the breaches which he has made。
LUCY。 Ay； the breach of faith； which he has begun： thou traitor to thy lawful princess。
SETTER。 Why； how now！ prithee who art？ Lay by that worldly face and produce your natural vizor。
LUCY。 No； sirrah； I'll keep it on to abuse thee and leave thee without hopes of revenge。
SETTER。 Oh！ I begin to smoke ye： thou art some forsaken Abigail we have dallied with heretoforeand art come to tickle thy imagination with remembrance of iniquity past。
LUCY。 No thou pitiful flatterer of thy master's imperfections； thou maukin made up of the shreds and parings of his superfluous fopperies。
SETTER。 Thou art thy mistress's foul self； composed of her sullied iniquities and clothing。
LUCY。 Hang thee； beggar's cur； thy master is but a mumper in love； lies canting at the gate； but never dares presume to enter the house。
SETTER。 Thou art the wicket to thy mistress's gate； to be opened for all comers。 In fine thou art the highroad to thy mistress。
LUCY。 Beast； filthy toad； I can hold no longer； look and tremble。 ＇Unmasks。＇
SETTER。 How； Mrs。 Lucy！
LUCY。 I wonder thou hast the impudence to look me in the face。
SETTER。 Adsbud； who's in fault； mistress of mine？ who flung the first stone？ who undervalued my function？ and who the devil could know you by instinct？
LUCY。 You could know my office by instinct； and be hanged； which you have slandered most abominably。 It vexes me not what you said of my person； but that my innocent calling should be exposed and scandalisedI cannot bear it。
SETTER。 Nay； faith； Lucy； I'm sorry； I'll own myself to blame； though we were both in fault as to our officescome； I'll make you any reparation。
LUCY。 Swear。
SETTER。 I do swear to the utmost of my power。
LUCY。 To be brief； then； what is the reason your master did not appear to…day according to the summons I brought him？
SETTER。 To answer you as brieflyhe has a cause to be tried in another court。
LUCY。 Come； tell me in plain terms； how forward he is with Araminta。
SETTER。 Too forward to be turned backthough he's a little in disgrace at present about a kiss which he forced。 You and I can kiss； Lucy； without all that。
LUCY。 Stand offhe's a precious jewel。
SETTER。 And therefore you'd have him to set in your lady's locket。
LUCY。 Where is he now？
SETTER。 He'll be in the Piazza presently。
LUCY。 Remember to…day's behaviour。 Let me see you with a penitent face。
SETTER。 What； no token of amity； Lucy？ You and I don't use to part with dry lips。
LUCY。 No； no； avauntI'll not be slabbered and kissed nowI'm not i' th' humour。
SETTER。 I'll not quit you so。 I'll follow and put you into the humour。
SCENE VII。
SIR JOSEPH WITTOLL； BLUFFE。
BLUFF。 And so； out of your unwonted generosity …
SIR JO。 And good…nature； Back； I am good…natured and I can't help it。
BLUFF。 You have given him a note upon Fondlewife for a hundred pound。
SIR JO。 Ay； ay； poor fellow； he ventured fair for't。
BLUFF。 You have disobliged me in itfor I have occasion for the money； and if you would look me in the face again and live； go； and force him to redeliver you the note。 Go； and bring it me hither。 I'll stay here for you。
SIR JO。 You may stay until the day of judgment； then； by the Lord Harry。 I know better things than to be run through the guts for a hundred pounds。 Why； I gave that hundred pound for being saved； and de'e think； an there were no danger； I'll be so ungrateful to take it from the gentleman again？
BLUFF。 Well； go to him from metell him； I say； he must refund or Bilbo's the world； and slaughter will ensue。 If he refuse； tell himbut whisper thattell himI'll pink his soul。 But whisper that softly to him。
SIR JO。 So softly that he shall never hear on't； I warrant you。 Why； what a devil's the matter； Bully； are you mad？ or de'e think I'm mad？ Agad； for my part； I don't love to be the messenger of ill news； 'tis an ungrateful officeso tell him yourself。
BLUFF。 By these hilts I believe he frightened you into this composition： I believe you gave it him out of fear； pure； paltry fearconfess。
SIR JO。 No； no； hang't； I was not afraid neitherthough I confess he did in a manner snap me upyet I can'
