ote to that
immoderate degree that your fondness shall never distinguish itself
enough to be taken notice of. If ever you seem to love too much, it
must be only when I can't love enough.
ANG. Have a care of promises; you know you are apt to run more in
debt than you are able to pay.
VAL. Therefore I yield my body as your prisoner, and make your best
on't.
SCAN. The music stays for you. [Dance.]
SCAN. Well, madam, you have done exemplary justice in punishing an
inhuman father and rewarding a faithful lover. But there is a third
good work which I, in particular, must thank you for: I was an
infidel to your sex, and you have converted me. For now I am
convinced that all women are not like fortune, blind in bestowing
favours, either on those who do not merit or who do not want 'em.
ANG. 'Tis an unreasonable accusation that you lay upon our sex:
you tax us with injustice, only to cover your own want of merit.
You would all have the reward of love, but few have the constancy to
stay till it becomes your due. Men are generally hypocrites and
infidels: they pretend to worship, but have neither zeal nor faith.
How few, like Valentine, would persevere even to martyrdom, and
sacrifice their interest to their constancy! In admiring me, you
misplace the novelty.
The miracle to-day is, that we find
A lover true; not that a woman's kind.
End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Love for Love by William Congreve
Pages:
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181