SIR PETER. Your ladyship must excuse me; I'm called away by particular business. But I leave my character behind me. Exit SIR PETER SIR BENJAMIN. Well-certainly, Lady Teazle, that lord of yours is a strange being. I could tell you some stories of him would make you laugh heartily if he were not your husband. 278 LADY TEAZLE. Oh, pray don't mind that; come, do let's hear them.

(Joins the rest of the company going into the next room) JOSEPH SURFACE. Maria, I see you have no satisfaction in this society.

282

MARIA. How is it possible I should? If to raise malicious smiles at the infirmities or misfortunes of those who have never injured us be the province of wit or humor, Heaven grant me a double portion of dulness!

2 commercial law.

287

JOSEPH SURFACE. Ah, Maria! you would not treat me thus and oppose your guardian Sir Peter's will but that I see that profligate Charles is still a favored rival. 308

MARIA. Ungenerously urged! But whatever my sentiments are for that unfortunate young man, be assured I shall not feel more bound to give him up because his distresses have lost him the regard even of a brother. JOSEPH SURFACE. Nay, but, Maria, do not leave me with a frown; by all that's honest, I swear316

LADY TEAZLE. No, no! I begin to think it would be imprudent, and you know I admit you as a lover no farther than fashion

345

JOSEPH SURFACE. True-a mere Platonic cicisbeo1what every wife is entitled to. LADY TEAZLE. Certainly, one must not be out of the fashion. However, I have so much of my country prejudices left that though Sir Peter's ill humor may vex me ever so, it never shall provoke me to

JOSEPH SURFACE. The only revenge in your power. Well, I applaud your moderation.

355

LADY TEAZLE. Go-you are an insinuating wretch! But we shall be missed-let us join the company.

JOSEPH SURFACE. But we had best not return together.

360 LADY TEAZLE. Well, don't stay; for Maria sha'n't come to hear any more of your reasoning, I promise you.

Exit LADY TEAZLE JOSEPH SURFACE. A curious dilemma my politics have run me into! I wanted, at first, only to ingratiate myself with Lady Teazle, that she might not be my enemy with Maria; and I have, I don't know how, become her serious lover. Sincerely I begin to wish I had never made such a point of gaining so very good a character, for it has led me into so many cursed rogueries that I doubt I shall be exposed at last. Exit 373

1 The recognized gallant of a married woman.

SIR OLIVER. Aye, I know there are a set of malicious, prating, prudent gossips, both male and female, who murder characters to kill time and will rob a young fellow of his good name before he has years to know the value of it. But I am not to be prejudiced against my nephew by such, I promise you! No, no; if Charles has done nothing false or mean, I shall compound for his extravagance. 32、

ROWLEY. Then, my life on't, you will reclaim him. Ah, sir, it gives me new life to find that your heart is not turned against him, and that the son of my good old master has one friend, however, left.

37

SIR OLIVER. What! shall I forget, Master Rowley, when I was at his years myself? Egad, my brother and I were neither of us very prudent youths, and yet, I believe, you have not seen many better men than your old master was.

43

ROWLEY. Sir, 'tis this reflection gives me

SIR OLIVER. I am sorry to hear it; he has too good a character to be an honest fellow. -Everybody speaks well of him! Pshaw! then he has bowed as low to knaves and fools as to the honest dignity of genius and virtue. 85

SIR PETER. What, Sir Oliver! do you blame him for not making enemies?

SIR OLIVER. Yes, if he has merit enough to deserve them. 89

SIR PETER. Well, well-you'll be convinced when you know him. 'Tis edification

endeavoring to raise a sum of money, part of which, in the midst of his own distresses, I know he intends for the service of poor Stanley.

18

SIR OLIVER. Ah! he is my brother's son. SIR PETER. Well, but how is Sir Oliver personally to

ROWLEY. Why, sir, I will inform Charles and his brother that Stanley has obtained permission to apply personally to his friends; and as they have neither of them ever seen him, let Sir Oliver assume his character and he will have a fair opportunity of judging, at least of the benevolence of their dispositions. And believe me, sir, you will find in the youngest brother one who, in the midst of folly and dissipation, has still, as our immortal bard expresses it,

a heart to pity, and a hand Open as day for melting charity.3

32

SIR PETER. Pshaw! What signifies his having an open hand or purse either when he has nothing left to give? Well, wellmake the trial if you please. But where is the fellow whom you brought for Sir Oliver to examine relative to Charles's affairs?

ROWLEY. Below, waiting his commands, and no one can give him better intelligence. -This, Sir Oliver, is a friendly Jew, who, to do him justice, has done everything in his power to bring your nephew to a proper sense of his extravagance.

46