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would spare him these little sort of troubles, by keeping them from his knowledge.

Flip. See the tenderness she has for him, and yet he's always a complaining of you.

Clar. 'Tis the nature of them, Flippanta; a husband is a growling animal.

Flip. How exactly you define them!

Clar. Oh, I know them, Flippanta: though I confess my poor wretch diverts me sometimes with his ill humours. I wish he would quarrel with me today a little, to pass away the time, for I find myself in a violent spleen.

"Flip. Why, if you please to drop yourself in his "way, six to four but he scolds one rubbers with "you.

"Clar. Ay, but thou knowest he's as uncertain as "the wind; and if, instead of quarrelling with me, "he should grow fond, he'd make me as sick as a "dog.

" Flip. If he's kind, you must provoke him: if he "kisses you, spit in his face.

"Clar. Alas! when men are in the kissing fit (like "lapdogs) they take that for a favour.

"Flip. Nay, then I don't know what you'll do "with him.

"Clar. I'll e'en do nothing at all with him.

" Flippanta."

Flip. Madam.

Clar. My cardinal and gloves, and a coach to the

door.

Flip. Why, whither are you going?
Clar. I cann't tell yet; but I would go spend some

money, since I have it.

Flip. Why, you want nothing that I know of.

Clar. How awkward an objection now is thatas if a woman of education bought things because she wanted them! "Quality always distinguishes itself; "and therefore, as the mechanic people buy things, "because they have occasion for them, you see wo" men of rank'always buy things, because they have " not occasion for them. Now there, Flippanta, you "see the difference between a woman that has breed"ing, and one that has none. Oh, ho, here's Ara"minta come at last."

Enter ARAMINTA.

Lard, what a tedious while you have let me expect you! I was afraid you were not well: how do you do to-day?

Ara. As well as a woman can do, that has not slept all night.

Flip. Methinks, madam, you are pretty well awake, however.

Ara. Oh, 'tis not a little thing will make a woman of my spirits look drowsy.

Clar. But pr'ythee, what was't disturbed you?

Ara. Not your husband, don't trouble yourself; at

least I am not in love with him yet.

Clar. Well remembered

I had quite forgot that matter. I wish you much joy; you have made a noble conquest indeed.

Ara. But now I have subdued the country, pray is it worth my keeping? You know the ground, you have tried it.

Clar. A barren soil, Heaven can tell.

Ara. Yet if it were well cultivated, it would pro. duce something, to my knowledge. Do you know 'tis in my power to ruin this poor thing of yours? His whole estate is at my service.

Flip. Cods-fish, strike him, madam, and let my lady go your halves. There's no sin in plundering a husband, so his wife has share of the booty.

Ara. Whenever she gives me her orders, I shall be very ready to obey them.

Clar. Why, as odd a thing as such a project may seem, Araminta, I believe I shall have a little serious discourse with you about it. But pr'ythee tell me how you have passed the night; for I am sure your mind has been roving upon some pretty thing or other.

Ara. Why, I have been studying all the ways my brain could produce to plague my husband,

Clar. No wonder indeed you look so fresh this morning, after the satisfaction of such pleasing ideas all night.

Ara. Why, can a woman do less than study mischief, when she has tumbled and tossed herself into a burning fever, for want of sleep, "and sees a fellow

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"lie snoring by her, stock-still, in a fine breathing

"sweat?"

Clar. Now see the difference of women's tempers: if my dear would make but one nap of his whole life, and only waken to make his will, I should be the happiest wife in the universe. But we'll discourse more of these matters as we go, for I must make a tour among the shops.

Ara. I have a coach waits at the door-we'll talk of them as we rattle along.

Clar. The best place in nature-for you know a hackney-coach is a natural enemy to a husband.

[Exeunt Clar. and Ara.

Flip. [Sola.] What a pretty little pair of amiable persons are there gone to hold a council of war together! Poor birds! what would they do with their time, if the plaguing their husbands did not help them to employment! Well, if idleness be the root of all evil, then matrimony's good for somethingfor it sets many a poor woman to work. But here comes miss. I hope I shall help her into the holy state too ere long. And when she's once there, if she don't play her part as well as the best of them, I'm mistaken. Ha'n't I lost the letter I'm to give her? No, here 'tis: so, now we shall see how pure nature will work with her, for art she knows none yet.

Enter CORINNA.

Cor. What does my mother-in-law want with me, Flippanta? They tell me, she was asking for me.

Flip. She's just gone out; so I suppose 'twas no great business..

Cor. Then I'll go into my chamber again.

Flip. Nay, hold a little, if you please. I have some business with you myself, of more concern than what she had to say to you.

Cor. Make haste then, for you know my father won't let me keep you company: he says, you'll spoil

me.

Flip. I spoil you! He's an unworthy man to give you such ill impressions of a woman of my ho

nour.

Cor. Nay, never take it to heart, Flippanta; for I don't believe a word he says. But he does so plague me with his continual scolding, I'm almost weary of my life.

Flip. Why, what is't he finds fault with ?

Cor. Nay, I don't know, for I never mind him: when he has babbled for two hours together, methinks I have heard a mill going, that's all. It does not at all change my opinion, Flippanta-it only makes my head ache.

Flip. Nay, if you can bear it so, you are not to be pitied so much as I thought.

Cor. Not pitied! Why, is it not a miserable thing, such a young creature as I am should be kept in perpetual solitude, with no other company but a parcel of old fumbling masters, to teach me geography, arithmetic, philosophy, and a thousand useless things? Fine entertainment, indeed, for a young maid at six

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