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To find me not at home？ Inquired he when
I would be back； as much he longed to see me？
What did hesaid he？ Come！Is he in love；
Or like to fall into it？ Goes well my game；
Or shall I have my labour for my pains？
Lydia。 I think he is in love。O poor evasion！
O to love truth； and yet not dare to speak it！ ＇Aside。＇
W。 Green。 You think he is in loveI'm sure of it。
As well have asked you has he eyes and ears；
And brain and heart to use them？ Maids do throw
Trick after trick away； but widows know
To play their cards！ How am I looking； Lydia？
Lydia。 E'en as you ever look。
W。 Green。 Handsome； my girl？
Eh？ Clear in my complexion？ Eh？brimful
Of spirits？ not too much of me； nor yet
Too little？Eh？A woman worth a man？
Look at me； Lydia！ Would you credit； girl；
I was a scarecrow before marriage？
Lydia。 Nay！ …
W。 Green。 Girl； but I tell thee 〃yea。〃 That gown of thine …
And thou art slenderwould have hung about me！
There's something of me now！ good sooth； enough！
Lydia； I'm quite contented with myself；
I'm just the thing； methinks； a widow should be。
So； Master Waller； you believe； affects me？
But； Lydia； not enough to hook the fish；
To prove the angler's skill； it must be caught；
And lovers； Lydia； like the angler's prey …
Which； when he draws it near the landing…place；
Takes warning and runs out the slender line；
And with a spring perchance jerks off the hold
When we do fish for them； and hook； and think
They are all but in the creel； will make the dart
That sets them free to roam the flood again！
Lydia。 Is't so？
W。 Green。 Thou'lt find it so； or better luck
Than many another maid！ Now mark me； Lydia：
Sir William Fondlove fancies me。 'Tis well！
I do not fancy him！ What should I do
With an old man？Attend upon the gout；
Or the rheumatics！ Wrap me in the cloud
Of a darkened chamber'stead of shining out；
The sun of balls； and routs； and gala…days！
But he affects me； Lydia； so he may！
Now take a lesson from meJealousy
Had better go with open； naked breast；
Than pin or button with a gem。 Less plague；
The plague…spot； that doth speedy make an end
One way or t'other； girl。 Yet； never love
Was warm without a spice of jealousy。
Thy lesson nowSir William Fondlove's rich；
And riches； though they're paste； yet being many；
The jewel love we often cast away for。
I use him but for Master Waller's sake。
Dost like my policy？
Lydia。 You will not chide me？
W。 Green。 Nay； Lydia； I do like to hear thy thoughts；
They are such novel thingsplants that do thrive
With country air！ I marvel still they flower；
And thou so long in town！ Speak freely； girl！
Lydia。 I cannot think love thrives by artifice；
Or can disguise its mood； and show its face。
I would not hide one portion of my heart
Where I did give it and did feel 'twas right；
Nor feign a wish； to mask a wish that was；
Howe'er to keep it。 For no cause except
Myself would I be loved。 What were't to me；
My lover valued me the more； the more
He saw me comely in another's eyes；
When his alone the vision I would show
Becoming to？ I have sought the reason oft；
They paint Love as a child； and still have thought；
It was because true love； like infancy；
Frank； trusting； unobservant of its mood；
Doth show its wish at once； and means no more！
W。 Green。 Thou'lt find out better when thy time doth come。
Now wouldst believe I love not Master Waller？
I never knew what love was； Lydia；
That is； as your romances have it。 First；
I married for a fortune。 Having that；
And being freed from him that brought it me；
I marry now； to please my vanity；
A man that is the fashion。 O the delight
Of a sensation； and yourself the cause！
To note the stir of eyes； and ears； and tongues；
When they do usher Mistress Waller in；
Late Widow Green； her hand upon the arm
Of her young； handsome husband！How my fan
Will be in requisitionI do feel
My heart begin to flutter nowmy blood
To mount into my cheek！ My honeymoon
Will be a month of triumphs！〃Mistress Waller！〃
That name； for which a score of damsels sigh；
And but the widow had the wit to win！
Why； it will be the talk of east to west；
And north and south！The children loved the man；
And lost him soI liked； but there I stopped；
For what is it to love； but mind and heart
And soul upon another to depend？
Depend upon another？ Nothing be
But what another wills？ Give up the rights
Of mine own brain and heart？ I thank my stars
I never came to that extremity。
＇Goes out。＇
Lydia。 She never loved； indeed！ She knows not love；
Except what's told of it！ She never felt it。
To stem a torrent； easy； looking at it；
But once you venture in； you nothing know
Except the speed with which you're borne away；
Howe'er you strive to check it。 She suspects not
Her maid； not she； brings Master Waller hither。
Nor dare I undeceive her。 Well might she say
Her young and handsome husband！ Yet his face
And person are the least of him； and vanish
When shines his soul out through his open eye！
He all but says he loves me！ His respect
Has vanquished me！ He looks the will to speak
His passion； and the fear that ties his tongue …
The fear？ He loves not honestly； and yet
I'll swear he lovesI'll swear he honours me！
It is but my condition is a bar；
Denies him give me all。 But knew he me
As I do know myself！ Whate'er his purpose；
When next we speak； he shall declare it to me。
＇Goes out。＇
SCENE III。Sir William Fondlove's。
＇Enter CONSTANCE； dressed for riding； and PHOEBE。＇
Con。 Well； Phoebe； would you know me？ Are those locks
That cluster on my forehead and my cheek；
Sufficient mask？ Show I what I would seem；
A lady for the chase？ My darkened brows
And heightened colour； foreign to my face；
Do they my face pass off for stranger too？
What think you？
Phoebe。 That he'll ne'er discover you。
Con。 Then send him to me。 Say a lady wants
To speak with him； unless indeed it be
A man in lady's gear； I look so bold
And speak so gruff。 Away！ ＇PHOEBE goes out。＇ That I am glad
He stays in town； I own； but if I am；
'Tis only for the tricks I'll play upon him；
And now begin； persuading him his fame
Hath made me fancy him； and brought me hither
On visit to his worship。 Soft； his foot！
THIS he？ Why； what has metamorphosed him。
And changed my sportsman to fine gentleman？
Well he becomes his clothes！ But； check my wonder；
Lest I forget myself。 Why； what an air
The fellow hath。 A man to set a cap at！
＇Enter WILDRAKE。＇
Wild。 Kind lady； I attend your fair commands。
Con。 My veiled face denies me justice； sir；
Else would you see a maiden's blushing cheek
Do penance for her forwardness； too late；
I own； repented of。 Yet if 'tis true；
By our own hearts of others we may judge；
Mine in no peril lies that's shown to you；
Whose heart； I'm sure； is noble。 Worthy sir；
Souls attract souls when they're of kindred vein。
The life that you love； I love。 Well I know；
'Mongst those who breast the feats of the bold chase；
You stand without a peer； and for myself
I dare avow 'mong such； none follows them
With heartier glee than I do。
Wild。 Churl were he
That would gainsay you； madam。
Con。 ＇Curtseying。＇ What