errand? What's the use of our coming into the world, if we are to go out of it, and leave nobody behind us? Soph. "If our species can be only supported by "those gross mixtures, of which cook-maids and "footmen are capable, people of rank and erudition "ought certainly to detest them." Oh, what a pity 'tis the divine secret should be lost! I have somewhere read of an ancient naturalist, whose laborious studies had discovered a more innocent way of propagation; but, it seems, his tables unfortunately falling into his wife's hands, the gross creature threw them into the fire. Char. Indeed, my dear sister, if you talk thus in company, people will take you for a mad woman. "Soph. I shall be even with them, and think those "mad that differ from my opinion. "Char. But I rather hope the world will be so "charitable, as to think this is not your real opinion." Soph. 1 shall wonder at nothing that's said or thought by people of your sullied imagination. Char. Sullied I would have you to know, madam, I think of nothing but what's decent and natural. Soph. Don't be too positive, nature has its indecencies. Char. That may be; but I don't think of them. Soph. No! Did not you own to me, just now, you were determined to marry? Char. Well; and where's the crime, pray? Soph. What! you want to have me explain? But I shall not defile my imagination with such gross ideas. "Char. But, dear madam, if marriage were such "an abominable business, how comes it that all the "world allows it to be honourable? And I hope you " won't expect me to be wiser than any of my an"cestors, by thinking the contrary. "Soph. No; but if you will read history, sister, "you will find that the subjects of the greatest em" pire upon earth were only propagated from violated "chastity: the Sabine ladies were wives, 'tis true, "but glorious ravished wives. Vanquished they "were indeed, but they surrendered not: they "screamed, and cried, and tore, and as far as their " weak limbs would give them leave, resisted and ab"horred the odious joy "Char. And yet, for all that niceness, they brought "a chopping race of rakes, that bullied the whole "world about them. "Soph. The greater still their glory, that though "they were naturally prolific, their resistance proved "they were not slaves to appetite. "Char. Ah, sister! if the Romans had not been " so sharp set, the glorious resistance of these fine " ladies might have been all turned into coquetry. "Soph. There's the secret, sister: had our modern "dames but the true Sabine spirit of disdain, man"kind might be again reduced to those old Roman "extremities; and our shameless brides would not "then be led, but dragged to the altar; their spon"salia not called a marriage, but a sacrifice: and the "conquered beauty, not the bridal virgin, but the "victim. "Char. Oh, ridiculous! and so you would have no "woman married that was not first ravished, ac"cording to law? "Soph. I would have mankind owe their conquest " of us rather to the weakness of our limbs than of " our souls. And if defenceless women must be mo"thers, the brutality, at least, should lie all at their "door." Char. Have a care of this over-niceness, dear sister, lest some agreeable young fellow should seduce you to the confusion of parting with it. You'd make a most rueful figure in love! Soph. Sister, you make me shudder at your freedom! I in love! I admit a man! What, become the voluntary, the lawful object of a corporeal sensuality? Like you, to choose myself a tyrant! a de. spoilert a husband! Ugh. Char. I am afraid, by this disorder of your thoughts, dear sister, you have got one in your head that you don't know how to get rid of. Soph. I have, indeed; but it's only the male creature that you have a mind to. Char. Why, that's possible too; for I have often observed you uneasy at Mr. Frankly's being par. ticular to me. Soph. If I am, 'tis upon your account, because I know he imposes upon you. Char. You know it? "Soph. I know his heart, and that another is mis"tress of it. "Char. Another ! "Soph. Another; but one that to my knowledge " will never hear of him; so don't be uneasy, dear "sister, all in my power you may be assured of. "Char. Surprisingly kind, indeed! "Soph. And you know too I have a great deal in "my inclination "Char. For me or him, dear sister? "Soph Nay, now you won't suffer me to oblige "you; I tell you, I hate the animal; and for half a "good word would give him away. "Char. What! before you have him? "Soph. This affected ignorance is so vain, dear "sister, that I now think it high time to explain to " you. "Char. Then we shall understand one another." Soph. You don't know, perhaps, that Mr. Frankly is passionately in love with me? Char. I know, upon his treating with my father, his lawyer once made you some offers. Soph. Why then you may know too, that upon my slighting those offers, he fell immediately into a violent despair. Char. I did not hear of its violence. 41 "Soph. So violent, that he has never since dared " to open his lips to me about it; but to revenge the " secret pains I gave him, has made his public ad"dresses to you. "Char. Indeed, sister, you surprise me: and 'tis "hard to say, that men impose more upon us than "we upon ourselves. "Soph. Therefore, by what I have told you, you " may now be convinced he is false to you. "Char. But is there a necessity, my dear Sophro"nia, that I must rather believe you than him? Ha, "ha, ha !" Soph. How, madam! Have you the confidence to question my veracity, by supposing me capable of an endeavour to deceive you ? Char. No hard words, dear sister: I only suppose you as capable of deceiving yourself as I am. Soph. Oh, mighty probable, indeed! You are a person of infinite penetration! Your studies have opened to you the utmost recesses of human nature; but let me tell you, sister, that vanity is the only fruit of toilette lucubrations. I deceive myself: ha, ha, ha! Char. One of us certainly does! Ha, ha! Char. Till I am better convinced then on which side the vanity lies, give me leave to laugh in my turn, dear sister. Soph. Oh, by all means, sweet madam ! Ha, ha! E |