Scene V.

Love for Love

by William Congreve

ANGELICA, SIR SAMPSON, TATTLE, MRS FRAIL, MISS PRUE.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
What, is my son Valentine gone? What, is
he sneaked off, and would not see his brother? There's an unnatural
whelp! There's an ill-natured dog! What, were you here too, madam,
and could not keep him? Could neither love, nor duty, nor natural
affection oblige him? Odsbud, madam, have no more to say to him, he
is not worth your consideration. The rogue has not a drachm of
generous love about him--all interest, all interest; he's an undone
scoundrel, and courts your estate: body o' me, he does not care a
doit for your person.

ANGELICA
I'm pretty even with him, Sir Sampson; for if ever
I could have liked anything in him, it should have been his estate
too; but since that's gone, the bait's off, and the naked hook
appears.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Odsbud, well spoken, and you are a wiser
woman than I thought you were, for most young women now-a-days are to
be tempted with a naked hook.

ANGELICA
If I marry, Sir Sampson, I'm for a good estate with
any man, and for any man with a good estate; therefore, if I were
obliged to make a choice, I declare I'd rather have you than your
son.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Faith and troth, you're a wise woman, and
I'm glad to hear you say so; I was afraid you were in love with the
reprobate. Odd, I was sorry for you with all my heart. Hang him,
mongrel, cast him off; you shall see the rogue show himself, and make
love to some desponding Cadua of fourscore for sustenance. Odd, I
love to see a young spendthrift forced to cling to an old woman for
support, like ivy round a dead oak; faith I do, I love to see 'em hug
and cotton together, like down upon a thistle.