Scene VIII.

Love for Love

by William Congreve

[To them] MRS FORESIGHT and MRS FRAIL.

MRS FORESIGHT
They have quarrelled, just as we could
wish.

BEN LEGEND
Tar-barrel? Let your sweetheart there call me
so, if he'll take your part, your Tom Essence, and I'll say something
to him; gad, I'll lace his musk-doublet for him, I'll make him stink:
he shall smell more like a weasel than a civet-cat, afore I ha' done
with 'en.

MRS FORESIGHT
Bless me, what's the matter, Miss? What, does
she cry? Mr Benjamin, what have you done to her?

BEN LEGEND
Let her cry: the more she cries the less
she'll--she has been gathering foul weather in her mouth, and now it
rains out at her eyes.

MRS FORESIGHT
Come, Miss, come along with me, and tell me,
poor child.

MRS FRAIL
Lord, what shall we do? There's my brother
Foresight and Sir Sampson coming. Sister, do you take Miss down into
the parlour, and I'll carry Mr Benjamin into my chamber, for they
must not know that they are fallen out. Come, sir, will you venture
yourself with me? [Looking kindly on him.]

BEN LEGEND
Venture, mess, and that I will, though 'twere to
sea in a storm.