Scene XV.

Love for Love

by William Congreve

[To them] MRS FRAIL and BEN LEGEND.

BEN LEGEND
Mess, I love to speak my mind. Father has
nothing to do with me. Nay, I can't say that neither; he has
something to do with me. But what does that signify? If so be that I
ben't minded to be steered by him; 'tis as thof he should strive
against wind and tide.

MRS FRAIL
Ay, but, my dear, we must keep it secret till the
estate be settled; for you know, marrying without an estate is like
sailing in a ship without ballast.

BEN LEGEND
He, he, he; why, that's true; just so for all the
world it is indeed, as like as two cable ropes.

MRS FRAIL
And though I have a good portion, you know one
would not venture all in one bottom.

BEN LEGEND
Why, that's true again; for mayhap one bottom may
spring a leak. You have hit it indeed: mess, you've nicked the
channel.

MRS FRAIL
Well, but if you should forsake me after all,
you'd break my heart.

BEN LEGEND
Break your heart? I'd rather the Mary-gold
should break her cable in a storm, as well as I love her. Flesh, you
don't think I'm false-hearted, like a landman. A sailor will be
honest, thof mayhap he has never a penny of money in his pocket.
Mayhap I may not have so fair a face as a citizen or a courtier; but,
for all that, I've as good blood in my veins, and a heart as sound as
a biscuit.

MRS FRAIL
And will you love me always?

BEN LEGEND
Nay, an I love once, I'll stick like pitch; I'll
tell you that. Come, I'll sing you a song of a sailor.

MRS FRAIL
Hold, there's my sister, I'll call her to hear
it.

MRS FORESIGHT
Well; I won't go to bed to my husband
to-night, because I'll retire to my own chamber, and think of what
you have said.

SCANDAL
Well; you'll give me leave to wait upon you to your
chamber door, and leave you my last instructions?

MRS FORESIGHT
Hold, here's my sister coming towards us.

MRS FRAIL
If it won't interrupt you I'll entertain you with
a song.

BEN LEGEND
The song was made upon one of our ship's-crew's
wife. Our boatswain made the song. Mayhap you may know her, sir.
Before she was married she was called buxom Joan of Deptford.

SCANDAL
I have heard of her.

BEN LEGEND
[Sings]:-

BALLAD.

Set by MR JOHN ECCLES.

I.

A soldier and a sailor,
A tinker and a tailor,
Had once
a doubtful strife, sir,
To make a maid a wife, sir,
Whose
name was buxom Joan.
For now the time was ended,
When she no
more intended
To lick her lips at men, sir,
And gnaw the
sheets in vain, sir,
And lie o' nights alone.

II.

The soldier swore like thunder,
He loved her more than
plunder,
And shewed her many a scar, sir,
That he had brought
from far, sir,
With fighting for her sake.
The tailor thought
to please her
With offering her his measure.
The tinker, too,
with mettle
Said he could mend her kettle,
And stop up ev'ry
leak.

III.

But while these three were prating,
The sailor slyly
waiting,
Thought if it came about, sir,
That they should all
fall out, sir,
He then might play his part.
And just e'en as
he meant, sir,
To loggerheads they went, sir,
And then he let
fly at her
A shot 'twixt wind and water,
That won this fair
maid's heart.

BEN LEGEND
If some of our crew that came to see me are not
gone, you shall see that we sailors can dance sometimes as well as
other folks. [Whistles.] I warrant that brings 'em, an they be
within hearing. [Enter seamen]. Oh, here they be--and fiddles
along with 'em. Come, my lads, let's have a round, and I'll make
one. [Dance.]

BEN LEGEND
We're merry folks, we sailors: we han't much to
care for. Thus we live at sea; eat biscuit, and drink flip, put on a
clean shirt once a quarter; come home and lie with our landladies
once a year, get rid of a little money, and then put off with the
next fair wind. How d'ye like us?

MRS FRAIL
Oh, you are the happiest, merriest men alive.

MRS FORESIGHT
We're beholden to Mr Benjamin for this
entertainment. I believe it's late.

BEN LEGEND
Why, forsooth, an you think so, you had best go
to bed. For my part, I mean to toss a can, and remember my
sweet-heart, afore I turn in; mayhap I may dream of her.

MRS FORESIGHT
Mr Scandal, you had best go to bed and dream
too.

SCANDAL
Why, faith, I have a good lively imagination, and
can dream as much to the purpose as another, if I set about it. But
dreaming is the poor retreat of a lazy, hopeless, and imperfect
lover; 'tis the last glimpse of love to worn-out sinners, and the
faint dawning of a bliss to wishing girls and growing boys.

There's nought but willing, waking love, that can
Make blest
the ripened maid and finished man.