Scene X.

Love for Love

by William Congreve

SIR SAMPSON, ANGELICA, FORESIGHT, MRS FORESIGHT, BEN, BUCKRAM.

MRS FORESIGHT
This is so surprising.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
How! What does my aunt say? Surprising,
aunt? Not at all for a young couple to make a match in winter: not
at all. It's a plot to undermine cold weather, and destroy that
usurper of a bed called a warming-pan.

MRS FORESIGHT
I'm glad to hear you have so much fire in you,
Sir Sampson.

BEN LEGEND
Mess, I fear his fire's little better than
tinder; mayhap it will only serve to light up a match for somebody
else. The young woman's a handsome young woman, I can't deny it:
but, father, if I might be your pilot in this case, you should not
marry her. It's just the same thing as if so be you should sail so
far as the Straits without provision.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Who gave you authority to speak, sirrah?
To your element, fish, be mute, fish, and to sea, rule your helm,
sirrah, don't direct me.

BEN LEGEND
Well, well, take you care of your own helm, or
you mayn't keep your new vessel steady.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Why, you impudent tarpaulin! Sirrah, do
you bring your forecastle jests upon your father? But I shall be
even with you, I won't give you a groat. Mr Buckram, is the
conveyance so worded that nothing can possibly descend to this
scoundrel? I would not so much as have him have the prospect of an
estate, though there were no way to come to it, but by the North-East
Passage.

BUCKRAM
Sir, it is drawn according to your directions; there
is not the least cranny of the law unstopt.

BEN LEGEND
Lawyer, I believe there's many a cranny and leak
unstopt in your conscience. If so be that one had a pump to your
bosom, I believe we should discover a foul hold. They say a witch
will sail in a sieve: but I believe the devil would not venture
aboard o' your conscience. And that's for you.

SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Hold your tongue, sirrah. How now, who's
here?