 | A Hint to Husbands |  |
28
SCENE II.
—A street.Pliant meeting Sir Charles Le Brun.
PLIANT.
Oh, by Olympian Jove, I'm charm'd to see you!
Where are you going?
SIR CHARLES.
What is that to you?
You're tipsy, my gay fellow.
PLIANT.
Well, I'm tipsy;
That's granted.—What do you infer from that?
Wine mends the memory; props the body up
When the legs flinch their duty; makes the heart
Beat a quick march upon the ribs, and scares
Blue devils off—that, else, would come at night
In shape of owls, and hoot us into megrims.
Wine gives us courage to defend our friends;
And that I've done for you.
SIR CHARLES.
Who has assail'd me?
PLIANT.
Oh, as for that, leave me to tell you who.
You have been rattled off at no allowance;
Lord Transit is your man.
SIR CHARLES.
Hold! say no more:
My house is close at hand—We are too public—
This way, and recollect yourself the whilst.
29
Give me your arm! So! that helps recollection.
How is your beauteous lady?
SIR CHARLES.
What of her?
PLIANT.
By the nectareous gods, we pledg'd her health
In brimmers of rich Burgundy, my boy!
SIR CHARLES.
Did my Lord Transit put that toast about?
PLIANT.
Did he? He did; and merrily it went,
For no man stopp'd the bottle. Heh! what ails you?
Ah, baronet, if you would start a quarrel
With every man that shall admire your wife,
You may turn out with thousands.
SIR CHARLES.
Come, this gabble
Rouses no curiosity in me;
I must hear graver matters—Come along!
[Exeunt.
| A Hint to Husbands | |