University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

An Apartment in Sir Maurice's House.
Enter Sir John and Sir Maurice, meeting.
Sir John.
Welcome, Sir Maurice! Well, what news do you bring?
Say, doth my brother, still maintain th' opinion
You form'd of him.

Sir Maurice.
In truth I never saw
A nobler gentleman, or one whose spirit
Seems better moulded to prosperity.
No change appears in him, unless it be
He now is humbler than he was, more kind,
And more attentive to promote the good
Of all around him. 'Tis methinks a pity
His splendid fortune is so visionary:
Were he in fact possessor of such means,
Thro' a wide sphere his bounty would extend,
And this our iron age, sublim'd by him,
Would beat the poet's boasted age of gold.

Sir John.
Is he such truly?

Sir Maurice.
Can I doubt my senses?
It was but now, as hither I repair'd,
I call'd in at his house. He had gone forth,
But I beheld a scene, which might have touch'd
The most obdurate heart. Those ruin'd men,
Whom, at your worthy brother's intercession,
You had shewn favour to, were there assembled,
Partaking of his hospitality,
And praying for a blessing on the hand,
The charitable hand, that had redeem'd them
From poverty and ruin. Oh, 'twas sweet
To hear how gratefully they spoke his praise!

Sir John.
My doubts are vanish'd. When your dream of wealth
Is over, my good brother, you shall wake
To better fortune than of late you've known.

Sir Maurice.
All will commend you for't.

Sir John.
There's but one thing
Which takes from my full pleasure—my proud wife.
Had she, instead of new indulgences,
Been taught a lesson of adversity,
She might have been reform'd: as 'tis, I fear
Her wayward nature will but gain fresh strength,
And she herself grow irreclaimable.

Sir Maurice.
Why there, indeed, I fear your project fails.
If nothing but severity can cure her,
Your hopes are small from him. Such tenderness,
Such earnestness to meet her utmost wishes
I never witness'd.—But, we do forget—
Our suitors, Ned and Heartwell, are below,
Waiting your presence.

Sir John.
Let us hasten to them,
And ascertain, should our device succeed,
How their affections yet stand tow'rds my daughters.

[Exeunt.