this
worthless Life--for you--

_Geo._ What Innocence adorns her Tongue, and Eyes! while Hell and Furies
give her Heart its motion. You know not where you are?

_Mir._ Perhaps I do not.

_Geo._ Swear, for thou'rt damn'd already, and by what black Degrees I
will unfold: When first I saw this gay, this glorious Mischief, though
nobly born, 'twas hid in mean Obscurity; the shining Viper lay half dead
with Poverty, I took it up, and laid it next my Heart, fed it, and
call'd its faded Beauties back.

_Mir._ Confess'd; And what of this?

_Geo._ Confirm'd you mine, by all the Obligations Profuseness cou'd
invent, or Love inspire.

_Mir._ And yet at your Return you found me marry'd to another.

_Geo._ Death and Hell! that was not yet the worst: You flatter'd me with
some Pretence of Penitence; but on the Night, the dear destructive
Night, you rais'd my Hopes to all distracting Love cou'd wish--that very
Night--Oh, let me rave and die, and never think that Disappointment
o'er!

_Mir._ What, you saw me courted at the Ball, perhaps.

_Geo._ Perhaps I saw it in your Chamber too. Breathless and panting,
with new-acted Joys, the happy Lover lay--Oh _Mirtilla_!

_Mir._ Nay, if he knows it, I'll deny't no more. [Aside.

_Geo._ There is no Honesty in all thy Kind.

_Mir._ Or if there be, those that deal in't are weary of their Trade.
But where's the mighty Crime?

_Geo._ No, I expect thou shouldst out-face my Eyes, out-swear my
Hearing, and out-lye my Senses.--The Prince! the Prince! thou faithless
dear destruction.

_Mir._ The Prince! good Heaven! Is all this Heat for him?

_Geo._ Thou own'st the Conquest then?

_Mir._ With as much Vanity as thou wouldst do, if thou hadst won his
Sword: Hast thou took care wisely to teach me all the Arts of Life, and
dost thou now upbraid my Industry? Look round the World, and thou shalt
see, _Lejere_, Ambition still supplies the place of Love. The worn-out
Lady, that can serve your Interest, you swear has Beauties that
out-charms Fifteen; and for the Vanity of Quality, you feign and
languish, lye, protest, and flatter--All Things in Nature cheat, or else
are cheated.

_Geo._ Well said; take off thy Veil, and shew the Jilt.

_Mir._ You never knew a Woman thrive so well by real Love, as by
Dissimulation: This has a thousand Arts and Tricks to conquer; appears
in any Shape, in any Humour; can laugh or weep, be coy or play, by
turns, as suits the Lover best, while simple Love h