fers Love
sincere, whose Character maintains his just Pretensions, ought to be
treated with the like Regard; and that a faithful and a tender Husband
sufficiently repays the Dross of Fortune.

La. _Rod._.[_Aside._] He has drawn me to the Life, but I'll return it--
Such humble things make admirable Wives, and Women when they marry
hectoring Blades, must buy their Peace with wond'rous Condescension, but
when a Lady's unexception'd Graces, artless, immaculate, and universal,
impow'r her to select thro' ev'ry Clime; nay, when she grasps the fickle
Pow'r of Fortune, and is to raise the Man she stoops to wed, Lovers must
sue on more submissive Terms; no Task's too hard when Heav'n's the Reward.
I have a Lover too, no blust'ring Red-Coat, that thinks at the first Onset
he must plunder, bullies his Mistresses, and beats his Men; but when two
Armies meet in Line of Battle, your finest _Collonels_ often prove the
coolest.

_Col._ Hah!

La. _Rod._ No Libertine, who infamously vile, burlesques the happiest
Order of Mankind; yet when some Hit shall probably present, can play the
Courtier, to promote his Int'rest, and fondly press what his Soul starts
to think on.

_Col._ [_Aside._] The Woman speaks truth, by _Jupiter_.

La. _Rod._ In short, he's humble too, so very humble, he's shockt, and
startles at his high-plac'd Love: He has Wit and Breeding, Virtue, Birth
and Fortune, and yet no spark of Pride appears throughout him, but when I
kindle it with my Commands; nor does he serve, as 'tis his Duty only, but
smiles, prepares, is eager for my Orders, and flies to the Obedience I
require.

_Col._ Take him, take him. Madam, you have found the only Man to fit your
purpose--I wou'dn't bate one Inch of my Prerogative for ne'er a mony'd
Petticoat in _Europe_.

La. _Rod._ _Collonel_, these flirting Humours misbecome you, and lighten
not, but aggravate your Baseness. A Thing how much abhorr'd must he
appear, who villanously shall attempt, a Lady, propose, and solemnly
pursue a Conquest, when he, long since, by strictest Oaths and Promises,
has vow'd, been sworn and plighted to another.

_Col._ You but surmise, as yet I've made no Contract; you were the only
Idol of my Soul, nor did I harbour the least Thought of others, 'till your
Pride us'd me with such poor Contempt, 'twas not sufficient to reject my
service, but you must bring a Fop to mock my Passion, as if I had been an
Animal for sport.

La. _Rod._ Suppose it true; [_Aside._]