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125 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT I
nothing more unbecoming a man of quality than to laugh;
'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion! everybody can
laugh. Then, especially to laugh at the jest of an inferior
person, or when anybody else of the same quality does not
laugh with one; ridiculous! To be pleased with what pleases
the crowd! Now when I laugh, I always laugh alone.
Brisk- I suppose, that's because you laugh at your own
jests, egad, ha! ha! ha!
Lord Froth. He! he! I swear, though, your raillery provokes
me to a smile.
Brisk. Ay, my lord, 'tis a sign I hit you in the teeth if
you show 'em.
Lord Froth. He! he! he! I swear that's so very pretty,
I can't forbear.
Care. I find a quibble bears more sway in your lordship's
face than a jest.
Lord Touch. Sir Paul, if you please we'll retire to the
ladies, and drink a dish of tea, to settle our heads.
Sir Paul. With all my heart.—Mr. Brisk, you'll come to
us,—or call me when you joke; I'll be ready to laugh incontinently.
\Exeunt Lord TOUCHWOOD and Sir PAUL PLYANT.
Mel. But does your lordship never see comedies?
Lord Froth. O yes, sometimes;—but I never laugh.
Mel. No!
Lord Froth. O, no;—never laugh indeed, sir.
Care. No! why, what d'ye go there for?
Lord Froth. To distinguish myself from the commonalty,
and mortify the poets: the fellows grow so conceited when
any of their foolish wit prevails upon the side-boxes,—I
swear—he! he! he! I have often constrained my inclination
to laugh,—he! he! he! to avoid giving them encouragement.
Mel. You are cruel to yourself, my lord, as well as malicious
to them.
Lord Froth. I confess I did myself some violence at first;
but now I think I have conquered it.
Brisk. Let me perish, my lord, bdt there is something
very particular in the humour. 'Tis true, it makes against
wit, and I'm sorry for some friends of mine that write, but,
egad, I love to be malicious. Nay, deuce take me, there's
wit in't too; and wit must be foiled by wit; cut a diamond
with a diamond; no other way, egad!