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248 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT III
has stolen the treasure. I am a juggler, that act by confederacy;
and, if you please, we'll put a trick upon the
world.
Mrs. Fore. Ay; but you are such a universal juggler, that
I'm afraid you have a great many confederates.
Scan. Faith, I'm sound.
Mrs. Fore. O fy!—I'll swear you're impudent.
Scan. I'll swear you're handsome.
Mrs. Fore. Pish! you'd tell me so, though you did not
think so.
Scan. And you'd think so, though I should not tell you so.
And now I think we know one another pretty well.
Mrs. Fore. O Lord, who's here?
Enter Mrs. FRAIL and BEN.
Ben. Mess, I love to speak my mind; father has nothing to
do with me. Nay, I can't say that neither; he has something
to do with me. But what docs that signify? if so be, that
I bc'n't minded to be steered by him, 'tis as tho'f he should
strive against wind and tide.
Mrs. Frail. Ay, but, my dear, we must keep it secret till
the estate be settled; for you know marrying without an
estate is like sailing in a ship without ballast.
Ben. He! he! he! why that's true; just so for all the world
it is indeed, as like as two cable-ropes.
Mrs. Frail. And though I have a good portion, you know
one would not venture all in one bottom.
Ben. Why, that's true again; for mayhap one bottom may
spring a leak. You have hit it indeed, mess, you've nicked
the channel.
Mrs. Frail. Well, but if you should forsake me after all,
you'd break my heart.
Ben. Break your heart! I'd rather the Marygold should
break her cable in a storm, as well as I love her. Flesh,
you don't think I'm false-hearted like a landman! A sailor
will be honest, tho'f mayhap he has never a penny of money
in his pocket.—Mayhap I may not have so fair a face- as a
citizen or a courtier; but for all that, I've as good blood in
my veins, and a heart as sound as a biscuit.
Mrs. Frail. And will you love me always?
Ben. Nay, an I love once, I'll stick like pitch; Til tell you
that. Come, Til sing you a song for a sailor.
Mrs, Frail. Hold, there's my sister; I'll call her to hear it.