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262 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT Iv
Mrs. Fore. Oh, hang him, old fox! he's too cunning;
besides he hates both you and me. But I have a project in
my head for you, and I have gone a good way towards it.
I have almost made a bargain with Jeremy, Valentine's man,
to sell his master to us.
Mrs. Frail. Sell him! how?
Mrj. Fore. Valentine raves upon Angelica, and took me
for her, and Jeremy says will take anybody for her that he
imposes on him. Now I have promised him mountains, if
in one of his mad fits he will bring you to him in her stead,
and get you married together, and put to bed together; and
after consummation, girl, there's no revoking. And if he
should recover his senses, he'll be glad at least to make you
a good settlement.—Here they come: stand aside a little, and
tell me how you like the design.
Enter VALENTINE, SCANDAL, FORESIGHT, and JEREMY.
Scan. [To JEREMY.] And have you given your master a
hint of their plot upon him?
Jer. Yes, sir; he says he'll favour it, and mistake her for
Angelica.
Scan. It may make us sport.
Fore. Mercy on us!
VaL Hush!—interrupt me not: I'll whisper prediction to
thee, and thou shalt prophesy. I am Truth, and can teach
thy tongue a new trick:—I have told thee what's past—now
I'll tell what's to come. Dost thou know what will happen
to-morrow?—answer me not—for I will tell thee. To-morrow,
knaves will thrive through craft, and fools through
fortune, and honesty will go as it did, frost-nipped in a
summer suit. Ask me questions concerning to-morrow.
Scan. Ask him, Mr. Foresight.
Fore. Pray, what will be done at court?
Val. Scandal will tell you:—I am Truth, I never come
there.
Fore. In the city?
Val. Oh, prayers will be said in empty churches, at the
usual hours. Yet you will see such zealous faces behind the
counters, as if religion were to be sold in every shop. Oh,
things will go methodically, in the city, the clocks will strike
twelve at noon, and the horned herd buzz in the Exchange
at two. Husbands and wives will drive distinct