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264 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT iv
and Juno shall give her peacock poppy-water, that he may
fold his ogling tail, and Argus's hundred eyes be shut, ha!
Nobody shall know but Jeremy.
Mrs. Frail. No, no, we'll keep it secret, it shall be done
presently.
Vol. The sooner the better.—Jeremy, come hither—
closer—that none may overhear us—Jeremy, I can tell you
news; Angelica is turned nun, and I am turning friar, and
yet we'll marry one another in spite of the pope. Get me a
cowl and beads, that I may play my part; for she'll meet me
two hours hence in black and white, and a long veil to
cover the project, and we won't see one another's faces, till
we have done something to be ashamed of, and then we'll
blush once for all.
Enter TATTLE and ANGELICA.
fer. Til take care, and—
Val Whisper.
Ang. Nay, Mr. Tattle, if you make love to me, you spoil
my design, for I intend to make you my confidant,
Tat. But, madam, to throw away your person, such a
person, and such a fortune, on a madman?
Ang. I never loved him till he was mad; but don't tell
anybody so.
Scan. [Aside.] How's this! Tattle making love to Angelica?
Tat. Tell, madam! alas, you don't know me—I have much
ado to tell your ladyship how long I have been in love with
you; but encouraged by the impossibility of Valentine's
making any more addresses to you, I have ventured to declare
the very inmost passion of my heart. Oh, madam, look
upon us both; there you see the ruins of a poor decayed
creature,—here a complete and lively figure, with youth
and health, and all his five senses in perfection, madam;
and to all this, the most passionate lover—
Ang. O fy, for shame! hold your tongue; a passionate
lover and five senses in perfection! when you are as mad as
Valentine, I'll believe you love me, and the maddest shall
take me.
Vol. It is enough.—Ha, who's here?
Mrs. Frail. [Aside to JEREMY.] O Lord, her coming will
spoil alll