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104 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT v
Bell. [Aside.] I hope there's no French sauce.
Belin. You are so curious in the preparation, that is, your
courtship, one would think you meant a noble entertainment;
but when we come to feed, 'tis all froth, and poor,
but in show; nay, often only remains which have been I
know not huw many times warmed for other company, and
at last served up cold to the wife.
Bell. That were a miserable wretch indeed, who could
not afford one warm dish for the wife of his bosom.—But
you timorous virgins form a dreadful chimera of a husband,
as of a creature contrary to that soft, humble, pliant, easy
thing, a lover; so guess at plagues in matrimony, in opposition
to the pleasures of courtship. Alas! courtship to marriage,
is but as the music in the playhouse till the curtain's
drawn; but that once up, then opens the scene of pleasure.
Belin. Dh, fob! np; rather courtship to marriage, is as a
very witty prologue to a very dull play.
Enter SHARPER.
Sharp. Hist, Bellmour; if you'll bring the ladies, make
haste to Silvia's lodgings, before Heartwell has fretted
himself out of breath.
Bell. \To BELINDA.] You have an opportunity now,
madam, to revenge yourself upon Heartwell, for affronting
your squirrel.
Belin. O. the filthy rude beast!
Aram. Tis a lasting quarrel; I think he has never been
at our house since.
Bell. But give yourselves the trouble to walk to that
corner house, and I'll tell you by the way what may divert
and surprise you. [Exeunt.
SCENE V
Silvia's Lodgings
Enter HEARTWELL and Boy.
Heart. Gone forth, say you, with her maid!
Buy. There was a man too that fetched 'em out; Setter
I think they called him. \Exit.
Heart. So—that precious pimp too.—Damned, damned
strumpet! could she not contain herself on her wedding