Am. My Dear, I have News for you. Hill...

Am.

My Dear, I have News for you.

Hill.

I guess at it: And wou'd be fain satisfied of the Particulars: Your Husband is returned, and I hear knows nothing of your being alive: Young Worthy has told me of your design upon him.

Am.

T'is that I wanted your advice in; what think you of it?

Hill.

O! I admire it: Next to forgetting your Husband, tis the Best Council was ever given you; for under the Disguise of Mistress, you may now take a fair advantage of Indulging your Love, and the little Experience you have had of it already, has been just enough not to let you be afraid of a Man.

Am.

Will you never leave your Mad humour?

Hill.

Not till my youth leaves me: Why should Women affect Ignorance among themselves, when we converse with Men indeed? Modesty and Good Breeding Oblige us not to understand, what sometimes we can't help thinking of.

Am.

Nay I don't think the worse of you for what you say: For 'tis observed that a Bragging Lover, and an over shy-Lady, are the farthest from what they would seem; the One is as seldom known to receive a Favour, as the other to Resist an Opportunity.

Hill.

Most Women have a wrong Sense of Modesty, as some Men of Courage; if you don't Fight with all you Meet, or Run from all you see, you are presently thought a Coward, or an ill Woman.

Am.

You say true, and tis as hard a matter now a days for a Woman to know how to converse with Men, as for a man to know, when to draw his Sword: For many times both Sexes are apt to over-act their Parts: To me the Rules of Virtue have been ever sacred; and I am loath to break 'em by an unadvised Understanding: Therefore, dear Hillaria, help me, for I am at a loss—Can I justifie, think you, my intended design upon my Husband?

Hill.

As how, Prithee?

Am.

Why, if I Court and Conquer him, as a Mistress, am not I accessary to his violating the Bonds of Marriage? For though I am his Wife, yet while he Loves me not as such, I encourage an Unlawful Passion; and though the Act be safe, yet his Intent is Criminal: How can I answer this?

Hill.

Very Easily, for if he don't intrigue with you, he will with some Body else in the mean time, and I think you have as much Right to his Remains as any one.

Am.

Ay! but I am assured the love he will pretend to me is vicious: And tis Uncertain, that I shall prevent his doing worse elsewhere.

Hill.

Tis true, a Certain Ill ought not to be done for an Uncertain Good. But then again of two Evils choose the least; and sure tis less Criminal to let him love you as a Mistress, than to let him hate you as a Wife: If you Succeed I suppose you will easily forgive your Guilt in the Undertaking.

Am.

To say truth, I find no Argument yet strong enough to conquer my Inclination to it. But is their no danger think you of his knowing me?

Hill.

Not the least, in my opinion: In the first place he confidently believes you are Dead: Then he has not seen you these eight or ten Years: Besides, you were not above sixteen when he left you: This with the alteration the small-Pox have made in you, (tho' not for the worse,) I think are sufficient Disguises to secure you from his knowledge.

Am.

Nay and to this I may add the considerable amendment of my Fortune; for when he left me I had only my bare Jointure for a Subsistence: Beside my strange manner of receiving him.

Hill.

That's what I wou'd fain be acquainted with.

Am.

I expect further instructions from Young Worthy every Moment; then you shall know all, my Dear.

Hill.

Nay he will do you no small service: For a Thief is the best Thief-catcher.

Love's Last Shift