that six thousand pound, which is the moiety of Mrs. Millamant's
fortune in your possession, and which she has forfeited (as will

appear by the last will and testament of your deceased husband, Sir
Jonathan Wishfort) by her disobedience in contracting herself

against your consent or knowledge, and by refusing the offered match
with Sir Wilfull Witwoud, which you, like a careful aunt, had

provided for her.
LADY. My nephew was NON COMPOS, and could not make his addresses.

FAIN. I come to make demands--I'll hear no objections.
LADY. You will grant me time to consider?

FAIN. Yes, while the instrument is drawing, to which you must set
your hand till more sufficient deeds can be perfected: which I will

take care shall be done with all possible speed. In the meanwhile I
will go for the said instrument, and till my return you may balance

this matter in your own discretion.
SCENE VII.

LADY WISHFORT, MRS. MARWOOD.
LADY. This insolence is beyond all precedent, all parallel. Must I

be subject to this mercilessvillain?
MRS. MAR. 'Tis severe indeed, madam, that you should smart for your

daughter's wantonness.
LADY. 'Twas against my consent that she married this barbarian, but

she would have him, though her year was not out. Ah! her first
husband, my son Languish, would not have carried it thus. Well,

that was my choice, this is hers; she is matched now with a witness-
-I shall be mad, dear friend; is there no comfort for me? Must I

live to be confiscated at this rebel-rate? Here come two more of my
Egyptian plagues too.

SCENE VIII.
[To them] MRS. MILLAMANT, SIR WILFULL.

SIR WIL. Aunt, your servant.
LADY. Out, caterpillar, call not me aunt; I know thee not.

SIR WIL. I confess I have been a little in disguise, as they say.
'Sheart! and I'm sorry for't. What would you have? I hope I

committed no offence, aunt--and if I did I am willing to make
satisfaction; and what can a man say fairer? If I have broke

anything I'll pay for't, an it cost a pound. And so let that
content for what's past, and make no more words. For what's to

come, to pleasure you I'm willing to marry my cousin. So, pray,
let's all be friends, she and I are agreed upon the matter before a

witness.
LADY. How's this, dear niece? Have I any comfort? Can this be

true?
MILLA. I am content to be a sacrifice to your repose, madam, and to

convince you that I had no hand in the plot, as you were
misinformed. I have laid my commands on Mirabell to come in person,

and be a witness that I give my hand to this flower of knighthood;
and for the contract that passed between Mirabell and me, I have

obliged him to make a resignation" target="_blank" title="n.辞职(书)；放弃；顺从">resignation of it in your ladyship's presence.
He is without and waits your leave for admittance.

LADY. Well, I'll swear I am something revived at this testimony of
your obedience; but I cannot admit that traitor,--I fear I cannot

fortify myself to support his appearance. He is as terrible to me
as a Gorgon: if I see him I swear I shall turn to stone, petrify

incessantly.
MILLA. If you disoblige him he may resent your refusal, and insist

upon the contract still. Then 'tis the last time he will be
offensive to you.

LADY. Are you sure it will be the last time? If I were sure of
that--shall I never see him again?

MILLA. Sir Wilfull, you and he are to travel together, are you not?
SIR WIL. 'Sheart, the gentleman's a civil gentleman, aunt, let him

come in; why, we are sworn brothers and fellow-travellers. We are
to be Pylades and Orestes, he and I. He is to be my interpreter in

foreign parts. He has been overseas once already; and with proviso
that I marry my cousin, will cross 'em once again, only to bear me

company. 'Sheart, I'll call him in,--an I set on't once, he shall
come in; and see who'll hinder him. [Goes to the door and hems.]

MRS. MAR. This is precious fooling, if it would pass; but I'll know
the bottom of it.

LADY. O dear Marwood, you are not going?
MRS. MAR. Not far, madam; I'll return immediately.

SCENE IX.
LADY WISHFORT, MRS. MILLAMANT, SIR WILFULL, MIRABELL.

SIR WIL. Look up, man, I'll stand by you; 'sbud, an she do frown,
she can't kill you. Besides--harkee, she dare not frown

desperately, because her face is none of her own. 'Sheart, an she
should, her forehead would wrinkle like the coat of a cream cheese;

but mum for that, fellow-traveller.
MIRA. If a deep sense of the many injuries I have offered to so

good a lady, with a sincereremorse and a hearty contrition, can but
obtain the least glance of compassion. I am too happy. Ah, madam,

there was a time--but let it be forgotten. I confess I have
deservedly forfeited the high place I once held, of sighing at your

feet; nay, kill me not by turning from me in disdain, I come not to
plead for favour. Nay, not for pardon: I am a suppliant only for

pity:- I am going where I never shall behold you more.
SIR WIL. How, fellow-traveller? You shall go by yourself then.

MIRA. Let me be pitied first, and afterwards forgotten. I ask no
more.

SIR WIL. By'r lady, a very reasonable request, and will cost you
nothing, aunt. Come, come, forgive and forget, aunt. Why you must

an you are a Christian.
MIRA. Consider, madam; in reality you could not receive much

prejudice: it was an innocentdevice, though I confess it had a
face of guiltiness--it was at most an artifice which love contrived-

-and errors which love produces have ever been accounted venial. At
least think it is punishment enough that I have lost what in my

heart I hold most dear, that to your cruel indignation I have
offered up this beauty, and with her my peace and quiet; nay, all my

hopes of future comfort.
SIR WIL. An he does not move me, would I may never be o' the

quorum. An it were not as good a deed as to drink, to give her to
him again, I would I might never take shipping. Aunt, if you don't

forgive quickly, I shall melt, I can tell you that. My contract
went no farther than a little mouth-glue, and that's hardly dry; one

doleful sigh more from my fellow-traveller and 'tis dissolved.
LADY. Well, nephew, upon your account. Ah, he has a false

insinuating tongue. Well, sir, I will stifle my just resentment at
my nephew's request. I will endeavour what I can to forget, but on

proviso that you resign the contract with my niece immediately.
MIRA. It is in writing and with papers of concern; but I have sent

my servant for it, and will deliver it to you, with all
acknowledgments for your transcendent goodness.

LADY. Oh, he has witchcraft in his eyes and tongue; when I did not
see him I could have bribed a villain to his assassination; but his

appearance rakes the embers which have so long lain smothered in my
breast. [Aside.]

SCENE X.
[To them] FAINALL, MRS. MARWOOD.

FAIN. Your date of deliberation, madam, is expired. Here is the
instrument; are you prepared to sign?

LADY. If I were prepared, I am not impowered. My niece exerts a
lawful claim, having matched herself by my direction to Sir Wilfull.

FAIN. That sham is too gross to pass on me, though 'tis imposed on
you, madam.

MILLA. Sir, I have given my consent.
MIRA. And, sir, I have resigned my pretensions.

SIR WIL. And, sir, I assert my right; and will maintain it in
defiance of you, sir, and of your instrument. 'Sheart, an you talk

of an instrument sir, I have an old fox by my thigh shall hack your
instrument of ram vellum to shreds, sir. It shall not be sufficient