your forenoon in tittle-tattles? away; it's well, i'faith. Will you go in, gentlemen? Thor. We'll follow presently; my son and I Have a few words of business. Car. At your pleasure. [Exeunt all but THORNEY and FRANK. Thor. I think you guess the reason, Frank, for which I sent for you. Frank. Yes, sir. Thor. I need not tell you With what a labyrinth of dangers daily "The best part of my whole estate's encumber'd; Nor have I any clue to wind it out, But what occasion proffers me; wherein, If you should falter, I shall have the shame, And you the loss. On these two points rely Our happiness or ruin. If you marry With wealthy Carter's daughter, there's a portion To make a present sale of all; and yet, That marriage brings with it; yet to secure And settle the continuance of your credit, Thor. You have already used Such thriving protestations to the maid, That she is wholly your's; and--speak the truth, You love her, do you not? Frank. "Twere pity, sir, I should deceive her. Thor. Better you had been unborn. It were a wrong not to be righted. Thor. True, It were and you will marry her? Frank. Heaven prosper it, I do intend it. Thor. Oh, thou art a villain! A devil like a man! Wherein have I Father to such a graceless, godless son? Frank. To me, sir, this! oh, my cleft heart! Thor. To thee, Son of my curse. Speak truth and blush, thou monster ! Hast thou not married Winnifrede, a maid Frank. Some swift spirit Has blown this news abroad; I must outface it. [Aside. Thor. Do you study for excuse? why all the country Is full on't. Frank. With your license, 'tis not charitable, I'm sure it is not fatherly, so much To be o'ersway'd with credulous conceit Are privileged to think and talk at pleasure. Thor. Why, canst thou yet deny thou hast no. wife? Frank. What do you take me for? an atheist? One that nor hopes the blessedness of life Hereafter, neither fears the vengeance due To such as make the marriage-bed an inn, Which * After a toilsome lodging, leave at pleasure? Am I become so insensible of losing travellers, day and night, The glory of creation's work, my soul? Thor. Thou hast, dissembler. Dar'st thou perséver yet, and pull down wrath Frank. Sir, though mine innocence Needs not a stronger witness than the clearness Possess'd of this untruth,-to quit all scruple Frank. On every side I am distracted; Am waded deeper into mischief Than virtue can avoid; but on I must: [Reads. Fate leads me; I will follow.-(Aside.) There you read Thor. Yes, and wonder at it. Forgive me, Frank; credulity abus'd me. Frank. Alas! I knew Your rage and grief proceeded from your love Fute leads me; I will follow.] Ford has furnished Frank with the same apology which he had previously put in the mouth of Giovanni. See vol. i., p. 140. Nothing need be added to what is said on that passage, to which the reader will have the goodness to turn. Giovanni, indeed, is a villain of a gigantic stamp, but he has an accomplice in his crime, and is at once seducing and seduced; whereas, the person before us is a cold, calculating wretch, an agent of evil, upon principle; for (to say nothing of his fearful perjuries in the first scene) he must have planned the seduction of Winnifrede, with the full knowledge of his engagement to marry Susan. With the usual inconsistency of those who seek to smother their conscience by plunging deeper into guilt, he observes, just below, that the fate which here "leads him on," pursues him! Thor. My good son, I'll bear with many faults in thee hereafter; Frank. The peace is soon concluded. Re-enter Old CARTER and SUSAN. Car. Why, master Thorney, do you mean to talk out your dinner? the company attends your coming. What must it be, master Frank? or son Frank? I am plain Dunstable.” Thor. Son, brother, if your daughter like to have it so. Frank. I dare be confident, she is not alter'd From what I left her at our parting last: Are you, fair maid? Sus. You took too sure possession Of an engaged heart. Frank. Which now I challenge. Car. Marry, and much good may it do thee, son. Take her to thee; get me a brace of boys at a burthen, Frank; the nursing shall not stand thee in a pennyworth of milk; reach her home and spare not: when's the day? Thor. To-morrow, if you please. To use cere- Of charge and custom were to little purpose; I am plain Dunstable.] i. e. Blunt and honest. The proverb is of very ancient date, and is not even yet quite worn out; only, as Sir Hugh says, the phrase is a little variations: for, with the usual propensity of our countrymen to assist the memory by alliteration, a man like Carter, is now Downright Dunstable. |