my Pride wou'd fain suppose it--
suppose I us'd you ill too, nay derided you, cou'd you not bear a Flirt
from one you lov'd; had you conceiv'd a bright and lasting Flame, and not
a Vapour, flashing and extinguish'd, you'd ha' born ten times more. Were I
a Man, that knew my strength of Reason, had Sense to ruminate on Women's
Frailties, I'd laugh at all their Spleen, despise their Vapours, and since
a certain Blessing's the Reward, receive their Humours with unmov'd
Philosophy; but to fly off e'er you had well propounded, to leave your
Mistress 'cause she try'd your Courage, was pusillanimous, and few'll
suppose Valour in Arms breeds Cowardice in Love.

_Col._ [_Aside._] She has struck me dumb, and I'm her Fool again, must
tell her all, and supplicate her pardon, resign my self entirely to her
Will, and trust to her to use me as she pleases----Madam----.
[_Fault'ring._

La. _Rod._ _Collonel!_

_Enter Sir_ Harry.

Sir _Har._ Ha, ha, ha, I never knew a Scene more nicely acted; to see two
Lovers pet, and thwart, and wrangle, when they are just expiring for each
other.

La. _Rod._ [_Aside._] Has he observ'd us too; how I'm confus'd?

Sir _Har._ But come, come, you have brought the Play to a conclusion; an
Audience wou'd be tir'd to hear more on't.

_Col._ Why, really, Madam, after all, you have so pretty, so winning an
Air, that o' my Conscience, I think, I cou'd marry you.

La. _Rod._ And, really, _Collonel_, you have so silly, so sneaking an Air,
that o' my Conscience, you'll make an excellent Husband; but I'm afraid,
_Collonel_, you are so tainted with _French_ Principles, having forag'd in
that Country, you'll be for Tyranny, and arbitrary Government.

_Col._ And I'm afraid, Madam, you're so obstinate in _English_ Principles,
you'll submit to no Government at all--but the Age has adjusted that
matter, for marry'd People now-a-days are the quietest, best natur'd
Creatures, and live together like Brother and Sister.

La. _Rod._ Nay, of marry'd Folks, a Soldier's Wife is the happiest, for
half the Year you're in _Flanders_, and one an't plagu'd with you.

_Col._ And t'other half we are busie in raising Recruits, and don't much
disturb you.

La. _Rod._ Positively, _Collonel_, I'll not have abundance of Children.

_Col._ As few as you please, Madam.

La. _Rod._ For to be mew'd up in a Nursery, with six dirty Boys, those
diminutive Apes, of the Father's dull Species.

_Col._ And as many trolloping Girls,