Spark. What, what?—[To H
Har. Not so much as I thought, and hoped she had.
[Speaks surlily.
Alith. Mr. Sparkish, do you bring people to rail at you?
Har. Madam—
Spark. How! no; but if he does rail at me, ’tis but in jest, I warrant: what we wits do for one another, and never take any notice of it.
Alith. He spoke so scurrilously of you, I had no patience to hear him; besides, he has been making love to me.
Har. True, damned tell-tale woman!
[Aside.
Spark. Pshaw! to show his parts—we wits rail and make love often, but to show our parts: as we have no affections, so we have no malice, we—
Alith. He said you were a wretch below an injury—
Spark. Pshaw!
Har. Damned, senseless, impudent, virtuous jade! Well, since she won’t let me have her, she’ll do as good, she’ll make me hate her.
[Aside.
Alith. A common bubble—
Spark. Pshaw!
Alith. A coward—
Spark. Pshaw, pshaw!
Alith. A senseless, drivelling idiot—
Spark. How! did he disparage my parts? Nay, then, my honour’s concerned, I can’t put up that, sir, by the world—brother, help me to kill him—[Aside] I may draw now, since we have the odds of him:—’tis a good occasion, too, before my mistress—
[Offers to draw:
Alith. Hold, hold!
Spark. What, what?
Alith. [aside]. I must not let ’em kill the gentleman neither, for his kindness to me: I am so far from hating him, that I wish my gallant had his person and understanding. Nay, if my honour—
Spark. I’ll be thy death.