Horn. [to Mrs. PINCHWIFE]. Had you not rather stay with us? —Prithee, Pinchwife, who is this pretty young gentleman?

Pinch. One to whom I’m a guardian.—[Aside.] I wish I could keep her out of your hands.

Horn. Who is he? I never saw anything so pretty in all my life.

Pinch. Pshaw! do not look upon him so much, he’s a poor bashful youth, you’ll put him out of countenance.—Come away, brother.

[Offers to take her away.

Horn. O, your brother!

Pinch. Yes, my wife’s brother.—Come, come, she’ll stay supper for us.

Horn. I thought so, for he is very like her I saw you at the play with, whom I told you I was in love with.

Mrs. Pinch. [aside]. O jeminy! is that he that was in love with me? I am glad on’t, I vow, for he’s a curious fine gentleman, and I love him already, too.—[To PINCHWIFE.] Is this he, bud?

Pinch. Come away, come away.

[To his Wife.

Horn. Why, what haste are you in? why won’t you let me talk with him?

Pinch. Because you’ll debauch him; he’s yet young and innocent, and I would not have him debauched for anything in the world.—[Aside.] How she gazes on him! the devil!

Horn. Harcourt, Dorilant, look you here, this is the likeness of that dowdy he told us of, his wife; did you ever see a lovelier creature? The rogue has reason to be jealous of his wife, since she is like him, for she would make all that see her in love with her.

Har. And, as I remember now, she is as like him here as can be.

Dor. She is indeed very pretty, if she be like him.

Horn. Very pretty? a very pretty commendation!—she is a glorious creature, beautiful beyond all things I ever beheld.

Pinch. So, so.

Har. More beautiful than a poet’s first mistress of imagination.

Horn. Or another man’s last mistress of flesh and blood.

Mrs. Pinch. Nay, now you jeer, sir; pray don’t jeer me.

Pinch. Come, come.—[Aside.] By Heavens, she’ll discover herself!

Horn. I speak of your sister, sir.

Pinch. Ay, but saying she was handsome, if like him, made him blush.—[Aside.] I am upon a rack!

Horn. Methinks he is so handsome he should not be a man.