Har. Do not fear it. I have not, nor never will do anything against my duty; believe me, dear mother, do.

Dor. [to Loveit]. I had trusted you with this secret, but that I knew the violence of your nature would ruin my fortune, as now unluckily it has. I thank you, madam.

Lov. She’s an heiress, I know, and very rich.

Dor. To satisfy you I must give up my interest wholly to my love; had you been a reasonable woman, I might have secured ’em both and been happy.

Lov. You might have trusted me with anything of this kind, you know you might. Why did you go under a wrong name?

Dor. The story is too long to tell you now—be satisfied, this is the business, this is the mask has kept me from you.

Bel. [aside]. He’s tender of my honour, though he’s cruel to my love.

Lov. Was it no idle mistress then?

Dor. Believe me, a wife, to repair the ruins of my estate that needs it.

Lov. The knowledge of this makes my grief hang lighter on my soul; but I shall never more be happy.

Dor. Belinda!

Bel. Do not think of clearing yourself with me, it is impossible. Do all men break their words thus?

Dor. Th’ extravagant words they speak in love; ’tis as unreasonable to expect we should perform all we promise then, as do all we threaten when we are angry. When I see you next—

Bel. Take no notice of me, and I shall not hate you.

Dor. How came you to Mrs. Loveit?

Bel. By a mistake the chairmen made for want of my giving them directions.

Dor. ’Twas a pleasant one. We must meet again.

Bel. Never.

Dor. Never?

Bel. When we do, may I be as infamous as you are false.

Lady Town. Men of Mr. Dorimant’s character always suffer in the general opinion of the world.

Med. You can make no judgment of a witty man from common fame, considering the prevailing faction, madam.

O. Bell. Adod, he’s in the right.

Med. Besides, ’tis a common error among women to believe too well of them they know and too ill of them they don’t.

O. Bell. Adod, he observes well