Ma. It may be his Riches made Amends.

Pa. Over Head and Ears in Debt.  And with this Husband this charming Girl now spends her Days, and is now and then drubb’d into the Bargain.

Ma. That is a miserable Story indeed.

Pa. But it is a true one.  It is a just Retaliation upon her, for slighting the young Gentleman.

Ma. I should rather chuse to be thunder-struck than ty’d to endure such a Husband.

Pa. Then don’t provoke Justice, but love him that loves you.

Ma. Well, if that will do, I do love you again.

Pa. Ay, But I would have that Love constant as mine own.  I court a Wife, not a Mistress.

Ma. I suppose so, but yet we ought to be very deliberate in that which being once done, can never be undone again.

Pa. I have been deliberating too long already.

Ma. Love is none of the best Advisers; see that he han’t impos’d upon you, for they say he is blind.

Pa. But that Love has Eyes in his Head, that proceeds from Judgment; you don’t appear so amiable, only because I love you, but you are really so, and therefore I love you.

Ma. But perhaps you don’t know me thoroughly.  When once a Shoe is on, then you’ll know where it pinches.

Pa. I’ll venture it, but I gather from many Conjectures, that it will be happy for me.

Ma. What, are you an Augur then?

Pa. Yes, I am.

Ma. Pray by what Auguries do you prognosticate all this?  What, hath the Night Owl appear’d luckily?

Pa. She flies for Fools.

Ma. Did you see a pair of Pigeons on your right Hand?

Pa. Nothing of all this.  But have for some Years been satisfy’d of the Honesty of your Father and Mother; and in the first Place, that’s no bad Sign.  Nor am I ignorant how modestly and religiously you have been brought up by them, and it is a greater Advantage to be honestly educated, than honourably born.  And then there’s another good Circumstance besides, that as my Parents are none of the worst, so yours and mine have been very intimate for many Years, and you and I have known one another from our very Childhood, as they use to say; and besides all this, our Humours agree very well together.  Our Age, Fortunes, Quality, and Parentage are pretty equal.  And last of all, that which is the chief Thing in Friendship, your Temper seems to agree very well with mine.  There are some Things that may be very good in themselves that may not agree with others.  How acceptable my Temper may be to yours, I don’t know.  These are the Auguries, my Dear, that make me prognosticate that a Marriage between you and me would be happy, lasting, comfortable and pleasant, unless you shall prevent it by a Denial.

Ma. What would you have me say?

Pa. I will sing I am thine first, and you shall sing I am thine after me.