[To him] SHARPER.
SHARP.I'm sorry to see this, Ned.Once a man comes to his soliloquies, I give him for gone.
BELL.Sharper, I'm glad to see thee.
SHARP.What! is Belinda cruel, that you are so thoughtful?
BELL.No, faith, not for that.But there's a business of consequence fallen out to-day that requires some consideration.
SHARP.Prithee, what mighty business of consequence canst thou have?
BELL.Why, you must know, 'tis a piece of work toward the finishing of an alderman.It seems I must put the last hand to it, and dub him cuckold, that he may be of equal dignity with the rest of his brethren: so I must beg Belinda's pardon.
SHARP.Faith, e'en give her over for good and all; you can have no hopes of getting her for a mistress; and she is too proud, too inconstant, too affected and too witty, and too handsome for a wife.
BELL.But she can't have too much money.There's twelve thousand pound, Tom.'Tis true she is excessively foppish and affected; but in my conscience I believe the baggage loves me: for she never speaks well of me herself, nor suffers anybody else to rail at me.
Then, as I told you, there's twelve thousand pound.Hum! Why, faith, upon second thoughts, she does not appear to be so very affected neither.--Give her her due, I think the woman's a woman, and that's all.As such, I'm sure I shall like her; for the devil take me if I don't love all the sex.
SHARP.And here comes one who swears as heartily he hates all the sex.
