I

— Margaret . I have never regretted that my father gamed away his fortune
as much as I do, now that I have met George Farquhar.
I am convinced that were I wealthy he would marry me.
— Her Friend . How is he to know that you are not?
— Margaret . Not know the town's tattle?
— Her Friend . If there is tattle that you are penniless,
there may be tattle that you are rich
as a daughter of Hesperus —
— Margaret . What a subtle and ingenious mind you have, darling! —
— Her Friend . In whose estate
are quiet rooms where white Apollo smiles,
and penniless George Farquhar
may write comedies to outshine Congreve.
— Margaret . Excellent!
— Her Friend . You silly, should he bite and you two marry?
What are you to live by;
for Adam cannot delve nor this Eve spin?
— Margaret . Dearest, what do I live by?
The gratuities of friends.
If we marry, I am sure
of some happiness; for the rest,
I'll chance it —
I am my father's daughter.
Gossip until I have him caught
and my own, my very own.
— Her Friend . I'll talk your wealth, I'll make you rich — in lies.
— Margaret . In love!

II

— Margaret to Farquhar who has become consumptive .
— — O my dear, my dear, you were so dear to me
that I threw my arms about your neck
and pulled you down.
Darling, it is I who have done this to you:
my kisses have sucked away your breath.
What friends we had among the rich and great!
But when we married and had most need of friends,
they left us to befriend each other . . .
I am unlucky;
my father was unlucky, too.
I know there is no meeting of the dead:
that we should be together once again —
oh, that would be too lucky for the like of me!