"'Twould be a bad World with most of us, if Reason were always to rule."
— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Tonson
Date
1726
Metaphor
"'Twould be a bad World with most of us, if Reason were always to rule."
Metaphor in Context
MAN.
Well, here am I engaging in other Affairs--let me see--here's a Young Woman, the Governour's Daughter, married to Marsan, a French Officer--I don't say I'm in Love with her--and I have a Mind to--what a Devil have I a Mind to now? Or how am I sure I have a Mind? I have known my self mistaken before now; and upon the whole matter, found, I had not near so much Mind, as I thought I had, when I came to discover it to the Lady. A Pox on this Marsan tho', for being such a pretty Fellow--a handsome, promising young Dog! Wou'd his Wife could say half so much of her humble Servant--why I verily believe if a Man could enter into the Secret, she has as little Reason, as I have, to make him a Cuckold-- but hang Reason; 'twould be a bad World with most of us, if Reason were always to rule. A Woman may Cuckold her Husband, I hope, whether she has any Reason or no--well, there's one comfort, he's a Frenchman, and will give me as many Opportunities--but then she's an English Woman, and will make as little use of an Opportunity--but what's an Opportunity to a Man who has no Occasion of making use of one?--my Opportunities may be harder to come by, than his, for ought I know, and then--I could advise my self now to give over playing the Fool--but at my Years every thing is playing the Fool--and can any Man direct me to a better Diversion?--if I can perswade her to play the Fool, no body will think I play the Fool--if not, every Man is to be laught at for one thing or other, and pray allow me to make my self merry, my way, if I can.
Well, here am I engaging in other Affairs--let me see--here's a Young Woman, the Governour's Daughter, married to Marsan, a French Officer--I don't say I'm in Love with her--and I have a Mind to--what a Devil have I a Mind to now? Or how am I sure I have a Mind? I have known my self mistaken before now; and upon the whole matter, found, I had not near so much Mind, as I thought I had, when I came to discover it to the Lady. A Pox on this Marsan tho', for being such a pretty Fellow--a handsome, promising young Dog! Wou'd his Wife could say half so much of her humble Servant--why I verily believe if a Man could enter into the Secret, she has as little Reason, as I have, to make him a Cuckold-- but hang Reason; 'twould be a bad World with most of us, if Reason were always to rule. A Woman may Cuckold her Husband, I hope, whether she has any Reason or no--well, there's one comfort, he's a Frenchman, and will give me as many Opportunities--but then she's an English Woman, and will make as little use of an Opportunity--but what's an Opportunity to a Man who has no Occasion of making use of one?--my Opportunities may be harder to come by, than his, for ought I know, and then--I could advise my self now to give over playing the Fool--but at my Years every thing is playing the Fool--and can any Man direct me to a better Diversion?--if I can perswade her to play the Fool, no body will think I play the Fool--if not, every Man is to be laught at for one thing or other, and pray allow me to make my self merry, my way, if I can.
Provenance
Searching "rule" and "reason" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1726).
Money the Mistress. A Play, As it was Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. Written by Thomas Southerne. (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1726).
Money the Mistress. A Play, As it was Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. Written by Thomas Southerne. (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1726).
Date of Entry
06/23/2004
