Love for Love: Scene VI.
Scene VI.
SIR SAMPSON, VALENTINE, SCANDAL, JEREMY, and LAWYER VALENTINE upon a couch disorderly dressed.
SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
How now, what's here to do?
VALENTINE
Ha! Who's that? [Starting.]
SCANDAL
For heav'n's sake softly, sir, and gently; don't provoke him.
VALENTINE
Answer me: who is that, and that?
SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Gads bobs, does he not know me? Is he mischievous? I'll
speak gently. Val, Val, dost thou not know me, boy? Not know thy
own father, Val? I am thy own father, and this is honest Brief
Buckram, the lawyer.
VALENTINE
It may be so--I did not know you--the world is full. There
are people that we do know, and people that we do not know, and yet
the sun shines upon all alike. There are fathers that have many
children, and there are children that have many fathers. 'Tis
strange! But I am Truth, and come to give the world the lie.
SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Body o' me, I know not what to say to him.
VALENTINE
Why does that lawyer wear black? Does he carry his conscience
withoutside? Lawyer what art thou? Dost thou know me?
BUCKRAM
O Lord, what must I say? Yes, sir,
VALENTINE
Thou liest, for I am Truth. 'Tis hard I cannot get a
livelihood amongst you. I have been sworn out of Westminster Hall
the first day of every term--let me see--no matter how long. But
I'll tell you one thing: it's a question that would puzzle an
arithmetician, if you should ask him, whether the Bible saves more
souls in Westminster Abbey, or damns more in Westminster Hall. For
my part, I am Truth, and can't tell; I have very few acquaintance.
SIR SAMPSON LEGEND
Body o' me, he talks sensibly in his madness. Has he no
intervals?
JEREMY
Very short, sir.
BUCKRAM
Sir, I can do you no service while he's in this condition.
Here's your paper, sir--he may do me a mischief if I stay. The
conveyance is ready, sir, if he recover his senses.