Love for Love

Angelica goes to see Sir Sampson and tells him that she has decided that it is time for her to marry. Sir Sampson confesses his admiration for her, and Angelica tells him that Valentine is not mad after all—and suggests that they should pretend to get married to force Valentine to reveal his ruse. Sir Sampson tries to persuade her to marry him in earnest, assuring her that there is a provision in his legal document that will allow him to keep his fortune and bequeath it to the children he and Angelica could have together. Angelica remains coy, saying that she must consult with her lawyer first before giving him her answer.

Sir Sampson and Angelica exit, and Tattle and Jeremy enter. Jeremy is assuring Tattle of a scheme that could lead Tattle into marrying Angelica: when “Angelica” shows up disguised as a nun thinking she is going to marry Valentine, it can be Tattle disguised instead. Tattle is fooled into believing the scheme is genuine, and agrees to disguise himself and wait for “Angelica” that evening, as instructed.

Miss Prue enters and is happy to see Tattle. She tells him that she has refused to marry Ben and is now free to marry him instead. Tattle is cold and abrupt with her, telling her that his feelings have passed and that he will not marry her. Foresight enters, pleased at the idea of Tattle marrying his daughter, but Tattle mocks him and hints that he will soon be married to another lady, and leaves the stage. Miss Prue, shaken, vows to marry one of her father’s servants instead, which angers Foresight. Miss Prue leaves, and Scandal and Mrs. Foresight enter and remain on stage. Ben enters and tells them Sir Sampson and Angelica have announced their intention of marrying one another.

Sir Sampson and Angelica enter with Mr. Buckram, the lawyer. Sir Sampson is openly overjoyed at his approaching wedding, and he is angered when Ben warns him against marrying such a young woman. Tattle and Mrs. Frail enter, both very upset—they have been tricked by Jeremy’s scheme into marrying one another while in disguise. Both Tattle and Mrs. Frail speak of their loathing for one another.

Valentine enters with Jeremy and Scandal. Valentine announces that he has come to ask his father’s forgiveness and confesses that he was never mad. Valentine then states that he is prepared to sign the renunciation of his inheritance, but that he wishes to ask Angelica a question first. Valentine wishes to know whether she really will marry his father; Angelica’s response seems to suggest that she will, and Valentine declares his willingness to now sign the paper. When Scandal asks why Valentine is now willing to ruin himself, Valentine claims that he only cared for his fortune as a means of pleasing Angelica, but that since she has refused his love, he is willing to forsake his inheritance: “my only pleasure / was to please this lady. I have made many vain attempts / and find at last that nothing but my ruin can effect it” (5.489-91).

Valentine asks for the bond, and Angelica says that she is the one who has it—she then tears it up and confesses her love for Valentine, saying that she always loved him but wished to test his virtue first. Angelica then tells Sir Sampson that he should be a better father, and that his strict nature towards his sons was always displeasing to her. The play closes with Scandal proposing that they should have a dance thanks to the musicians Sir Sampson hired in anticipation of his wedding to Angelica, and with Scandal announcing to Angelica that her conduct has convinced him that women are capable of virtuous conduct. The final speech of the play is Angelica’s, wherein she speaks of the hypocrisy of men who desire love without being worthy of it, and proclaims, “The miracle today is that we find / a lover true: not that a woman’s kind” (5.570-71).