What can be your reason for wishing to give her in
marriage to the sort of a doctor?
ARG. My reason is that I wish to have a son-in-law who will suit my
wants.
BER. But it is not what your daughter requires, and we have a more
suitable match for her.
ARG. Yes; but this one is more suitable for me.
BER. But does she marry a husband for herself or for you, brother?
ARG. He must do both for her and for me, brother; and I wish to take
into my family people of whom I have need.
BER. So that, if your little girl were old enough, you would give her
to an apothecary?
ARG. Why not?
BER. Is it possible that you should always be so infatuated with your
apothecaries and doctors, and be so determined to be ill, in spite of
men and nature?
ARG. What do you mean by that, brother?
BER. I mean, brother, that I know of no man less sick than you, and
that I should be quite satisfied with a constitution no worse than
yours. One great proof that you are well, and that you have a body
perfectly well made, is that with all the pains you have taken, you
have failed as yet in injuring the soundness of your constitution, and
that you have not died of all the medicine they have made you swallow.
ARG. But are you aware, brother, that it is these medicines which keep
me in good health? Mr. Purgon says that I should go off if he were but
three days without taking care of me.
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