University of Virginia Library

SCENE changes to a Street.
Enter Carlo and Boy in Girls Cloaths.
Carlo.

Troth, my young Varlet, thou becom'st thy Petticoats extremely
well.

Boy.

Ay, Sir, or my Glass lyes. [Looking in a Pocket-glass.]
Look ye,
Sir, Here's a Face carries as tempting a Lure, as if I had been stamp'd
in the fair cozening Mould. Not the errantest Gypsy of the Sex beyond
me.

Carlo.

Nay, Boy, at the rate thou talk'st, thou hast not only borrow'd
the Face, but the Vanity of the fair Sex too.

Boy.
Vain, or not vain, ne'er fear, I'll do the Work for you.
I shall find Charms enough, I warrant ye, to conquer
That thin-soul'd Animal, your doubty Rival.
But, Sir, I must be gone. The Cabal stay for me.

Carlo.
Ay, Boy, and take this Earnest of my Favour
T'encourage thy Performance.

[Gives him Money.
Boy.
I humbly thank you, Sir.

[Bowing.
Carlo.
A Bow! A Curt'sy, ye young Rogue.

Boy.
No, by no means, Sir.
My natural Duty to my noble Master.
[Bowing.
I keep my Curt'sies for the Fool your Rival.

[Curt'sying
Carlo.
Well, speed your Plot.

Boy.

A Piece of Gold! Well, I shall set up for a Miss, I begin
with one part of her Trade the fing'ring of Money already.

[Exit.
Carlo.
Debarr'd all Hopes of making my Accesses
By open Steps to my fair Lucia's Arms,
Oh Love, forgive me when in thy great Cause
I play this humble Game.

Enter Chevalier and Servants in Livery.
Chev.

Drive to my Guardian Uncle's, and prepare him for my
Reception.

[Exeunt Servants.
Carlo.
Ha! the young Honourable Chevalier,
My Master's Nephew!

Chev.
Honest Carlo!

Carlo.
Welcome to your own native Air.

Chev.
Yes, my good Friend,
Not tied too close a Slave to Books and Tutors,
I have made this Trip from Rome's Imperial Vatican,
My haughty School-Mistress, to fair Verona,
My humbler Cradle-Nurse.

Carlo.
To pay a Visit
To your kind Uncle-Guardian.

Chev.
Yes, and make
One farther Country-step down to the Villa
That calls me Lord, there to doal round my Smiles
Amongst my Rustick Vassals.

Carlo.
Your warm Presence
Amongst those Homagers will cherish where it shines.
Well, Chevalier, in all your learned Nutriture
Suck'd from the Breast of that illustrious Mother,
How do you like the World's proud Beauty, Rome?

Chev.
I have survey'd her with the Eye of Wonder.
Oh, Rome! would some bold Painter, thy own Angelo,
Or thy fam'd Raphael, draw thee to the Life.
Here Shirts of Hair-cloth graced with Copes of Gold:
There Pomp in Penance; nay ev'n Cells in Palaces.
Thy Lights and Shades thus beautifully mix'd,
Thou'rt all one Princely Scene of proud Humility.

Car.
I see, young Student, you are grown up an Orator.

Chev.
An Orator! Not on this Subject, Carlo.
I have not seen the Glories of New Rome
With half the Pleasure I have read the Monuments
Of the more glorious Old one; She whose Arm
Held the universal Reins, and drove the World;
How has my very Soul glow'd with the Stories
Of her immortal Heroes!

Carlo.
If thy Breast
Has caught that noble Warmth from shining Honour,
How hast thou stood the Charms of brighter Beauty?
Say; hast thou felt Love yet?

Chev.
Faith, Carlo, no.
I have seen gay Courts, seen all the Roman Beauties,
Whole Constellations of the Fair, untouch'd
Ev'n with one single Dart from their whole Quivers.
Not that I am Shot-free, or desire to be so.
No, Carlo, with ten thousand Crowns a-Year,
That fair Inheritance, a brisk young Fellow;
Nay, and bred up t'old fashion'd Honour too,
A Soul above a wanton Syren's Arms;
I want a Shaft from some bright Eyes of Honour
To strike this Virgin-heart, want a fair Partner
To share my Joys of Life, and Smiles of Fortune.

Carlo.
Cherish those vertuous Thoughts, and trust in Providence
To find thy yet unconquer'd Heart a fair one,
Shall crown thy Life with Blessings.

Chev.
Troth, good Carlo,
Had I but half thy easy Master's Faith
In Fortune-tellers, Dreams, and airy Visions,
(As I thank Heav'n, I have not,) I should tell thee
A very melancholy Tale of Blessings
Reserv'd by Fate for me.

Carlo.
Prithee, what Tale?

Chev.
I'll tell thee. Early e'er I wak'd this Morning,
I dreamt I met the most Angelick Creature
That ever made Man happy, or Man miserable.
Nay, in a Country Cot I met this Wonder.
I lov'd her, woo'd her. But, alas, th'invincible
With all the generous Pity she return'd me
Her plighted Faith all seal'd before, cou'd neither
Give me her Heart, nor I retrieve my own.
For, oh! in her too fatal Fetters bound,
I wore them to a Grave, and died to break 'em.

Carlo.
A melancholy Tale indeed!

Chev.
Nay, Carlo,
I had not travell'd two short Leagues from Rome
Before a grizly Hermit stopp'd my Chariot,
Told me the whole inevitable Fate
To which my Country-Journey drove, repeating
All the same Tale my Dream had told before.

Carlo.
These Circumstances look a little odly.

Chev.
Well, if there be that Beauty in the World,
That one yet unseen Phœnix of the Sex
Able to work these wond'rous Feats upon me,
I shall believe the Miracle when I see it.—
But hist—The Night grows on, and my good Uncle
Will wonder at my stay. Come, wilt thou hand me to him.

Carlo.
I! Alas, his Doors are barr'd against the banish'd Carlo!

Chev.
How! Banish'd! Prithee, Man, for what!

Carlo.
A Crime unpardonable! I have aspired
To love his beauteous Daughter.

Chev.
My sweet Cousin Lucia!
And do's she love thee, Carlo!

Carlo.
Do I live, Sir?
Without her Love I cannot.

Chev.
By my Life
I honour the kind Girl. I am sure thou merit'st her;
And if my Interest with thy cruel Master
Can do thee Service, here's my Hand I'll set up
A Champion in thy Cause.

[Exit.
Carlo.
Alas, sweet Youth! against this barb'rous Father
His Heart of Flint thy frank and open Pow'r
Will prove too weak to carry the Attack:
I must find deeper Mines this Rock to shake.

[Exit.