University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Enter Eugenio, and Philander.
Eug.
Dear friend, I am in doubt whether I shall
This scape, a blessing, or misfortune, call;
Since now I live to hear, Althea must
Be to her Duty, or to me unjust.
Ye Powers that were so kind, my life to spare,
Oh why was not my Love as much your care?
You sav'd my life, that I might live to feel
Despair can wound as mortally as Steel.
My cause till now my antidote has been,
'Gainst all the mischief it cou'd plunge me in;
The strictest Prison, I have freedom thought,
And been on Scaffolds without terrour brought.
But these few words (Althea is a Bride)
More wound my Soul, than can the world beside.

Phil.
Why does Eugenio Fancies entertain,
That are Althea's wrongs, and his own pain?
Like Boys, who in the dark, strange shapes create
In their own brain, themselves to tremble at:
Despair's the portion of the damn'd below,
And in a generous mind shou'd never grow;
Trust to Althea's virtue, trust her love,
And you will safe in either of 'um prove.

Eug.
But sure no friend cou'd so my quiet hate,
As this Report, of nothing, to create.

Phil.
Perhaps her Father does no less intend,
And she, a while, her Answer may suspend.
Not that her vertue doubts, what it shall do,
But that she may gain time to speak with you:
Every black Cloud does not with Thunder swell,
Nor every symptom a Disease foretell.
Some storms blow over; though thy Fate appear
Thus gloomy now, anon it may be clear.

Eug.
It may, but who can unconcerned be,
A Tempest heard, and his whole wealth at Sea?
I with more ease all other harms cou'd bear,
Than of Althea's loss but simply hear.

Phil.
All that we hear, we are not to believe.

Eug.
Our hopes do oftner, than our fears deceive.

Phil.
The advantage man o're Beasts in Reason gets
He pays with interest in fond conceits;
They cannot fear misfortune till it fall,
And when 'tis gone remember't not at all:
But man 'gainst his own Rest in Battel plac'd,
Feels mischiefs e're they come, and when they're past.
The smiles of Fortune you so false have found,
Methinks, you shou'd not mind her when she frown'd:
How wou'd Althea's Vertues grieve to find
Themselves suspected in Eugenio's mind!
Like Princes murder'd on the Royal Throne,
Where 'till that minute they had brightest shone.

Eug.
Sure my Althea cannot disapprove
These fears that spring but from excess of love.
Of love and courage none too much can share.

Phil.
But 'tis their use, that does their worth declare:
Courage, when brutal, ceases to be brave,
And love, grown jealous, can no merit have.

Eug.
A higher mark of love there cannot be,
We doubt no Lover, whom we jealous see.

Phil.
So Fevers are of life sure proofs we know,
And yet our lives they often overthrow;
Diseases, though well cur'd, our bodies mar,
And fears, although remov'd, our loves impair:
True love, like health, should no disorder know.

Eug.
But who, alas! such love, or health can show?
Our passions, like our selves, are fram'd to dye,
And have still something they must perish by;
We none (brave friend) for being hapless blame,
But all allow, 'tis baseness to be tame;
He that has rais'd this Tempest in my mind,
Shall in the Billows his own ruine find;
I'le fight him instantly, and make him know,
I am not more his Rival than his Foe.

Phil.
Thy life, alas (dear friend)'s no longer thine,
Thou hast engag'd it in a brave design:
Thy bleeding Country, and thy Princes Right,
Are th'only Quarrels that thy Sword shou'd fight,
If you into the Tyrant's hands shou'd fall,
'Twou'd pull a sudden ruine on us all.
Which, if you stir, we may have cause to fear,
Since Tyrants Eyes and Hands are every where.

Eug.
Now thou hast touch'd me in the tendrest part,
Though Love possess, Honour must rule my heart;
My Nation's Fate's too great a Sacrifice
For me to make, though to Althea's Eyes;
No, I am calm'd, and happy am to have
A friend so full of temper when I rave,
And hope the gods, whilst I my own neglect,
To fight their Quarrel, will my Love protect.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Enter Victoria and Olivia.
Vict.
Sister, I doubt we are a little too free with
Our Servants, this Modish, and his friend
Estridge: few Plays gain Audience by being
In Print, and fewer women get Husbands by
Being too much known.

Oliv.
But ours are most accomplish'd Mounsieurs,
Must be assaulted on all parts e're they'le yield;
Must have their Ears charm'd as well as Eyes:
'Twere ill husbandry in a Mercer to be thrifty
In his Patterns, it often disparages a good stuff;
And too great reserv'dness in one of us, especially
At the first, might give a discouragement to our
Further Acquaintance.

Vict.
Now might I have my wish, I wou'd come
All new, nay my voice and name shou'd not
Be known; where I wou'd be lik'd, I wou'd have
The few Charms I am Mistress of, make their
Assault at an instant, all at one time:
For sure Horatio did their power subdue,
By conquering one, e're he another knew.

Oliv.
Fye Sister, think no more of him; but to the
Matter in hand, who ever caught any thing
With a naked hook? nothing venture, nothing
Win, and for my part I am resolv'd to allow
All innocent liberty; this Matrimony is a
Pill will scarce down with a young man
Without guilding; let Estridge believe I am
In love with him, and when he leaves me,
He'll find I am not.

Enter to them Wildish.
Wild.
So he will, when he marrys you, or I am
Deceiv'd, Madam.

Vict.
What, turn'd Eaves-Dropper, Mr. Wildish?

Wild.
No Ladys, but your heads are so taken up with
These Heirs Apparent, that you can't see a
Younger Brother when he comes into the Room.

Oliv.
Not when out backs are towards him, but
Otherwise as an elder, any where, but before
A Parson.

Wild.
You are in the right; Jointure, and allowance
For Cloaths, have clearly got the better off: Dear
Madam, I consider not your Portion, but your
Person; give your Estate where you please,
So you will but settle your affection upon me,
My Fate depends upon your Answer; and the like
Artillery of unlanded Lovers: But I never
Repine at that; for fine Women, like great
Tables, though they are maintain'd by men
Of Fortunes, are ever open to men of parts.

Oliv.
Why now, Wildish, you talk like your self
Again; ever since I saw you last, I have
Been in most terrible apprehension of a
Whining Copy of Verses.

Wild.
Expectation you mean, Madam, but 'tis
Not come to that yet; though I talk a little
Extravagantly when I see you, I am not so
Through pac't a Lover, but I can express
My self in Prose.

Vict.
But you, being a new Convert, can't give
Too many marks of your Devotion: and I shou'd
Mistrust I were not as I ought to be in my
Servants heart, if I did not run sometimes
In his head, and then Verses follow infallibly.

Wild.
Faith, Madam, that's much as the head lyes,
There are some you may search every cranny
Over, and not find three Rimes; very good
Lovers too; and to say truth, 'tis unreasonable
A man shou'd be put to seek fresh words
To express that to his Mistress, which has
Been as well said already by some body else;
I think 'tis very fair if he set his hand
To't, and that I am ready to do to the most
Passionate Copy of Verses you can find.

Oliv.
How much Love and Constancy
Will you engage for then?

Wild.
As much as you can find in that Paper there.

He gives a Paper to Olivia, she gives it to Victoria.
Oliv.
Sister, here read 'um, I shall put the Accent
In the wrong place, stop out of time, or
One mischief or other, and so put my poor
Servant into an Agony.

Vict.
To a very young Lady.

[Reads the Title.
Oliv.
That's I, Wildish: come, you have been
Dabling; proceed, Sister, I fear 'um not, I have
No more pity on a Rhyming Lover, than on
A Beggar that begs in a Tone.

Vict.
Are not these Verses somewhat
Too weak to allone?

Wild.
Faith, Madam, I am of your mind, put a
Tune to 'um, 'tis an easie Stanza.

Victoria
sings.

Enter a Servant.
Serv.
There's an old Gentleman below in a Chair
Enquires for Mr. Wildish, as fine as an Emperour,
My Master Sir John is no body to him; as he
Peep'd through the glass, I thought it was Sir
Samuel Forecast.

Vict.
It is impossible it shou'd be he.

Wild.
Yes faith it is Ladies, I am privy to the plot.

Oliv.
Good Mr. Wildish bring him up,
I wou'd give any thing to see him.

Wild.
Do you step into that Closet then; for I
Must swear the Coast is clear: set the door a
Little open, and you may see him perfectly,
His Bravery on my word is not design'd
For this place, and he is so politick, that
He will think your seeing him may be
A prejudice to his design.

Wildish goes out, and brings in Sir Samuel Forecast.
Wild.
Sir Samuel, now you shine indeed; my
Cousin will be ravish'd to see you transform
Your self thus for her sake.

Fore.
She is a tender piece, and though her discretion
Helps her to conceal it, in her heart cannot
But love a little Bravery; I have two Laces
In a Seam more than my Brother Everyoung,
And a Yard more in my Cravat.

Wild.
Nay, you are most exact, and in this dress
Methinks not unlike Sir John.

Fore.
I came only to show my self to you, and
Am for my Widow presently; shall I have
Your Company?

Wild.
I have a little business here, but I'le
Be with you by that time you are there, I see
You came in a Chair.

Fore.
Do you think I had a mind to have the Boys
Follow me in the streets? pray be secret, Mr.
Wildish, for I wou'd have no body know I am
In this Dress, but your self, and your fair Cousin,
For a world: and therefore I will make haste
From hence, do you follow me according
To your promise.

[Exit.
Wild.
I shall, Sir Samuel.

Oliv.
I never saw a City-Bridegroom so friz'd,
So lac'd, so perfum'd, and so powder'd in my life.

Vict.
I think verily he was painted too, I vow
I shou'd not have known his Worship, if
You had not given us a hint of his Bravery before.

Wild.
Well, I must recover my old Knight:
Farewel Ladies.

Oliv.
Pray be here anon, and give us an account
Of this Adventure.

Vict.
Certainly it must be very pleasant.

Wild.
I shall obey you, Ladies.
[Exit Wildish.

Enter Everyoung, Victoria, and Olivia laughing.
Ever.
Hey-day! what, are the Girls mad?

Vict.
No, Sir, but I think my Uncle Forecast's
Little better.

Ever.
Why, what of him?

Oliv.
He is, Sir, at this time the greatest Spark in
London, drest so like you, that if his condition
Requir'd it, I shou'd think, Sir, he were going
To a Scrivener to personate you for a good Sum.

Ever.
Enter three Prentices.

Omn.
Free us, and command us any thing.

Ever.
Well then follow me, and when I show
You a certain Chair, take the Gentleman
Out of it; and cudgel him; I'le be at a little
Distance, and if you want help, be ready to
Assist you: be sure you call him Sir John
Everyoung, and tell him of a Lady he affronted.

1 Pren.
We shall call him what you please, Sir,
And beat him as much as you please.

Exit Victoria and Olivia.
SCENE changes.
Forecast coming by in his Chair.
Ever.
That's the Chair.

They take out Forecast, and cudgel him.
Fore.
If you have humanity, if you had Women
To your Mothers, be more merciful,
Gentlemen, I never injur'd you, nor saw any
Of you in my life.

Pren.
I perceive, Sir John Everyoung, you have
Forgot the affront you did a Lady last night.

Fore.
What affront, Sir, what Lady?

Pren.
The affront, Sir, was a great affront, and
The Lady, a great Lady, that thinks fit to
Have you beaten for't.

Fore.
You mistake, Gentlemen, you mistake;
For as I am a true Servant to the State,
I never did kindness or injury to any Lady
Since I was in Commission.

2 Pren.
A true Servant to the State, and a man in
Authority! he shall have three kicks more for that.

Enter Estridge and Modish.
Estr.
What, three upon one! who e're he be,
The Cause becomes a Gentleman.
Let's rescue him at all adventures.

They draw, the Prentices run away.
Fore.
Estridge and Modish! nay then I am utterly
Undone, I have only scap'd a little more
Beating, to be laught at as long as I live.

Estr.
Sir, we are very happy that our occasions
Led us this way, since it has given us an
Opportunity of serving a Gentleman,
Especially oppress'd by odds.

Fore.
I shall take some other time, if you will
Let me know where to wait on you, to give
You thanks for this your seasonable
Assistance: now, Gentlemen, my hurts
Require a Chirurgion.

He offers to go away.
Mod.
Nay, Sir, take your Hat and Sword along
With you; there they be.
[He looks a little for 'um.]
I never heard any man speak so
Like Sir Samuel Forecast in my life.

Estr.
But he is drest very like Everyoung,
A meer medly between the two Brothers;
But we'l see who he is before we go.

Mod.
Have you receiv'd any hurt in your
Face, that you cover it with your Handkercher?

Fore.
A slight one only.

Estr.
I have Sympathy-powder about me, if
You will give me your handkercher while
The blood is warm, will cure it immediately.

Modish snatches it off, and discovers him.
Estr.
Sir Samuel Forecast, why do you hide your
Self thus from your friends? we expected
Nothing for our pains, neither is your
Hurt so dangerous, but it might endure the Air.

Mod.
Methinks you shou'd rather have hid
Your self from your Enemies: but, Sir
Samuel, whatever the matter is, I never
Saw a man so fine in all my life.

Fore.
Now the Broakers take all fine Cloaths,
And the Gaol all that love 'um; they have
Helpt me to fine beating.

Estr.
Why do you think the Rogues wou'd have
Had more mercy on your high crown'd Hat,
Black Cap, and Boots.

Fore.
No, but they took me for my Brother
Everyoung, who it seems, has lately affronted
A Lady, and I suffer for it.

Mod.
The best advice we can give you, is to
Go home and shift, for fear of more mishaps.

Estr.
Farewel, Sir Samuel.

[Exeunt omnes.