University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Street before Fernando's House.
Enter Frederick and Jaquelin, with a Dark Lanthorn, and a Ladder of Ropes.
Fred.
Well! This is the time; and that's the Window.

Jaq.
And here is a Ladder, to put her in mind of her fortune.

Fred.
How's that, Sirrah?

Jac.

Why, Lord, Sir, if the Gentlewoman be Mad enough
to run away from her Father, upon your account, she'l carry
the frolick a little farther, in a Fortnight, and hang her self,
upon her own.

Fred.

Why, you Rogue, I'm in love with her.

Jaq.

I am but your poor Servant, Sir, and if you command
me to be believe you, 'tis another thing.

But I know what your love commonly ends in—

Fred.
In what, Sir?

Jaq.

In a Week, Sir; but that's her business, and not mine;
unless the spirit of her Revenge, rises upon the folly of her
Pride, and frightens her into the consideration of your humble
Servant, Jaqueline,

Fred.
O! You are witty, Sir! The Window opens.

[Victoria above, a Night-Gown over her Mans Cloaths.
Vict.
I heard a noise: I'll listen.

Fred.
Victoria!—

Vict.
Here am I, expecting the good hour.
Boy or Girl, chuse you whether,
So we once but come together.

Jaq.
Here's your Deliverance in a Halter, Madam,
A Ladder of Ropes for you.

[Thrown up to her.
Jaq.
I had rather have it in a Halter,
Than stay where I am: Give it me.

Fred.
Be sure you 'fasten it above.

Vict.
Any thing to get loose below.

Jaq.

O the discretion of a Girl! She will be a Slave to any
thing, that has not a title to make her one. If my Master
does commit Matrimony, which he is not much addicted to,
'tis but changing a Father for a Husband: removing from
one Prison to another; but that has an appearance of Liberty
for the time; tho' it ends in a worse confinement at last.

Vict.
Well! The Ladder that is to convey me, is ready;
But before I part with this World, 'twould be
But reasonable to have a little Consolation,
To encourage my Journey to the next.
What am I to trust to, when I come there?

Jaq.

My Master, Madam; what should you trust to?
You can't trust an honester Gentleman, who, to my knowledge,
will more infallibly break his word with you.

[aside.
Fred.
What should you trust to, but your self, Child?
Rely upon your beauty: 'twere a disparagement
Of that, to talk of Conditions, when you are
certain of making your own terms.

Vict.
Nay, now is my time indeed; and 'twill be my
Own fault, if I don't: I shall shift, as my Neighbours
Daughters have done before me, if I am left
To the wide World. But, Frederick, as to your particular.

Fred.

Why my particular is at your Service, and pray come
down, and be satisfied; Lord, here's such a-do to perswade a
Woman to her Liberty.

Vict.

I'm answer'd, I'm answer'd, and coming down as fast
as I can: any thing to get rid of this Father.

Fernando enters to her Arm'd, and turns her away from the Window.
Fern.

Say you so, Gentlewoman?

Vict.

Undone, and ruin'd! what shall I do?

Fern.

I'll tell you what you shall do; get you in, Hussy,
go.—Now will I personate this hopeful young Jade; and,
by that means, discover the whole Intrigue.

Jaq.
What's that!

Fred.
What's what? where?

Jaq.
There's certainly a noise at the Window above.
I'll turn the blind side of my Lanthorn,
For fear of being discover'd.

Fred.
You Blockhead, the noise was in the Street.—
Victoria.—

[calling her.
Fern.
Ay, ay.
Where are you, my Dear.

Fern.
I am here, my Dear.

Jaq.

Are you sure you are there, Madam? For my heart
misgives me plaguily about this Father of yours.

Fern.

Does it so, Rogue enough?

[aside.
Jaq.

You had best make haste: Old Argus will have an
Eye upon you, and then—

Fred.

You'l slip your Opportunity.

Fern.

I'll lay hold ont—and your Ears, when I
come within reach of 'em.

[aside.
Fred.
Are you coming?

Fern.
Now, speak softly.

[Fernando goes down the Ladder.
Fred.
Look you to the Ladder:
I'll call the Chair to carry her off.

[Exit.
Jaq.
I'll lead you to my Master, Madam;
Pray give me your hand

Fern.
There 'tis for you—

[Strikes him.
Jaq.

By my troth, and so 'tis; but not quite so soft, as
might be expected from a Lady: Sure you, or I, are mistaken,
Madam.

[Looks upon him with his Lanthorn.
Mercy upon me! what do I see!

Fern.

Why, what do you see? You see the Party you expected
to see; don't you, Sirrah?

Jaq.

The Devil, the Devil, the Devil.

[Crying out, and running about.
Fern.
You lye, you lye, like a Rogue,

I am none of the Devil; but I will make a Devil of you before
I have done with you: I'll disappoint you of a Halter,
and send you a nearer way than you thought of.

Have at you.

[Presenting a Blunderbuss at him, Jaqueline falls, Frederick runs and Disarms Fernando.
Fred.
Deliver us from a Blunderbuss.

Jaq.

O Lord, Sir, a thousand thanks to you: I am not
perfectly satisfy'd whether he has kill'd me, or no; But if I
am Dead, I shall be glad to hear the Old Rogue was hang'd
for me.

Fred.

Who are you, that wou'd Murder my Servant?

Fern.

One that wou'd do as much for his Master.

Jaq.

Oh! he's the Devil of a Fellow; take care of him.

Fred.

Fernando! how came you here?

Fern.

Why your Mistress, and my damn'd Daughter, not
being quite ready to run away with you, desir'd me to make
her excuse, and come down in her room to receive you.

Jaq.

My reception was a little extraordinary: Pox take
you.

Fern.

I beg your Pardon, Gentlemen, I am a little unprovided
at present to entertain you; but my Servants are up in
the House, I'll get them together as fast as I can; and then
you shall be sure of a welcom.

Fred.

Unlucky Disappointment!

Fern.

No, no, no disappointment in the World: Stay but
a little, I'll bring my Daughter my self to you; you shan't
be disappointed.

[Victoria in mans Clothes opens the Door, comes forward and meets Fernando.

How's this! my Door open! and a Man come out of my
House! Who are you? What wou'd you have? Thieves!
Thieves! lay hold upon him: I charge you in the Kings Name
to secure him—Thieves, Thieves—

[Calling out.
Vict.

As you are Gentlemen protect me; I am no Thief.

Fred.
How do we know that, Friend? 'Tis very suspicious.—

Fern.

Ay, ay, they are your Accomplices—I shall be
with you—Thieves, Thieves.

[Goes in.
Vict.

If you don't find me worth your protection, when
you know me, do what you please with me.

Jaq.

That's fair enough, Sir, we had best draw off in time;
the House will rise upon us.

Fred.

A Pox on this unlucky adventure. Poor Victoria, she
must pay for all.

[Exeunt.
Fernando returns.
Fern.

Fire, fire, you'll be burnt in your Beds; will no Body
come to me?—Thieves, Thieves.

[Several servants run in.
Serv.

Where, where?

Fern.

How came my Doors open? Where's my Wife? Bid
my Daughter come down. I have lost—I don't know
what I have lost. They may be Plotters against the Government
for ought I know; run every way to apprehend 'em.

[Servants run about the Stage.
Serv.

This way, this way.

[Exeunt.
The Scene changes; Enter Frederick, Victoria, and Jaquiline.
Jaq.

A little of the Old Rogues broad Gold would have
purchas'd your Pardon if you had Robb'd him: I was in hopes
of a snack of the Plunder.

Vict.

My design lay another way, I assure you.

Fred.

But that we must not enquire into.

Vict.

Why, faith, yes, If you please. I am so much oblig'd
to you for my Deliverance, I'll make nothing a Secret to you.

Fred.

Nay, Sir, if it be a Secret—

Jaq.

'Twere not worth telling, Sir, if it were not a Secret.

Vict.

It is a Secret, indeed, as every thing ought to be, when
there's a Woman in the case.

Fred.

Is there a VVoman in the case then?

Vict.

A very pretty Woman; but you are a Man of Honor—

Jaq.

That he is upon my word, Sir; my Master is as
good at a Ladies Secret as you can be, and will betray it to
no body—before he has discover'd it himself.

[Aside.
Vict.

And therefore I will honestly own to you, that my
business was with Victoria, Fernando's Daughter.

Fred.

With Victoria!

Jaq.

This Fool will discover himself to his Rival.

[Aside.
Fred.

Does Victoria know of your business?

Vict.

Know of my business! Why I make Love to her. I
have had an Intrigue with her these three months: I am almost
tir'd of her. I lye with her every Night in her Fathers
House, and the Devil's in't if she is not acquainted with my
business.

Jaq.

It must be your fault, if she is not, that's certain.

Vict.

Now you must know her Father is Jealous of every
body for her, but me; there's one Frederick has a design upon
her, she has given him some Encouragement of late, for the
sake of her Liberty. I thank her, she has thought him fitter
for the Fortune of her Husband than I shou'd be; she designs
to Marry him, good Man, for her convenience; and I am to
continue upon all occasions of Pleasure, as I tell you, Sir,
her Ladiships humble Servant.

Fred.

You will have a rare time on't with this Fool of a
Husband.

Vict.

I shall manage him, I warrant you; do you know
him?

Fred.

I have seen him.

Jaq.

I have the Honour to know him a little too.

[Pulling his master by the sleeve.
Vict.

And what do you think of him?
Does he promise to be a Cuckold by his Countenance?

Fred.

Why, faith, no, I thought not.

Jaq.

But there's no faith in Faces, you know, Sir.

Fred.

It seems so indeed by what this Gentleman has told
us; but Sir, do you know your Cuckold? This Frederick?

Vict.

Ay, Sir, I know him.

Fred.

Hold up your Lanthorn Jaqueline.

[The Lanthorn held up to Frederick's face.
Vict.

Bless me! who are you?

Fred.

That very Man, the Frederick you speak of; your
Cuckold that is to be.

Vict.

Say you so, Sir, why then you are oblig'd to me for
telling your Fortune beforehand; you may avoid it if you
please; I have giv'n you warning.

Fred.

But I must reward you for your care of me.

Jaq.

'Tis a pretty impudent Fellow, and I'm sorry for
him.

[Aside.
Fred.

Look you, Sir, if I believ'd any thing that you have
said of Victoria, I wou'd not think you worth a beating upon
her account: I wou'd leave you to your Vanity, and her to
the folly of throwing her self away upon such a Rascal; but
I know you lye; yet I'll use you better than you deserve—
Draw—

[Draws.
Vict.

Not in the dark; besides you are two to one. I
scorn to recant what I said; and to morrow as soon as you
please—

Fred.

I shan't part with you so, you shall go home with me
to Night, that I may be sure of you in the Morning.

Vict.

With all my heart; you know me well enough, and
when you see my face—

Fred.

Pray let us see it—

[Jaqueline holds the Lanthorn to her face.
Vict.

You will believe that I am more—
a—Woman of Honour, than to refuse
[In a soft voice.
a Gentleman any reasonable satisfaction.

Fred.

May I believe my Eyes! Victoria!

Vict.

Now I won't part with you, Sir, what say you?
Shall I go home with you to Night, that you may be sure of
me in the Morning?

Fred.

I will be sure of thee to Night, Child.

Vict.

No, not to Night; nothing in the dark, as I told
you before.

Fred.

I am confounded at your escape; your manner of making
it; your Fathers coming down upon us; your Mans
Clothes; and a—

Vict.

Never wonder at a Womans Invention: We have Wit
enough for our own Affairs, I warrant you. In a design of
pleasing our selves, you find, one way or other we bring it
about.

Fred.

You have play'd the Rogue with me, Victoria, but I
shall be reveng'd of you.

Vict.

Why, you won't offer to Marry sure, after the character
you have had of me?

Fred.

I have had fair warning indeed, but he must have more
Grace than I, who can take warning of any thing he has a
mind to.

Vict.

Marriage is a bold venture at the best.

Fred.

But where we please our selves we venture least.