University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

A Mask in Bassino Lodging.
Bassino, Alonzo, Armando in a disguise; Placentia in Man's Cloaths; Signior Pizalto, Lady Pizalta, Lucy, &c.
An Entry of three Men, and three Women of several Nations.
Bass.
I can't imagine where I dropt my Letter:
Pray Heaven it be where none can ever find it.
Gods! Let me once enjoy her, then call on me
Your store of Plagues, and I will meet 'em all.

Enter Ludovico singing.
Lud.

Ah! Mistress Lucy! I'm come thou seest—I expect thou shalt
be as good as thy word, Child—is the Lady here?

Luc.

The Lady is forth coming if you are still in the same mind?

L. Piz.

My Lover here! Harkee Lucy.

Lucy.

By and by, Madam, I am catering for my self now—Well,
Sir, will two thousand Pistoles do?

Lud.

I must humour her— Aside.]
Ay, Child.

Lucy.

Why then I take you at your word, Sir, and can produce the
aforesaid summ— To Piz.
With a little of your assistance, my Lord.

Lud.
aside.

Hum—A pretty Wife I am like to have—Catch me
there if you can—

Piz.

Ha—How's that?

Lud.

How! Mistress Lucy worth two thousand Pistoles?

Lucy.

Ay: And I have a very good Pay-master for one half of it too—
Do you know this hand, my Lord?

To Pizalta.
(shows the Bond)
Piz.
aside.

Confound your jilting sneer.

Lud.

Ha, ha, ha—What, a thousand Pistoles a Dish, my Lord?
I hope you don't change often, ha—ha—

Piz.

Hussy, I'll be reveng'd—'Tis all false, 'tis counterfeit.

Lucy.

Ha—ha—But it had been current Coyn, if I had suffer'd
you to put your stamp upon't—in my Bed chamber, my Lord—

L. Piz.

How Mistress, have you trick'd my Husband out of a thousand
Pistoles, and never told me of it?

Lucy.

Nay, Madam, don't frown—Remember you have trick'd
him out of something too, which I never told him of—Don't urge
me to more Discoveries.

Lud.
aside.

So—Here's Trick upon Trick: But, faith, you shall
never trick me out of my Liberty. I'm not so fond of a Wife to marry
a Chamber-maid, tho with ten times as much Money: And so,
sweet Mistress Abigail, your humble servant.

Exit Ludovico.
L. Piz.
aside.
The Jade has me upon the Hip—I must be silent.
She who has her Husbands Bed abus'd,
Can ne're expect she shou'd be better us'd.

Exit.
Lucy.

Ha—What! my Lover gone! With all my heart: Better
now than after; for whilst I have my Fortune in my own Hands, I
shall have no need to sue for a Separate Maintenance, and get nothing
for it neither.

Arm.
to Placent.
Now, Madam, go: May Heaven be propitious
To your Designs: I'll stay, and watch Bassino:
And when he goes, will follow with Alonzo.

Pla.
Oh! my sick Fancy frames a thousand Forms,
Which tell me that our meeting will prove fatal,
And warn me not to go, what shall I do?
Must I bear calmly my Bassino's loss?
Why do I tremble thus?
Sure, it can't be the fear of Death—No, for if
I go not I must lose him, and that's more
Than death to me—and if I go, I can but fall,
And Life without him is the greater Woe,
Therefore I'll on, I'll use the softest words
That Tongue can frame to sooth her into Pity,
And dissuade her from this impious Marriage.
If I succeed I am compleatly happy,
If not I'd rather dye than live with hate,
But first, curst Rival, thou shalt share my Fate.

Exit Placentia.
A flourish of Musick.
Bass.
'Tis now the time—But whither do I go?
Shall I a Maid, a Wife, a Friend betray?
No matter—
All Arguments are vain, where love bears sway.

Exit Bassino.
A SONG.

Piz.

Come now, Gentlemen and Ladies, be pleas'd to walk into
the next Room, and take a small Collation—But where's my
Lord Bassino? Come, Gentlemen, He's gone before us.

Arm.

Where we will quickly follow. aside.
Alonzo a word with
you—

Exit Omnes.