University of Virginia Library

SCENE. III.

Enter Frederick and Cloris finely drest.
Fred.
'Tis much methinks, a Boy of so dejected,
Humble birth, should have so much of sense,
And soul about him.

Clor.
I know not that; but if I have a thought
Above that humble Birth or Education,
It was inspir'd by Love.

Fred.
Still you raise my wonder greater;
—Thou a Lover?

Clor.
Yes, my Lord, though I am young,
I've felt the power of Beauty;
And should you look upon the object, Sir,
Your wonders soon would cease,
Each look does even Animate Insensibles,
And strikes a reverend awe upon the Soul;
Nothing is found so lovely.

Fred.
Thou speak'st prettily, I think love
Indeed has inspir'd thee.

Clor.
These were the flatteries, Sir, she us'd to me,
Of her it was I learn'd to speak, and sigh,
And look, as oft you say, I do on you.

Fred.
Why then, it seems she made returns?

Clor.
Ah! Sir, 'twas I that first was blest,
I first the happy object was belov'd,
For 'twas a person, Sir, so much above me;
It had been sin to've rais'd my eyes to her;
Or by a glance, or sigh, betray my pain:
But oh! when with a thousand soft expressions,
She did incourage me to speak of Love!
—My god, how soon extravagant I grew,
And told so oft the story of my passion;
That she grew weary of the repeated tale,
And punish'd my presumption with a strange neglect.

[Weeps.
Fred.
How my good Phillibert?

Clor.
Would suffer me to see her face no more.

Fred.
That was pity; without a fault?

Clor.
Alas, Sir, I was guilty of no crime,
But that of having told her how I lov'd her;
For all I had sacrific'd to her;
—Poor worthless treasures, to any but a Lover;
And such you know accept the meanest things:
Love and a true Devotion, do present;
When she was present, I found a thousand ways
To let her know how much I was her slave;
And absent still invented new ones,
And quite neglected all my little business;
Counting the tedious moments of the day
By sighs and tears; thought it an age to night,
Whose darkness might secure our happy meeting:
But we shall meet no more on these kind terms.

[Sighs.
Fred.
Come, do not weep, sweet youth, thou art too young
To have thy blooming cheeks blasted with sorrow;
Thou wilt out-grow this childish inclination,
And shalt see beauties here, whose every glance
Kindles new fires, and quite expel the old.

Clor.
Oh never Sir.

Fred.
When I was first in Love, I thought so too,
But now with equal ardour,
I doat upon each new and beauteous object.

Clor.
And quite forget the old?

Fred.
Not so, but when I see them o're again,
I find I love them as I did before.

Clor.
Oh God forbid, I should be so inconsistant;
No, Sir, though she be false she has my heart,
And I can dye, but not redeem the victim.

Fred.
Away you little Fool, you make me sad
By this resolve, but I'le instruct you better.

Clor.
I would not make you sad for all the world:
Sir, I will Sing, or Dance, do any thing
That may divert you.

Fred.
I thank thee Phillibert, and will accept
Thy bounty; perhaps it may allay thy griefs a while too.

Clor.
I'le call the Musick, Sir.

[She goes out.
Fred.
This Boy has strange agreements in him.
Enter Cloris with Musick, She bids them Play, and Dances a Jig.
This was wondrous kind my prety Phillibert.

Enter Page.
Page.
Lorenzo, my Lord, begs admittance.

Fred.
He may come in:
Enter Lorenzo.
—Well Lorenzo, whats the news with thee?
—How goes the price of Beauty, hah?

Lor.
My Lord, that question is a propo to
What I have to say; this paper will answer your
Question Sir—
[Gives him a Paper, he reads.
—Hah, I vow to gad a lovely youth;
Lor. gazes on Phill.
But what makes he here with Frederick?
This stripling may chance to mar my market of women now—
'Tis a fine lad, how plump and white he is;
[Aside.
Would I could meet him some where i'th dark,
I'de have a fling at him, and try whether I
Were right Florentine.

Fred.
Well, Sir, where be these beauties.

Lor.
I'le conduct you to them.

Fred.
What's the fellow that brings them?

Lor.
A Grecian, I think, or something.

Fred.
Beauties from Greece, man!

Lor.
Why, let them be from the Devil,
So they be new, and fine, what need we care;
—But you must go to night.

Fred.
I am not in a very good condition
To make visits of that kind.

Lor.
However see them, and if you like them,
You may oblige the fellow to a longer stay,
For I know they are handsome.

Fred.
That's the only thing thou art judge of;
—Well go you and prepare them,
And Phillibert thou shalt along with me;
I'le have thy judgment too.

Clor.
Good Heaven, how false he is!

[Aside.
Lor.
What time will your Highness come?

Fred.
Two hours hence.
[Ex. Fred.

Lor.
So then I shall have time to have a bout
With this gilting huswife Isabella,
[Aside.
For my fingers itch to be at her.
[Ex. Lorenzo.

Clor.
Not know me yet; cannot this face inform him,
My sighs, nor eyes, my accent, nor my tale;
Had he one thought of me, he must have found me out;
—Yes, yes, 'tis certain I am miserable;
He's going now to see some fresher beauties,
And I, he says, must be a witness of it;
This gives me wounds, painful as those of Love:
Some women now would find a thousand Plots
From so much grief as I have, but I'm dull;
Yet I'le to Laura, and advise with her,
Where I will tell her such a heavy a tale,
As shall oblige her to a kind concern:
—This may do; I'le tell her of this thought,
This is the first of Art I ever thought on;
And if this prove a fruitless remedy,
The next, I need not study, how to dye.

[Exeunt.