University of Virginia Library

SCEN. V.

Scene, The Lord Bevill's House.
Enter Lord Bevill, Bruce led in, Lovis, Beaufort, Graciana and Aurelia.
Bruce.
Graciana, I have lost my claim to you,
And now my Heart's become Aurelia's due;
She all this while within her tender breast
The flame of Love has carefully supprest,
Courting for me, and striving to destroy
Her own Contentment, to advance my Joy.

Aurel.
I did no more then Honour press'd me to;
I wish I'de woo'd successfully for you.

Bruce.
You so excel in Honour and in Love,
You both my shame and admiration move.
Aurelia, here, accept that life from me,
Which Heaven so kindly has preserv'd for thee.
My Lord, I hope you will my choice allow,
[To L. Bevill,
And with your approbation seal our Vow.

Bevill.
In gen'rous minds this to the world will prove
That Gratitude has pow'r to conquer Love.
It were, brave Man, impiety in me
Not to approve that which the Heavens decree.

Bruce.
Graciana, on my gen'rous Rival you
Must now bestow what to his Merit's due.

Grac.
Since you recovering, Bruce, your claim decline,
To him with honour I my Heart resign.

Beauf.
Such Honour and such Love as you have shown
Are not in the Records of Virtue known.
My Lord, you must assist us here once more;
[To L. Bevill.
The God of Love does your consent implore.

L. Bev.
May Love in you still feed your mutual fire.

[Joyning their hands.
Beauf.
And may that flame but with our breaths expire.

Lovis.
My Lord, our Quarrel now is at an end;
You are not Bruces Rival, but his Friend.

Beauf.
In this brave strife your Friendship soar'd above
The active flames of our aspiring Love.

Bruce.
Dear Friend, thy merits Fame cannot express.

Lovis.
They are rewarded in your happiness.

Bruce.
Come all into my Arms before I rest;
Let's breathe our Joys into each others breast:
Thus mariners rejoyce when winds decrease,
And falling waves seem wearied into Peace.

Enter Sir Frederick and Dufoy at one door, and the Widow and Betty at another.
S. Fred.
Haste, Dufoy, perform what I commanded
You.

Dufoy.
I vil be ver quick begar; I am more den half de
Mercurié.

S. Fred.
Ho, Widow! the noise of these Nuptials brought
You hither; I perceive your mouth waters.

Wid.
Were I in a longing condition I should be apt
Enough to put my self upon you, Sir.

S. Fred.
Nay, I know th'art spiteful, and wou'dst
Fain marry me in revenge; but so long as I have
These Guardian Angels about me, I defie thee
And all thy Charms: Do skilful Faulkners thus
Reward their Hawks before they fly the Quarry?

Wid.
When your gorge is empty you'l come to the
Lure again.

S. Fred.
After I have had a little more experience of the
Vani y of this world, in a melancholy humour
I mat be careless of my self.

Wid.
And marry some distressed Lady, that has had
No less experience of that vanity.

S. Fr.
Widow, I profess the contrary; I wou'd not have the
Sin to answer for of debauching any from such
Worthy principles: Let me see; if I shou'd be good
Natur'd now, and consent to give thee a Title
To thy own wealth again, you wou'd be stubborn,
And not esteem the favour, Widow.

Wid.
Is it possible you can have thoughts of gratitude?
Do you imagine me so foolish as your self, who
Often venture all at play, to recover one inconsiderable
Parcel.

S. Fr.
I told you how 'twou'd be, Widow: Less providence
Attend thee, else I shall do no good upon thee:
Fare-well.

Wid.
Stay, Sir; let us shake hands at parting.

S. Fred.
Nay, if thou once art acquainted with my
Constitution, thou't never let me go; Widow, here,
Examine, examine.

[Holding out his hand.
Bevill.
Sister, I long have known your inclinations;
Give me leave to serve you. Sir Frederick, here,
Take her; and may you make each other happy.

Wid.
Now I have receiv'd you into my Family,
I hope you will let my maids go quietly about
Their business, Sir.

S. Fred.
Upon condition there be no twits of the good man
Departed; no prescription pleaded for evil customs
On the Wedding night.
Widow, what old doings will be anon!
I have coupl'd no less then a pair-royal my self.
This day, my Lord, I hope you'l excuse the liberty.
I have taken to send for them; the sight will much
Encrease your mirth this joyful day.

L. Bev.
I shou'd have blam'd you, Sir, if you had restrain'd
Your humour here.
These must needs be pleasant Matches that are of his
Making.

Enter Dufoy.
Sir Fred.
What, are they come?

Dufoy.
Day be all at de dooré, begar; every man vid his
Pret Metres, Brid, Whore.
Entré, Jentelmen, vid your Lady, entré vid your great
Fortune: Ha, ha, ha.

Enter Sir Nicholas and his Bride, Wheadle and his Bride, Palmer and his Bride.
Sir Nich.
Brother, do you see how sneakingly Wheadle looks
Yonder, with his rich Widow?

Wid.
Brother! is this fellow your Brother?

Sir Nich.
Ay, that I am.

Sir Fred.
No, no, Sir Nicholas.

Sir Nich.
Did not I marry your Sister, Sir?

Sir Fred.
Fie, fie, Sir Nich'las; I thought y'ad been
A modester man.

Sir Nich.
Is my wife no kin to you, Sir?

Sir Fred.
Not your Wife; but your Son and Heir may,
If it prove so. [To Lucy.]
Joy be with thee, old acquaintance.
Widow, resolving to lead a virtuous life,
And keep house altogether with thee,
I have dispos'd of my own houshold-stuff, my
Dear Mrs. Lucy, to this Gentleman.

Whead. & Palm.
We wish you joy with your fair Bride,
Sir Nich'las.

Sir Nich.
I will go and complain, and have you all clap'd
Up for a plot immediately.

Sir Fred.
Hold, hold, Sir Nich'las; there are certain
Catch-poles without; you cannot scape,
Without y'ave a thousand pounds in your
Pocket: Carry her into the Country, come;
Your Neighbours Wives will visit her, and vow
She's a virtuous well-bred Lady:
And, give her her due, faith she was a very
Honest Wench to me, and I believe will make a very
Honest Wife to you.

Sir Nich.
If I discover this I am lost; I shall be ridiculous,
Even to our own Party.

Sir Fred.
You are in the right: Come,
Take her, make much of her,
She shall save you a thousand pounds.

Sir Nich.
Well, Lucy, if thou canst but deceive my
Old mother, and my neighbours in the Country,
I shall bear my fortune patiently.

Sir Fred.
I'le warrant you, Sir, Women so skil'd in Vice can
Dissemble Virtue.

Dufoy.
Fy, fy, maké de much of your Lady, Shentelmen;
Begar you vil find dem ver civil.

Sir Fred.
Dufoy, I had almost forgot thee.

Dufoy.
Begar my merit is ver seldome in your
Memorié.

Sir Fred.
Now I will reward thy services; here, enjoy thy
Mistress.

Dufoy.
Ver vel, begar; you will give me two tree olde
Gowné vor all my diligence.

Betty.
Marry come up! Is that a despicable portion
For your greasie Pantaloons?

Dufoy.
Peace, peace, Metres Bett; ve vil be ver good
Friend upon occasion; but ve vil no marrié:
Dat be ver much beter, begar.

Sir Fred.
Did you bring the Bayliffs with you?

Dufoy.
Day be vidout: Begar, Shentelmen, you have bin
Made ver sad; and now you shall be made ver mer
Vid de Fidler.

Whead.
Ha! cozen'd with Fidlers for Bayliffs!
I durst have sworn false Dice might as soon have pass'd
Upon me.

Sir Fred.
Bid them strike up; we will have a Dance.
Widow, to divert these melancholy Gentlemen.

[They dance.
L. Bev.
Sir Fredrick, you shall command my House this day;
[After the Dance.
Make all those welcom that are pleas'd to stay.

Sir Fred.
Sir Nicholas, and Mr Wheadle, I release you both
Of your Judgment, and will give it you under
My hand at any time.
Widow, for all these bloody preparations, there
Will be no great massacre of Maiden-heads
Among us here.
Anon I will make you all laugh with the occasion
Of these Weddings.
On what small accidents depends our Fate,
Whilst Chance, not prudence, makes us fortunate.