 | The Injured Princess, or the Fatal Wager |  |
SCENE II.
Enter Beaupre, Shattillion, and Don Michael.Shatt.
Upon my Honour, Sir, I have observ'd him in Britain; he was then
of a declining fame, and not expected to reap the additional Honour
Fortune has since bless'd him with: I could have look'd on him then,
without the help of admiration, tho' the Catalogue of his Endowments had
been tabl'd by his side, and I to peruse him by Items.
Beaup.
You speak of him when he was much less accomplish'd than now he
is. Consider, Sir, he was young, he was young.
D. Mich.
I have seen him at Madrid, and am of opinion, we had many
there that could behold the Sun with as firm eyes as he.
Shatt.
This business of marrying his King's Daughter, wherein he must be
weigh'd by her youth and weakness, rather than his own value, ecchoes him,
I doubt not, a great deal above his true worth.
D. Mich.
And then his Banishment.
Shatt.
I, and the approbation of those that weep. This lamentable Divorce
to comply with her, seem wonderfully to extend him: But I shall shortly be
better inform'd; for I design a speedy Journey to Britain, where perhaps I
may spend the best part of this Summer.
D. Mich.
If the Ladies there are to be won at this easie rate, your time, Sir,
may not be altogether lost.
Shatt.
Why faith 'tis to be hop'd so; and for my encouragement, the
Gentleman has giv'n us a good hint of the free Constitution of his Countrey.
But how comes it, Sir, he is to sojourn with you? Pray how creeps Acquaintance.
Beaup.
His Father and I have commanded together, to whom I have been
often bound for no less than my Life: Here he comes; and pray let him be so
esteem'd among you, as suits with Gentlemen of your knowledge to a Stranger
of his Quality—I beseech you.
Be better known to this Gentleman, whom I commend to you as a noble
Friend of mine; how worthy he is, I will leave to appear hereafter, rather
than story him in his own hearing.
D. Mich.
Sir, If my memory play not the Traitor with me, I think I had
the honour of your Company once in Spain.
Ursa.
Since when, Sir, I have been debtor to you for Courtesies, which I
will be ever to pay, and yet pay ever.
D. Mich.
Sir, You o're-rate my poor kindness; I was glad I did attone
my Countreyman and you; it had been pity you should have been put together,
and trivial a nature.
Ursa.
Sir, I was then but a young Traveller, and rather desir'd to be silent
in what I heard, than to be guided by others Experiences; but upon my riper
judgement, (if I offend not to say it is riper) my Quarrel was not altogether
slight.
D. Mich.
Faith, yes to be put to the Arbitrement of Swords, and by two
such that would by all likelihood have disabl'd one the other, or have fall'n
both.
Shatt.
Can we with manners ask what was the difference?
D. Mich.
Safely I think: 'Twas a Contention in publick about the praise
of our Countrey-Mistresses; this Gentleman at that time vouching, and upon
warrant of bloud affirmation, his to be more fair, vertuous, wise, chast, constant,
qualifi'd, and less contemptible, than any the rarest of our Spanish
Ladies.
Shatt.
That Lady is not living now sure, or this Gentleman's Opinion by
this worn out.
Ursa.
Sir, She holds her Vertue still, as I my Mind.
Shatt.
You must not so far prefer her before ours of Gallia.
Ursa.
Being so far provok'd as I was at Madrid, I wou'd diminish nothing,
tho' I profess my self her Adorer, not her Friend.
Shatt.
Methinks as fair, and as good, a kind of hand in hand Comparison
were somewhat too good for any Lady in Britany; for as that Diamond of
yours there outshines some I have seen, so perhaps may she; but I have not
seen the most precious Diamond that is, nor you the Lady Sir.
Ursa.
I prais'd her as I rated her, so do I my Jewel.
Shatt.
What do you esteem it at?
Ursa.
More than the World enjoys.
Shatt.
Then it must of necessity follow, that your unparalell'd Mistress is
outpriz'd by a Trifle.
Ursa.
You are mistaken: 'Tis possible one may be sold or giv'n, if there
were Wealth enough for the Purchase, or Merit for the Gift; the other is not
a thing for Sale, and only the Gift of Heaven.
Shatt.
Which Heav'n has given you.
Ursa.
Yes, and which, with its leave I will keep.
Shatt.
In secure Opinion, the contented blessing of the Wife. 'Tis true,
you may; but you know, Sir, Strange Fowl light upon neighb'ring Ponds;
your Ring may be stoll'n too, and so your brace of unprizable Estimations be
lost; the one being frail, and the other casual, a cunning Thief, or a (that
way) accomplish'd Courtier, would hazard the winning both of first and
last.
Ursa.
Your Gallia contains none so accomplish'd a Courtier, to my knowledge:
If in point of Constancy you term my Mistress frail; I doubt not but
you may have store of Thieves, but yet I fear not my Ring.
Shatt.
Thieves in Love, Sir; we are for the pleasant way of Larceny.
Ursa.
Ay 'tis well you steal Love, your Rhetorick else would hardly promote
you higher than the Intrigue of a Shepherd's Daughter.
Come enough of this Gentlemen; pray let's leave here.
Ursa.
Sir, With all my heart: This worthy Monsieur, I thank him, makes
no Stranger of me; we are familiar at first fight.
Shatt.
With five times so much Rhetorick I should get ground of your
fair Mistress, nay perhaps make her go back even to the yielding, had I admittance
and opportunity to befriend me.
Ursa.
No, no.
Shatt.
Come, I'le make a bold Proposition: I will lay the Moiety of my
Estate to your Ring, which in my opinion overvalues it something—that I
can win your Lady: I make this Wager now rather against your Confidence,
than her Reputation; and to bar your offence herein too, I durst attempt it
against any Lady in the World.
Ursa.
Come Sir, you abuse your self, and wou'd, I doubt not, sustain
what you deserve by such an Attempt.
Shatt.
What's that?
Ursa.
Why a shameful repulse, tho' your attempt deserves more a punishment
too.
Shatt.
As how Sir?
Ursa.
To have your Nose slit cross, your sland'rous Tongue pull'd out by
the roots, torn, mangl'd, cut to atomes, and blown like common filth into the
Air.
Shatt.
And who should do this?
Ursa.
I, were I concern'd: Come, Sir, hold your Tongue, or by Heaven I
shall—
Both offer to draw.
Shatt.
What a sleepy Britain?—I'le try that.
Beaup.
Hold Gentlemen, and as you are my Friends forbear; there has
been too much said—it came in suddenly, let it die as it was born, I beseech
you be reconcil'd.
D. Mich.
The Gentleman was a little too free in language.
Shatt.
Mor dieu, Would I had my Estate and my Friend's, on confirmation
of what I speak.
Ursa.
That you would win my Lady?
Shatt.
Yours to choose, who in Constancy, you think, stands so fair—
Come Sir, let us lay by this petty Brawl; I will lay you 10000 Duckats to
your Ring, that commend me to the Court where your Lady is, and with no
more advantage than the opportunity of a second Conference, I will bring
from thence that Honour of hers which you imagine so reserv'd.
Ursa.
I will wage Gold against your Gold; my Ring I hold as dear as my
Finger, 'tis part of it.
Shatt.
Oh you are a great Courtier Sir, and know that to buy Ladies Flesh
at millions a dram is cheap, tho' you cannot keep it from tainting; but I see
you have some Religion in you that you fear.
Ursa.
Faith, I fear Religion much more than your Prowess: And now to
reclaim your vanity, let there be Covenants drawn between us, and I will accept
your Wager. Come now, I dare you to't; there's my Ring.
[Gives it Beaupre.
Shatt.
'Tis done.
Beaup.
I will have it no Lay.
By the Gods 'tis one. If I bring you not sufficient testimony that I
have enjoy'd the dearest bodily part of your Mistress, my 10000 Duckats are
yours, so is your Diamond too; but if I thrive in my Enterprize, this your
Jewel is mine, provided I have a Letter of Recommendation for my better
Entertainment.
Ursa.
I embrace the Conditions; only thus far you shall answer: If you
attempt her, and give direct proof you have prevail'd, I am no further your
Enemy, she is not worth a Quarrel; but if she remain chast, you not making
it appear otherwise; then for the ill Opinion, and the Assault you have made
to her Chastity, you shall answer me with your Sword.
Shatt.
Your Hand—my Honour on't—I'le fetch my Gold, have our two
Wagers recorded, and then away for Britain.
And if I lose, I must prove dumb or blind;
Ursa.
If win, there is no Hell like Womankind.
[Exeunt.
| The Injured Princess, or the Fatal Wager | |