University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

—A Wood near Oxford.
Enter Wilton, R. as in deep thought: suddenly he rouses himself, and gazes around.
Wil.
Full four miles from the city!
Faith, in my fool's abstraction, I may wander
Wider than prudence dictates. One good hour
Have I spent fruitlessly in moody thought—
No plan matur'd: the pleasing art of vengeance
For those who would excel, is most abstruse;
I'll make it my life's study—yes, I swear it!
Here, as I gaze on yonder towering pile,
Casing the magnets of my hate; a hate
The more intense, being love's mutation.

Enter Antony Rip, L. running, and out of breath. Seeing Wilton, he stops short.
Wil.
(Drawing.)
Ah!
A Puritan!—surrender!

Rip.
This is lucky.
Good Master Wilton, dost not know me—eh?
Not know poor honest Anthony? tis he—
Anthony Rip.

Wil.
Why, scoundrel, hast turn'd traitor?
'Twas thought that thou wert dead: what brings thee hither?

Rip.

When made prisoner at Marston Moor, I thought Puritanism
and life better than loyalty and death; so I swore
fidelity to the Parllament, and forthwith had my hair instead
of my head cropped: this arrangement has just brought me into
a skirmish at Islip Bridge, where I find myself opposed to my
old pot-comrades; and, curse me, if I like to cut throats which
have been moistened from the same black-jack as my own.

Wil.

I see; thou would'st serve again the King, but that
thou'rt bound—

Rip.

Bound? Oh, no! I havn't the slightest tie: I only
gave my oath and honour to the Roundheads; but, then, his
Majesty and Prince Rupert are over severe in military law

but curse me, I'll risk the chance of being hanged for desertion,
rather than remain with such a set of snivelling hypocrites,
who havn't the moral courage to belch out a rattling oath, nor
the sense to get insensibly drunk. Their diabolical system of
prayers and abstinence has so clarified my system, that I'm
absolutely dying of an unterrestrial purity; my body is becoming
too sublimated for my mind, which yearneth for the
salutary debauch of the olden time—sela!

Wil.

Now listen: thou hast ere this done work for me in
which unscrupulousness and secrecy were requisite, and I have
been no niggardly paymaster? What would'st thou now for
me, if I make thy peace with the Royalists?

Rip.

What would I do—what would I not do? Make my
peace, and I give ye my oath I'll forswear myself, cut throats,
rob churches, abduct maids, corrupt wives—in fact, do ought
that an honest, well-meaning fellow may—sela!

Wil.

Dost see that distant building?

Rip.

What, Blechington House? Ah, many a tankard have
I emptied there when Sir Thomas Coggins was master: 'tis
now held by Colonel Wyndebanke. Oh, I see—you'd wish
his brains puffed out—by accident. I now remember he is a
rival of yours for the hand of that delicate damsel, Edith
Fenwicke.

Wil.

He married her yesterday.

Rip.

The devil he did! that's a pity, because what's done is
beyond prevention; but if you still have a fancy for her—

Wil.

Rip, I have done with love.

Rip.

That's right—you're not made for it. Excuse me,
Master Wilton, but you haven't exactly the figure, and decidedly
not the countenance of a lady-killer. Love is mightily
agreeable when not of the sentimental breed, but if you wish
to erry her off—

Wil.

No!

Rip.

Then I don't see how my peculiar talents can serve
you.

Wil.
I said my love had pass'd—but not the memory
How I have lov'd. I said that Wyndebanke
Had married her, but yet I did not say
That I forgave the blasters of my hope
So dearly cherished. Rip, I'll be revenged!
To them and to their house, my life to come,
Will I be as an evil genius—mark me!
Already have I cramm'd Prince Rupert's ear
With hints that make their loyalty suspected.
By this, young Fenwicke—(Edith's brother)—lost
A long besought appointment, and by this
Thy agency, and schemes as yet unripe
I'll work their ruin.

Rip.

Amen! I'm thine. As for that boy, George Fenwicke,
I'd slash his hide with infinite pleasure; 'twas he who
rescued Bess Dimple, just as she had fainted in my arms—he
crossed me in the tender passion of love.

Wil.

Come with me, then; I take thee to my service.

Rip.

I have also information respecting red-nosed Noll's
movements, well worth a few gold pieces.

Wil.

Follow! be honest in my cause, and thou shalt prosper.

(Exit R. H.
Rip.

Oh, I will; honesty's the best policy— (Aside)
—if you
want to starve. No, this is a villainous world, and I flatter
myself that I am a man of the world. O be joyful—sela!

(Exit R. H.