 | The Elder Brother |  |
Scena prima.
Enter Lewis, Angellina, and Sylvia.Lewis.
Nay, I must walk you farther.
Ang.
I am tir'd, Sir, and ne'er shall foot
it home.
Lew.
'Tis for your health; the want
of exercise takes from your Beauties, and sloth dries up
your sweetness: That you are my only Daughter and my
Heir, is granted; and you in thankfulness must needs acknowledge,
you ever find me an indulgent Father, and
open handed.
Ang.
Nor can you tax me, Sir, I hope, for want of duty
to deserve these favours from you.
Lew.
No, my Angellina, I love and cherish thy obedience
to me, which my care to advance thee shall confirm:
all that I aim at, is, to win thee from the practice of an idle
foolish state, us'd by great Women, who think any labour
(though in the service of themselves) a blemish to their fair
fortunes.
Ang.
Make me understand, Sir, what 'tis you point at.
Lew.
At the custom, how Virgins of wealthy Families
waste their youth; after a long sleep, when you wake, your
Woman presents your Breakfast, then you sleep again, then
rise, and being trimm'd up by other hands, y'are led to
Dinner, and that ended, either to Cards or to your Couch,
(as if you were born without motion) after this to Supper,
and then to Bed: and so your life runs round without variety
or action, Daughter.
Syl.
Here's a learned Lecture!
Lew.
Flow this idleness, Diseases, both in body and in
mind, grow strong upon you; where a stirring nature,
with wholesome exercise, guards both from danger: I'd
have thee rise with the Sun, walk, dance, or hunt, visit
the Groves and Springs, and learn the vertue of Plants and
Simples: Do this moderately, and thou shalt not, with
eating Chalk, or Coles, Leather and Oatmeal, and such other
trash, fall into the Green sickness.
Syl.
With your pardon (were you but pleas'd to minister
it) I could prescribe a Remedy for my Lady's health, and
her delight too, far transcending those your Lordship but
now mention'd.
Lew.
What is it, Sylvia?
Syl.
What is't! a noble Husband; in that word, a noble
Husband, all content of Woman is wholly comprehended;
He will rouse her, as you say, with the Sun; and so
pipe to her, as she will dance, ne'er doubt it; and hunt
with her, upon occasion, until both be weary; and then
the knowledge of your Plants and Simples, as I take it,
were superfluous. A loving, and, but add to it, a gamesome
Bedfellow, being the sure Physician.
Lew.
Well said, Wench.
Ang.
And who gave you Commission to deliver your
Syl.
I deserve a Fee, and not a frown, dear Madam: I
but speak her thoughts, my Lord, and what her modesty
refuses to give voice to. Shew no mercy to a Maidenhead
of fourteen, but off with't: let her lose no time, Sir;
Fathers that deny their Daughters lawful pleasures, when
ripe for them, in some kinds edge their appetites to taste of
the fruit that is forbidden.
Lew.
'Tis well urg'd, and I approve it: No more blushing,
Girl, thy Woman hath spoke truth, and so prevented
what I meant to move to thee. There dwells near us a
Gentleman of bloud, Monsieur Brisac, of a fair Estate,
six thousand Crowns per annum, the happy Father of two
hopeful Sons, of different breeding; the Elder, a meer
Scholar; the younger, a quaint Courtier.
Ang.
Sir, I know them by publick fame, though yet I
never saw them; and that oppos'd antipathy between their
various dispositions, renders them the general discourse
and argument; one part inclining to the Scholar Charles, the
other side preferring Eustace, as a man compleat in Courtship.
Lew.
And which way (if of these two you were to chuse
a Husband) doth your affection sway you?
Ang.
To be plain Sir, (since you will teach me boldness)
as they are simply themselves, to neither: let a Courtier
be never so exact, let him be bless'd with all parts that yield
him to a Virgin gracious; if he depend on others, and stand
not on his own bottoms, though he have the means to bring
his Mistris to a Masque, or by conveyance from some great
ones lips, to taste such favour from the King: or grant he
purchase precedency in the Court, to be sworn a servant
Extraordinary to the Queen; nay, though he live in expectation
of some huge preferment in reversion; if he want
a present fortune, at the best those are but glorious dreams,
and only yield him a happiness in posse, not in esse; nor can
they fetch him Silks from the Mercer, nor discharge a Tailors
Bill, nor in full plenty (which still preserves a quiet
Bed at home) maintain a Family.
Lew.
Aptly consider'd, and to my wish: But what's thy
censure of the Scholar?
Ang.
Troth (if he be nothing else) as of the Courtier, all
his Songs and Sonnets, his Anagrams, Acrosticks, Epigrams,
his deep and Philosophical Discourse of Nature's hidden Secrets,
makes not up a perfect Husband; he can hardly borrow
the Stars of the Celestial Crown to make me a Tire for
my Head, nor Charles's Wain for a Coach, nor Ganymede
for a Page, nor a rich Gown from Juno's Wardrobe, nor
would I lie in (for I despair not once to be a Mother) under
Heaven's spangled Canopy, or Banquet my Guests and
Gossips with imagin'd Nectar; pure Orleans would do
better: No, no, Father, though I could be well pleas'd to
have my Husband a Courtier, and a Scholar, young, and
valiant; these are but gawdy nothings, if there be not
something to make a substance.
Lew.
And what is that?
Ang.
A full Estate, and that said, I've said all; and get
me such a one with these Additions, farewel Virginity,
and welcome Wedlock.
Lew.
But where is such a one to be met with, Daughter?
A black Swan is more common; you may wear grey Tresses
e're we find him.
Ang.
I am not so punctual in all Ceremonies, I will 'bate
two or three of these good parts, before I'le dwell too long
upon the choice.
Syl.
Only, my Lord, remember, that he be rich and
active, for without these, the others yield no relish, but
these perfect. You must bear with small faults, Madam.
Lew.
Merry Wench, and it becomes you well; I'le to
Brisac, and try what may be done; i'th' mean time home,
and feast thy thoughts with th'pleasures of a Bride.
Syl.
Thoughts are but airy food, Sir, let her taste them.
| The Elder Brother | |