The Chances A Comedy |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | The Chances |  |
SCENE I.
Enter 2. Constantia and her Mother.Mo.
Hold
Cons, hold, for goodness hold, I am in that desertion of Spirit
for want of breath, that I am almost reduc'd to the necessity
of not being able to defend my self against the inconvenience of a fall.
2. Const.
Dear Mother let us go a little faster to secure our selves
from Antonio; for my part I am in that terrible fright, that I can neither
think, speak, nor stand still, till we are safe a Ship-board, and out of
sight of the Shore.
Mo.
Out of sight o'the Shore? why, do ye think I'll depatriate?
2. Const.
Depatriate? what's that?
Mo.
Why, ye Fool you, leave my Country: what will you never learn
to speak out of the vulgar road?
2. Const.
O Lord, this hard word will undo us.
Mo.
As I am a Christian, if it were to save my honour (which is ten
a thought.
2 Con.
Pray Mother, since your honour is so dear to ye, consider that if
we are taken, both it and we are lost for ever.
Mo.
Ay Girle, but what will the world say, if they should hear so odious
a thing of us, as that we should depatriate?
2 Con.
Ay, there's it, the world; why, Mother, the world does not care
a pin if both you and I were hang'd; and that we shall be certainly, if Antonio
takes us, for running away with his Gold.
Mo.
Protest I care not, I'll ne're depart from the demarches of a
person of Quality; and let come what will, I shall rather choose to submit
my self to my fate, then strive to prevent it by any deportment that is not
congruous in every degree to the steps and measures of a strict practitioner
of honor.
2 Con.
Would not this make one stark mad? Her stile is not more out
of the way, then her manner of reasoning; she first sells me to an ugly
old fellow, then she runs away with me and all his gold, and now like a
strict practitioner of honor, resolves to be taken, rather then depatriate,
as she calls it.
Mo.
As I am a Christian, Cons, a Tavern, and a very decent Sign;
I'l in I am resolv'd, though by it I should run a Risco of never so stupendious
a Nature.
2 Con.
There's no stopping her: what shall I do?
Mo.
I'l send for my Kins-Woman and some Musick, to revive me a little;
for really, Cons, I am reduc'd to that sad imbecility by the injury I
have done my poor feet, that I'm in a great incertitude whether they will
have liveliness sufficient to support me up to the top of the stairs or
no.
[Exit.
2 Con.
This sinning without pleasure I cannot endure; to have
always a remorse, and ne'r do any thing that should cause it, is
intolerable. If I lov'd mony too, which (I think) I don't, my Mother
she has all that, I have nothing to comfort my self with but Antonio's stiff
Beard, and that alone, for a Woman of my years, is but a sorry kind of
entertainment. I wonder why these old fumbling fellows should trouble
themselves so much, only to trouble us more. They can do nothing, but
put us in mind of our graves. Well, I'll no more on't; for to be frighted
with Death and Damnation both at once is a little too hard. I do here
vow I'l live for ever chast, or find out some handsome young fellow I can
love; I think that's the better;
[Mother looks out at the Window.
Mo.
Come up, Cons, the Fiddles are here.
2 Con.
I come.—
I must be gone, though whither I cannot tell; these Fiddles, and her discreet
500 New Pieces sells me to another old fellow. She has taken care not to
leave me a farthing; yet I am so, better than under her conduct: 'twill
be at worst but begging for my life;
And starving were to me an easier Fate
Goes up to her Mother.
Than to be forc'd to live with one I hate.
| The Chances | |