 | The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father |  |
SCENE I.
A Camp. Several Souldiers appear confusedly.1st. Sould.
A pox o'these peaceable Times, we shall
certainly be starv'd in 'em.
2d. Sould.
A Pox on our Folly for suffering peaceable
Times, have we not the Power in our own hands?
1st. Sould.
For What?
2d. Sould.
Why, to make what time we please:
Mutiny, my dear Doggs.
Corp.
A Plague upon those who let us beat 'em so soon;
neither is there an Officer destroy'd, not so much as a fat
Serjant, or a lean Ensign; no Hint of a Hope for a Vacancy
to any mans Merit.
2d. Sould.
Why look you, Corporal, our nearnest way to
Preferment, (since they will not die in the Field, nor decently
of themselves) is to make Mischief among 'em, and
let 'em destroy one another.
Corp.
Ay, but they won't take our Words for't; Superiours
have found out the Tricks of Inferiors, and have
made an Agreement, tho Truth, not to mind it.
2d. Sould.
But why must we be kept in our own Country?
If we were abroad we might plunder.
Corp.
We steal here, which is all one.
2d. Sould.
No, 'tis not, for we are hang'd for it.
1st. Sould.
Hark, you fellow Souldiers, now cannot I for
my Blood understand why this is our own Country; I'll be
choak'd if there be a man among us has a Foot of Land
in it.
2d. Sould.
No more than he stands upon.
Well, 'tis a brave thing to be an Officer.
1st. Sould.
What because you can march Five Miles on
Horseback?
No: But to be even with the Government.
Corp.
As how, old Dry-Bobb?
2d. Sould.
Why, as we march'd from our Quarters, we
came through the City to the Camp; and a turbulent Dogg
that was gaping to see us as we past by his Shop, cry'd out,
Ay, there goes the Plague o'th' the Nation: His Wife strait
reply'd, The Comforts, you Block-head.
Corp.
So.
2d. Sould.
The Captain immediately tip'd her the Wink,
And made him a Cuckold before it was dark.
All.
Oh brave Captain!
1st. Sould.
Nay more; She has promis'd on her Honour,
To be reveng'd on her Husband, she'll bring,
All the Females of both Generations,
For the Use of our Regiment.
Corp.
Then the Government's setled again.
2d. Sould.
No; prithee let's Mutiny, for I am damnable
Hungry.
1st. Sould.
Well then let's Mutiny, for my Heart's e'en broke:
We've abundance of Victuals upon the Plain,
But the Devil a bit on the Spit.
Would it not make a man mad, to see a Flock
Of Sheep grazeing at the head of one's Regiment,
Baaing and making Mouths at us, whilst we
Dare not cut their Throats for the Affront.
Corp.
Ay, or to see a Battalion of Oxen march by
In State, and dung at our Tents Mouths, yet must
Not knock 'em down to teach 'em better Manners.
2d. Sould.
I say Mutiny.
All.
Ay, Mutiny, mutiny.
Corp.
Ay, but for what? Pox on't we have our Pay;
If they would but stop our Pay once,
The Devil should not stop our Mouths.
1st. Sould.
Then Corporal we'll Mutiny for our Rights
and Privileges.
2d. Sould.
To kill and take what we like.
1st. Sould.
Ay, and to eat and keep what we kill.
Corp.
Right, here they send us abroad to be knock'd on
the Head,
2d. Sould.
Else knock us on the head, and starve us at
Home.
1st. Sould.
When there's nothing to do for us abroad.
2d. Sould.
'Twould be a pretty Sight to see us run away,
Like Moses's Lions at the crowing of a Cock.
1st. Sould.
Or lose the Field as the Capitol was sav'd,
By the gagling of a Goose: Ounds I say Mutiny.
Corp.
The Devil take it, this will never serve for an
Occasion; I am not so unreasonable to desire
A just one, if we had any.
Enter Collonel and Two Officers.
But mum! here comes the old furious Collonel
With Two Officers; they'll wonder what a Plague
We all do together: Now will half of us be hang'd,
To confess whether the rest had any Design,
To mutiny or no.
Coll.
These Fellows have some Mischief in their minds;
A fit time this to work 'em to our Purpose;
My old tough Heart melts at my General's Wrongs;
There needs no Oratory in this Tale:
In downright Words I'll tell how he's abus'd;
And downright Blows can only do him Justice.
Why, how now fellow Souldiers?
Corp.
Ud's Death, the old Rogue's in a good Humour.
Coll.
What, wishing for the Wars? You hate to be idle,
When a brave Action calls.
1st. Sould.
And under your Honours Command.
Coll.
My Command! Under the Generals, my
Fellow Souldiers, the brave Rheusanes;
He that first flesh'd your Swords in Conquest,
And march'd you o'er the Ruins of your Foes:
Rheusanes; He, that Father to us all,
Who now, by me, to crown his last of Deeds,
Bequeaths the Grecian Generals Pavillion;
With all that Mass of Riches, his by Lot;
Without one Doyt to any nigh Relation;
But all to you, his stout bred Sons and Heirs.
Humm.
Coll.
Whil'st he, tho bold as Justice e'er made Man;
Injur'd to that prodigious height he is
Reflecting on his Duty to his Master,
Retires to mourn alone at his Disgrace.
Corp.
How Colonel! The General disgrac'd! that
Must not be; here's an Occasion you Doggs—
Coll.
If after all his Service to his Countrey,
To have a Wife slurr'd on him by his Prince,
Or see his Mistress ravish'd 'fore his Face,
Be a Disgrace, 'tis his.
2d. Sould.
How, ravish my General's Mistress!
1st. Sould.
Who was it Collonel? For we'll make an Eunuch
Of him, and he shall marry her after.
2d. Sould.
And then we'll come in for Snacks.
Corp.
We'll tear him Piece-meal.
Coll.
Away ye giddy-headed Slaves, it was the King.
2d. Sould.
And sure the King may ravish whom he pleases.
Corp.
Hark Rogues! a rare Opportunity;
Did any of you ever see the King?
2d. Sould.
Not I.
1st. Sould.
Nor I.
Corp.
Nor you don't know the King, if you see him?
Omn.
Not we.
Corp.
Then take my word for't Rheusanes is your King.
Omn.
Rheusanes, Rheusanes!
Coll.
Forbear ye Rebels, or I'll hang ye all:
Rheusanes is no Prince, he was indeed your General;
Your much abus'd Commander.
1st. Sould.
I say he's our King, the other Fellow has been Prince,
so long enough.
Corp.
Ay, ay; Therefore, I say, let all who love their
Rheusanes, or their Corporal, draw their Swords.
Omn.
Rheusanes, Rheusanes.
[They all draw.
Enter Ghinotto.
Coll.
They're finely wrought, see here, behold the Father.
Of the unhappy Lady, and your General's Mistress:
Poor Man he weeps.
Truly he has had a very sad time on't.
Coll.
Do you not know this Face? can fifteen Years,
Such Alteration make? Can you forget
Your Major General?
Corp.
The Noble Ghinotto.
Ghin.
That wretched thing am I.
But why in Arms my old well try'd Acquaintance?
Coll.
Warm'd with my General's Wrongs and yours;
O'my Conscience I think we're grow all Rebels.
Ghin.
Indeed our Wrongs will call for a Revenge,
And justify it any way but that:
But sure the King commands in what he pleases:
Were he my Equal, I'd scorn to shew
This base dishonour'd Head;
Till I had fix'd my Dagger in his Heart,
Deep as the Wound it gave this wretched Arm,
Which came too late to save my Daughter's Honour;
And stop the Hell-bred Fury of his Lust.
Corp.
Look you Fellow Souldiers: This Lord has been
A brave Fellow, has led us out and brought us home,
With Honour, his Son's the General's Friend,
And a kind Officer; therefore for all their Sakes,
I cry Revenge.
Omn.
Revenge, Revenge.
Ghin.
My Son alass;
That precious Comfort of my unhappy Age;
Whom you are pleas'd to call the General's Friend,
The Tyrant has destroy'd.
2d. Sould.
We lose Time, Sir.
[Pulls the Collonel.
Coll.
The General perhaps may be so too:
His Daughter in his Absence forc'd again,
And by Degrees we all may feel his Envy.
Corp.
On, on Sir.
Coll.
Nay more—
2d. Sould.
We'll hear no more.
Coll.
I say the King.
1st. Sould.
Ounds will you lead, Sir.
Coll.
I will, and let us wear our Injuries on our Swords,
But rather perish in our just Endeavours.
1st. Sould.
Plunder, Sir.
Coll.
Do any thing, the City ever were our Enemies,
Tho we have sav'd their Freedoms and Estates.
2d. Sould.
March then.
Ghin.
Fight as ye all had Daughters to relieve.
Coll.
Or Fight like men condemned for a Reprieve.
Corp.
All Wives, by my Consent, turn out of Doors.
1st. Sould.
Then I am sure the Cits will have no Whores.
[Exeunt hollowing.
| The Injur'd Lovers : or, the Ambitious Father | |