University of Virginia Library

ACT I.

SCENE 2.

Enter D'orvile, Brisac, Beaupres.
D'or.
You have oblig'd me, Sir, in your last grant.

Bris.
It still has been my study how to serve
A man of Honor. This is no such favour.

D'or.
Pardon me, Sir, I do esteem it highly,
And do once more assure you, that your men
Shall find the Welcome that the Town affords;
You freely should command all that is here,
From the sole Merit you your self possess,
Which with an Obligation I've receiv'd
Lately, and in the person of my Friend,
Does doubly claim performance of my Promise.

Bris.
Enough, good Sir:
You make me blush, I have not yet deserv'd
The Honor that you now enrich me with.

D'or.
I have done, Sir.
An Officer of yours?

Turns to Beaupres and salutes him.
Bris.
He is my friend, and in that Office bears
Command o'r all that e'r I shall call mine.

Beau.
One that is proud to wait upon his worth,
And take the Copy of a gallant man
From his ripe Youth.

D'or.
Believe me, Sir, your person does bespeak
An expectation in all those that see you,
Of what is Great and Generous in a Man.

Bris.
You 've read him right.

D'or.
I cannot doubt it, Sir:
For Friendship in Young-men breeds a delight
In doing great and worthy things, whereby
They may tie fast the bond of Friendship sworn.
That Prince is happy who in's Army has
Such Rivals unto Virtue and to Honor;
And yet rejoyce when either courts them well.

Beau.
Your praise will make me study to deserve it.

Enter Malignii.
Bris.
Well, Major, have you yet dispos'd the men?

Mal.
They are all Billited, saving some few
That were design'd unto the place you mention'd.

Bris.
Make up their Quarters out of those same Blanks
My servants drew, and yours, my dearest Friend,
May serve for six, I know you will not leave me.

D'or.
Leave that to me; the favour's very great:
You have remov'd the trouble from the place
That calls my Friend its Landlord.

Bris.
But not with an intention, 't should be put
Upon your care.
There's room enough, he knows how to dispose them.

D'or.
I must submit: but please you all to grace
My house and me; and if it do not speak
So large a welcome as my heart does mean,
Blame my poor power, not my want of will.

Bris.
Please you to lead the way, we'l follow.

Stops him as he's going.
D'or.
I'm proud to be your guide in this occasion.

Mal.
Sir, I would speak with you.

Bris.
Prethee, Beaupres, go you along,
Tell him he shall not long expect our coming.
[Exit Beaupres.
Now, Major, speak your business.

Mal.
Have you design'd your Sister should come here,
And stay this Winter-Quarter 'mongst your Troops?

Bris.
You know I have: But prethee why do'st ask?
Do'st think that Tours is like unto the Camp?

Mal.
No, but—

Bris.
But what? are there not hundreds more
Of the same Quality that reside here?
My house not fifteen Leagues from hence,
Why should I bar her being here this winter?
'Twas but a year ago you wondred much
I would confine her to a Country life,
And said, her breeding was not like my Sister's,
Though she did want no Masters could inrich
Her mind and carriage; yet then you thought fit
She should see Paris and its Bravery.

Mal.
I hope my care does give you no offence?

Bris.
No, Honest Malignii, I know you've been
My friend since I writ Man; do but speak
To show the error of your friendly Doubts.

Mal.
I'm glad you so interpret them.

Bris.
I know they are:
Do'st think our Regiment a sweeping plague,
That does infect whole Towns it quarters in;
Or that it breaths the air of Vice on all
The Virgins live in the same Horizon?
Ha, ha, ha!
I know they'r Blades, but yet I think they'l scarce
Presume to venture on my Sister.

Mal.
Fie, Sir, I never thought on that.

Bris.
What then? I cannot guess your meaning.

Mal.
Nor I, till time (which ripens all) disclose it.

Bris.
Well then let's wait that time:
But now it is decreed she comes,
Beaupres to morrow goes to fetch her hither.

Mal.
'Tis wondrous well and fine.

Bris.
What is?

Mal.
This Town.

Bris.
I, is it not a lovely seat?
But this same River Loyre is blest along
It's bank's with several of such City's.
Come, come, the Governour will stay for us.

Malig.
I'l wait upon you Sir.

[Exeunt.
Enter Colignii and Cortaux.
Cort.
I hope thou wilt.
There is a Captain quarters at my house,
Be sure you bid your Sisters treat him well;
But heark you Sir; I'd have you watch their Waters,
These men of warr will straight-wayes clap a-Board.

Colig.
I'l warrant you Father, let me alone.

Cor.
But you must still be civil, and give way,
When th'other Officers do come to visit.

Colig.

What do you mean Father, must I leave the Room and
shut the Dore?

Cor.
Away, you Dunce, I mean you must take heed
That you do no ways interrupt discourse.

Colig.
I shall Sir.

Cor.
I say you must not by no means.
Pox how I shall be plagu'd!
Why they will straight perceive thou art ill bred.
I'l send thee straight into the Country,
For here thou wilt be Jeer'd, or may be kill'd
For doing some preposterous foolish thing.

Colig.
I fear not that;
But good Sir consider the smallness of this stock.

Cor.
Why here is more, a Crown in gold.
Be sure you wear this stil but for a show.

Colig.
I'l do as does befit a man.

Cor.
As does befit a Gudgeon.
Well Sir lets see how you will bear your self;
I fear wee shall have some rank tricks o'th' school.

Colig.
Here comes our Guest Father.

Enter D'Elpeche and servants.
D'elpe.
The Master of this house I think you are?

Cor.
The man that's honor'd with that title Sir.

Colig.
Yes 'tis my Father Sir, and I'm his Son.

D'elpe.
I did believe as much.
Sir I must beg your patience for the trouble
My men and I must give you this same Winter,
But they shall stil most orderly observe
A just Decorum which befits the place.

Cor.
Your men!
Why Sir I hope your whole Troop is not quarter'd
Upon my house?

D'elpe.
Oh no Sir!
I mean my servants,
They are men too.

Colig.
Yes indeed father are they,
The Gentleman speak's truth,
The Captain I should say Sir:
I humbly Crave your pardon: 'twas a mistake.

D'elpe.
O Sir, the fault is not so great.

Colig.
I hope so Sir: I should be loath in any way t'offend.

Cor.
Hold you your prating;
Sir, you freely may command this house,
And him that's owner of't.

D'elpe.
Your servant Sir.

Cor.
And if in ought my Son can do you Service,
Pray command him too.

Colig.
I, or if my Sisters can do you Service,
Pray command them too.

D'elpe.
Sir, I shall study stil to be their Servant.

Cor.
You must be prating stil.

Take's him aside.
Colig.
Why Father, would you not have me civil
To our new guest the Captain?

Cor.
Yes, but mark me, and Imitate.

D'elpe.
Are these his Sisters
Which he talks of, handsome?

To himself.
Cor.
Y'are melancholy Sir;
Shall we walk in and tast the fruit,
Or rather Juicy substance of th'last Vintage?

Colig.
Which is to say,
Let's crack a Bisket o'r a glass of Wine.

D'elpe.
I did conceive as much:
I shall wait on you Sir.

Colig.
And I will wait on you most noble Captain.

D'elpe.
O Lord Sir.

[Exeunt.
Enter Malignii Solus.
Malig.
Beaupres to morrow go's to fetch her hither;
'Twas so he said.
S'death can he stil be blind?
I've known him subtil as the Ayr, to find
Anothers secret out; and glide
Through the small Pores that guard the heart
And there take view of all that it conceal'd;
Such pow'r his Cunning and discourses had;
But now a Mole, or else he seems to be so.
Hair-brain'd Alecto lend me but one snake,
I'l make his heart the pasture to maintain it;
And all yee Furies hold your Torches high,
That they may Sparkle fier to his Eyes,
And his Soul bubble o'r as fast as yours;
'Twill be a gallant flame when his fierce rage
Shoot's forth in Flakes like Ætna in her Labour,
And Beaupres too, that is as hot as hee,
Shall meet that Ardor with an Equal heat;
Oh how my Soul rejoyces when I think on't!
Back, back, yee foolish thoughts, of man, and honour,
Y'are but diseases to me, and my Love
Hath long been Pestered with your Childish fears;
That is the Deity which I adore,
And what doth not conduce to profit that,
Shall stil be held Heretical by me.
Enter Beaupres.
Ha! What maks him follow me.

Beaup.
Malignii, as e'r thou wer't my Freind,
Excuse me to my Colonel,
I dare not stay, the health's grow ponderous,
For great glasses fill'd,
Burthen the stomak and make the head light.

Malig.
Why how now Sir, are you turn'd Flincher too?
Nay then the trick of drinking will grow stale:
For shame leave not your Colonel so.

Beaup.
Why there be some more Officers with him,
La'march is there, and Boutefeu I think,
D'elpech is just now entr'd, all ask for you,
For me I think they cannot miss this night;
But if my Colonel should Chance to ask,
Say I was much distemper'd, and went home;
Besids to morrow I must be stirring early.

Malig.
About your Journy?
Tis better far than drinking,
To entertain one's self so neer the joy
With thinking of it.

Beaup.
Why? do you find such pleasure, Sir, in riding?

Malig.
To wait on such fair objects, Sir, I do.

Beaup.
I wonder then you spoak not for th'Imployment.

Malig.
You had prevented me, or else I would.

Beaup.
You are mistaken, Sir, my Colonel
Pitch'd upon me, knowing with what joy;
I still was prest t'obey, and do him service.

Malig.
Most likely Sir.

Beaup.
Good night, good Major, pray excuse me this time.

[Exit.
Malig.
Diseases close your Eyes—
How is my soul rack't, when I see this man?
And yet my Genius will not give me Leave,
T'attempt my quier, by his suddain death;
Something there is that awes me strangely:
Conscience I'm sure it is not:
For did he walk with mark and curse of Heav'n,
To those that should deprive him of his life,
I'd wish this hand had don't;
Something I must find out, and suddenly,
To thrust him on to Ruine:
His Angel must be watchful if he scape me.

[Exit.
Enter D'orvile as conducting them to the door, Boutefeu, La'march, Delpeche.
D'orv.
I am sorry gentlemen you will not stay,

Bout.
Tis late Sir,
And our Colonel will want his rest.

La'mar.
We fear our trouble has been great already.

D'orv.
It was an honor you have done my house.

D'elp.
No further, Sir, I pray.

La'mar.
Sir, I beseech you leave us here.

D'orv.
Gentlemen, I'm still obedient to what you command.

D'elp.
Your humblest Servants, Sir.

[Exit D'orville.
La'mar.
Now what shall we do?
No acquaintance here, Boutefeu?
Nor you, D'elpeche? Now I think on't better,
Thou art a Puling Lover,
Writ'st Verses, or at least pretend'st to't,
Mak'st all address Upsii Platonick;
I will not go to bed yet,
What are you for?

Bout.
I? why any thing.
D'elpeche, hast e'r a Mistris here
We may repair to?
Two hours in Town with thee's an Age;
I know thou canst not want a Mistris here.

D'elp.
And do you hope I'l bring you to her?

Bout.
Why not?
Do'st think I would prophane thy Lady Bright
With scurvy Courting?

La'mar.
Or put thee out of countenance
VVith saying things we never did intend,
But yet so quaint and new a Dialect,
That she shall stand amaz'd at our great wit,
And find by proof hereafter thou hast none.

D'elp.
Why you brace of Baboons,
Do not I know it's a Baudy-house you look for
You Mistresses? Flanders Mares,
And those extremely ready to be Hors'd,
You'l hardly stay the Courtship else.

Bout.
VVhy where's the pleasure of it else?
Duly to wait upon my Lady's Dog,
And pick the Fleas that do molest his VVorship;
Make cringer to her Picture,
Swear 'tis Heav'n to hear her hum an Air,
Though out of Tune.
If she but smile, fall backward in a Rapture;
If frown, fall in a Swoun and break your face.

La'mar.
Or sit and praise the wit she shows
In the ingenious chusing of her colours.

D'el.
You speak as if I thus imploy'd my time.

Bout.
Most certainly thou do'st.

La'mar.
Come, come, shall's go drink?
For yet I will not go to bed.

D'elp.
Fie, fie, we're wondrous hot
With Wine already, I could tell ye.
But you are Brutes and will do some rude thing.

Bout.
I swear we won't.
What is't, or where, D'elpeche?

D'el.
Why look you, Gentlemen,
I'm lodg'd where Beauties live,
Whose eyes will force high capers in your bloods:
Will you prepare your morrow's Visit
With a quaint Serenade this night?

La'mar.
Agreed i'faith; where shall we get the Musick?

D'elp.
That I did bespeak before.
Enter Fidlers.
See here, I think they're come.

Bou.
What are you, Gentlemen,
The merry Boys, that saw a heart in sunder
With your Rosin?

Mus.
This Gentleman bespoke us here to night.

D'el.
I did so, pray begin.

Mus.
What shall we play, Sir?

D'el.
the newest Ayrs.

They play an Ayr or two.
Bout.
Pox o' these fine things;
Can you not play the Siege of Rochel?

Mus.
Yes, Sir.

D'el.
Fie, Boutefeu, there's a Tune for Ladies.

Bout.
Why then let them play
The Tune we made the Song to th'other night.

La'mar. sings the Tune to the Musique.
La'ma.
I, I, by any means.
Lum terum, tum, &c.

Mus.
Oh, Sir, we know the Tune.

Bout.
Begin then; D'elpeche, you shall bear your part.

D'el.
My hope is they'l not understand us.

La'mar.
Come, come, I'l begin.

The Song.
La'mar.

Chorus
together.

Bout.

Chor.

All
three sing this together.

Chor.

D'el.
Peace, peace, pray peace,
The window opens.
Play and sing that I sent you to night.

Mus.
We shall, Sir:

La'mar.
Plague o' you Tuning, ye Dogs,
Cannot your Instruments stand in Tune
One quarter of an hour?

D'el.

SONG.
The window opens quick.

Bou.
Ladies, do's this please you?

D'el.
Prethee be silent.

La'mar.
Why? have you prepar'd any more tricks for them?

Bou.
Besides we should fain hear
The heavenly Musique of their Voices.
Ladies, can you vouchsafe a Parley?

Mar.
We can, Sir;
Though that must never give you any hopes,
The Fort is to be rendred.

Bout.
We ask it not upon those terms.

Franc.
If you do Sirs,
Wee'l straight advance our flag of high defiance.

La'ma.
What colour bears it Lady?
Or what Motto?
For it needs must be extraordinary,
Since women hold it forth.

Franc.
See Sir, the Colour's white,
And for the Motto,
Sister, what shall it bee?

Maria.
Any thing, the colour speaks it self,
Tis Innocence.

La'ma.
So are your sheets Lady.

Maria.
And shall be so stil for you Sir.

La'ma.
Say you so? why then come doleful death.

D'elpe.
Come, come, La'march we shall grow troubelsome,
Tis late; Lady's we humbly kiss your hands.

Both.
We are your Servants Sir.

Shut to the Window.
Bout.
Why in such haste D'elpeche?
Pox, why did you take leave so soon?
I was studying of a fine speech: which now y'ave spoyl'd.

D'elpe.
No matter, to morrow will serve,
I'l teach thee one without book by that time.

Bout.
I'm much beholding to your Learning Sir.

Enter the Round.
Round.
Stand, who goes there? Speak to the round.

La'ma.
Friends to the guard.

Round.
I think you are some of the officers
That last came to Town.

D'elpe.
You are in the right Gentlemen.
But whither so fast this way?

Round.
To the Governor Sir, for the keys,
There is some noble man at the gate,
Desires presently to be let into Town.

D'elpe.
Know yee who is?

Round.
No, but he desires straight to be conducted
To the Governor. Good-night Gentlemen; tis late.

La'ma.
VVe know it Sirs.

Bout.
Come, wee two go together.
D'elpeche, you are at home.

La'ma.
Adieu Mounsieur; we may I hope,
See these Ladies to morrow.

D'elpe.
Much may be done, as yee behave your selves.

Bout.
Adieu Formality.

D'elpe.
Good night Swash.

[Exeunt severally.
Bout. and Lama. goe out with musique playing them to their Lodging.
Enter D'orvile, making himself ready, and Servants.
D'or.
I wonder who't should be thus late?

Serv.
Some express from Court, Sir.

D'or.
I certainly, but what about, I cannot guess.
Get things in readiness,
They say, it is a man of Quality.

Serv.
Shall I wake the Colonel?

D'or.
By no means;
The Complement were ill, to stay him here
This night, and trouble him.
Be sure there be no noyse made
About his Chamber.

Serv.
There shall not Sir.

D'or.
Go then, dispatch, and let a Room be straight provided,
That he may rest himself.
Exit servants
VVhat should this Summons mean?
I hope the king is well.

Enter General, La Barr, and the guard, with lights before 'em.
Gener.
I hope you'l pardon this disturbance?

D'or.
The greatest honour could arive unto me.

Gener.
La Barr, give the guard to drink.
They'r carefull men, and ought to be rewarded.

Exit Guard,
D'or.
I'm glad you found 'em so;
If negligent, the blame had all been mine.
aside.
But Sir, I hope no evill accident
Is cause that you travel now so late.

Gener.
None, I assure you Governor.
I had a great desire to wait upon you,
And free my self from the Tempestuous noise,
And Turbulent cares, the Court afflicts us with:
I hope all health possesses your fair Daughter.

D'or.
She cannot want it Sir, that has your wishes:
But you are weary Sir, and want repose.

Gener.
Indeed I am,
VVe have rid hard to day;
No lodging's to be found in all the Suburbs,
Else we had spar'd you this nights trouble.

D'or.
You then had wrong'd your servant much.
But Sir, tis morning, you may break fast
Before you go to bed.

Gener.
Not now, for I am wondrous weary.

D'or.
I shall Conduct you then unto your Chamber.

Gener.
Come, La-Barr, I think thou sleep'st.

Exit before D'orv. La'barr.