University of Virginia Library

Scene 2d.

Enter Oswald and Durzo.
Osw.
Well met, Captain, how go squares
Now 'twixt you and your Mistress?

Durz.
She has sent me a Letter here,
I wanted you to read it to me.

Osw.
Cannot you read?

Durz.
Neither write nor read, 'tis out of my Element:
The Sea breeds Soldiers, but not Scholars.

Osw.
You shall hear it then.
[Oswald reads the Letter.

My roaring Boy, I can love no longer at your fierce rate, my
heart is sailing under another Convoy; give Chase to a fresh
Mistress, I am making all Sail after a new Rigg'd Gallant, and
now bid you defiance, and so a boon Voyage to you, Captain, and
Farewell.
Hillaria.

Durz.
What, turn'd Renegade?

Osw.
Short warning, this.

Durz.
Steal away like a cowardly Enemy in a dark night.

Enter Hillaria and Alicia, led over the Stage by two Courtiers.
Osw.
See, she's not out of Hemisphere,
Give her chase, you see how she's mann'd.

Durz.
Meer' Hulls of men.

Osw.
They Tack about agen.

Hill.
How dejected my Lover looks, now I've taken
Away his Commission!

1 Court.
Captain, what think you?

Durz.
Think I.

1 Court.
Of Love?

Durz.
As of Folly.

2 Court.
Is it not a fine Pastime?

Durz.
Yes for fools.

1 Court.
What think you of Women?

Durz.
As of light Sailers.

Omnes.
Ha, ha, he.

Osw.
That Shot hits you 'twixt wind and water.

Durz.
Or as of Ships that want Ballast,
That are toss'd about with every Wave,
And cannot be steer'd in any true course.

Omnes.
Ha, ha, he.

Durz.
Do you play with my anger?
Am I so tame to be laugh'd at?
Sure I have seem'd more terrible,
When with this Sword I have lopt off limbs,
Strew'd the Decks with Carcasses, turn'd Fleets
To floating Hospitals, sent Navies to their Ports
To cut down Masts, and hew the Timber of their
Shattered Vessels into wooden Legs and Crutches,
To underprop the Criples they brought home.
Love, hast thou disarm'd my Looks of Manhood?
Phew—with that Gale be gone.

Omnes.
Ha, ha, he.

Durz.
Are you laughing agen? have amongst you Piccaroons.

Osw.
Hold Captain, what do you mean?

Durz.
I'le shatter their Tacklin,—

Osw.
Let 'em go, they are not worth pursuit.

Hill.
Come on, bold Captain, if you are for fighting,
See here your Enemy.

Durz.
Beauty, that raises storms of Love,
Allays those of Anger; you the Object,
I can look my self into a Calm.

Hill.
Captain, you have a Qualm coming
O're your stomach, you are either Sea-sick,
Or Love-sick still.

Alic.
Captain, Love is still in Port, he went not out
With that strong Puff.

Osw.
No, Love has not yet weigh'd Anchor.

Hill.
Captain, if you are not for fighting, let
Me know what you think of Love in good earnest.

Durz.
Love is a Sea, a dangerous Sea,
Where Wind and Tide are still contrary.
Men are the Barks that venture out,
Whose ruines still its waves conspire.

Alic.
But what are women in this Ocean, Captain?

Durz.
You are Pirates that rob us of our hearts:
You are Laplanders, that give us a fair wind
To leave safe Harbours, and when we're out at Sea
Make it swell to a Tempest to drown us.
I have out-rid the Storm, thanks to my
Lusty Vessel, and now being gotten safe into
Harbour, can look back and say,
Yonder I had like to have suffer'd Wreck.

Osw.
Well said, Captain, you have given the women
A whole Broad-side.

Hill.
For all that, I see he's but a Fresh-water
Lover yet; now you think your self past danger,
You are in greatest peril to be cast away.
What think you, if that Letter, which rais'd
This Tempest, was but a plot to see
How my Lover could brook a Rival.

Osw.
What Wind do you call this? By what Point
Of the Compass will you sail now?

Durz.
I think I had best tack about agen
And make what hast I can to fall
In a Stern of her.

Hill.
That it was so, here's my hand on't.
Now if you dare put off to Sea agen,
My heart shall run the Risque with yours
In all adventures.

Alic.
'Tis very true, this plot was but to try your love.

Durz.
Why then I'le count my self your Lover still.
And if the wind hold thus fair for me
You'l quickly lie by the Lee.

[To Oswold.
Osw.
You are not quite undeceiv'd yet,
She's not my Mistress but my Sister.

Durz.
If you are not my Rival, I fear no Reprizal.

Alic.
You must reckon our two Gallants your Enemies
No more, their Rival-ship is ended.

Hill.
They have struck Sail to you:
You now with Triumph in Love's Ocean steer,
Calm is the Sea, and from all Pirats clear.

[Exeunt.