 | The Adventures of Five Hours |  |
1
The First Act.
THE SCENE DON HENRIQVE's HOUSE.Enter Don Henrique, who is immediately follow'd by Sylvio.
Sylvio.
Signior, Don Carlos is without.
Henr.
Wait on him in.
Enter Carlos.
Car.
Cozin, to me this day hath longer seem'd than usual,
Since 'tis so far advanc'd without our seeing one another.
Henr.
Me thinks so too; but you repair your Stay,
By coming hither opportunely now;
You have so often born with my Distempers,
'Tis fit that once at least you should partake
Of my Good humour.
Car.
What ere the Cause may be (I'm sure) I joy
In the Effect, and may it long continue.
Henr.
I can inform you by experience now,
How great a satisfaction 'tis to find
A Heart and Head eas'd of a weighty care;
For a Gentleman of my warm temper,
Jealous of the Honour of his Family,
(Yet never blemish'd) to be fairly freed
From the Tuition of an Orphan Sister,
Rich, Beautiful, and Young.
Car.
You know, Don Henrique, that for divers years,
Your Friend has been with the like Province charg'd,
A tender Sister, by our Parents will,
(When they were call'd from all their Cares below)
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Still to the world than yours; and (Sir) unless
Nearness of blood deceive me, short of few
In the advantages that draw Pretenders;
Yet thanks to my Temper, Cozin, as well
As to her Virtue, I have seen her grow
Up from her Childhood, to her Dangerous Age,
Without the least Disturbance to my rest:
And when with equal Justice I reflect
On the great Modesty and Circumspection
Of lovely Porcia, I conclude, that you
Might well have slept as Undisturb'd as I.
Henr.
Sir, I complain not of my Sisters conduct;
But you know well, young Maids are so expos'd
To the Invasion of audacious men,
And to the Malice of their envious Sex,
You must confess the Confines of their Fame
Are never safe till guarded by a Husband;
The wisdom of Relations ought to use
Preventions of all sorts; but dear Carlos,
The Blemish once received, no Wash is good
For stains of Honor, but th'Offenders blood.
Car.
Y'are too severe a Judge of point of Honor.
Henr.
And therefore having not long since receiv'd
The news, that Don Antonio Pimentel,
Is likely to be here this night from Flanders;
To whom my Sister by Velladas means,
(Our common Friend and Patron) is contracted;
I will not close these eyes till I have seen
Her, and my Cares, safe lodg'd within his arms.
Car.
I find your travels, Cozin, have not cur'd you
Of that innate Severity to Women,
Which grows to be a National reproach
Unto us all abroad; the world laments
That miserable Sex amongst us here,
Born onely to be honorable Prisoners;
The more of Quality, the Closer kept;
Which Cruelty is reveng'd upon our selves,
Whilst by Immuring those whom most we Love,
We sing and sigh onely to Iron Grates.
As cruel is that over-cautious use,
By Proxy to contract Parties Unknown
To one another; this is onely fit
For Soveraign Princes, whose high qualities
Will not allow of previous interviews;
“They sacrifise their Love to Publick good,
“Consulting onely Interest and Blood.
A custom, which as yet I never knew
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Without a sequel of sad Consequence:
Sir, understand me right; I speak not this
By way of Prophecy; I am no stranger
To Don Antonios great reputation,
Which I believe so just, I no way doubt
Your Sisters being happy in him.
Hen.
Don Carlos, let us quit this Argument;
I now am going to our noble friend
And kinsman the Corigidor, to see
If he will honor with his Company
My Sisters Wedding; will you come along?
Car.
Most willingly; as soon as I have brought
My Sister hither, and left her with yours.
Henr.
I have some business, Cozin, by the way,
I'l go before, and wait you i'th' Piazza.
Your Servant, Cozin.
Henrique waits on him to the door.
[Exit Carlos.
This Kinsman is my bosom friend, and yet
Of all men living, I must hide from him
My deep resentments of his Sisters scorn;
That cruel Maid, to wound me to the Heart,
Then close her Ears against my just complaints;
But though as yet I cannot heal my wound,
I may, by my Revenge upon my Rival
Divert the Pain; and I will drive it home;
There's in Revenge a Balm, which will appease
The present grief, and Time cure the disease.
[Exit Henrique.
Enter Porcia.
Porcia.
My heart is so opprest, with fear and grief,
That it must break, unless it find relief;
The Man I love is forc'd to flie my sight,
And like a Parthian, kills me in his flight:
One whom I never saw, I must embrace,
Or else destroy the honour of my race.
A Brothers Care, more cruel than his Hate;
O how perplext is my unhappy fate!
Enter Carlos and Camilla.
Car.
Cozin, I thought my Sisters company
Would not displease you, whilst I wait upon
Your Brother in a visit.
Porc.
Sir, you oblige me with a welcom favour;
(aside ... )
I rather should have stil'd it Charity,
To bring a friend to her, whose cruel fate
Has robb'd her of her self. ( ... aside)
aside.
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Me thinks, 'tis pitty that a wall should make
The houses two, of friends so entirely one,
As you, and I, and our two Brothers are.
Porc.
If it be true, that Lovers live much more,
There where they Love, than where they Breath, I'm sure
No walls can sever us, w' are still together.
Car.
Were I not much engag'd, I would not quit
So sweet a Conversation; but, Sister,
At my return, I'l wait upon you home.
Porc.
For this night, Cozin, pray let her be mine,
I beg it of you both.
Car.
You may command, we are both yours.
[Exit Carlos.
Porcia throws her self on Camillas neck.
Porc.
My dear Camilla, how I long'd to have thee,
Where freely breathing out my Grief, I might
Some mitigation from thy Pitty find;
“But since there's no true Pitty without Pain;
Why should I Ease, by thy Affliction gain?
Cam.
Ah Porcia! if Compassion Suffering be,
And to Condole be Pain; my Destiny
Will full revenge in the same kind afford;
Should I, but my unequal'd griefs relate,
And you, but equally participate.
Porc.
If yours, as mine, from Love-disasters rise,
Our Fates are more alli'd than Families.
Cam.
What, to our Sex, and blooming age can prove
An anguish worthy of our Sighs, but Love?
Porc.
'Tis true, Camilla, were your fate like mine,
Hopeless to hold, unable to resign.
Cam.
Let's tell our Stories, then we soon shall see,
Which of us two excells in Misery.
Porc.
Cozin, agreed.
Cam.
Do you begin then.
After a little pause.
Porc.
You know, Camilla, best, how generously,
How long, and how discreetly, my Octavio
Hath serv'd me; and what trials of his faith
And fervour I did make, ere I allow'd
The least hope to sustain his noble Love.
Cozin, all this you know; 'twas in your House
We had our interviews; where you were pleas'd
To suffer feign'd addresses to your Self,
To cover from my watchful Brother's eyes,
The real passion which he had for me.
Cam.
My memory in this needs no refreshing.
Porc.
And how one Evening (O that fatal hour)
My Brother passing by Don Carlos house,
With his great Friend and Confident Don Pedro,
Did chance to see th'unfortunate Octavio,
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Whom not believing there, he took for you;
Where mad with Jealousie, his cruel nature
(To which all Moderation is unknown)
Resolves to stamp all your Neglects of him,
In's suppos'd Rival poor Octavio's heart;
He, and his Friend both draw, Octavio
Retires, they assault him, who in's own defence
Does kill Don Pedro, and is forc'd to flie.
My Brother cruelly pursues him still,
With such insatiate thirst after revenge,
That nothing but Octavio's blood can quench;
Yet covering still his Rage and Jealousie,
With the resentment of Don Pedro's death.
Cam.
Is this the sum of your sad story, Porcia?
Is this all?
Por.
No, no, Camilla, 'tis the Prologue onely,
The Tragedy does follow; this Tyrant,
This cruel Brother, to th'Impetuous Laws
Of whose Tuition, our deceased Parents
My Person and my Fortune have condemn'd,
In his unjust Suspition restless grown,
(Which he to palliate Vice with Virtues name,
Does Sense of Honor call) takes an Allarm,
And starts at every shadow; as if reproach
Attended all the actions of a Sister,
Though ne'r so Circumspect; and uses me,
As if the Honor of our Family
Were over-thrown for ever, should my Eyes,
Or Judgment, be but the least part allow'd
In making choice of him should be my Husband.
Therefore to frustrate all my hopes at once,
He has already marri'd me by Proxie,
To one in Flanders, whom I never saw,
Who is this very night expected here.
Cam.
Is such a rigour possible, dear Porcia?
Por.
Was ever Miserie like mine, Camilla?
Heightned to such extremes, past all relief?
If I acquaint my Brother with my Love
T'Octavio, the man he most does Hate,
I must expect the worst effects of fury;
If I endeavour to Forget Octavio,
Even that attempt renews his memory,
And fresh Disquiet gives; If I refuse
To marry, I am lost; If I obey,
I cast Octavio and my self away.
Two such Extremes of ill, no Choice admit,
Each seems the Worst; on which Rock shall I split?
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And not to marry; were to die alive.
Cam.
Your Story (I confess) is strangely moving;
Yet if you could my Fortune weigh with yours,
In Scales of equal Sensibility,
You would not change your Sufferings, for mine.
Por.
What can there be in Nature more afflicting,
Than a Divorce from th'Object of our Love,
For ever, to embrace the thing we Hate?
Cam.
Have you not known that Object of your Love?
And entertain'd the Person you esteem?
Have you not heard, and answered to his Sighs?
Has he not born his Part in all your Cares?
Do not you live, and reign within his heart?
Por.
I doubt no more his Faith, than my hard Fate.
Cam.
But tell me, dearest Porcia, if I love
One, I ne'r shall see, and suffer as much
Without the Means of e'r expressing it,
As what I suffer is above expression;
If all my Sighs wander in fleeting Air,
And ne'r can reach his ears for whom they're form'd;
If all my Passion, all my killing Cares,
Must be for ever to their Cause unknown;
If that their weight must sink me to my Grave,
Without one Groan that he can ever hear,
Or the least hope, that I should e'r obtain
By Pitty Ease, or Cure by his Disdain:
If this the state of my Misfortune be,
Say, dearest Porcia, do you envie me?
Por.
What over-cruel Laws of Decency
Have struck you dumb? have you misplac'd your Love,
On such a Subject, as you dare not own?
Cam.
No, the Cause is worthy of the Effect;
And though I had no Passion for his Person,
I were Ungrateful if I should not give
The first place in my Heart to such high Merit.
Por.
If he has been so Generous, to deserve
Your Love, why are not you so Just, to let
Him know it?
Cam.
'Tis impossible; Ah! that dismal word
Does fully state the difference of our Fortunes:
You, in your first Adventure have been crost,
But I, before I can set out am lost.
Por.
Pray make me comprehend this Mystery.
Cam.
'Tis t'open my wounds afresh, dear Porcia,
After a little pause.
But You must be obey'd—
The Conde de Onniate being sent
Embassadour unto the Emperour;
We having th'honor to be near ally'd
7
That Journey with her Husband) my Brother
Was desir'd by her to make that Voiage;
Whose tenderness for me, not suffering him
To let me stay behind, I was ingag'd;
And treated by th'Ambassadress, my Cozin,
With more respect than I could ever merit.
Por.
She's a Lady, fam'd for great Civility.
Cam.
We had not pass'd much time i'th' Emp'ror's Corut,
When my dear Brother unexpectedly,
By urgent business, was call'd back to Sevil;
And in our return (too near a Garison
Of th'Enemies) our Convoy was surpriz'd,
And routed by a Party of their Horse.
Por.
Camilla, you begin to raise my fears.
Cam.
We Prisoners made, were hurri'd streight away
To their Quarters, where my malicious Fate
Made me appear too pleasing to the Eyes
Of their Commander; who at first approach
Pretends to Parly in a Lovers style,
Protesting that my Face had chang'd our Fortunes,
And him my Captive made: But finding soon
How little he advanc'd in his Design
By Flattery, and his feign'd Submission;
He shifts his Person, calls me his Prisoner,
And swears my Virgin-Treasure was his Prize;
And yet protests he had much rather owe it
To my Indulgence, than his own Good Fortune;
And so through Storms and Calms, the Villain still
Pursues his Course to his accursed End;
But finding me inflexible to Threats
As well as Fawnings, he resolves to use
The last, and uncontroled Argument
Of Impious Men in Power, Force.
Por.
Ah poor Camilla! tell me, where was then
Your Brother, at a time of such distress?
Cam.
My Brother? he, alas, was long before
Born away from me, in the first Incounter;
Where having certainly behav'd himself
As did become his Nation and his Name,
Remain'd sore wounded in another House.
Por.
Pr'ythee make haste to free me from this fright.
Cam.
The Brute approaches, and by Violence
Endeavours to accomplish his intent;
I Heaven invoke, and strong Resistance make,
But with Unequal force, though Rage suppli'd
Those Spirits, which my Fear had put to flight;
Breathless at length with crying out, and striving,
8
Which snatching boldly out, as my last refuge,
With his own Arms I wound the Savage Beast;
He, at the stroke, unseas'd me, and gave back;
(“So Guilt produces Cowardice) then I
The Dagger pointing to my breast, cri'd out,
Villain, keep off, for if thou dost persist,
I'l be my self both Sacrifise and Priest;
I boldly now defie thy Lust, and Hate;
“She that dares Choose to die, may Brave her Fate.
Immediately the Drums and Trumpets sound,
Pistols go off, and a great cry, To Arms,
To Arms: The Lustful Satyr flies; I stand
Fix'd with amazement to the Marble floor,
Holding my Guardian Dagger up aloft,
As if the Ravisher had threatned still.
Por.
I fancy thee, Camilla, in that brave posture,
Like a noble Statue, which I remember
To have seen, of the inraged Juno,
VVhen she had robb'd Jove of his Thunderbolt.
Cam.
Freed from this Fright, my Spirits flow so fast
To the forsaken Chanels of my Heart,
That those who by their orderly access
Would have Supported life, by Throngs oppress.
O're-charg'd with Joy, I fell into a Swoon;
And what was done in this Parenthesis
Is not within the Circle of my Knowledge.
Por.
Y' have rais'd me to a mighty Expectation;
VVill the Adventure answer it, Camilla?
Cam.
At my return to life, op'ning my eyes,
Think, dearest Porcia, how I was astonish'd,
To find there kneeling by my side, a Man,
Of a most noble Form, who bowing to me,
Madam, (says he) y'are welcome to the world;
Pardon, I pray, the Boldness of a Stranger,
That humbly sues t'you to Continue in it;
Or if You needs will Leave us, stay at least
Till I shall have Reveng'd your wrongs, and then
I'l wait upon you to the other world,
For You with-drawn, this will a Desert seem,
And Life a Torment.
Por.
High gallantry, Cozin, for a first Address.
Cam.
'Twas so Surprizing, that my Confusion
Check'd my Reply: but I suppose my Looks
Did speak the grateful Language of my Heart;
For I perceiv'd an Air of Joy enlighten
His manly Face; but, O! it soon was clowded,
By fresh Allarms; We heard the Soldiers cry,
9
And coming on to give a Second Charge;
He started up, and with a Meen, that mark'd
The Conflict 'twixt his Honor and his Love;
Madam, (says he) the Soul was never yet
With such Convulsion from the Body torn,
As I from you; but it must ne'r be said,
That Don Antonio Pimentel was seen
To Follow in Dangers those he ought to Lead;
And thus the Vanquish'd Conqueror Disappear'd,
Leaving that Image stamp'd upon my Heart,
To which I all the Joys must Sacrifice
Of the poor remnant of my wretched Life;
If properly to live I may be said,
She puts her Handkerchief to her Eyes.
When all my hopes of Seeing him are dead.
Por.
What said you was his name, Camilla?
Cam.
Don Antonio Pimentel, I told you.
Por.
O Heavens! Antonio Pimentel?
Enter Henrique.
Hen.
I'm pleas'd to find you Speaking of your Husband.
Cam.
What's that I hear? her Husband?
Aside.
Hen.
Have you the Letter ready, I desir'd you
To write to him? I'l send a Servant with it,
To meet him on the way, 'twill shew Respect.
Porc.
You know my Obedience, Brother.
Hen.
'Tis well, Sister.
Enter Sylvio.
Sylv.
Sir, here's a Servant of Don Antonio,
Newly alighted at the Gate; he's come
Post from his Master, charg'd with Letters for You.
Hen.
You ne'r could bring me a more welcom News;
Call him in, Sylvio: Sister, you may
With-draw, and take this time to ask your Cozin,
How she likes my Choice of your Wedding-Cloathes.
Por.
My Wedding-Cloathes? Ah! miserable Maid!
The Heathen so to their Feign'd Deities
Adorn'd the Victims they did Sacrifice.
[Exeunt Porcia & Camilla.
Enter Ernesto and Sylvio.
Ern.
Signior, Don Antonio kisses your hands,
And sends me to present this Letter to you.
[He gives a Letter to Don Henrique.
Don Henrique opens it, and seeming to have read it to himself, says,
10
I'm glad you left him well; but yet me thinks,
He writes doubtfully of his being here
This night, as I expected.
Ern.
His Letter, I suppose, declares his purpose.
Henr.
I'l answer't, and dispatch you presently.
In the mean while go make him welcom, Sylvio.
Exeunt Sylvio and Ernesto at one door, and Henrique at the other.
Enter Sylvio, Ernesto, Geraldo, Pedro, with some Cups of Chocolate.
Sylv.
Meethinks, Camerade, a soop of Chocolate
Is not amiss after a tedious Journey;
He drinks.
Your Master's Health, Sir.
Ern.
I'l do you reason, Sir.
Sylv.
Pray how long is't, Brother, since you left Spain?
Ern.
'Tis now five years, and upward, since I went
From Sevil, with my Master, into Flanders,
The King's Fencing-School; where all his Subjects,
Given to Fighting, are taught the Use of Arms,
And notably kept in breath.
Sylv.
Your Master, I am sure, has got the Fame
To be a Per'lous man in that rough Trade.
Ern.
He's a brave Soldier, Envy must confess it.
Pedr.
It seems so i'faith, since meerly by the force
Of his great Reputation, he can take our Bright
Young Mistris so, without a Siege.
Ern.
I hope she'l be Reveng'd on him ere long,
And take him too, by the force of her Wit,
And Beautie.
Pedr.
S'has more than a Child's Portion, Sir, of both,
I dare assure you.
Sylv.
But, pr'ythee, Brother, instruct me a little,
Tell me, what kind of Country is this Holland,
That's so much talk'd of, and so much fought for.
Ern.
Why, Friend, 'tis a huge Ship at Anchor, fraught
With a sort of Creatures, made up of Turf,
And Butter.
Pedr.
I pray, Sir, what do they drink in that Country?
'Tis said, there's neither Fountains there,
Nor Vines.
Aside.
Ern.
This is the Butler sure by his apt question.
Friend, they drink there a certain muddy Liquor,
Made of that Grain with which you feed your Mules.
Pedr.
What? Barley? can that Liquor quench their thirst?
Ern.
You'd scarce believe it did, had you but seen
How oft they drink.
Pedr.
But, me-thinks, that should make them drunk, Camera.
11
Indeed most Strangers do think so, but they
Themselves believe it not, because they're so,
So often.
Ger.
A Nation sure of Walking Tuns; the World
Has not the like.
Ern.
Pardon me, Friend, there is but a great Ditch
Betwixt them and such another Nation;
If these Good-fellows would but Joyn, and drink
That drie, i'faith they might shake hands.
Ger.
Pr'ythee, Friend, can these Dutch Borraccios
Fight?
Ern.
They can do even as well, for they can Pay
Those that can fight.
Sylv.
But where, I pr'ythee, do they get their Money?
Ern.
Oh, Friend, they have a Thriving Mystery;
They Cheat their Neighbouring Princes of their Trade,
And then they Buy their Subjects for their Soldiers.
Sylv.
Me-thinks our Armies should beat these Dull Fellows
Out of the World.
Ern.
These Dull Fellows will sooner beat our Armies
Out of their Country; Why, Friend, ready Mony
Will do much more, in Camps, as well as Courts,
Than a Ready Wit, I dare assure you.
Ger.
What a Gods name could come into the Heads
Of this People, to make them Rebell?
Ern.
Why Religion, that came into their Heads
A Gods name.
Ger.
But what a Devil made the Noble-men
Rebel?
Ern.
Why that which made the Devil himself Rebel,
Ambition.
Sylv.
This is a pleasant Fellow;
Aside.
I find that you Soldiers do not want Wit.
Ern.
But I find he wants Wit that is a Soldier.
Gentlemen, your Company's very good,
But I have business that requires Dispatch.
Pedr.
Will you not mend your Draught before you go?
Ern.
I thank you, Sir, I have done very well.
[Exeunt.
Enter Camilla, Porcia, Flora.
Por.
Was e'r Misfortune like to mine, Camilla?
Cam.
Was e'r Disaster, Porcia, like to mine?
Por.
That I must never see Octavio more.
Cam.
That I again must Don Antonio see,
Never to see him Mine.
Por.
I, to be marri'd to the Man I Hate.
12
And I, to have the Man I Love, torn from me.
Por.
I am, by Robbing of my Friend, undone.
Cam.
And I (alas) by Yielding, ruine both.
Por.
Ye Powers, who these intangled fortunes give,
She weeps.
Instruct us how to Die, or how to Live.
Cam.
Cozin, when we should Act, then to Complain,
Is Childishly to beat the Air in vain.
These Descants on our Griefs do but Perplex,
Let's seek the Remedy; You know, our Sex
This Honor bears from Men, in Exigents
Of Love, never to want Expedients.
Por.
You have awaken'd me, give me your Veil,
Quickly, my Dearest, quickly; and You, Flora,
Porcia takes off Camilla's Veil and puts it on upon her self.
Run and see if my Brother be setled
To the Dispatching of Antonio's Man.
[Exit Flora.
Cam.
What mean you, Porcia?
Por.
If once my Brother be set down to write,
I may securely reckon one hour mine;
His Wits are onely in his Choler quick
And his Hand ready in Revenge; he's so
Extravagantly Jealous, he distrusts
The Meaning of his own ill-chosen Words,
And so at length can hardly fix on any.
This Time I will make use of to go see
Octavio, and let him know that the last Term
Of all our Hopes is ready to Expire,
Unless his VVit, his Courage, and his Love,
Some quick Expedient find for our Relief.
Cam.
Why, How, and VVhere d'you hope to speak with him?
Por.
In his own House, where he does lie conceal'd,
'Tis not far off, and I will venture thither.
Cam.
Know you the way?
Por.
Not very well, but Flora's a good Guide.
Enter Flora hastily.
Flo.
O Madam! he's coming already.
Por.
Ah spiteful Destiny! let us retire,
Cozin, into my Chamber.
[Exeunt Porcia and Camilla.
Enter Henrique and Ernesto.
Henr.
If you desire to speak with her, you may.
Ern.
I should be very glad to tell my Master
That I have had th'Honour to see his Bride.
Henr.
Where's your Lady, Flora?
Flor.
She's in her Chamber, Signior.
Henr.
Tell her, Antonio's Servant does desire
13
[Exit Flora.
Friend, you will find her there, without a Veil,
In her Home Dress, but you are privileg'd
For this free Access, by your Relation.
Whilst you wait on her, I'l go end my Letter.
[Exit Henrique.
Enter Camilla, Porcia, and Flora.
Por.
If thou lov'st me, get him quickly away,
Before my Brother come, and give him this.
She gives Flora a Letter.
Ernesto addresses himself to Camilla, seeing her without a Veil.
Ern.
Madam, I have been bold to beg the Honor
Of Seeing you, to make my self more welcome
To my Lord, at my return.
Por.
A rare Mistake, further it, dear Camilla.
Aside.
Who knows what Good this Error may produce?
Cam.
Friend, in what state left you your Lord and mine?
Ern.
As happy as the Hopes of being Yours
Ought certainly to make him, Madam.
Cam.
I would the Master were as easily deceiv'd.
Aside.
I pray present my Humble Service to him:
Flora, give him the Letter; Farewel.
[Exeunt Camilla, Porcia, and Flora.
Ern.
Now by my Life, she is a lovely Lady;
My Master will be ravish'd with her Form;
I hope the Bargain, which her Brother made,
By th'interposal of Vellada's Power,
(Though founded onely in Interest) may prove
As happy a Marriage, as any other
Made after th'Old fashion, chiefly for Love;
And that so rare a Beauty may have power
To bring him back to his right Wits again
From his wild Ravings on an unknown Dame,
Whom as he fancies (once upon a time)
He recover'd from a Trance, that is,
From a sound Sleep, to make him Dream e'r since.
I'l hasten to him with this pleasing news.
[Exit Ernesto.
Enter Camilla, Porcia, Flora.
Cam.
My Melancholy could hardly hinder me
From laughing at the Formal Fools mistake;
But tell me, did not I present your Pers'nage
With assurance? the way for both to thrive,
Is to make me your Representative.
Smiling.
Por.
Most willingly, and I am confident,
When you, your Charms shall to his heart apply,
You all your Rivals safely may defie.
14
I wish I could be vain enough to hope it.
But, Cozin, my Despairs are so Extreme,
I can't be flatter'd, though but in a Dream.
Flo.
Madam, do we go, or what d'you resolve on?
Por.
I must resolve, I see, yet know not what.
Cam.
Cozin, take heed, I am afraid you venture
Too much, your Brother cannot tarry long;
And, if returning, he should find you missing—
Por.
Y'have reason, the opportunity is lost,
What is't a Clock, Flora?
Flo.
I think near Eight, for the Clock struck seven,
Just as Camilla enter'd the Chamber.
Por.
Quick then, Flora, fetch your Veil, you shall carry
My Tablets to Octavio, there he'l find
The Hour and Place where I would have him meet.
[Exit. Flora.
Cam.
'Tis well resolv'd; but where do you design
Your Meeting?
Por.
In the Remotest part of all the Garden,
Which answers (as you know) to my apartment;
And Flora has the Key of the Back-door.
Cam.
As the Case stands, you choose the fittest place.
[Flora returns Veil'd.
Por.
Cozin, I beg your patience whilst I write.
Porcia writes in her Tablets.
Cam.
You, Flora, by this Accident may chance
To see your faithful Lover Diego.
Flo.
He is a faithful Lover of himself,
Without a Rival, Madam.
Cam.
Damsel, your Words and Thoughts do not agree;
For could we see his Image in your Heart,
'Twould be a fairer far, than ere his Glass
Reflected.
Flo.
Madam, I am not yet so very Old,
That I should Dote.
Cam.
Nor yet so very Young, but you may Love.
Dotage and Love are Cozin-germans, Flora.
Smiling.
Flo.
Yes, when we Love, and are not lov'd again;
For else, I think, they're not so near a kin.
Aside.
Cam.
I've touch'd a Nettle, and have stung my self.
Porcia give Flora the Tablets, having lock'd them.
Por.
Make haste, dear Flora.
Flo.
Madam, I'l flie.
Should I not play my part, I were to blame,
Aside.
Since all my Fortune's betted on her game.
Madam, has Octavio the other Key
Belonging to the Tablets.
Por.
Yes, yes, I pray make haste.
[Exit Flora.
Let us retire, Camilla a little Rest,
And Meditation, may new aids suggest.
| The Adventures of Five Hours | |