 | The Braggard Captain |  |
SCENE IV.
Enter ACROTELEUTIUM, MILPHIDIPPA, and PLEUSIDES.ACROTELEUTIUM.
Follow me,—at the same time look around,
Lest any one observe us.
Mil.
No one see I,
Save him that we would meet.
Pal.
As I would you.
Mil.
Our architect! how fare you?
Pal.
I your architect?
Ah—
Mil.
How now?
Pal.
I'm not worthy, if compar'd
With you, to stick a peg into a wall.
Acr.
No to be sure!
Pal.
O she's a clever jade,
When mischief's set on foot. How charmingly
She smooth'd our captain o'er!
Acr.
But not sufficient.
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Courage—our business prospers to our wish,
If you continue but to lend assistance.
For know, the captain is himself gone in
To ask his mistress, that she would depart
For Athens with her sister and her mother.
Acr.
Good! very good!
Pal.
Nay more,—he gives her all
The cloaths, and trinkets, which he had provided,
So she be gone:—myself advis'd him to it.
Pleu.
That's easily agreed, if she is willing,
And he desire it too.
Pal.
Do you not know,
When from the bottom of a well you've mounted
Up to the top, then there's the greatest danger,
Lest from the brink you topple back again?
Now our affair stands tottering, as it were,
Upon the brink and summit of the well;
For should the captain chance to smell us out,
We shall get nothing from him:—wherefore now
We need erect our batteries.
Pleu.
We have got
Sufficient store of timber for that purpose;—
Three women,—you yourself make a fourth person,
And I a fifth,—and our old host a sixth.
Pal.
What heaps of stratagems we've fell'd already!
No town whatever could hold out against us,
222
Acr.
For that purpose
Are we come out to you to know your pleasure.
Pal.
'Tis sweetly done in you.—Then this I order
As your department. (To Acr.)
Acr.
You're our general,—
Command me what you will, that's in my power.
Pal.
I'd have you play this captain off most finely.
Acr.
Good—your command's a pleasure.
Pal.
Know you how?
Acr.
To wit, that I should feign myself distracted
With love for him.
Pal.
The thing.
Acr.
And for that love
I have foregone my marriage here, much longing
To match with him.
Pal.
Right, you proceed in order.
Only this one thing,—you must also say,
This house is settled on you for your dowry,
And that the old man after your divorce
Had quitted it,—lest bye and bye the captain
Should fear to enter in another's house.
Acr.
Well you advise me.
Pal.
But when he appears,
I'd have you stand aloof, and seem as though
You scorn'd your beauty in compare with his,
And was awe-struck with his vast opulence:
Be sure you praise his loveliness of mein,
His air, his face, his beauty altogether.—
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Acr.
I am perfect.
Will it suffice, if I produce my work
So finish'd, that you shall not find a fault?
Pal.
I am content. (to Pleu.)
Now hearken in your turn
What I command you.
Pleu.
Speak.
Pal.
When this is done,
As soon as she has enter'd, come you hither
Accoutred like the master of a ship,
With broad-brim'd hat and of an russet grey,
And hold a woollen compress 'fore your eyes;
Have on a short cloak, of an russet grey too,
(For that's your seaman's colour) fasten it
On your left shoulder, your right arm stuck out;
And tye a belt about your waist:—thus drest,
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Your good old host here can equip you throughly,
For he has fishermen.
Pleu.
When thus accoutred,
What must I do?
Pal.
Come here, and call upon
Philocomasium in her mother's name;
Tell her, if now she would return to Athens,
She must with you directly to the port,
And order to be carried to the ship,
If any thing she has to put on board;
Say bluntly, if she did not go that instant,
You must weigh anchor, for the wind was fair.
Pleu.
I like your picture well enough.—Proceed.
Pal.
Our gull will strait exhort her to be gone,
Bid her make haste, nor let her mother wait.
Pleu.
You've an extensive genius.
Pal.
I will tell her
To ask my master, that he'd let me carry
Her baggage to the port; when he at once
Will bid me to attend her.—What do I?
I'll tell you,—I am off with you for Athens.
Pleu.
And when you come there, I'll not let you serve
Three days, before you shall be free.
Pal.
Then go,
And strait equip you.
Pleu.
Any thing besides?
Pal.
Only—remember.
Pleu.
I am gone.
[Pleusides goes in.
225
(To the Women.)
And you
Go, get you in directly, for I know
He will come out this instant.
Acr.
Your commands
Must be obey'd.
Pal.
Come, prithee now be gone.
[The Women go in.
See—the door opens opportunely.—Out
He comes, quite joyous:—he has gain'd his suit.
Poor wretch! he longs for what he'll ne'er possess.
| The Braggard Captain | |