 | The Braggard Captain |  |
SCENE VI.
Enter ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA.MILPHIDIPPA.
Look, mistress, there's the captain.
Acr.
Ha!—Where is he?
Mil.
There, to the left.
Acr.
I see him.
Mil.
Only cast
227
We see him.
Acr.
So—I view him.—On my troth
Now is the time to prove our utmost art.
Mil.
You must begin.
Acr.
(Aloud.)
Pray was you with him?—
(to Mil. aside)
Don't
Be sparing of your voice, but let him hear you.
Mil.
(Aloud.)
I talk'd with him at ease, and at my leisure,
And as I lik'd, and at my own discretion,
And as I would.
Pyrg.
So—hear'st thou what she says?
Pal.
I hear.—How pleas'd she is, that she approach'd you!
Acr.
O happy wench!
Pyrg.
How she's enamour'd of me!
Pal.
You merit it.
Acr.
'Tis strange, what you relate,—
That you approach'd him, and prevail'd: they say,
He never is address'd but by dispatches,
Or by ambassadours, all like a monarch.
Mil.
True, 'twas with difficulty I procured
An audience to prefer my suit.
228
How great
Your fame among the women!
Pyr.
I must bear it,
Since Venus wills it so.
Acr.
My grateful thanks
I pay to Venus, and beseech the goddess,
That I may win his favour whom I doat on,
That he may gentle prove, nor take amiss
What I desire.
Mil.
I hope it will be so;
Though many ladies seek his love: but he
Disdains them, holds himself estrang'd to all,
Save you alone.
Acr.
Therefore this fear torments me,
That, when he sees me, since he's so disdainful,
His eyes will change his sentiments, his own
Bright beauty make him scorn my homelier form.
Mil.
Be of good heart;—he will not do it.
Pyrg.
How
She flights herself!
Acr.
I fear too, your account
Has set me off too well.—
Mil.
I've taken care,
That you shall shew still fairer than you stand
In his opinion.
Acr.
Verily if he will not
Take me for wife, I will embrace his knees,
Implore, beseech him:—If I don't prevail,
Why then by my own hand I'll dye:—I know,
I cannot live without him.
Pyrg.
I must save her,—
229
Pal.
No, by no means.—You'll make yourself too cheap,
To give yourself so lavishly away:
First let her come to you, let her seek you,
Express her fond desire and expectation.
What—would you lose that glory which you have?
For never did it happen but to two,—
You and the Lesbian Phaon,—to be lov'd
So desperately.
Acr.
I'll go in to him.—
You, Milphidippa, go, and call him forth.
Mil.
Let's rather wait, till some one shall come out.
Acr.
I cannot stay, but I must in.
Mil.
The door
Is shut.
Acr.
I'll break it open.
Mil.
You are mad.
Acr.
If he has ever lov'd, or if he owns
An understanding equal to his beauty,
Whatever I shall rashly do through love,
I know he will have mercy, and forgive me.
Pal.
Poor soul, she's over head and ears in love!
Pyrg.
'Tis mutual in us.
Pal.
Hush,—she'll hear you else.
230
Why stand you stupified?—why don't you knock?
Acr.
Because he's not within here, whom I want.
Mil.
How do you know?
Acr.
I know it:—if he were,
My nose would scent him.
Pyrg.
She divines:—because
She loves me, Venus has bestow'd upon her
The gift of prophecy.
Acr.
I know not where
He is, whose sight I long for,—but I know,
He's not far off;—I smell him.
Pal.
Why she sees
More with her nose than eyes.
Pyrg.
She's blind with love.
Acr.
Prithee support me,—
Mil.
Why?
Acr.
—Or I shall fall.
Mil.
Why so?
Acr.
Because I cannot stand,—my spirits
Are sunk so through my eyes.
Mil.
What! have you seen
The captain?
Arc.
Yes.
Mil.
I see him not,—where is he?
Acr.
Verily you would see him, if you lov'd.
Mil.
Nay, by my troth you cannot love him more
Than I do,—with your leave.
Pal.
Well,—ev'ry woman,
Soon as she sees you, is in love with you.
Pyrg.
I know not, whether I have told you:—I
Am Venus' grand-son.
231
Prithee, Milphidippa,
Go and hold converse with him.
Pyrg.
How I awe her!
Pal.
She's coming t'wards us.
Mil.
(Advancing.)
I would speak with you.
Pyrg.
And we with you.
Mil.
I've brought my mistress here,
As you commanded me.
Pyrg.
I see her.
Mil.
Well then,
Bid her approach.
Pyrg.
I have prevail'd upon
My heart, at thy entreaty, not to loath her
Like others of her sex.
Mil.
She'd not be able
To speak a word, were she to come but near you.
E'en while she's looking at you, by her eyes
She's tongue-tied.
Pyrg.
Her disorder I must cure.
Mil.
See, how she trembles! how she's struck with fear,
Since she beheld you!
Pyrg.
Warriors do the same,
No wonder then a woman.—But what is it,
She'd have me do?
Mil.
Come home to her: with you
She longs to live, with you to pass her days.
232
What! I come home to her, when she is married?—
Her husband's to be dreaded.
Mil.
For your sake
She turn'd her husband out.
Pyrg.
How could she do it?
Mil.
Because the house is her's, seeing 'twas settled
Upon her for her dowry.
Pyrg.
Is it so?
Mil.
'Tis so, by heav'ns.
Pyrg.
Then tell her to go home:—
I'll come to her this instant.
Mil.
Do not keep her
In expectation; for 'twill vex her soul.
Pyrg.
In sooth I will not.—Go then.
Mil.
We are gone.
[Acroteleutium and Milphidippa go in.
Pyrg.
What do I see?
Pal.
What see you?
Pyrg.
Some one comes,
I know not who, drest in a sailor's habit.
Pal.
Perhaps he wants us.—Oh, it is the pilot.
Pyrg.
He comes forsooth to fetch our wench.
Pal.
I think so.
| The Braggard Captain | |