University of Virginia Library

Scene the Second.

Enter two Servants of Don Rodorick's, placing Chairs, and Talking as they place them.
1 Serv.
Make ready quickly there; Don Manuel
And his fair Sister, that must be our Lady,
Are coming in.

2.
They have been long expected;
'Tis Evening now, and the Canonique hours
For Marriage are past.

1.
The nearer Bed-time
The better still; my Lord will not deferr it:
He swears the Clergy are no fit Judges
Of our Necessities.

2.
Where is my Lord?

1.
Gone out to meet his Bride.

2.
I wonder that my Lady Angellina
Went not with him, She's to be Married too.

1.
I do not think she Fancies much the Man;
Only, to make the Reconcilement perfect
Betwixt the Families, she's Passive in it;
The choice being but her Brother's, not her Own.

2.
Troth, wer't my case, I car'd not who chose for me:

1.
Nor I; 'twould save the Process of a tedious Passion,
A long Law-suit of Love, which quite consumes
An honest Lover ere he gets of Possession:
I would come plump, and fresh, and all my Self,
Serv'd up to my Brides Bed like a fat Fowl,
Before the Frost of Love had nipt me through.
I look on Wives as on good dull Companions,
For elder Brothers to Sleep out their time with;
All we can hope for in the Marriage-bed,
Is but to take our Rest; and what care I
Who lays my Pillow for me.

Enter a Poet with Verses.
2.
Now, what's your business Friend?

Poet.
An Epithalamium, to the Noble Bridegrooms.

1.
Let me see; Whats here? as I live
[Takes it.
Nothing but down-right Bawdry: Sirrah, Rascal,
Is this an Age for Ribaldry in Verse?
When every Gentleman in Town, speaks it
With so much better grace, than thou canst write it:
I'le beat thee with a staff of thy own own Rhimes.

Poet.
Nay, Good Sir?

[Runs off, and Exit.
2.
Peace, They are here.

Enter Don Rodorick, Don Manuel, Julia, and Company.
1.
My Lord looks sullenly, and fain would hide it.

2.
Howe'r he weds Don Manuels Sister, yet
I fear he's hardly reconcil'd to him.

Jul.
I tremble at it still.

Rod.
I must confess
Your danger great: But, Madam, since 'tis past
To speak of it were to renew your Fears.
My noble Brother, welcome to my Breast.
Some call my Sister; say, Don Manuel
Her Bridegroom waits.

Man.
Tell her, in both the Houses
There now remains no Enemy but she.

Rod.
In the mean time lets Dance; Madam, I hope
You'l grace me with your Hand:—

Enter Leonora, Woman to Angellina; Takes the two Men aside.
Leon.
O Sir, my Lady Angellina!

Rod.
Why comes she not?

Leon.
Is fall'n extreamly Sick.

Both.
How!

Leon.
Nay, Trouble not your selves too much,
These Fits are usual with Her; and not Dangerous.

Rod.
O rarely Counterfeited.

[Aside.
Man.
May not I see her?

Leon.
She does by me, deny her Self that honour.
[As she Speaks steals a Note into his hand.
I shall return, I hope, with better News;
In the mean time she prays, you'l not disturb
The Company.
[Exit Leonora.

Rod.
This troubles me exceedingly.

Man.
A Note put privately into my hand
By Angellina's Woman? She's my Creature:
There's something in't; I'l read it to my Self.—

[Aside.
Rod.
Brother, what Paper's that?

Man.
Some begging Verses
Deliver'd me this Morning on my Wedding.

Rod.
Pray let me see 'um:

Man.
[Gives him another Paper.
[Manuel reads.

Sir,

Enter Leonora again.
Rod.
How now? how does your Lady?

Leon.
So ill, she cannot possibly wait on you.

Man.
Kind Heav'n give me her Sickness.

Rod.
Those are wishes:
What's to be done?

Man.
We must deferr our Marriages.

Rod.
Leonora, now!

[Aside to her.
Leon.
My Lady, Sir, has absolutely charg'd
Her Brother's should go forward.

Rod.
Absolutely!

Leon.
Expresly, Sir, because she says there are
So many honourable Persons here,
Whom to Defraud of their intended Mirth,
And of each others Company, were rude:
So hoping your Excuse.
[Exit Leonora.

Rod.
That privilege of Pow'r which Brothers have
In Spain, I never us'd: Therefore submit
My Will to hers, but with much sorrow, Sir;
My happiness should go before, not wait
On yours: Lead on.

Man.
Stay, Sir, though your fair Sister in respect
To this Assembly seems to be content
Your Marriage should proceed, we must not want
So much good Manners as to suffer it.

Rod.
So much good manners, Brother?

Man.
—I have said it.
Should we to show our Sorrow for her Sickness,
Provoke our easie Souls to careless Mirth,
As if our drunken Revels were design'd
For joy of what she Suffers?

Rod.
'Twill be over
In a few Days.

Man.
Your stay will be the less.

Rod.
All things are now in Readiness, and must not
Be put off, for a peevish Humour thus.

Man.
They must; or I shall think you mean not fairly:

Rod.
Explain your Self.

Man.
That you would Marry first,
And afterwards refuse me Angellina.

Rod.
—Think so.

Man.
You are

Rod.
Speak softly.

Man.
A foul Villain.

Rod.
Then—

Man.
Speak softly.

Rod.
I'l find a time to tell you, you are one.

Man.
'Tis well.
Ladies, you wonder at our private Whispers,
[To the company.
But more will wonder when you know the cause;
The Beauteous Angellina is fall'n Ill;
And since she cannot with her presence grace
This days Solemnity, the Noble Rodorick
Thinks fit it be Deferr'd, till she recover;
Then, we both hope to have your Companies.

Lad.
Wishing her Health, we take our Leaves.

[Exeunt company.
Rod.
Your Sister yet will Marry me.

Man.
She will not: come hither Julia:

Jul.
What strange afflicting News is this you tell us?

Man.
'Twas all this false Man's Plot, that when he had
Possest you, he might cheat me of his Sister?

Jul.
Is this true, Rodorick? Alas his silence
Does but too much confess it: How I blush
To own that Love I cannot yet take from thee!
Yet for my Sake be Friends.

Man.
'Tis now too late:
I am by honour hinder'd.

Rod.
I by hate.

Jul.
What shall I do?

Man.
Leave him, and come away;
Thy Virtue bids thee.

Jul.
But Love bids me stay.

Man.
Her Love's so like my Own, that I should blame
The Brothers passion in the Sisters flame.
Rodorick, we shall meet—He little thinks
I am as sure this Night of Angellina,
As he of Julia.
[Aside.
[Exit Manuel.

Rod.
Madam, To what an Extasie of Joy
Your Goodness raises me! This was an act
Of Kindness which no Service e'r can pay.

Jul.
Yes, Rodorick, 'tis in your Pow'r to quit
The Debt you owe me.

Rod.
Do but name the way.

Jul.
Then briefly thus, 'tis to be just to me
As I have been to you.

Rod.
You cannot doubt it.

Jul.
You know I have adventur'd for your sake
A Brothers anger, and the Worlds opinion:
I Value neither; for a setled Virtue
Makes it self Judge, and satisfy'd within,
Smiles at that common Enemy, the World.
I am no more affraid of flying Censures,
Than Heav'n of being Fir'd with mounting Sparkles.

Rod.
But wherein must my Gratitude consist?

Jul.
Answer your Self, by thinking what is fit
For me to do.

Rod.
By Marriage, to confirm
Our mutual Love.

Jul.
Ingratefull Rodorick!
Canst thou name Marriage, while thou entertain'st
A Hatred so unjust against my Brother?

Rod.
But, unkind Julia, you know the causes
Of Love and Hate are hid deep in our Stars,
And none but Heav'n can give account of both.

Jul.
Too well, I know it; for my Love to thee
Is Born by Inclination, not by Judgment;
And makes my Virtue shrink within my heart,
As loath to leave it, and as loath to mingle.

Rod.
What would you have me do?

Jul.
Since I must tell thee,
Lead me to some near Monastery; there,
(Till Heav'n find out some way to make us Happy)
I shall be kept in safety from my Brother:

Rod.
But more from me; What hopes can Rodorick have,
That she who leaves him freely, and unforc'd,
Should ever of her own accord return?

Jul.
Thou hast too great assurance of my Faith,
That in despight of my own Self I love thee;
Be friends with Manuel, I am thine, till when
My Honour's;—Lead me.

[Exeunt.