University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—A room in Alsatia. One window high above the floor, and grated. The whole miserable and squalid.
Edward and an Old Woman.
EDWARD.
'Tis well—'tis well—go leave me.

OLD WOMAN.
Therefore, sir,
If you would have ought more—

EDWARD.
I prythee go.
There is a noise—'tis they—away, old crone.
[Exit Old Woman.
Sin must be sweet to make me bear with such
As I've encounter'd here.—Yet, in my state,
This is a golden fortune. Say I wed her—
And that, methinks, is my best policy—
My wealth shall laugh at the poor envious fools
Who sneer at such alliance. Wife or mistress,
She shall be mine—and let her wisdom choose.
They're here!

Enter Bloodmore, Mouseheart, and Rivers, with Mariana. Edward for a moment retires.
MARIANA.
Oh! are ye men? and have ye never known
One tender tie of love to woman? Sons,
Brothers, or lovers? Sure there is some touch
Of pity in your hearts.

BLOODMORE.
We have forgotten
Such matters where they interfere with business.

MARIANA.
Can man look on a woman's tears with scorn?
A helpless, unoffending, innocent woman?
Would you have wealth? There's one shall buy your souls
Yet from this deep perdition—give you gold
Enough to make your lives joyfully honest
Even to long old age. What would you of me?

BLOODMORE.
We're paid, and we must do our duty, lady.
Honest, forsooth! We should be precious rogues
To take the money and then sell the service.
Who do you think would trust us?

MARIANA.
Woe is me!
What can I say—what offer—or how plead?
What would you with me?
(Edward comes forward.)
Oh! sir, are you here?
I read your black designs. I do conjure you,
If you have but one human feeling left,
If ye'd not have your mothers' spirits curse you,
At the least kill me in mine honesty.
There is a fate is worse than death to woman,
And I implore you, by your parents' graves,
Release me but from that.

EDWARD.
Stay, Mariana—
And fear me not: the means are rough indeed
I've used to woo you; yet, if you are wise,
You have no cause for fear.

MARIANA.
What wisdom, sir,
Is it that you would teach me?

EDWARD.
Friends, your leave.
I love you, Mariana, and would wed you.

MARIANA.
Love me!

EDWARD.
You know not your own charms to doubt it.

MARIANA.
A courtly flattery for such a place!
Love me!—alas, sir, know you what love is?
Love perils life—and glories in the martyrdom—
To spare one blush on the beloved's cheek,
To calm one throb of anguish in her heart.
And say you that you love me?—fie, sir, fie!

EDWARD.
We will not cavil now on words. I'd wed you:
If you consent 'tis well; if not, fine mistress,
You may live to wish you had not sold yourself
Upon worse terms: the bargain's in my hands,
And, one way or the other, you yourself
Shall be the ransom—

MARIANA.
Is't my uncle's wealth
That tempts you?—he will gladly lay it down,
All—to the uttermost farthing, but to save me;
We'll both be poor and bless you. Do not mock me,
To say you love me—it is needless. Speak!
And by my soul, all you can ask of him
Shall be most freely granted, and yourself
Pardon'd and free from blame.

EDWARD.
I were most wise
To trust your word in that; but once my wife,
And I am safe—

MARIANA.
Your wife!

EDWARD.
Ay, or my minion;
You see I am no trifler. Is't a match?

MARIANA.
I am in your power; yet heaven looks not idly
Upon the world; in that name I defy you.
I am a woman, strengthless and unarmed,
Encircled by remorseless fiends, as savage
As the untutor'd cannibal, who owns
No language that speaks pity!—but I kneel,
And firmly place my trust there, in my agony.

EDWARD.
Fool! you have chosen— (noise without.)


MARIANA.
Hark! a breath can scare you.
Look! on each face sit guilt and pallid fear!
Open yon door, and let me pass: I'll save you!

Flaw enters drunk, in the habit of a physician.
EDWARD.
What foolery is this?

FLAW.

Foolery! I'm a fool-catcher now—a physician; a knave
—no fool; i'faith, you may stare indeed, for I'm somewhat
metamorphosed in person and understanding—as it were,
doubly disguised—in dress and in liquor! But what! we
be lads of spirit!

BLOODMORE.
How now, Master Flaw! Shame on such doings!

MARIANA.
Flaw—ha!—good Master Flaw—oh save me, help me!
Have you no company?

FLAW.
What, Mariana!
Have I been helping them to carry off
My own intended wife! I'm not quite sober,
Or else a precious ass—or perhaps both—
But—

BLOODMORE.
Come, begone; I blush this worthy gentleman
Should see such manners. What must he think of us?

FLAW.
I'll not begone—

BLOODMORE.
Not.

FLAW.
Pish—that for your sword;
I've got one somewhere—here it is at last,
She is my love, and by true cutter's law,
And civil law—and martial law, if need be,
I will defend her.

MARIANA.
Have you no friends, sir?

FLAW.
Friends—never fear—get you behind yon basket,
And then have at you fellows.

MARIANA.
Oh, for pity,
Harm him not.

(They overpower Flaw.)
FLAW.
I'm not hurt.

BLOODMORE.
Give me yon cord
And bind him tight.

FLAW.
You'll cut my arms in two.

BLOODMORE.
I'll cut your throat directly.—Now, sirs, speak,
I think 'twere best for our security
We should despatch this drunken fool at once.

EDWARD.
Hold! hold! no murder.

FLAW.
Let 'em murder me,
I shall see the day they'll pay for it.

EDWARD.
Silence, fool—
Bind him and keep him fast—no more—I charge you,
Harm him no further.

BLOODMORE.
Oh! I bear no malice;
But a keen blade just drawn across the throat
Is such a stop to awkward evidence,
It cheats the law so neatly—and he merits it
For making this unseemly brawl.

EDWARD.
No matter.

BLOODMORE.
Then tie his legs and throw him in the basket;
When the lad's sober he's a civil spoken
And proper youth—and like some day to prove
An honour to the gallows—'tis a pity
A hopeful boy should run out of the course thus.

FLAW
(As they tie him and put him in the basket.)
You rascals—give me my sweet love—I die
A hero and a lover. Cut my throat!
When? scoundrels—when? it was'nt made for cutting.
I fall in virtue's cause—and perish nobly.

BLOODMORE.
There you may sleep—

FLAW.
Good night to all the world:
Mariana—oh, my stomach!—oh, my love!

EDWARD.
So much for your chivalrous rescuer—
Bethink you better of your fortunes, lady.
For a short time I'll leave you under guard:
When I return I hope to find you wiser.
You, good sir—come with me—I have some business
In which you yet may aid me. Dare we leave
Her in this custody.

BLOODMORE.
Ay: fear not that, sir,
We'll lock the outer door,

EDWARD.
Lady! be wise.

[Exit Edward and Bloodmore.
MARIANA.
All hope of rescue lost. Hath heaven no pity?
Will you not help me—speak?

MOUSEHEART.
I dare not, lady.

MARIANA.
And you, you will not look upon me?

RIVERS.
Silence!
I know my duty, and I must perform it.