The Gamester (1753) Part 6

_Enter STUKELY._

_Stu._ How fares it, Beverley? Honest Mr. Jarvis, well met; I hoped to find you here. That viper Williams! Was it not He that troubled you this morning?

_Jar._ My mistress heard him then? I am sorry that she heard him.

_Bev._ And Jarvis promised payment.

_Stu._ That must not be. Tell him I'll satisfy him.

_Jar._ Will you, Sir? Heaven will reward you for't.

_Bev._ Generous Stukely! Friendship like yours, had it ability like will, would more than ballance the wrongs of fortune.

_Stu._ You think too kindly of me. Make haste to Williams; his clamours may be rude else.

[_To Jarvis._

_Jar._ And my master will go home again. Alas! Sir, we know of hearts there breaking for his absence.

[_Exit._

_Bev._ Would I were dead!

_Stu._ Or turned hermit; counting a string of beads in a dark cave; or under a weeping willow, praying for mercy on the wicked. Ha! ha!

ha! Prithee be a man, and leave dying to disease and old age.

Fortune may be ours again; at least, we'll try for't.

_Bev._ No, it has fooled us on too far.

_Stu._ Ay, ruined us; and therefore we'll sit down contented. These are the despondings of men without money; but let the shining ore c.h.i.n.k in the pocket, and folly turns to wisdom. We are fortune's children. True, she's a fickle mother; but shall We droop because She's peevish? No; she has smiles in store. And these her frowns are meant to brighten them.

_Bev._ Is this a time for levity? But You are single in the ruin, and therefore may talk lightly of it. With Me 'tis complicated misery.

_Stu._ You censure me unjustly. I but a.s.sumed these spirits to chear my friend. Heaven knows he wants a comforter.

_Bev._ What new misfortune?

_Stu._ I would have brought you money; but lenders want securities.

What's to be done? All that was mine is yours already.

_Bev._ And there's the weight that sinks me. I have undone my friend too; one, who to save a drowning wretch, reached out his hand, and perished with him.

_Stu._ Have better thoughts.

_Bev._ Whence are they to proceed? I have nothing left.

_Stu. (Sighing) _Then we're indeed undone. What, nothing? No moveables? nor useless trinkets? Bawbles, locked up in caskets, to starve their owners? I have ventured deeply for you.

_Bev._ Therefore this heart-ake; for I am lost beyond all hope.

_Stu._ No : means may be found to save us. Jarvis is rich. Who made him so? This is no time for ceremony.

_Bev._ And is it for dishonesty? The good old man! Shall I rob Him too? My friend would grieve for't. No; let the little that he has, buy food and cloathing for him.

_Stu._ Good morning then.

[_Going._

_Bev._ So hasty! Why, then good morning.

_Stu._ And when we meet again, upbraid me. Say it was I that tempted you. Tell Lewson so; and tell him I have wronged you: he has suspicions of me, and will thank you.

_Bev_, No; we have been companions in a rash voyage, and the same storm has wrecked us both. Mine shall be self-upbraidings.

_Stu._ And will they feed us? You deal unkindly by me. I have sold and borrowed for you, while land or credit lasted; and now, when fortune should be tried, and my heart whispers me success, I am deserted; turned loose to beggary, while You have h.o.a.rds.

_Bev._ What h.o.a.rds? Name them, and take them.

_Stu._ Jewels.

_Bev._ And shall this thriftless hand seize Them too? My poor, poor wife! Must she lose all? I would not wound her so.

_Stu._ Nor I, but from necessity. One effort more, and fortune may grow kind. I have unusual hopes.

_Bev._ Think of some other means then.

_Stu._ I have; and you rejected them.

_Bev._ Prithee let me be a man.

_Stu._ Ay, and your friend a poor one. But I have done. And for these trinkets of a woman, why, let her keep them to deck out pride with, and shew a laughing world that she has finery to starve in.

_Bev._ No; she shall yield up all. My friend demands it. But need he have talked lightly of her? The jewels that She values are truth and innocence: those will adorn her ever; and for the rest, she wore them for a husband's pride, and to his wants will give them. Alas!

you know her not. Where shall we meet?

_Stu._ No matter. I have changed my mind. Leave me to a prison; 'tis the reward of friendship.

_Bev._ Perish mankind first! Leave you to a prison! No: fallen as you see me, I'm not that wretch. Nor would I change this heart, overcharged as 'tis with folly and misfortune, for one most prudent and most happy, if callous to a friend's distresses.

_Stu._ You are too warm.

_Bev._ In such a cause, not to be warm is to be frozen. Farewell.

I'll meet you at your lodgings.

_Stu._ Reflect a little. The jewels may be lost. Better not hazard them. I was too pressing.

_Bev._ And I ungrateful. Reflection takes up time. I have no leisure for't. Within an hour expect me.

[_Exit._

_Stu._ The thoughtless, shallow prodigal! We shall have sport at night then--But hold--the jewels are not ours yet. The lady may refuse them. The husband may relent too. 'Tis more than probable--I'll write a note to Beverley, and the contents shall spur him to demand them. But am I grown this rogue through avarice? No; I have warmer motives: love and revenge. Ruin the husband, and the wife's virtue may be bid for. 'Tis of uncertain value, and sinks, or rises in the purchase, as want, or wealth, or pa.s.sion governs. The poor part cheaply with it; rich dames, though pleased with selling, will have high prices for't; your love-sick girls give it for oaths and lying; but wives, who boast of honour and affections, keep it against a famine. Why, let the famine come then; I am in haste to purchase.