The Stolen Heiress Part 2

_Pal._ For me there's none, whilst thou'rt safe, and with Me thy Loss alone can make _Palante_ die.

_Enter_ Laura.

_Laura._ Madam, your Father----

_Luc._ Away _Palante_, may all the Pow'rs preserve thee.

_Pal._ And thou the best of Woman-kind.

[_Exeunt severally._

Luc. _O Love, thou that hast join'd a faithful Pair,_ _Guard my_ Palante, _make him all thy Care_.

_Fate's utmost Rigor we resolve to try,_ _Live both together, or together die._

_Enter Count_ Gravello, Larich, _and_ Lavinia.

_Grav._ Brother, you are welcome to the House of Sorrow; but I have learnt so much Philosophy, to cease to mourn when the Cause is past Redress. Once more, forgetting Grief, you are welcome, you, and my fair Niece.

_Lar._ Thank you Brother--the Girl's a foolish Girl--Marriageable, but foolish--You understand me.

_Lavin._ I thank you, Sir.

_Larich._ Why, are you not a Fool, Hussy--look'e Brother, I have provided the Mynx a rich Husband, a Scholar too, Body of me bred all his youth at _Salamanca_, learn'd enough to commence Doctor--I love a learn'd Man, especially when Riches too concur; he's the Son and Heir of my old Friend _Don Sancho_, of _Syracuse_--and the Baggage cries _I hate him_, and yet has never seen him; but she is in Love, forsooth, with a young beggarly Dog, not worth a Groat; but I'll prevent her, I'll warrant her.

_Grav._ Just, just my Case, we are Brothers in every Thing, my Daughter too thinks her Judgment wisest, and flies a Fortune for a Princess, but her Reign's at an End, to-morrow I'm rid of her; I warrant you, Brother, we'll hamper the young s.l.u.ts.

_Lavin._ You may be both mistaken, old Gentlemen, if my Cousin is of my Mind.

_Larich._ What's that you mutter, Mrs. _Littlewit_?

_Lavin._ I say, I long to see my Cousin _Lucasia_, Sir, I hope that's no Crime.

_Grav._ No, no, _Rosco_, wait of her in to my Daughter, and dost hear _Lavinia_? Pr'ythee, let Obedience be thy Study, and teach it her.

_Lavin._ I'll warrant you, Sir, I'll teach her to be Obedient, if she'll but follow my Advice, [_Aside._] but 'tis something hard, though Uncle, to marry a Man at first Sight one's heard but an indifferent Character of.

_Larich._ How, Hussy, are you a Judge of Characters? Is he not a Scholar? Answer me that.

_Lavin._ A meer Scholar is a meer----You know the old Proverb, Father.

_Larich._ Do you hear the perverse Baggage; get you out of my Sight, Hussy.

_Lavin._ I am obedient, Sir--I dare swear I shall find better Company than two old arbitrary Dons. [_Exit with_ Rosco.

_Larich._ Did you ever see such a s.l.u.t? body o'me these wild Wenches are enough to make old Men mad.

_Grav._ My Daughter is of another Strain, solid as Man but obstinate as Woman; but no Matter, when she is married my Care is over, let Count _Pirro_ look to't.

_Larich._ Count _Pirro_! body o'me a mighty Fortune for my Cousin; why, he's rich enough to buy a Princ.i.p.ality; my Son's rich too, and a great Scholar, which I admire above all Things.

_Enter_ Rosco.

_Rosco._ Oh! Sir, such News, such a Sight, Sir!

_Larich._ What's the Matter?

_Rosco._ Don _Sancho_ come to Town in his _Salamanca_ Habit, his Dress, and grave Phiz has alarm'd the Mob, that there's such a crowd about the Inn Door, I'll maintain't his Landlord gives him free Quarter for a Twelve-month, if he'll let him expose him to Advantage, ha, ha, ha, he makes as odd a Figure, Sir, as the famous _Don Quixot_, when he went in Search of his _Dulcinea_.

_Larich._ Brother, pray correct your Servant, I like not his ridiculous Jests upon the Habit of the Learned, my Son-in-Law that is to be, minds nothing but his Books.

_Rosco._ Sir, I ask your Pardon, my n.i.g.g.ard Stars have not allow'd Line enough to my Judgment, to fathom the Profundity of your Son's Shallow Capacity-- [_Bowing comically._

_Grav._ Peace, Sirrah--Come, Brother, now your Son's arriv'd, I hope we shall have a double Match to-morrow----We'll not consult the Women, but force them to their Happiness.

_Experienc'd Age knows what for Youth is fit;_ _With Wise Men, Wealth out-weighs both Parts and Wit._ [Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I. Lucasia's _Chamber_.

_Enter_ Lucasia _and_ Lavinia.

_Lavin._ Upon my Life, Cousin, I think my Condition worse than yours, and yet you see I am not so much dejected.

_Luc._ Oh! What Condition is't can equal mine?

Much less exceed it; to be oblig'd to Break my Vow, to part from my _Palante_; Forc'd to the Arms of a mishapen Monster, Whom Nature made to vex the whole Creation.

Nor is his crooked Body more deform'd Than is his Soul, Ambition is his G.o.d; He seeks no Heav'n but Interest; nor knows he How to value ought but Gold.

Oh! my dearest Brother, had'st thou but liv'd I had been truly happy, but now am Doubly miserable, in losing thee and my _Palante_.

_Lavin._ For Heaven's Sake don't afflict yourself at this Rate, but study rather to avoid the Ill, if you would counter-plot my Uncle; dry up your Eyes, and let the Woman work, I warrant you may contrive some Way to get rid of this Lump of Worms-meat; I don't fear giving my Father the drop, for all his Care, yet tho' he made me ride post to Town, to meet the Fool he has pick'd out for me; it shall cost me a Fall, if I don't marry the Man I have a Mind to; I shall see who's the best Politician, my Dad, or I.

_Luc._ Thy Courage gives fresh Life and Liberty, To poor _Lucasia_'s tired restless Soul, Such Pow'r have chearful Friends t'ease our Sorrows.

Oh! my _Lavinia_, may thy Counsel prove Prophetic, I'm going now, in this Disguise, to meet my Dear _Palante_; may no malignant Star Interpose to cross our mutual Wishes.

May thy Designs successful prove, To fix thee ever in _Francisco_'s Arms.

_Lavin._ And make _Palante_ yours.

SCENE the Street.

Sancho _and_ Francisco _meeting_.

_Fran._ Don _Sancho_ your Servant; who thought of seeing you at _Palermo_, I thought you had been at the University of _Salamanca_?

_Sancho._ I came lately from thence.