The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 111

_Lam._ I confess, I owe all my good Fortune to thee.

Enter _Page_.

_Page._ My Lord, my Lord _Wariston_, Lord _Hewson_, Colonel _Cobbet_, and Colonel _Duckenfield_ desire the Honour of waiting on you.

_L. Lam._ This has a Face of Greatness-- let 'em wait a while i'th'

Antichamber.

_Lam._ My Love, I would have 'em come in.

_L. Lam._ You wou'd have 'em! you wou'd have a Fool's Head of your own; pray let me be Judge of what their Duty is, and what your Glory: I say I'll have 'em wait.

_Page._ My Lord _Fleetwood_ too is just alighted, shall lie wait too, Madam?

_L. Lam._ He may approach: and d'ye hear-- put on your fawning Looks, flatter him, and profess much Friendship to him, you may betray him with the more facility.

_Whit._ Madam, you counsel well. [Ex. _Page_.

_Page_ re-enters with Lord _Fleetwood_.

_Lam._ My good Lord, your most submissive Servant.

_Whit._ My gracious Lord, I am your Creature-- your Slave--

_Fleet._ I profess ingeniously, I am much engag'd to you, my good Lords; I hope things are now in the Lard's handling, and will go on well for his Glory and my Interest, and that all my good People of _England_ will do things that become good Christians.

_Whit._ Doubt us not, my good Lord; the Government cannot be put into abler Hands than those of your Lordship; it has. .h.i.therto been in the hard Clutches of _Jews, Infidels_, and _Pagans_.

_Fleet._ Yea, verily, Abomination has been in the Hands of Iniquity.

_Lam._ But, my Lord, those Hands, by my good Conduct, are now cut off, and our Ambition is, your Lordship wou'd take the Government upon you.

_Fleet._ I profess, my Lord, by yea and nay, I am asham'd of this Goodness, in making me the Instrument of saving Grace to this Nation; 'tis the great Work of the Lard.

_L. Lam._ The Lard! Sir, I'll a.s.sure you the Lard has the least Hand in your good Fortune; I think you ought to ascribe it to the Cunning and Conduct of my Lord here, who so timely abandon'd the Interest of _Richard_.

_Fleet._ Ingeniously I must own, your good Lord can do much, and has done much; but 'tis our Method to ascribe all to the Powers above.

_L. Lam._ Then I must tell you, your Method's an ungrateful Method.

_Lam._ Peace, my Love.

_Whit._ Madam, this is the Cant we must delude the Rabble with.

_L. Lam._ Then let him use it there, my Lord, not amongst us, who so well understand one another.

_Lam._ Good Dear, be pacified-- and tell me, shall the Gentlemen without have Admittance?

_L. Lam._ They may. [_Page_ goes out.

Enter _Hewson_, _Desbro_, _Duckenfield_, _Wariston_, and _Cobbet_.

_War._ Guds Benizon light on yu, my gued Loords, for this Day's Work; Madam, I kiss your white Honds.

_Duc._ My Lord, I have not been behind-hand in this Day's turn of State.

_Lam._ 'Tis confess'd, Sir; what would you infer from that?

_Duc._ Why, I wou'd know how things go; who shall be General, who Protector?

_Hews._ My Friend has well translated his meaning.

_L. Lam._ Fy, how that filthy Cobler Lord betrays his Function.

_Duc._ We're in a Chaos, a Confusion, as we are.

_Hews._ Indeed the Commonwealth at present is out at Heels, and wants underlaying.

_Cob._ And the People expect something suddenly from us.

_Whit._ My Lords and Gentlemen, we must consider a while.

_War._ Bread a gued there's mickle Wisdom i'that, Sirs.

_Duc._ It ought to be consulted betimes, my Lord, 'tis a matter of Moment, and ought to be consulted by the whole Committee.

_Lam._ We design no other, my Lord, for which Reason at three a Clock we'll meet at _Wallingford_ House.

_Duc._ Nay, my Lord, do but settle the Affair, let's but know who's our Head, and 'tis no matter.

_Hews._ Ay, my Lord, no matter who; I hope 'twill be _Fleetwood_, for I have the length of his Foot already.

_Whit._ You are the leading Men, Gentlemen, your Voices will soon settle the Nation.

_Duc._ Well, my Lord, we'll not fail at three a Clock.

_Des._ This falls out well for me; for I've Business in _Smithfield_, where my Horses stand; and verily, now I think on't, the Rogue the Ostler has not given 'em Oates to day: Well, my Lords, farewel; if I come not time enough to _Wallingford_ House, keep me a Place in the Committee, and let my Voice stand for one, no matter who.

_War._ A gued Mon I's warrant, and takes muckle Pains for the Gued o'th'

Nation, and the Liberty o'th Mobily-- The Diel confound 'em aud.

_Lam._ Come, my Lord _Wariston_, you are a wise Man, what Government are you for.

_War._ Ene tol what ya please, my gued Loord. [Takes him aside.

_Lam._ What think you of a single Person here in my Lord _Fleetwood_?

_War._ Marry, Sir, and he's a brave Mon, but gen I may c.o.o.ncel, tak't for yar sel my gued Loord, ant be gued for him, 'tis ene gued for ya te.