The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 126

_Felt._ Have a care what you say, Sir; but as to the City's being in Mutiny, that makes well for us: we shall fall to our old Trade of plundering; something will fall to the Righteous, and there is Plunder enough.

_Cor._ You plunder, Sirrah! knock him down, and carry him into the Guard-room, and secure him.

[Two Soldiers seize him.

_1 Sold._ They say the Committee of Safety sate all Night at General _Lambert's_, about some great Affair-- some rare Change, Rogues.

_2 Sold._ Yes, and to put off Sorrow, they say, were all right reverendly drunk too.

_Cor._ I suppose there is some heavenly matter in hand; there was Treason cried out at the General's last night, and the Committee of no Safety all ran away.

_1 Sold._ Or rather reel'd away.

_Cor._ The Ladies squeak'd, the Lords fled, and all the House was up in Arms.

_Felt._ Yea, and with Reason they say; for the Pope in disguise was found under the Lady's Bed, and two huge Jesuits as big as the tall _Irish-man_, with Blunderbusses; having, as 'tis said, a Design to steal the Crown, now in Custody of the General--

_2 Sold._ Good lack, is't possible?

_Joyn._ Nay, Sir, 'tis true, and is't not time we look'd about us?

_Cor._ A Pox upon ye all for lying Knaves-- secure 'em both on the Guard till farther Order-- and let us into th' City, Boys: hay for _Lombard-Street_.

_2 Sold._ Ay, hay for _Lombard-Street_; there's a Shop I have mark'd out for my own already.

_1 Sold._ There's a handsom Citizen's Wife, that I have an Eye upon, her Husband's a rich Banker, I'll take t'one with t'other.

_Joyn._ You are mistaken, Sir, that Plunder is reserv'd for us, if they begin to mutiny; that wicked City that is so weary of a Commonwealth.

_2 Sold._ Yes, they're afraid of the Monster they themselves have made.

Enter _Lov._ and _Free._ in disguise.

_Cor._ Hah, my n.o.ble Colonel! what, in disguise!

_Free._ We have made our Escapes-- and hope to see better times shortly, the n.o.ble _Scotch_ General is come, Boys.

Enter _Captain_ of the Prentices, and a great Gang with him, arm'd with Swords, Staffs, &c.

_Capt._ Come, my Lads, since you have made me Captain, I'll lead you bravely on; I'll die in the Cause, or bring you off with Victory.

_1 Pren._ Here's a Club shall do some Execution: I'll beat out _Hewson's_ t'other Eye; I scorn to take him on the blind side.

_Capt._ In the first Place, we must all sign a Pet.i.tion to my Lord Mayor.--

_2 Pren._ Pet.i.tions! we'll have no Pet.i.tion, Captain; we are for Club-Law, Captain.

_Capt._ Obey, or I leave you.

_All._ Obey, Obey.

_Capt._ Look ye, we'll pet.i.tion for an honest Free Parliament I say.

_1 Pren._ No Parliament, no Parliament, we have had too much of that Mischief already, Captain.

_All._ No Parliament, no Parliament.

_Capt._ Farewel, Gentlemen, I thought I might have been heard.

_Free._ Death, Sirs, you shall hear the Captain out.

_All._ We obey, we obey.

_Capt._ I say an honest Free Parliament, not one pick'd and chosen by Faction; but such an one as shall do our Bus'ness, Lads, and bring in the _Great Heroick_.

_All._ Ay, ay, the Great Heroick, the Great Heroick.

_Lov._ A fine Youth, and shou'd be encourag'd.

_Capt._ Good-- in the next Place, the n.o.ble _Scotch_ General is come, and we'll side with him.

_Free._ Ay, ay, all side with him.

_1 Pren._ Your Reason, Captain, for we have acted too much without Reason already.

_2 Pren._ Are we sure of him, Captain?

_Capt._ Oh, he'll doubtless declare for the King, Boys.

_All._ Hay, _Viva le Roy, viva le Monk!_

_Capt._ Next, I hear there's a Proclamation coming out to dissolve the Committee of no Safety.

_All._ Good, good.

_Capt._ And I hope you are all brave enough to stand to your Loyal Principles with your Lives and Fortunes.

_All._ We'll die for the Royal Interest.

_Capt._ In the next Place, there's another Proclamation come out.

_2 Pren._ This Captain is a Man of rare Intelligence; but for what, Captain?

_Capt._ Why-- to-- hang us all, if we do not immediately depart to our respective Vocations: How like you that, my Lads?

_2 Pren._ Hum-- hang'd! I'll e'en home again.

_1 Pren._ And I too, I do not like this hanging.