The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 67

[Wild. _turns, sees_ Clacket.

_Wild_. Death and the Devil, Clacket! then 'tis _Charlot_, and I'm discover'd to her.

_Char_. Say, are you not a false dissembling thing?

[_To_ Wild. _in anger_.

_Wild_. What, my little Northern La.s.s translated into English!

This 'tis to practise Art in spite of Nature.

Alas, thy Vertue, Youth, and Innocence, Were never made for Cunning, I found ye out through all your forc'd disguise.

_Char_. Hah, did you know me then?

_Wild_. At the first glance, and found you knew me too, And talkt to yonder Lady in revenge, Whom my Uncle would have me marry. But to avoid all Discourses of that nature, I came to Night in this Disguise you see, to be conceal'd from her; that's all.

_Char_. And is that all, on Honour? Is it, Dear?

_Wild_. What, no Belief, no Faith in villanous Women?

_Char_. Yes, when I see the Writings.

_Wild_. Go home, I die if you shou'd be discover'd: And credit me, I'll bring you all you ask.

Clacket, you and I must have an old Reckoning about this Night's Jant of yours. [Aside to Clacket.

Sir _Tim_. Well, my Lord, how do you like our English Beauties?

_Wild_. Extremely, Sir; and was pressing this young Lady to give us a Song.

[_Here is an Italian Song in two Parts_.

Sir _Tim_. I never saw this Lady before: pray who may she be, Neighbour?

[_To_ Clacket.

Mrs. _Clack_. A Niece of mine, newly come out of Scotland, Sir.

Sir _Tim_. Nay, then she dances by nature. Gentlemen and Ladies, please you to sit, here's a young Neighbour of mine will honour us with a Dance.

[_They all sit_; Charl. _and_ Fop. _dance_.

So, so; very well, very well. Gentlemen and Ladies, I am for Liberty of Conscience, and Moderation. There's a Banquet waits the Ladies, and my Cellars are open to the Men; but for my self, I must retire; first waiting on your Lordship to shew you your Apartment, then leave you to _cher entire_: and to morrow, my Lord, you and I will settle the Nation, and will resolve on what return we will make to the n.o.ble Polanders.

[_Exeunt all but_ Wild. Dres. _and_ Fop. _Sir_ Charles _leading out Lady_ Galliard.

Sir _Anth_. Well said, _Charles_, thou leav'st her not till she's thy own, Boy--And Philander was a jolly Swain, &c.

[_Exit singing_.

_Wild_. All things succeed above my Wish, dear _Frank_, Fortune is kind; and more, _Galliard_ is so; This night crowns all my Wishes.

Laboir, are all things ready for our purpose? [_To his Footman_.

_Lab_. Dark Lanthorns, Pistols, Habits and Vizards, Sir.

_Fop_. I have provided Portmantles to carry off the Treasure.

_Dres_. I perceive you are resolv'd to make a thorow-st.i.tcht Robbery on't.

_Fop_. Faith, if it lie in our way, Sir, we had as good venture a Caper under the Triple-Tree for one as well as t'other.

_Wild_. We must consider on't. 'Tis now just struck eleven; within this Hour is the dear a.s.signation with _Galliard_.

_Dres_. What, whether our Affairs be finish'd or not?

_Wild_. 'Tis but at next Door; I shall return time enough for that trivial Business.

_Dres_. A trivial Business of some six thousand pound a year?

_Wild_. Trivial to a Woman, _Frank_: no more; do you make as if you went to bed.--Laboir, do you feign to be drunk, and lie on the Hall-table: and when I give the sign, let me softly in.

_Dres_. Death, Sir, will you venture at such a time?

_Wild_. My Life and future Hope--I am resolv'd.

Let Politicians plot, let Rogues go on In the old beaten Path of Forty one; Let City Knaves delight in Mutiny, The Rabble bow to old Presbytery; Let petty States be to confusion hurl'd, Give me but Woman, I'll despise the World.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _A Dressing-Room_.

_Lady_ Galliard _is discover'd in an undress at her Table, Gla.s.s and Toilette_, Closet _attending: As soon as the Scene draws off she rises from the Table as disturbed and out of Humour_.

L. _Gal_. Come, leave your everlasting Chamber-maid's Chat, your dull Road of Slandering by rote, and lay that Paint aside. Thou art fuller of false News, than an unlicens'd Mercury.

_Clos_. I have good Proof, Madam, of what I say.

L. _Gal_. Proof of a thing impossible!--Away.

_Clos_. Is it a thing so impossible, Madam, that a Man of Mr. _Wilding's_ Parts and Person should get a City-Heiress? Such a bonne Mien, and such a pleasant Wit!

L. _Gal_. Hold thy fluent Tattle, thou hast Tongue Enough to talk an Oyster-Woman deaf: I say it cannot be.

--What means the panting of my troubled Heart!

Oh, my presaging Fears! shou'd what she says prove true, How wretched and how lost a thing am I! [_Aside_.

_Clos_. Your Honour may say your Pleasure; but I hope I have not liv'd to these Years to be impertinent--No, Madam, I am none of those that run up and down the Town a Story-hunting, and a Lye-catching, and--

L. _Gal_. Eternal Rattle, peace-- Mrs. _Charlot Gett-all_ go away with _Wilding_!

A Man of _Wilding's_ extravagant Life Get a Fortune in the City!

Thou mightst as well have told me, a Holder-forth were married to a Nun: There are not two such Contraries in Nature, 'Tis flam, 'tis foolery, 'tis most impossible.

_Clos_. I beg your Ladyship's Pardon, if my Discourse offend you; but all the World knows Mrs. Clacket to be a person--