The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 24

[_Ang._ turns towards them.

--The Rogue's bred up to Mischief, Art thou so great a Fool to credit him?

_Ang._ Yes, I do; and you in vain impose upon me.

--Come hither, Boy-- Is not this he you speak of?

_h.e.l.l._ I think-- it is; I cannot swear, but I vow he has just such another lying Lover's look.

[_h.e.l.l._ looks in his Face, he gazes on her.

_Will._ Hah! do not I know that Face?-- By Heaven, my little Gipsy! what a dull Dog was I?

Had I but lookt that way, I'd known her.

Are all my hopes of a new Woman banisht? [Aside.

--Egad, if I don't fit thee for this, hang me.

--Madam, I have found out the Plot.

_h.e.l.l._ Oh Lord, what does he say? am I discover'd now?

_Will._ Do you see this young Spark here?

_h.e.l.l._ He'll tell her who I am.

_Will._ Who do you think this is?

_h.e.l.l._ Ay, ay, he does know me.-- Nay, dear Captain, I'm undone if you discover me.

_Will._ Nay, nay, no cogging; she shall know what a precious Mistress I have.

_h.e.l.l._ Will you be such a Devil?

_Will._ Nay, nay, I'll teach you to spoil sport you will not make.-- This small Amba.s.sador comes not from a Person of Quality, as you imagine, and he says; but from a very errant Gipsy, the talkingst, pratingst, cantingst little Animal thou ever saw'st.

_Ang._ What news you tell me! that's the thing I mean.

_h.e.l.l._ Wou'd I were well off the place.-- If ever I go a Captain-hunting again.-- [Aside.

_Will._ Mean that thing? that Gipsy thing? thou may'st as well be jealous of thy Monkey, or Parrot as her: a German Motion were worth a dozen of her, and a Dream were a better Enjoyment, a Creature of Const.i.tution fitter for Heaven than Man.

_h.e.l.l._ Tho I'm sure he lyes, yet this vexes me. [Aside.

_Ang._ You are mistaken, she's a Spanish Woman Made up of no such dull Materials.

_Will._ Materials! Egad, and she be made of any that will either dispense, or admit of Love, I'll be bound to continence.

_h.e.l.l._ Unreasonable Man, do you think so? [Aside to him.

_Will._ You may Return, my little Brazen Head, and tell your Lady, that till she be handsom enough to be belov'd, or I dull enough to be religious, there will be small hopes of me.

_Ang._ Did you not promise then to marry her?

_Will._ Not I, by Heaven.

_Ang._ You cannot undeceive my fears and torments, till you have vow'd you will not marry her.

_h.e.l.l._ If he swears that, he'll be reveng'd on me indeed for all my Rogueries.

_Ang._ I know what Arguments you'll bring against me, Fortune and Honour.

_Will._ Honour! I tell you, I hate it in your s.e.x; and those that fancy themselves possest of that Foppery, are the most impertinently troublesom of all Woman-kind, and will transgress nine Commandments to keep one: and to satisfy your Jealousy I swear--

_h.e.l.l._ Oh, no swearing, dear Captain-- [Aside to him.

_Will._ If it were possible I should ever be inclin'd to marry, it should be some kind young Sinner, one that has Generosity enough to give a favour handsomely to one that can ask it discreetly, one that has Wit enough to manage an Intrigue of Love-- oh, how civil such a Wench is, to a Man than does her the Honour to marry her.

_Ang._ By Heaven, there's no Faith in any thing he says.

Enter _Sebastian_.

_Sebast._ Madam, _Don Antonio_--

_Ang._ Come hither.

_h.e.l.l._ Ha, _Antonio_! he may be coming hither, and he'll certainly discover me, I'll therefore retire without a Ceremony.

[Exit _h.e.l.lena_.

_Ang._ I'll see him, get my Coach ready.

_Sebast._ It waits you, Madam.

_Will._ This is lucky: what, Madam, now I may be gone and leave you to the enjoyment of my Rival?

_Ang._ Dull Man, that canst not see how ill, how poor That false dissimulation looks-- Be gone, And never let me see thy cozening Face again, Lest I relapse and kill thee.

_Will._ Yes, you can spare me now,-- farewell till you are in a better Humour-- I'm glad of this release-- Now for my Gipsy: For tho to worse we change, yet still we find New Joys, New Charms, in a new Miss that's kind. [Ex. _Will._

_Ang._ He's gone, and in this Ague of My Soul The shivering Fit returns; Oh with what willing haste he took his leave, As if the long'd for Minute were arriv'd, Of some blest a.s.signation.

In vain I have consulted all my Charms, In vain this Beauty priz'd, in vain believ'd My eyes cou'd kindle any lasting Fires.

I had forgot my Name, my Infamy, And the Reproach that Honour lays on those That dare pretend a sober pa.s.sion here.

Nice Reputation, tho it leave behind More Virtues than inhabit where that dwells, Yet that once gone, those virtues shine no more.

--Then since I am not fit to belov'd, I am resolv'd to think on a Revenge On him that sooth'd me thus to my undoing. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. _A Street._

Enter _Florinda_ and _Valeria_ in Habits different from what they have been seen in.

_Flor._ We're happily escap'd, yet I tremble still.

_Val._ A Lover and fear! why, I am but half a one, and yet I have Courage for any Attempt. Would _h.e.l.lena_ were here. I wou'd fain have had her as deep in this Mischief as we, she'll fare but ill else I doubt.

_Flor._ She pretended a Visit to the Augustine Nuns, but I believe some other design carried her out, pray Heavens we light on her.