The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 27

_Bel_. Be not so hasty in your Goodness, Sir, Lest you repent as fast.

_Dia_. Sir, we have an humble Suit to you.

_Lord_. What is it ye can jointly ask, I will not grant?

_Dia_. By all that Love you ever had for me, By all those Infant Charms which us'd to please you, When on your Lap you taught my Tongue that Art Which made those dear Impressions on your Heart, Which ever since to my Advantage grew, I do conjure you hear me now I sue, And grant the mighty Grace I beg of you.

_Lord_. What is it you wou'd ask?

_Bel_. Oh, dress your Face and Eyes in gentler Looks, If you wou'd have us hope for any Mercy.

_Lord_. Rise, and whate'er you ask, I'll freely grant.

_Dia_. That you'll undo that Knot, that ties us two.

_Lord_. How! this Request from thee! who lov'd him once, And wish'd no good beyond possessing him.

_Dia_. Heav'n has not, Sir, decreed us for each other: Something of Fate or Chance Has otherwise dispos'd those first Resolves.

_Lord_. Too virtuous Maid, I know thou dost but feign, His Wickedness has forc'd thee to this change.

_Dia_. No, Sir, were he the only Man Of kind and good, I never wou'd be his.

--And if you shou'd compel me, I shou'd live The infamous Reproach of my whole s.e.x.

_Lord_. Well, and you, Sir, that are the cause of this, What canst thou say to move me for thy Pardon?

_Bel_. I am so guilty in your Opinion, My Prayers wou'd but make you merciless; I only say _Celinda_ is my Wife, And I shou'd injure this too generous Maid, Not to adore her equal to her Merit.

_Lord_. I see, Sir, you have found your Wits again.

--Well, I see there's no opposing Destiny; And I have still such tenderness for thee, [_To_ Dia.

That hadst thou pleaded his Cause to me before, I shou'd have been less cruel to him.

--Where is that Lady which you so admire, Whose Beauty does eclipse that of _Diana_?

[Bellmour _goes out, and brings in_ Celinda.

_Dia_. This, Sir, is she who merits more than I.

_Lord_. She's fair indeed; here, _Frank_, I give thee thy _Celinda_, whose Beauty Excuses all thy Faults of Disobedience.

_Bel_. Thus low, I thank you for this Goodness, Sir. [_Kneels_.

_Lord_. There only wants the Ceremony of the Law to undo what's between you and _Diana_, if she remain a Virgin.

_Bel_. For me, by Heav'n she is; And for the rest, I do not doubt her Virtue.

_Dia_. You may believe him, Sir; and this alone's the Man, in whom I will, or never will be happy.

_Lord_. Mr. _Friendlove_! I give Consent to't, he has a n.o.ble Character; and what he wants in Fortune, has in Virtue--take her, young Man.

_Friend_. 'Tis such an Honour, Sir, that my Grat.i.tude, without the mighty Pa.s.sion I have for her, would make me ever thankful.

_Lord_. This Term, we shall make the former Marriage void; till then love on, and fear no Frowns from Fortune--but Nephew--now I hope your Brother shall have his Portion.

_Bel_. My dearest _Charles_, forgive me all that's past, And share the Fortune Heaven has given thy Brother.

_Char_. The Joy I have, Sir, to be undeceived, Is much the greatest Blessing Heav'n can send me.

_Enter Sir_ Timothy, _follow'd by_ Phillis, Sham, Sharp, _and_ Betty Flaunt.i.t.

Sir _Tim_. I am pursu'd by two impertinent Women; prithee, _Friendlove_, tell 'em I am gone out at the Backdoor, and send 'em away.

_Lord_. What's the News here?

Sir _Tim_. How, _Celinda_ here, and _Bellmour_ too! Nay, now wou'd I compound for my Life, at any rate, by Fortune.

_Phil_. Sir, this Villain here has abus'd me, and with a false Marriage has rob'd me of my Honour.

_Bel_. How!

Sir _Tim_. My Lord, I say this young Jilt would have rob'd me of my self; and courting her, and enjoying her only for a Miss, would persuade me I am married to her.

_Flaunt_. Sir, I say, I am doubly wrong'd; first by this false Knight, who has belong'd to me this three Years, which gives me a right to him, as good as if I were married to him; who has now unlawfully left my Bed, for that of this Gilflurt, who, on the other side, takes away my Knight, and consequently eats the Bread out of my Mouth.

_Bel_. What means all this?

Speak some of ye that know.

_Flaunt_. Oh Lord! Who's here? The fine Squire? [_Aside_.

_Trust_. Sir _Timothy Tawdry_, Sir, is married to Mrs. _Phillis_.

Sir _Tim_. How can that be a Marriage, when he who join'd us, was but a hired Fellow, dress'd like a Parson?

_Trust_. Sir, 'twas Parson _Tickletext_ that marry'd 'em.

Sir _Tim_. Oh, what a d.a.m.n'd lying Pimp is this!--_Sham_, didst thou not hire a Fellow, (because I was d.a.m.nably in Love, and in haste) to marry us, that was no Parson?

_Sham_. Why, truly, Sir--I did go to hire such a one--

Sir _Tim_. Look ye there now.

_Sham_. But you'd meet with none; and because you said you shou'd die if you enjoy'd her not presently, and that she would not yield on any other Terms, but those of Marriage, I e'en brought the Parson that _Trusty_ had provided for you.

Sir _Tim_. Oh Villain, to betray me! and for no Reward!

_Trust_. Yes, indeed, Sir, the four hundred Guineas you left behind my young Mistress's Looking-gla.s.s fell to his share.

Sir _Tim_. What's my Money gone! and I am marry'd too! This 'tis not to use to go to Church; for then I might have chanc'd to know the Parson.