The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 29

_Sebastian_, Father to _Antonio_, Mr. _Freeman_.

_Guzman_, Gentlemen to _Carlos_, Mr. _Underhill_.

_Guiliom_, a Chimney-Sweeper; the False Count, Mr. _Lee_.

Two overgrown Pages to the False Count, A little Page to the False Count.

_Petro_, Cashier to _Antonio_.

Page to Don _Carlos_.

Captain of a Gally.

Two Seamen.

_Lopez_, Servant to _Baltazer_.

Several disguis'd like _Turks_.

WOMEN.

_Julia_, Wife to _Francisco_, young and handsom, in love with _Carlos_, Mrs. _Davis_.

_Clara_, Sister to _Julia_, in love with _Antonio_, Mrs. _Petty_.

_Isabella_, Daughter to _Francisco_; proud, vain and foolish, despising all Men under the degree of Quality, and falls in love with _Guiliom_, Mrs. _Corror_.

_Jacinta_, Woman to _Julia_, Mrs. _Osborne_.

Wife to _Petro_.

Dancers, Singers, &c.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _The Street_.

_Enter_ Carlos, Antonio _and_ Guzman.

_Car_. By all that's good, I'm mad, stark raving mad, To have a Woman young, rich, beautiful, Just on the point of yielding to my Love, s.n.a.t.c.ht from my Arms by such a Beast as this; An old ridiculous Buffoon, past Pleasure, Past Love, or any thing that tends that way; Ill-favour'd, ill-bred, and ill-qualify'd, With more Diseases than a Horse past Service; And only blest with Fortune and my _Julia_; For him, I say, this Miser, to obtain her, After my tedious nights and days of Love, My midnight Watchings, Quarrels, Wounds and Dangers; --My Person not unhandsom too, By Heav'n, 'twas wondrous strange!

_Ant_. And old _Francisco_, without the expence of an hour's Courtship, a _Billet-Doux_, or scarce a sight of her, could gain her in a day; and yet 'tis wonder, your Fortune and your Quality, should be refus'd by Don _Baltazer_ her Father.

_Car_. A Pox upon't, I went the wrong way to work, and courted the Daughter; but indeed my Father, the late Governour of _Cadiz_, whose Estate and Honour I now enjoy, was then living; and, fearing he would not consent to my Pa.s.sion, I endeavoured to keep it secret, though sacred Vows had past between us two.

_Ant_. Did she not tell you of this Marriage with old _Francisco_?

_Car_. The night before, she did; but only by a Letter from her Window dropt; which when by the help of a dark Lanthorn, I had read, I was struck dead with Grief.

[_Gives him the Letter_.

_Ant_. [reads.]

_Expect to morrow night to hear I'm dead, since the next Sun will guide me to a fatal Marriage with old_ Francisco.

_Your_ Julia.

_Car_. Judge, dear _Antonio_, my Surprize and Grief; A-while I stood unmov'd, thoughtless, and silent, But soon Rage wak'd me to new Life again; But what I said and did, I leave to raging Lovers, Like disappointed me, to guess and judge; She heard--and only answer'd me in Tears, Nor could I beg one tender Word from her, She sigh'd, and shut the Window too, and vanish'd.

_Ant_. And she accordingly next day was married.

_Car_. She was--and I have since endeavoured all the Arts and Ways I can to cuckold him; 'tis now two months since the Wedding, and I hear he keeps her as close as a Relict, jealous as Age and Impotence can make him. She hitherto has been absent at _Sevil_, but Expectation of her Daughter-in-law's Wedding with you has brought 'em hither,--and, I ask your Pardon, _Antonio_, for raillying your Father-in-law that shall be, old _Francisco_.

_Ant_. I hope you are mistaken, Sir.

_Car_. How, are you not to marry his Daughter, _Isabella_?

_Ant_. Not if I can help it, Sir,--the Honour you have done me in your Friendship to me, a Person so much above me in t.i.tle and Birth, makes me think it my Duty to conceal no part of my Heart to you,--Know then this _Isabella_, Daughter to old _Francisco_, and your Cuckold that shall be I hope, is, though fair, most ridiculously proud, vain and fantastical; as all of her Birth and Education, grown rich, are.

_Car_. Prithee, what was her Birth?

_Ant_. Why, her Father, old _Francisco_, was in his youth an English Cordwainer, that is to say, a Shoemaker, which he improv'd in time to a Merchant; and the Devil and his Knavery helping him to a considerable Estate, he set up for Gentleman; and being naturally a stingey, hide-bound Rascal, and in the Humour of Jealousy even out-doing the most rigid of us _Spaniards_, he came over into _Spain_, to settle with his whole Family, where his Wife dying, to heighten the Vice, marries this young _Julia_, your Mistress, Sir;--and now this Daughter of his having wholly forgot her original Dunghill, sets up for a Viscountess at least, though her Father has design'd me the Blessing; but I have fixt my Heart and Eyes else-where, _Clara_, the young Sister of your Mistress, Sir, commands my Liberty.

_Car_. I've seen her, she has Youth and Beauty capable to make a Conquest any where,--but does she know your Love?

_Ant_. She does, and makes me think my Love return'd.

_Car_. Then know, _Antonio_, I must be your Rival.

_Ant_. How, Sir!

_Car_. You said but now you were my Friend, _Antonio_; If true, you must a.s.sist in my design.

_Ant_. I listen, Sir, impatiently.

_Car_. Then thus; before I knew she was your Mistress, I had resolv'd upon Addresses to her, in order to't, have treated with her Father about a Marriage.

_Ant_. How! and wou'd the false, forsworn, receive your Vows?

_Car_. No; but with Tears implores her Father daily, whene'er he speaks to her about my Pa.s.sion; nor can I undeceive her, for indeed I have but feign'd a Love, (she living in the same house with _Julia_ whilst here at _Cadiz_) to get an opportunity with that dear, charming Creature; for, coming as a Brother, sure they'll admit me kindly; nor will _Francisco_, who has heard of what has past 'twixt me and _Julia_, suspect me any more.

_Ant_. I knew I had a Rival, Sir, whom _Clara_ lov'd not; but ne'er cou'd get it from her who he was, for fear of mischief: I have often the Liberty to see her, under the name and pretence of _Isabella's_ Lover.

_Car_. And I visit her only to get a sight of _Julia_, which hitherto has been impossible, though I have oft endeavour'd it. I beg you'll not be jealous; for this, by Heav'n, is only my Design.

_Ant_. I'll trust my Life, my Honour and my Mistress in so good hands at any time.

_Car_. You oblige me; but though I find your _Clara_ cold and cruel, _Isabella_ would invite me to her Love, and makes so many kind advances to me--

_Ant_. So would she for your t.i.tle, were you deform'd, and had no shape of Man about you; but me, because a little Citizen and Merchant, she so reviles, calling me base Mechanick, saucy Fellow; and wonders where I got the Impudence to speak of Love to her--in fine, I am resolved to be reveng'd on all her Pride and Scorn; by Heav'n, I will invent some dire Revenge:--I'm bent upon't, and will about it instantly.

_Car_. And would you do it home and handsomly, and have a good occasion of being disengaged from her, and make her self the instrument?

_Ant_. Ay, such a Plot were worth the Prosecution.

_Car_. And such a one I have in my head: _Guzman_, my Servant, knows a fellow here in _Cadiz_, whom for his pleasant humour I have oft observ'd, as I have past the Streets, but too mean to be convers'd with, by almost any human thing, by Trade a Chimney-Sweeper.

_Ant_. On, Sir, I beseech you.