The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 68

_Boy._ Oh! she's woundy handsome her self, Master, and the kindest Gentlewoman--look, here she comes, Master.--

Enter _Flirt_ and _Nell_.

G.o.d bless you, Mistress, I have brought you a young Gentleman here.

_Flirt._ That's well, honest _Jack_.--Sir, you are most heartily welcome.

_Haz._ Madam, your Servant. [Salutes her.

_Flirt._ Please you walk into a Chamber, Sir?

_Haz._ By and by, Madam; but I'll repose here awhile for the coolness of the Air.

_Flirt._ This is a Publick Room, Sir, but 'tis at your service.

_Haz._ Madam, you oblige me.

_Flirt._ A fine spoken Person. A Gentleman, I'll warrant him: come, _Jack_, I'll give thee a Cogue of Brandy for old acquaintance.

[Exeunt Landlady and Boy.

[_Hazard_ pulls out Pen, Ink and Paper, and goes to write.

Enter _Friendly_.

_Friend._ Here, _Nell_, a Tankard of cool Drink, quickly.

_Nell._ You shall have it, Sir.

_Friend._ Hah! who's that Stranger? he seems to be a Gentleman.

_Haz._ If I should give credit to mine Eyes, that should be _Friendly_.

_Friend._ Sir, you seem a Stranger; may I take the liberty to present my Service to you?

[Exit _Nell_.

_Haz._ If I am not mistaken, Sir, you are the only Man in the World whom I would soonest pledge; you'll credit me, if three Year's absence has not made you forget _Hazard_.

_Friend._ _Hazard_, my Friend! come to my Arms and Heart.

_Haz._ This unexpected Happiness o'erjoys me. Who could have imagin'd to have found thee in _Virginia_? I thought thou hadst been in _Spain_ with thy Brother.

_Friend._ I was so till ten Months since, when my Uncle Colonel _Friendly_ dying here, left me a considerable Plantation; and, faith, I find Diversions not altogether to be despis'd; the G.o.d of Love reigns here with as much power as in Courts or popular Cities. But prithee what Chance (fortunate to me) drove thee to this part of the new World.

_Haz._ Why, faith, ill Company, and that common Vice of the Town, Gaming, soon run out my younger Brother's Fortune: for imagining, like some of the luckier Gamesters, to improve my Stock at the Groom Porter's, I ventur'd on, and lost all. My elder Brother, an errant Jew, had neither Friendship nor Honour enough to support me; but at last being mollified by Persuasions, and the hopes of being for ever rid of me, sent me hither with a small Cargo to seek my Fortune--

_Friend._ And begin the World withal.

_Haz._ I thought this a better Venture than to turn sharping Bully, Cully in Prentices and Country Squires, with my Pocket full of false Dice, your high and low Flats and Bars; or turn Broker to young Heirs; take up Goods to pay tenfold at the Death of their Fathers, and take Fees on both sides; or set up all night at the Groom-Porter's, begging his Honour to go a Guinea the better of the lay. No, _Friendly_, I had rather starve abroad, than live pity'd and despis'd at home.

_Friend._ Thou art in the right, and art come just in the nick of time to make thy Fortune.--Wilt thou follow my Advice?

_Haz._ Thou art too honest to command any thing that I shall refuse.

_Friend._ You must know then, there is about a Mile from _James-Town_ a young Gentlewoman--no matter for her Birth, her Breeding's the best this World affords, she is married to one of the richest Merchants here; he is old and sick, and now gone into _England_ for the recovery of his Health, where he'll e'en give up the Ghost: he has writ her word he finds no Amendment, and resolves to stay another Year. The letter I accidentally took up, and have about me; 'tis easily counterfeited, and will be of great use to us.

_Haz._ Now do I fancy I conceive thee.

_Friend._ Well, hear me first, you shall get another Letter writ like this Character, which shall say, you are his Kinsman, that is come to traffick in this Country, and 'tis his will you should be received into his House as such.

_Haz._ Well, and what will come of this?

_Friend._ Why, thou art young and handsome, she young and desiring; 'twere easy to make her love thee; and if the old Gentleman chance to die, you guess the rest, you are no Fool.

_Haz._ Ay, but if he shou'd return--

_Friend._ If--Why, if she love you, that other will be but a slender Bar to thy Happiness; for if thou canst not marry her, thou mayst lie with her: and, Gad, a younger Brother may pick out a pretty Livelihood here that way, as well as in _England_. Or if this fail, thou wilt find a perpetual Visiter, the Widow _Ranter_, a Woman bought from the ship by old Colonel _Ranter_; she served him half a Year, and then he marry'd her, and dying in a Year more, left her worth fifty thousand Pounds Sterling, besides Plate and Jewels: She's a great Gallant, but a.s.suming the humour of the Country Gentry, her Extravagancy is very pleasant, she retains something of her primitive Quality still, but is good-natur'd and generous.

_Haz._ I like all this well.

_Friend._ But I have a further End in this matter; you must know there is in the same House a young Heiress, one Colonel _Downright's_ Daughter, whom I love, I think not in vain: her Father indeed has an implacable Hatred to me, for which reason I can but seldom visit her, and in this Affair I have need of a Friend in that House.

_Haz._ Me you're sure of.

_Friend._ And thus you'll have an opportunity to manage both our Amours: Here you will find occasion to shew your Courage, as well as express your Love; for at this time the _Indians_, by our ill Management of Trade, whom we have armed against our selves, very frequently make War upon us with our own Weapons; though often coming by the worst, they are forced to make Peace with us again, but so, as upon every turn they fall to ma.s.sacring us wherever we lie exposed to them.

_Haz._ I heard the News of this in _England_, which hastens the new Governour's arrival here, who brings you fresh Supplies.

_Friend._ Would he were landed, we hear he is a n.o.ble Gentleman.

_Haz._ He has all the Qualities of a Gallant Man: besides, he is n.o.bly born.

_Friend._ This Country wants nothing but to be peopled with a well-born Race, to make it one of the best Colonies in the World; but for want of a Governour we are ruled by a Council, some of whom have been perhaps transported Criminals, who having acquired great Estates, are now become your Honour and Right Worshipful, and possess all Places of Authority; there are amongst them some honest Gentlemen, who now begin to take upon 'em, and manage Affairs as they ought to be.

_Haz._ _Bacon_ I think was one of the Council.

_Friend._ Now you have named a Man indeed above the common Rank, by Nature generous, brave, resolv'd and daring; who studying the Lives of the _Romans_ and great Men, that have raised themselves to the most elevated Fortunes, fancies it easy for ambitious Men to aim at any pitch of Glory. I've heard him often say, Why cannot I conquer the Universe as well as _Alexander_? or like another _Romulus_, form a new _Rome_, and make my self ador'd?

_Haz._ Why might he not? Great Souls are born in common Men sometimes, as well as Princes.

_Friend._ This Thirst of Glory cherish'd by sullen Melancholy, I believe, was the first motive that made him in love with the young _Indian_ Queen, fancying no Hero ought to be without his Princess. And this was the reason why he so earnestly press'd for a Commission, to be made General against the _Indians_, which long was promis'd him; but they fearing his Ambition, still put him off, till the Grievances grew so high, that the whole Country flock'd to him, and beg'd he would redress them.--He took the opportunity, and led them forth to fight, and vanquishing brought the Enemy to fair Terms; but now instead of receiving him as a Conqueror, we treat him as a Traitor.

_Haz._ Then it seems all the Crime this brave Fellow has committed, is serving his Country without Authority.

_Friend._ 'Tis so, and however I admire the Man, I am resolv'd to be of the contrary Party, that I may make an Interest in our new Governor.

Thus stand Affairs, so that after you have seen Madam _Surelove_, I'll present you to the Council for a Commission.

_Haz._ But my Kinsman's Character--