The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 52

_La Nu._ I must not lose this lavish loving Fool-- [Aside.

_Will._ So, I hope he will be civil and withdraw, and leave me in possession--

_Beau._ No, tho my Fortune should depend on thee; nay, all my hope of future happiness-- by Heaven, I scorn to marry thee, unless thou couldst convince me thou wer't honest-- a Wh.o.r.e!-- Death, how it cools my Blood--

_Will._ And fires mine extremely--

_La Nu._ Nay, then I am provok'd tho I spoil all-- [Aside.

And is a Wh.o.r.e a thing so much despis'd?

Turn back, thou false forsworn-- turn back, and blush at thy mistaken folly.

[He stands amaz'd.

_Beau._ _La Nuche!_

Enter _Aria._ peeping, advancing cautiously undrest, _Luc._ following.

_Aria._ Oh, he is here-- _Lucia_, attend me in the Orange-grove-- [Ex. _Lucia_.

Hah, a Woman with him!

_Will._ Hum-- what have we here? another Damsel?-- she's gay too, and seems young and handsom-- sure one of these will fall to my share; no matter which, so I am sure of one.

_La Nu._ Who's silent now? are you struck dumb with Guilt? thou shame to n.o.ble Love; thou scandal to all brave Debauchery, thou Fop of Fortune; thou slavish Heir to Estate and Wife, born rich and d.a.m.n'd to Matrimony.

_Will._ Egad, a n.o.ble Wench-- I am divided yet.

_La Nu._ Thou formal a.s.s disguis'd in generous Leudness, see-- when the Vizor's off, how sneakingly that empty form appears-- Nay 'tis thy own-- Make much on't, marry with it, and be d.a.m.n'd.

[Offers to go.

_Will._ I hope she'll beat him for suspecting her.

[He holds her, she turns.

_Aria._ Hah-- who the Devil can these be?

_La Nu._ What silly honest Fool did you mistake me for? what senseless modest thing? Death, am I grown so despicable? have I deserv'd no better from thy Love than to be taken for a virtuous Changeling?

_Will._ Egad, 'twas an Affront. [Aside.

_La Nu._ I'm glad I've found thee out to be an errant c.o.xcomb, one that esteems a Woman for being chaste forsooth! 'Sheart, I shall have thee call me pious shortly, a most-- religious Matron!

_Will._ Egad, she has reason-- [Aside.

_Beau._ Forgive me-- for I took ye-- for another. [Sighing.

_La Nu._ Oh did you so? it seems you keep fine Company the while-- Death, that I should e'er be seen with such a vile Dissembler, with one so vain, so dull and so impertinent, as can be entertain'd by honest Women!

_Will._ A Heavenly Soul, and to my Wish, were I but sure of her.

_Beau._ Oh you do wondrous well t'accuse me first! yes, I am a c.o.xcomb-- a confounded one, to doat upon so false a Prost.i.tute; nay to love seriously, and tell it too: yet such an amorous c.o.xcomb I was born, to hate the Enjoyment of the loveliest Woman, without I have the Heart: the fond soft Prattle, and the lolling Dalliance, the Frowns, the little Quarrels, and the kind Degrees of making Peace again, are Joys which I prefer to all the sensual, whilst I endeavour to forget the Wh.o.r.e, and pay my Vows to Wit, to Youth and Beauty.

_Aria._ Now hang me, if it be not _Beaumond_.

_Beau._ Would any Devil less than common Woman have serv'd me as thou didst? say, was not this my Night? my paid for Night? my own by right of Bargain, and by Love? and hast not thou deceiv'd me for a Stranger?

_Will._ So-- make me thankful, then she will be kind. _Hugs himself._

_Beau._ --Was this done like a Wh.o.r.e of Honour think ye? and would not such an Injury make me forswear all Joys of Womankind, and marry in mere spite?

_La Nu._ Why where had been the Crime had I been kind?

_Beau._ Thou dost confess it then.

_La Nu._ Why not?

_Beau._ Those Bills of Love the oftner paid and drawn, make Women better Merchants than Lovers.

_La Nu._ And 'tis the better Trade.

_Will._ Oh Pox, there she dasht all again. I find they calm upon't, and will agree, therefore I'll bear up to this small Frigate and lay her aboard.

[Goes to _Ariadne_.

_La Nu._ However I'm glad the Vizor's off; you might have fool'd me on, and sworn I was the only Conqueror of your Heart, had not Good-nature made me follow you, to undeceive your false Suspicions of me: How have you sworn never to marry? how rail'd at Wives, and satir'd Fools oblig'd to Wedlock? And now at last, to thy eternal Shame, thou hast betray'd thy self to be a most pernicious honourable Lover, a perjur'd-- honest-- nay, a very Husband.

[Turns away, he holds her.

_Aria._ Hah, sure 'tis the Captain.

_Will._ Prithee, Child, let's leave 'em to themselves, they'l agree matters I'll warrant them when they are alone; and let us try how Love and Good-nature will provide for us.

_Aria._ Sure he cannot know me?-- Us!-- pray who are you, and who am I?

_Will._ Why look ye, Child, I am a very honest civil Fellow, for my part, and thou'rt a Woman for thine; and I desire to know no more at present.

_Aria._ 'Tis he, and knows not me to be the same he appointed to day-- Sir, pursue that Path on your right Hand, that Grove of Orange-Trees, and I'll follow you immediately.

_Will._ Kind and civil-- prithee make haste, dear Child.

[Exit. _Will._

_Beau._ And did you come to call me back again? [Lovingly.

_La Nu._ No matter, you are to be marry'd, Sir--

_Beau._ No more, 'tis true, to please my Uncle, I have talk'd of some such thing; but I'll pursue it no farther, so thou wilt yet be mine, and mine intirely-- I hate this _Ariadne_-- for a Wife-- by Heaven I do.

_Aria._ A very plain Confession. [Claps him on the back.

_Beau._ _Ariadne!_

_La Nu._ I'm glad of this, now I shall be rid of him. [Aside.] --How is't, Sir? I see you struggle hard 'twixt Love and Honour, and I'll resign my Place-- [Offers to go, _Ariadne_ pulls her back.