The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 90

_Hau._ Softly, you d.a.m.n'd Rogue, not a Word of my Prowess aloud.

_Salerimente_, I shall be put to fight when I am sober, shall I, for your d.a.m.n'd prating, ye Rascal?

_Euph._ I am glad you have that good Quality.

[_Olinda_ speaking to _Gload_, pushes him to speak.

_Glo._ Ay, Madam-- my Master-- has many more: But if you please to tell him his Rival's Name--

_Hau._ I'll have your Ears for this, Sirrah, the next time I'm soundly drunk, and you know that won't be long.

[Aside.

Lord, Madam, my Man knows not what he says.

Ye Rascal, say I have no Courage-- or I will drink my self to the Miracle of Valour, and exercise it all on thee.

_Glo._ I know what I do, Sir, you had Courage this Morning, is the Fit over?

_Hau._ Have I not slept since, you Rogue, have I not?

_Glo._ I have a trick to save your Honour, Sir, and therefore I will stand in't you have Courage.

_Hau._ A Pox of your Trick, the Rogue knows I dare not chastise him now, for fear they should think I have Valour.

_Glo._ Madam, my Master's modest, but tell him who 'tis he must fight with--

_Hau._ Oh, for a Tun of Rhenish-- that I might abundantly beat thee--

_Euph._ Your Rival's Name's _Alonzo_, Sir.

_Hau._ Oh the Devil, a thundring Name too; but will this same-- _Alonzo_ make no allowance for necessity?-- I vow 'tis pure necessity in me to marry you: the old Men being agreed upon the Matter, I am but an Instrument-- alas, not I, [Crys.

A very Tool, as they say, so I am.

_Glo._ Lord, Sir, why do you cry? I meant no harm.

_Hau._ No harm, you Rascal-- to say I am valiant.

_Glo._ Why, yes, Sir, and if you would say so too, at worst 'twas but getting Don _Lovis_ to have fought for you; you know that's a small courtesy to a Friend.

_Hau._ Faith, now thou art in the right; he'll do his Business for him, I'll warrant him.

[Wipes his Eyes.

Nay then, Madam, I have Courage, and will to this Don-- this _Alonzo_ you speak of; and if he do not resign you, and consign you too, I'll make him; yes, make him, do ye see-- If _Lovis_ should refuse me now-- [Aside.

_Glo._ Shaw, Sir, he makes nothing to kill a Man, ten or twenty.

_Euph._ Well, since you are so resolv'd, my Brother will tell you where to find this _Alonzo_; and tell him, I must marry you to day, for I am resolv'd not to lie alone tonight.

_Hau._ What would not a Man do for so kind a Mistress?

_Euph._ Well, get you about it strait then, lest my Father's coming prevent it.

[Exeunt _Euphemia_ and _Olinda_.

_Hau._ I am gone-- but if _Lovis_ should fail--

_Glo._ He would beat you, if he thought you doubted him.

_Hau._ I'll keep my Fears then to my self. [Go out.

SCENE II. _The Street._

Enter _Hippolyta_ drest like a Man, with a Paper.

_Hip._ Thus I dare look abroad again: Methinks I am not what I was, My Soul too is all Man; Where dwells no Tenderness, no womanish Pa.s.sions.

I cannot sigh, nor weep, nor think of Love, But as a foolish Dream that's gone and past.

Revenge has took possession of my Soul, And drove those Shadows thence; and shows me now Love, in so poor, so despicable a Shape, So quite devested of his Artful Beauty, That I'm asham'd I ever was his Votary.

Well, here's my Challenge to _Antonio_; But how to get it to him is the Question.

Base as he is, he'll not refuse to come, And since he never saw the wrong'd _Alonzo_, Sure I may pa.s.s for him. Who's here?--

Enter _Haunce_ and _Gload_. She stands aside.

_Hau._ _Gload_, if it were possible I could be sober, and valiant at once, I should now be provok'd to exercise it: for I cannot find _Lovis_, and then how I shall come off, the Lord knows. And then again, for letting the Lady go, whom I rescu'd in the Grove this Morning.

_Glo._ Should I disobey a Lady, Sir? for she commanded me to let her go so soon as she came into the Gate. And, Sir, look, here comes Don _Lovis_.

Enter _Lovis_ and _Alonzo_.

_Hau._ Oh, Brother _Lovis_, where the Devil have you been all this Day?

I stay'd for you to go with me to your Sister's, as long as Flesh and Blood could forbear.

_Lov._ Why, have you been there without me?

_Hau._ Yes, marry have I, Sir.

_Alon._ I am undone then-- [Aside.

_Hau._ I needed no Recommendation mun, for when I came they were all as well acquainted with me-- I never saw them before; but by the way, they are all no wiser than they should be, except your Sister, who is the pretty'st loving, sweet Rogue--

_Alon._ How's this?

_Lov._ But have you seen my Sister?

_Hau._ Seen her! yes, and will marry her too mun before Night, an she were a thousand Sisters-- but harkye, _Lovis_, the business is this-- you must know that before I marry her, I am to seek out a certain Fellow, they call-- they call _Alonzo_, ay, ay, _Alonzo_-- a Pox on him, a troublesome Rascal they say he is; and his leave, it seems, must be askt to marry your Sister.

_Lov._ Well, Sir, and what if he will not give you leave?

_Hau._ Why then, you must know I am to get him very well favour'dly beaten.

_Alon._ Sure this is the c.o.xcomb himself.

_Hau._ Now for your Sister's sake, who loves me, poor thing, I will not run the danger of beating him my self, but must desire that small courtesy of thee.