Lor.O Sir, I’m glad I’ve found you; forI have the rarest News for you.Fred.What News?Lor.Oh the Devil, he’s angry;—Why, Sir, the prettiest young—Fred.There’s for your Intelligence.Strikes him, and goes out.Lor.So, very well; how mortal is the favour ofPrinces! these be turns of State now; what theDevil ails he trow; sure he could not beOffended with the News I have brought him;If he be, he’s strangely out of tune:And sure he has too much Wit to grow virtuous at theseYears. No, no, he has had some repulse from aLady; and that’s a wonder; for he has a Tongue and aPurse that seldom fails: if Youth and Vigour wouldStretch as far, he were the wonder of the Age.EnterCurtius.Cur.Lorenzo, didst thou see the Prince?Lor.Marry, did I, and feel him too.Cur.Why, did he strike you?Lor.I’m no true Subject if he did not; and thatOnly for doing that Service which once was most acceptableTo him.—Prithee what’s the matter with him, hah?Cur.I know not, leave me.Lor.Leave thee, what, art thou out of humour too?Let me but know who ’tis has disoblig’d thee, and I’ll—Cur.What wilt thou?Lor.Never see his Face more, if a Man.Cur.And what if a Woman?Lor.Then she’s an idle peevish Slut, I’ll warrant her.Cur.Conclude it so, and leave me.Lor.Nay, now thou hast said the only thing that couldKeep me with thee, thou mayst be desperate; I’llTell you,Curtius, these female Mischiefs make MenTake dangerous Resolutions sometimes.EnterAlberto.Alb.Curtius, I’ve something to deliver to your Ear.Whispers.Cur.Any thing fromAlbertois welcome.Lor.Well, I will be hang’d if there be not someMischief in agitation; it cannot be wenching;They look all too dull and sober for that;And besides, then I should have been a party concern’d.Cur.The place and time.Alb.An hour hence i’th’ Grove by the River-side.Cur.Alone, thou say’st?Alb.Alone, the Prince will have it so.Cur.I will not fail a moment.Ex.Alb.—So this has eas’d my heart of half its Load.Lor.I’ll sneak away, for this is some fightingBusiness, and I may perhaps be invited a Second,A Compliment I care not for.Offers to go.Cur.Lorenzo, a word with you.Lor.’Tis so, what shall I do now?Aside.Cur.Stay.Lor.I am a little in haste, my Lord.Cur.I shall soon dispatch you.Lor.I believe so, for I am half dead alreadyWith Fear.Aside.—Sir, I have promis’d to make a visitTo a Lady, and—Cur.What I’ve to say will not detain you long.Lor.What a Dog was I, I went notWhen he first desir’d me to go!Oh Impertinency, thou art justly rewarded!Cur.Lorenzo, may I believe you love me?Lor.Now what shall I say, Ay or no?Aside.The Devil take me if I know.Cur.Will you do me a favour?Lor.There ’tis again.Aside.Cur.I know I may trust thee with a secret.Lor.Truly,Curtius, I cannot tell.In some cases I am not very retentive.Cur.I am going about a business, that perhapsMay take up all the time I have to live,And I may never see thy Sister more;Will you oblige me in a Message to her?Lor.You know you may command me;—I’m glad ’tis no worse.Aside.Cur.Come, go with me into my Cabinet,And there I’ll write toLaura;And prithee if thou hear’st that I am dead,Tell her I fell a Sacrifice to her,And that’s enough, she understands the rest.Lor.But harkye,Curtius, by your favour, this is but a Scurvy Tale to carry to your Mistress;I hope you are not in earnest.Cur.Yes.Lor.Yes! why, what a foolish idle humour’s this in you? I vow ’twill go near to break the poor Girl’s Heart;—Come, be advis’d, Man.Cur.Perhaps I may consider on’t for that reason.Lor.There are few that go about such businesses,But have one thing or other to consider in favour of Life;I find that even in the most magnanimous:—Prithee who is’t with?Cur.That’s counsel: and pray let this too which I haveTold you be a Secret, for ’twill concern your Life.Lor.GoodCurtius, take it back again then;For a hundred to one but my over-care of keeping itWill betray it.Cur.Thou lovest thy self better.Lor.Well, that’s a comfort yet.Exeunt.Scene III.A Wood.EnterClorisdressed like a Country-Boy, follow’d byGuilliama Clown;Cloriscomes reading a Letter.Clo.Reads.Cloris, beware of Men; for though I my self be one,Yet I have the Frailties of my Sex, and can dissemble too;Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;We make Vows to all alike we see,And even the best of Men, the Prince,Is not to be credited in an affair of Love.—OhCurtius, thy advice was very kind;Had it arriv’d before I’ad been undone!—CanFredericktoo be false!A Prince, and be unjust to her that loves him too?—Surely it is impossible—Perhaps thou lov’st me too, and this may bePointing to the Letter.Some Plot of thine to try my Constancy:—Howe’er it be, since he could fail last nightOf seeing me, I have at least a cause to justifyThis shameful change; and sure in this Disguise,I shall not soon be known, dost think I shall?Looks on herself.Guil.Why, forsooth, what do you intend to pass for,A Maid or a Boy?Clo.Why, what I seem to be, will it not do?Guil.Yes, yes, it may do, but I know not what;I would Love would transmography me to a Maid now,—We should be the prettiest Couple:Don’t you remember when you dress’d me up the lastCarnival, was I not the woundiest handsome LassA body could see in a Summer’s day?There wasClaudthe Shepherd as freakish after me,I’ll warrant you, and simper’d and tript it like any thing.Clo.Ay, but they say ’tis dangerous for youngMaids to live at Court.Guil.Nay, then I should be loth to give temptation.—Pray, forsooth, what’s that you read so often there?Clo.An advice to young Maids that are in love.Guil.Ay, ay, that same Love is a very vengeance thing,Wou’d I were in love too; I see it makes a body valiant;One neither feels Hunger nor Cold that is possest with it.Clo.Thou art i’th’ right, it can do Miracles.Guil.So it seems, for without a Miracle you and I could neverHave rambled about these Woods all night without either Bottle or Wallet:I could e’en cry for hunger now.Clo.What a dull Soul this Fellow hath?Sure it can never feel the generous PainsOf Love, as mine does now; oh, how I gloryTo find my Heart above the common rate!Were not my Prince inconstant,I would not envy what the Blessed do above:But he is false, good Heaven!—Weeps.Guil.howls.—What dost thou feel, that thou shouldst weep with me?Guil.Nothing but Hunger, sharp Hunger, forsooth.Clo.Leave calling me forsooth, it will betray us.Guil.What shall I call you then?Clo.Call me,Philibert, or any thing;And be familiar with me: put on thy Hat, lest any come and see us.Guil.’Tis a hard name, but I’ll learn it by heart.—Well,Philibert—What shall we do when we come to Court?Puts on his Hat.Besides eating and drinking, which I shall do in abundance.Clo.We must get each of us a Service:—But thou art such a Clown.Guil.Nay, say not so, honestPhilibert: for look ye,I am much the properer Fellow of the two.Walks.Clo.Well, try thy fortune; but be sure you never discoverMe, whatever Questions may chance to be asked thee.Guil.I warrant thee, honest Lad, I am true and trusty;But I must be very familiar with you, you say.Clo.Yes, before Company.Guil.Pray let me begin and practise a little now,An’t please you, for fear I should not be saucy enough,When we arrive at Court.Clo.I’ll warrant you you’ll soon learn there.Guil.Oh Lord,Philibert! Philibert!I see a Man a comingMost deadly fine, let’s run away.Clo.Thus thou hast serv’d me all this night,There’s not a Bush we come at, but thou start’st thus.Guil.’Tis true you are a Lover, and may stay the danger on’t;But I’ll make sure for one.Clo.It is the Prince, oh Gods! what makes he here?With Looks disorder’d too; this Place is fit for Death and sadDespair; the melancholy Spring a sleepy murmur makes,A proper Consort for departing Souls,When mix’d with dying Groans, and the thick BoughsCompose a dismal Roof;Dark as the gloomy Shades of Death or Graves.—He comes this way, I’ll hide my self awhile.Goes behind a Bush.EnterFrederick.Fred.But yet not this, nor my despight toLaura,Shall make me out of love with Life,Whilst I have youthful Fires about my Heart:—Yet I must fight withCurtius,And so chastise the Pride of that fond Maid,Whose saucy Virtue durst controul my Flame.—And yet I love her not as I doCloris;But fain I would have overcome that Chastity,Of which the foolish Beauty boasts so.Clo.Curtius, I thank thee, now I do believe thee.Guilliam, if thou seest any fighting anon,The Prince walks.Be sure you run out and call some body.Guil.You need not bid me run away, when I onceSee them go to that.EnterCurtius.Cur.Sir, I am come as you commanded me.Fred.When you consider what you’ve lately done,You will not wonder why I sent for you;And when I mean to fight, I do not use to parly:Come draw.Cur.Shew me my Enemy, and then if I am slow—Fred.I am he, needst thou one more powerful?Cur.You, Sir! what have I done to make you so?Fred.If yet thou want’st a further proof of it,Know I’ll dispute my Claim toLaura.Cur.That must not be with me, Sir;God forbid that I should raise my Arm against my Prince.—IfLaurahave so little Faith and Virtue,To render up that Right belongs to me,With all my heart I yield herTo any but to you:And, Sir, for your own sake you must not have her.Fred.Your Reason?Cur.Sir, you’re already married.Fred.Thou lyest, and seek’st excuses for thy Cowardice.Cur.I wish you would recal that hasty Injury;Yet this I’ll bear from you, who know ’tis false.Fred.Will nothing move thee?Cur.You would believe so, Sir, if I should tell you,That besides all this, I have a juster Cause.Fred.Juster than that ofLaura? call it up, then,And let it save thee from a further shame.Cur.Yes, so I will, ’tis that ofCloris,Who needs my aids much more;Do you remember such a Virgin, Sir?For so she was till she knewFrederick,The sweetest Innocent that ever Nature made.Fred.Not thy own Honour, nor thy Love toLaura,Would make thee draw, and now atCloris’NameThou art incens’d, thy Eyes all red with Rage:—Oh, thou hast rouz’d my Soul!Nor would I justify my Wrongs to her,Unless it were to satisfy my Jealousy,Which thou hast rais’d in me by this concern.—Draw, or I’ll kill thee.Cur.Stay, Sir, and hear me out.Fred.I will not stay, now I reflect on allThy former kindness to her—Cur.I will not fight, but I’ll defend my self.They fight.Fred.We are betray’d.Cur.Yes, Sir, and you are wounded.Guil.runs bawling out, they are both wounded.Clo.Oh Heaven defend the Prince!She peeps.Fred.I hear some coming, go, be gone,And save thy self by flight.Frederickstands leaning on his Sword.Cur.Sir, give me leave to stay, my flight will look like Guilt.Fred.By no means,Curtius, thou wilt be taken here,And thou shalt never charge me with that Crime of betrayingThee: when we meet next, we’ll end it.Cur.I must obey you then.Exit.EnterCloris.Clo.Sir, has the Villain hurt you?She supports him.—Pray Heaven my Sorrows do not betray me now;For since he’s false, I fain would die conceal’d.Aside.—Shew me your Wound, and I will tie it up.Alas, you bleed extremely.—Fred.Kind Youth, thy Succours are in vain, though welcome;For though I bleed, I am not wounded much.Clo.No? why did you let him pass unpunish’d then,Who would have hurt you more?EnterGuilliamwithGalliard.Gal.Where was’t?Guil.Look ye, Sir, there, don’t you see them?Gal.How does your Highness? This Fellow told meOf a quarrel here, which made me haste.Fred.Be silent, and carry me to my own apartment.Gal.Alas, Sir, is it you that fought?Fred.No more Questions.—Kind Boy, pray leave me not till I have foundA way to recompense thy pretty care of me.Clo.I will wait on you, Sir.Exeunt all butGuil.EnterLorenzoand hisPage. Peeps first.Lor.What’s the matter here? the Prince is wounded too.Oh, what a Dog was I to know of some such thing,And not secure them all?Lor.stands gazing atGuil.Guil.standstaberinghis Hat, and scruing his Face.—What’s here? Ha, ha, ha, this is the pleasantestFellow that e’er I saw in my Life.Prithee, Friend, what’s thy Name?Guil.My Name, an’t shall like ye.My Name, it isGuilliam.Lor.From whence comest thou?Guil.From a Village a great huge way off.Lor.And what’s thy business here, hah?Guil.Truly, Sir, not to tell a Lye;I come to get a Service here at Court.Lor.A Service at Court! ha, ha, that’s a pleasantHumour, i’faith. Why, Fellow, what canst thou do?Guil.Do, Sir! I can do any thing.Lor.Why, what canst thou do? canst thou dress well?—Set a Peruke to advantage, tie a Crevat,And Cuffs? put on a Belt with dexterity, hah?These be the Parts that must recommend you.Guil.I know not what you mean,But I am sure I can do them all.Lor.Thou art confident it seems, and I can tellYou, Sirrah, that’s a great step to Preferment;—But well, go on then, canst ride the great Horse?Guil.The biggest in all our TownI have rid a thousand times.Lor.That’s well; canst fence?Guil.Fence, Sir, what’s that?Lor.A Term we use for the Art and Skill of handling a Weapon.Guil.I can thrash, Sir.Lor.What’s that, Man?Guil.Why, Sir, it is—it is—thrashing.Lor.An Artist, I vow; canst play on any Musick?Guil.Oh, most rogically, Sir, I have a Bagpipe thatEvery Breath sets the whole Village a dancing.Lor.Better still; and thou canst dance, I’ll warrant?Guil.Dance, he, he, he, I vow you’ve light onMy Master-piece, y’fegs.Lor.And I’ll try thee: Boy, go fetch some of theTo thePage.Musick hither which I keep in pay.Ex.Page.—But hark you, Friend, though I love Dancing very well,And that may recommend thee in a great degree;Yet ’tis wholly necessary that you should be valiant too:We Great ones ought to be serv’d by Men of Valour,For we are very liable to be affronted by many hereTo our Faces, which we would gladly have beaten behindOur Backs.—But Pox on’t, thou hast not the HuffAnd Grimace of a Man of Prowess.Guil.As for fighting, though I do not care for it,Yet I can do’t if any body angers me, or so.Lor.But I must have you learn to do’t whenAny body angers me too.Guil.Sir, they told me I should have no need on’tHere; but I shall learn.Lor.Why, you Fool, that’s not a thing to be learn’d,—That’s a brave Inclination born with Man,A brave undaunted something, a thing that,That comes from, from, I know not what,For I was born without it.EnterPageand Musick.Oh, are you come? let’s see, Sirrah, your Activity,For I must tell you that’s another step to Preferment.He dances a Jigen Paisant.’Tis well perform’d; well, hadst thou but Wit,Valour,Bone Mine, good Garb, a Peruke,Conduct and Secrecy in Love-Affairs, and halfA dozen more good Qualities, thou wertFit for something; but I will try thee.Boy, let him have better Clothes; as for his Documents,I’ll give him those my self.Guil.Hah, I don’t like that word, it sounds terribly.Aside.Ex.PageandGuil.with Musick.Lor.This Fellow may be of use to me; beingDoubtless very honest, because he is so very simple:For to say truth, we Men of Parts are sometimesOver-wise, witness my last night’s retreatFrom but a supposed Danger, and returning to fallInto a real one. Well, I’ll now toIsabella,And know her final Resolution; ifClarinawillBe kind, so; if not, there be those that will.—And though I cannot any Conquest boastFor all the Time and Money I have lost,At least ofIsabelI’ll be reveng’d,And have the flattering Baggage soundly swing’d;And rather than she shall escape my Anger,My self shall be the Hero that shall bang her.Exit.ACT IV.Scene I.Antonio’sHouse.EnterIsmenaandIsabella.Isab.Madam, turn your back to that side,For thereAntoniois hid; he must not see yourFace: now raise your Voice, that he may hear what ’tis you say.Ism.I’ll warrant you,Isabella:Was ever wretched Woman’s Fate like mine,Forc’d to obey the rigid Laws of Parents,And marry with a Man I did not love?Ant.Oh, there’s my cause of Fear.Ant.peeps.Ism.Though since I had him, thou know’st I have endeavour’dTo make his Will my Law,Till by degrees and Custom, which makes things natural,I found this Heart, which ne’er had been engag’dTo any other, grow more soft to him;And still the more he lov’d, the more I was oblig’d,And made returns still kinder; till I becameNot only to allow, but to repay his Tenderness.Isab.She counterfeits rarely.Aside.Madam, indeed I have observ’d this truth.Ism.See who ’tis knocks.One knocks.Ant.What will this come to?Aside.Isab.Madam, ’tisAlberto.EnterAlberto. Bows.Ism.My Lord, you’ve often told me that you lov’d me,Which I with Womens usual Pride believ’d;And now, encourag’d by my hopeful Promises,You look for some Returns: Sir, is it so?Alb.What means she?Pray Heaven I answer right.Aside.—Madam, if I have err’d in that belief,To know I do so, is sufficient punishment.—Lovers, Madam, though they have no returns,Like sinking Men, still catch at all they meet with;And whilst they live, though in the midst of Storms,Because they wish, they also hope for Calms.Ism.And did you, Sir, consider who I was?Alb.Yes, Madam, Wife unto my FriendAntonio,The only Man that has an Interest here:—But, Madam, that must still submit to Love.Ism.Canst thou at once be true to him and me?Alb.Madam, I know not that;But since I must lose one,My Friendship I can better lay aside.Ism.Hast thou forgot how dear thou art to him?Alb.No, I do believe I am, and that his LifeWere but a worthless trifle, if I needed it.Yet, Madam, you are dearer to him stillThan hisAlberto; and ’tis so with me:—Him I esteem, but you I do adore;And he whose Soul’s insensible of Love,Can never grateful to his Friendship prove.Ism.By your example, Sir, I’ll still retainMy Love for him; and what I had for you,Which was but Friendship, I’ll abandon too.Ant.HappyAntonio.—Aside.Ism.Pray what have youAntoniocannot own?Has he not equal Beauty, if not exceeding thine?Has he not equal Vigour, Wit, and Valour?And all that even raises Men to Gods,Wert not for poor Mortality?—Vain Man, couldst thou believeThat I would quit my Duty to this Husband,And sacrifice his Right to thee?—Couldst thou believe me yesterday?When from thy Importunity and Impudence,To send thee from me,I promised thee to love thee.—Nay, rather, treacherous Man,Couldst thou believe Idid not hatethee then,Who basely would betray thy Friend and me?Alb.Sure this is earnest.Aside.Ant.Oh braveClarina!Aside.Ism.Speak, Traitor to my Fame and Honour;Was there no Woman, butAntonio’sWife,With whom thou couldst commit so foul a Crime?And none but he to bring to publick Shame?A Man who trusted thee, and lov’d thee too?—Speak—and if yet thou hast a sense of Virtue,Call to the Saints for pardon, or thou dy’st.She draws a Poniard, and runs at him; he steps back to avoid it.Alb.Hold,Clarina!—I am amaz’d.Ism.But stay.Thou say’st my Beauty forc’d thee to this Wickedness,And that’s the cause you have abus’dAntonio.—Nor is it all the Power I have with him,Can make him credit what I tell him of thee;And should I live, I still must be pursu’d by thee,And unbeliev’d by him:—Alberto, thou shalt ne’er be guilty more,Whilst this—and this may meet.Offering to wound her self, is stay’d byAlb.andIsab.TheysetIsm.in a Chair;Alb.kneels weeping.Alb.Hold, my divineClarina.—Ant.Shall I discover my self, or steal away?Aside.And all asham’d of Life after this Action,Go where the Sun or Day mayneverfind me?Oh! what Virtue I’ve abus’d—Curse on my little Faith;And all the Curses Madness can invent,Light on my groundless Jealousy.Ex.Antonio.Alb.Clarina, why so cruel to my Heart?’Tis true, I love you, but with as chaste an Ardour,As Souls departing pay the Deities,When with incessant Sighs they haste away,And leave Humanity behind. Oh! so did IAbandon all the lesserJoysof Life,For that of being permitted but t’adore ye.Alas, if ’twere displeasing to you,Why did your self encourage it?I might have languish’d, as I did before,And hid those Crimes which make you hate me now.—Oh, I am lost?Antonio, thou’st undone me;He rises in Rage.—Hear me, Ungrate; I swear by all that’s good,I’ll wash away my Mischief with thy Blood.Isab.Antoniohears you not, Sir, for he’s departed.Ism.IsAntoniogone?She looks pertly up, who before lay half dead.Alb.How’s this, has she but feign’d?Ism.Know it wasbut feign’d; I hope this proofOf what I’ve promis’d you, does not displease you.Alb.Am I thus fortunate, thus strangely happy?Ism.Time will confirm it to you—go, do notNow thank me for’t, but seekAntonioout;Perhaps he may have too great a Sense of theMischiefs his Jealousies had like to have caus’d:But conjure him to take no notice of what’s past to me;This easyslightof mine secures our Fears,And serves to makeAntonioconfident,Who now will unbelieve his Eyes and Ears;And since before, when I was innocent,He could suspect my Love and Duty too,I’ll try what my dissembling it will do.—Go haste.—Alb.Madam, I go, surpriz’d with Love and Wonder.Ex.Alb.Ism.You’ll be more surpriz’d, when you knowAside.That you are cheated too as well asAntonio.Exeunt.Scene II.A Street.EnterCurtiusdisguis’d in a black Peruke and Beard, withPietrodisguised also.Cur.Well, what hast thou learn’d?Piet.News enough, Sir, but none good;That the Prince’s Wounds are small,So that he intends to take the Air this Evening;That he sollicitsLaurahard;And, Sir, that you are proclaim’d Traitor.Cur.So, what says the Messenger you sent toCloris?Piet.Sir, he brings sad tidings back.Cur.What tidings? is she dead?That would revive my Soul,And fortify my easy Nature with some wicked Notions,As deep as those this flattering Prince made use of,When he betray’d my Sister, prettyCloris:—Come, speak it boldly, for nothing elseWill make me do her Justice.Piet.No, Sir, she is not dead,But fled, and none knows whither;OnlyGuilliamattends her.Cur.Worse and worse; but what ofLaura?Piet.She, Sir, is kept a Prisoner by her Father,And speaks with none but those that come fromFrederick.Cur.Lauraconfin’d too! ’tis time to hasten then,With my, till now, almost disarmed Revenge:—Thus I may pass unknown the Streets ofFlorence,And find an opportunity to reach this Prince’s Heart,—Oh, Vengeance! luxurious Vengeance!Thy Pleasures turn a Rival to my Love,And make the mightier Conquest o’er my Heart.—Cloris, I will revenge thy Tears and Sufferings;And to secure the Doom of him that wrong’d thee,I’ll call on injur’dLauratoo.—Here take these Pictures—and where thou see’stGives him Boxes.A knot of Gallants, open one or two, as if by stealth,To gaze upon the Beauties, and then straight close them—But stay, here comes the only ManI could have wish’d for; he’ll proclaim my BusinessBetter than a Picture or a Trumpet.They stand by.Curtiustakes back the Pictures.EnterLorenzoandGuilliamdressed in fineish Clothes, but the same high-crown’d Hat.Lor.Did, ha, ha, ha, did, ha, ha; did ever anyMortal Man behold such a Figure as thou art now?Well, I see ’tis a damnable thing not toBe born a Gentleman; the Devil himselfCan never make thee truly jantee now.—Come, come, come forward; these Clothes becomeThee, as a Saddle does a Sow; why com’st thou not?—Why—ha, ha, I hope thou hast notHansel’dthy new Breeches,Thou look’st so filthily on’t.He advances, looking sourly.Guil.No, Sir, I hope I have more manners than so;But if I should, ’tis not my fault;For the necessary Houses are hardTo be met withal here at Court.Lor.Very well, Sirrah; you begin already to beWitty with the Court: but I can tell you, it has asMany necessary Places in’t, as any Court in Christendom—But what a Hat thou hast?Guil.Why, Sir, though I say’t, this is accounted ofIn our Village; but I had another but now,Which I blew off in a high Wind; and I never mist it,Till I had an occasion to pluck it off to a youngSquire, they call a Lacquey; and, Fegs,I had none at all: and because I would not loseMy Leg for want of a Hat, I fetch’d this;And I can tell you, Sir, it has a fashionable Brim.Lor.A Fool’s head of your own, has it not?The Boys will hoot at us as we pass—hah,Who be these, who be these—Goes towardsCur.andPiet.Cur.Here—this toDon Alonso—this to theEnglishCount; and this you may shew to theYoungGermanPrince—and this—I will reserve for higher Prices.GivesPiet.Pictures.Piet.Will you shew none to the Courtiers, Sir?Cur.Away, you Fool, I deal in no such Trash.Lor.How, Sir, how was that? pray how came we toGain your dis-favour?Cur.I cry you mercy, Sir, pray what are you;Lor.A Courtier, Sir, I can assure you,And one of the best Rank too;I have the Prince’s ear, Sir.—What have you there, hah?—Pictures? let me see—What, are they to be bought?Cur.Sir, they are Copies of most fair Originals,Not to be bought but hired.Lor.Say you so, Friend? the Price, the Price.Cur.Five thousand Crowns a Month, Sir.Lor.The Price is somewhat saucy.Cur.Sir, they be curious Pieces, were never blown upon,Have never been in Courts, nor hardly Cities.Lor.Upon my word, that’s considerable;Friend, pray where do they live?Cur.In thePiazzo, near the Palace.Lor.Well, put up your Ware, shew not a face of themTill I return! for I will bring youThe best Chapman in allFlorence,Except the Duke himself.Cur.You must be speedy then,For I to morrow shall be going towardsRome.Lor.A subtle Rascal this: thou think’st, I warrant,To make a better Market amongst the Cardinals.—But take my word, ne’er a Cardinal of them allComes near this Man, I mean, to bring you inMatters of Beauty—so, this will infallibly makeMy Peace again:Aside.Look ye, Friend—Be ready, for ’tis the Prince, the noble generousFrederick,That I design your Merchant.Goes out.Cur.Your Servant, Sir,—that isGuilliam;I cannot be mistaken in him, go call him back.Pietrofetches him back, who puts on a surly Face.—Friend, what art thou?Guil.What am I? why, what am I? dost thou not seeWhat I am? a Courtier, Friend.Cur.But what’s thy Name?Guil.My Name, I have not yet considered.Cur.What was thy Name?Guil.What was my Name?Cur.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.Guil.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.Cur.Dog, do’st eccho me? do’st thou repeat?I say again, what is thy Name?Shakes him.Guil.Oh horrible!—why, Sir, it wasGuilliamWhen I was a silly Swain.Cur.Guilliam—the same;Didst thou not know a Maid whose name wasCloris?Guil.Yes, there was such a Maid,But now she’s none!Cur.Was such a Maid, but now she’s none!—The Slave upbraids my Griefs.Aside.Guil.Yes, Sir, so I said.Cur.So you said!Guil.Why, yes, Sir, what, do you repeat?Cur.What mean you, Sirrah? have you a mind toHave your Throat cut? tell me where she is.Guil.I dare as well be hang’d.Now must I devise a lye, or never lookClorisIn the Face more.Aside.Cur.Here’s Gold for thee; I will be secret too.Guil.Oh, Sir, the poor Maid you speak of is dead.Cur.Dead! where dy’d she? and how?Guil.Now am I put to my wits; this ’tis to beginIn Sin, as our Curate said: I must go on:Aside.—Why, Sir, she came into the Wood—and hard by aRiver-side—she sigh’d, and she wept full sore;And cry’d two or three times out uponCurtius,—And—then—Howls.Cur.PoorCloris, thy Fate was too severe.Guil.And then as I was saying, Sir,She leapt into the River, and swam up the Stream.Cur.weeps.Piet.And why up the Stream, Friend?Guil.Because she was a Woman—and that’s all.Ex.Guil.
Lor.O Sir, I’m glad I’ve found you; forI have the rarest News for you.Fred.What News?Lor.Oh the Devil, he’s angry;—Why, Sir, the prettiest young—Fred.There’s for your Intelligence.Strikes him, and goes out.Lor.So, very well; how mortal is the favour ofPrinces! these be turns of State now; what theDevil ails he trow; sure he could not beOffended with the News I have brought him;If he be, he’s strangely out of tune:And sure he has too much Wit to grow virtuous at theseYears. No, no, he has had some repulse from aLady; and that’s a wonder; for he has a Tongue and aPurse that seldom fails: if Youth and Vigour wouldStretch as far, he were the wonder of the Age.
Lor.O Sir, I’m glad I’ve found you; for
I have the rarest News for you.
Fred.What News?
Lor.Oh the Devil, he’s angry;—Why, Sir, the prettiest young—
Fred.There’s for your Intelligence.Strikes him, and goes out.
Lor.So, very well; how mortal is the favour of
Princes! these be turns of State now; what the
Devil ails he trow; sure he could not be
Offended with the News I have brought him;
If he be, he’s strangely out of tune:
And sure he has too much Wit to grow virtuous at these
Years. No, no, he has had some repulse from a
Lady; and that’s a wonder; for he has a Tongue and a
Purse that seldom fails: if Youth and Vigour would
Stretch as far, he were the wonder of the Age.
EnterCurtius.
Cur.Lorenzo, didst thou see the Prince?Lor.Marry, did I, and feel him too.Cur.Why, did he strike you?Lor.I’m no true Subject if he did not; and thatOnly for doing that Service which once was most acceptableTo him.—Prithee what’s the matter with him, hah?Cur.I know not, leave me.Lor.Leave thee, what, art thou out of humour too?Let me but know who ’tis has disoblig’d thee, and I’ll—Cur.What wilt thou?Lor.Never see his Face more, if a Man.Cur.And what if a Woman?Lor.Then she’s an idle peevish Slut, I’ll warrant her.Cur.Conclude it so, and leave me.Lor.Nay, now thou hast said the only thing that couldKeep me with thee, thou mayst be desperate; I’llTell you,Curtius, these female Mischiefs make MenTake dangerous Resolutions sometimes.
Cur.Lorenzo, didst thou see the Prince?
Lor.Marry, did I, and feel him too.
Cur.Why, did he strike you?
Lor.I’m no true Subject if he did not; and that
Only for doing that Service which once was most acceptable
To him.—Prithee what’s the matter with him, hah?
Cur.I know not, leave me.
Lor.Leave thee, what, art thou out of humour too?
Let me but know who ’tis has disoblig’d thee, and I’ll—
Cur.What wilt thou?
Lor.Never see his Face more, if a Man.
Cur.And what if a Woman?
Lor.Then she’s an idle peevish Slut, I’ll warrant her.
Cur.Conclude it so, and leave me.
Lor.Nay, now thou hast said the only thing that could
Keep me with thee, thou mayst be desperate; I’ll
Tell you,Curtius, these female Mischiefs make Men
Take dangerous Resolutions sometimes.
EnterAlberto.
Alb.Curtius, I’ve something to deliver to your Ear.Whispers.
Cur.Any thing fromAlbertois welcome.
Lor.Well, I will be hang’d if there be not someMischief in agitation; it cannot be wenching;They look all too dull and sober for that;And besides, then I should have been a party concern’d.Cur.The place and time.Alb.An hour hence i’th’ Grove by the River-side.Cur.Alone, thou say’st?Alb.Alone, the Prince will have it so.Cur.I will not fail a moment.Ex.Alb.—So this has eas’d my heart of half its Load.Lor.I’ll sneak away, for this is some fightingBusiness, and I may perhaps be invited a Second,A Compliment I care not for.Offers to go.Cur.Lorenzo, a word with you.Lor.’Tis so, what shall I do now?Aside.Cur.Stay.Lor.I am a little in haste, my Lord.Cur.I shall soon dispatch you.Lor.I believe so, for I am half dead alreadyWith Fear.Aside.—Sir, I have promis’d to make a visitTo a Lady, and—Cur.What I’ve to say will not detain you long.Lor.What a Dog was I, I went notWhen he first desir’d me to go!Oh Impertinency, thou art justly rewarded!Cur.Lorenzo, may I believe you love me?Lor.Now what shall I say, Ay or no?Aside.The Devil take me if I know.Cur.Will you do me a favour?Lor.There ’tis again.Aside.Cur.I know I may trust thee with a secret.Lor.Truly,Curtius, I cannot tell.In some cases I am not very retentive.Cur.I am going about a business, that perhapsMay take up all the time I have to live,And I may never see thy Sister more;Will you oblige me in a Message to her?Lor.You know you may command me;—I’m glad ’tis no worse.Aside.Cur.Come, go with me into my Cabinet,And there I’ll write toLaura;And prithee if thou hear’st that I am dead,Tell her I fell a Sacrifice to her,And that’s enough, she understands the rest.
Lor.Well, I will be hang’d if there be not some
Mischief in agitation; it cannot be wenching;
They look all too dull and sober for that;
And besides, then I should have been a party concern’d.
Cur.The place and time.
Alb.An hour hence i’th’ Grove by the River-side.
Cur.Alone, thou say’st?
Alb.Alone, the Prince will have it so.
Cur.I will not fail a moment.Ex.Alb.
—So this has eas’d my heart of half its Load.
Lor.I’ll sneak away, for this is some fighting
Business, and I may perhaps be invited a Second,
A Compliment I care not for.Offers to go.
Cur.Lorenzo, a word with you.
Lor.’Tis so, what shall I do now?Aside.
Cur.Stay.
Lor.I am a little in haste, my Lord.
Cur.I shall soon dispatch you.
Lor.I believe so, for I am half dead already
With Fear.Aside.—Sir, I have promis’d to make a visit
To a Lady, and—
Cur.What I’ve to say will not detain you long.
Lor.What a Dog was I, I went not
When he first desir’d me to go!
Oh Impertinency, thou art justly rewarded!
Cur.Lorenzo, may I believe you love me?
Lor.Now what shall I say, Ay or no?Aside.
The Devil take me if I know.
Cur.Will you do me a favour?
Lor.There ’tis again.Aside.
Cur.I know I may trust thee with a secret.
Lor.Truly,Curtius, I cannot tell.
In some cases I am not very retentive.
Cur.I am going about a business, that perhaps
May take up all the time I have to live,
And I may never see thy Sister more;
Will you oblige me in a Message to her?
Lor.You know you may command me;
—I’m glad ’tis no worse.Aside.
Cur.Come, go with me into my Cabinet,
And there I’ll write toLaura;
And prithee if thou hear’st that I am dead,
Tell her I fell a Sacrifice to her,
And that’s enough, she understands the rest.
Lor.But harkye,Curtius, by your favour, this is but a Scurvy Tale to carry to your Mistress;
I hope you are not in earnest.
Cur.Yes.
Lor.Yes! why, what a foolish idle humour’s this in you? I vow ’twill go near to break the poor Girl’s Heart;—
Come, be advis’d, Man.
Cur.Perhaps I may consider on’t for that reason.
Lor.There are few that go about such businesses,But have one thing or other to consider in favour of Life;I find that even in the most magnanimous:—Prithee who is’t with?Cur.That’s counsel: and pray let this too which I haveTold you be a Secret, for ’twill concern your Life.Lor.GoodCurtius, take it back again then;For a hundred to one but my over-care of keeping itWill betray it.Cur.Thou lovest thy self better.
Lor.There are few that go about such businesses,
But have one thing or other to consider in favour of Life;
I find that even in the most magnanimous:—
Prithee who is’t with?
Cur.That’s counsel: and pray let this too which I have
Told you be a Secret, for ’twill concern your Life.
Lor.GoodCurtius, take it back again then;
For a hundred to one but my over-care of keeping it
Will betray it.
Cur.Thou lovest thy self better.
Lor.Well, that’s a comfort yet.
Exeunt.
EnterClorisdressed like a Country-Boy, follow’d byGuilliama Clown;Cloriscomes reading a Letter.
Clo.Reads.Cloris, beware of Men; for though I my self be one,Yet I have the Frailties of my Sex, and can dissemble too;Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;We make Vows to all alike we see,And even the best of Men, the Prince,Is not to be credited in an affair of Love.—OhCurtius, thy advice was very kind;Had it arriv’d before I’ad been undone!—CanFredericktoo be false!A Prince, and be unjust to her that loves him too?—Surely it is impossible—Perhaps thou lov’st me too, and this may bePointing to the Letter.Some Plot of thine to try my Constancy:—Howe’er it be, since he could fail last nightOf seeing me, I have at least a cause to justifyThis shameful change; and sure in this Disguise,I shall not soon be known, dost think I shall?Looks on herself.Guil.Why, forsooth, what do you intend to pass for,A Maid or a Boy?Clo.Why, what I seem to be, will it not do?Guil.Yes, yes, it may do, but I know not what;I would Love would transmography me to a Maid now,—We should be the prettiest Couple:Don’t you remember when you dress’d me up the lastCarnival, was I not the woundiest handsome LassA body could see in a Summer’s day?There wasClaudthe Shepherd as freakish after me,I’ll warrant you, and simper’d and tript it like any thing.Clo.Ay, but they say ’tis dangerous for youngMaids to live at Court.Guil.Nay, then I should be loth to give temptation.—Pray, forsooth, what’s that you read so often there?Clo.An advice to young Maids that are in love.Guil.Ay, ay, that same Love is a very vengeance thing,Wou’d I were in love too; I see it makes a body valiant;One neither feels Hunger nor Cold that is possest with it.Clo.Thou art i’th’ right, it can do Miracles.Guil.So it seems, for without a Miracle you and I could neverHave rambled about these Woods all night without either Bottle or Wallet:I could e’en cry for hunger now.Clo.What a dull Soul this Fellow hath?Sure it can never feel the generous PainsOf Love, as mine does now; oh, how I gloryTo find my Heart above the common rate!Were not my Prince inconstant,I would not envy what the Blessed do above:But he is false, good Heaven!—Weeps.Guil.howls.—What dost thou feel, that thou shouldst weep with me?Guil.Nothing but Hunger, sharp Hunger, forsooth.Clo.Leave calling me forsooth, it will betray us.Guil.What shall I call you then?Clo.Call me,Philibert, or any thing;And be familiar with me: put on thy Hat, lest any come and see us.Guil.’Tis a hard name, but I’ll learn it by heart.—Well,Philibert—What shall we do when we come to Court?Puts on his Hat.Besides eating and drinking, which I shall do in abundance.Clo.We must get each of us a Service:—But thou art such a Clown.Guil.Nay, say not so, honestPhilibert: for look ye,I am much the properer Fellow of the two.Walks.Clo.Well, try thy fortune; but be sure you never discoverMe, whatever Questions may chance to be asked thee.Guil.I warrant thee, honest Lad, I am true and trusty;But I must be very familiar with you, you say.Clo.Yes, before Company.Guil.Pray let me begin and practise a little now,An’t please you, for fear I should not be saucy enough,When we arrive at Court.Clo.I’ll warrant you you’ll soon learn there.Guil.Oh Lord,Philibert! Philibert!I see a Man a comingMost deadly fine, let’s run away.Clo.Thus thou hast serv’d me all this night,There’s not a Bush we come at, but thou start’st thus.Guil.’Tis true you are a Lover, and may stay the danger on’t;But I’ll make sure for one.Clo.It is the Prince, oh Gods! what makes he here?With Looks disorder’d too; this Place is fit for Death and sadDespair; the melancholy Spring a sleepy murmur makes,A proper Consort for departing Souls,When mix’d with dying Groans, and the thick BoughsCompose a dismal Roof;Dark as the gloomy Shades of Death or Graves.—He comes this way, I’ll hide my self awhile.Goes behind a Bush.
Clo.Reads.Cloris, beware of Men; for though I my self be one,Yet I have the Frailties of my Sex, and can dissemble too;Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;We make Vows to all alike we see,And even the best of Men, the Prince,Is not to be credited in an affair of Love.
Clo.Reads.Cloris, beware of Men; for though I my self be one,
Yet I have the Frailties of my Sex, and can dissemble too;
Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;
We make Vows to all alike we see,
And even the best of Men, the Prince,
Is not to be credited in an affair of Love.
—OhCurtius, thy advice was very kind;
Had it arriv’d before I’ad been undone!
—CanFredericktoo be false!
A Prince, and be unjust to her that loves him too?
—Surely it is impossible—
Perhaps thou lov’st me too, and this may bePointing to the Letter.
Some Plot of thine to try my Constancy:
—Howe’er it be, since he could fail last night
Of seeing me, I have at least a cause to justify
This shameful change; and sure in this Disguise,
I shall not soon be known, dost think I shall?Looks on herself.
Guil.Why, forsooth, what do you intend to pass for,
A Maid or a Boy?
Clo.Why, what I seem to be, will it not do?
Guil.Yes, yes, it may do, but I know not what;
I would Love would transmography me to a Maid now,
—We should be the prettiest Couple:
Don’t you remember when you dress’d me up the last
Carnival, was I not the woundiest handsome Lass
A body could see in a Summer’s day?
There wasClaudthe Shepherd as freakish after me,
I’ll warrant you, and simper’d and tript it like any thing.
Clo.Ay, but they say ’tis dangerous for young
Maids to live at Court.
Guil.Nay, then I should be loth to give temptation.
—Pray, forsooth, what’s that you read so often there?
Clo.An advice to young Maids that are in love.
Guil.Ay, ay, that same Love is a very vengeance thing,
Wou’d I were in love too; I see it makes a body valiant;
One neither feels Hunger nor Cold that is possest with it.
Clo.Thou art i’th’ right, it can do Miracles.
Guil.So it seems, for without a Miracle you and I could never
Have rambled about these Woods all night without either Bottle or Wallet:
I could e’en cry for hunger now.
Clo.What a dull Soul this Fellow hath?
Sure it can never feel the generous Pains
Of Love, as mine does now; oh, how I glory
To find my Heart above the common rate!
Were not my Prince inconstant,
I would not envy what the Blessed do above:
But he is false, good Heaven!—Weeps.Guil.howls.
—What dost thou feel, that thou shouldst weep with me?
Guil.Nothing but Hunger, sharp Hunger, forsooth.
Clo.Leave calling me forsooth, it will betray us.
Guil.What shall I call you then?
Clo.Call me,Philibert, or any thing;
And be familiar with me: put on thy Hat, lest any come and see us.
Guil.’Tis a hard name, but I’ll learn it by heart.
—Well,Philibert—What shall we do when we come to Court?Puts on his Hat.
Besides eating and drinking, which I shall do in abundance.
Clo.We must get each of us a Service:
—But thou art such a Clown.
Guil.Nay, say not so, honestPhilibert: for look ye,
I am much the properer Fellow of the two.Walks.
Clo.Well, try thy fortune; but be sure you never discover
Me, whatever Questions may chance to be asked thee.
Guil.I warrant thee, honest Lad, I am true and trusty;
But I must be very familiar with you, you say.
Clo.Yes, before Company.
Guil.Pray let me begin and practise a little now,
An’t please you, for fear I should not be saucy enough,
When we arrive at Court.
Clo.I’ll warrant you you’ll soon learn there.
Guil.Oh Lord,Philibert! Philibert!I see a Man a coming
Most deadly fine, let’s run away.
Clo.Thus thou hast serv’d me all this night,
There’s not a Bush we come at, but thou start’st thus.
Guil.’Tis true you are a Lover, and may stay the danger on’t;
But I’ll make sure for one.
Clo.It is the Prince, oh Gods! what makes he here?
With Looks disorder’d too; this Place is fit for Death and sad
Despair; the melancholy Spring a sleepy murmur makes,
A proper Consort for departing Souls,
When mix’d with dying Groans, and the thick Boughs
Compose a dismal Roof;
Dark as the gloomy Shades of Death or Graves.
—He comes this way, I’ll hide my self awhile.Goes behind a Bush.
EnterFrederick.
Fred.But yet not this, nor my despight toLaura,Shall make me out of love with Life,Whilst I have youthful Fires about my Heart:—Yet I must fight withCurtius,And so chastise the Pride of that fond Maid,Whose saucy Virtue durst controul my Flame.—And yet I love her not as I doCloris;But fain I would have overcome that Chastity,Of which the foolish Beauty boasts so.Clo.Curtius, I thank thee, now I do believe thee.Guilliam, if thou seest any fighting anon,The Prince walks.Be sure you run out and call some body.Guil.You need not bid me run away, when I onceSee them go to that.
Fred.But yet not this, nor my despight toLaura,
Shall make me out of love with Life,
Whilst I have youthful Fires about my Heart:
—Yet I must fight withCurtius,
And so chastise the Pride of that fond Maid,
Whose saucy Virtue durst controul my Flame.
—And yet I love her not as I doCloris;
But fain I would have overcome that Chastity,
Of which the foolish Beauty boasts so.
Clo.Curtius, I thank thee, now I do believe thee.
Guilliam, if thou seest any fighting anon,The Prince walks.
Be sure you run out and call some body.
Guil.You need not bid me run away, when I once
See them go to that.
EnterCurtius.
Cur.Sir, I am come as you commanded me.Fred.When you consider what you’ve lately done,You will not wonder why I sent for you;And when I mean to fight, I do not use to parly:Come draw.Cur.Shew me my Enemy, and then if I am slow—Fred.I am he, needst thou one more powerful?Cur.You, Sir! what have I done to make you so?Fred.If yet thou want’st a further proof of it,Know I’ll dispute my Claim toLaura.Cur.That must not be with me, Sir;God forbid that I should raise my Arm against my Prince.—IfLaurahave so little Faith and Virtue,To render up that Right belongs to me,With all my heart I yield herTo any but to you:And, Sir, for your own sake you must not have her.Fred.Your Reason?Cur.Sir, you’re already married.Fred.Thou lyest, and seek’st excuses for thy Cowardice.Cur.I wish you would recal that hasty Injury;Yet this I’ll bear from you, who know ’tis false.Fred.Will nothing move thee?Cur.You would believe so, Sir, if I should tell you,That besides all this, I have a juster Cause.Fred.Juster than that ofLaura? call it up, then,And let it save thee from a further shame.Cur.Yes, so I will, ’tis that ofCloris,Who needs my aids much more;Do you remember such a Virgin, Sir?For so she was till she knewFrederick,The sweetest Innocent that ever Nature made.Fred.Not thy own Honour, nor thy Love toLaura,Would make thee draw, and now atCloris’NameThou art incens’d, thy Eyes all red with Rage:—Oh, thou hast rouz’d my Soul!Nor would I justify my Wrongs to her,Unless it were to satisfy my Jealousy,Which thou hast rais’d in me by this concern.—Draw, or I’ll kill thee.Cur.Stay, Sir, and hear me out.Fred.I will not stay, now I reflect on allThy former kindness to her—Cur.I will not fight, but I’ll defend my self.They fight.Fred.We are betray’d.Cur.Yes, Sir, and you are wounded.Guil.runs bawling out, they are both wounded.Clo.Oh Heaven defend the Prince!She peeps.Fred.I hear some coming, go, be gone,And save thy self by flight.Frederickstands leaning on his Sword.Cur.Sir, give me leave to stay, my flight will look like Guilt.Fred.By no means,Curtius, thou wilt be taken here,And thou shalt never charge me with that Crime of betrayingThee: when we meet next, we’ll end it.
Cur.Sir, I am come as you commanded me.
Fred.When you consider what you’ve lately done,
You will not wonder why I sent for you;
And when I mean to fight, I do not use to parly:
Come draw.
Cur.Shew me my Enemy, and then if I am slow—
Fred.I am he, needst thou one more powerful?
Cur.You, Sir! what have I done to make you so?
Fred.If yet thou want’st a further proof of it,
Know I’ll dispute my Claim toLaura.
Cur.That must not be with me, Sir;
God forbid that I should raise my Arm against my Prince.
—IfLaurahave so little Faith and Virtue,
To render up that Right belongs to me,
With all my heart I yield her
To any but to you:
And, Sir, for your own sake you must not have her.
Fred.Your Reason?
Cur.Sir, you’re already married.
Fred.Thou lyest, and seek’st excuses for thy Cowardice.
Cur.I wish you would recal that hasty Injury;
Yet this I’ll bear from you, who know ’tis false.
Fred.Will nothing move thee?
Cur.You would believe so, Sir, if I should tell you,
That besides all this, I have a juster Cause.
Fred.Juster than that ofLaura? call it up, then,
And let it save thee from a further shame.
Cur.Yes, so I will, ’tis that ofCloris,
Who needs my aids much more;
Do you remember such a Virgin, Sir?
For so she was till she knewFrederick,
The sweetest Innocent that ever Nature made.
Fred.Not thy own Honour, nor thy Love toLaura,
Would make thee draw, and now atCloris’Name
Thou art incens’d, thy Eyes all red with Rage:
—Oh, thou hast rouz’d my Soul!
Nor would I justify my Wrongs to her,
Unless it were to satisfy my Jealousy,
Which thou hast rais’d in me by this concern.
—Draw, or I’ll kill thee.
Cur.Stay, Sir, and hear me out.
Fred.I will not stay, now I reflect on all
Thy former kindness to her—
Cur.I will not fight, but I’ll defend my self.They fight.
Fred.We are betray’d.
Cur.Yes, Sir, and you are wounded.Guil.runs bawling out, they are both wounded.
Clo.Oh Heaven defend the Prince!She peeps.
Fred.I hear some coming, go, be gone,
And save thy self by flight.Frederickstands leaning on his Sword.
Cur.Sir, give me leave to stay, my flight will look like Guilt.
Fred.By no means,Curtius, thou wilt be taken here,
And thou shalt never charge me with that Crime of betraying
Thee: when we meet next, we’ll end it.
Cur.I must obey you then.Exit.
EnterCloris.
Clo.Sir, has the Villain hurt you?She supports him.—Pray Heaven my Sorrows do not betray me now;For since he’s false, I fain would die conceal’d.Aside.—Shew me your Wound, and I will tie it up.Alas, you bleed extremely.—Fred.Kind Youth, thy Succours are in vain, though welcome;For though I bleed, I am not wounded much.Clo.No? why did you let him pass unpunish’d then,Who would have hurt you more?
Clo.Sir, has the Villain hurt you?She supports him.
—Pray Heaven my Sorrows do not betray me now;
For since he’s false, I fain would die conceal’d.Aside.
—Shew me your Wound, and I will tie it up.
Alas, you bleed extremely.—
Fred.Kind Youth, thy Succours are in vain, though welcome;
For though I bleed, I am not wounded much.
Clo.No? why did you let him pass unpunish’d then,
Who would have hurt you more?
EnterGuilliamwithGalliard.
Gal.Where was’t?Guil.Look ye, Sir, there, don’t you see them?Gal.How does your Highness? This Fellow told meOf a quarrel here, which made me haste.Fred.Be silent, and carry me to my own apartment.Gal.Alas, Sir, is it you that fought?Fred.No more Questions.—Kind Boy, pray leave me not till I have foundA way to recompense thy pretty care of me.
Gal.Where was’t?
Guil.Look ye, Sir, there, don’t you see them?
Gal.How does your Highness? This Fellow told me
Of a quarrel here, which made me haste.
Fred.Be silent, and carry me to my own apartment.
Gal.Alas, Sir, is it you that fought?
Fred.No more Questions.—
Kind Boy, pray leave me not till I have found
A way to recompense thy pretty care of me.
Clo.I will wait on you, Sir.
Exeunt all butGuil.
EnterLorenzoand hisPage. Peeps first.
Lor.What’s the matter here? the Prince is wounded too.Oh, what a Dog was I to know of some such thing,And not secure them all?Lor.stands gazing atGuil.Guil.standstaberinghis Hat, and scruing his Face.—What’s here? Ha, ha, ha, this is the pleasantestFellow that e’er I saw in my Life.Prithee, Friend, what’s thy Name?Guil.My Name, an’t shall like ye.My Name, it isGuilliam.Lor.From whence comest thou?Guil.From a Village a great huge way off.Lor.And what’s thy business here, hah?Guil.Truly, Sir, not to tell a Lye;I come to get a Service here at Court.Lor.A Service at Court! ha, ha, that’s a pleasantHumour, i’faith. Why, Fellow, what canst thou do?Guil.Do, Sir! I can do any thing.Lor.Why, what canst thou do? canst thou dress well?—Set a Peruke to advantage, tie a Crevat,And Cuffs? put on a Belt with dexterity, hah?These be the Parts that must recommend you.Guil.I know not what you mean,But I am sure I can do them all.Lor.Thou art confident it seems, and I can tellYou, Sirrah, that’s a great step to Preferment;—But well, go on then, canst ride the great Horse?Guil.The biggest in all our TownI have rid a thousand times.Lor.That’s well; canst fence?Guil.Fence, Sir, what’s that?Lor.A Term we use for the Art and Skill of handling a Weapon.Guil.I can thrash, Sir.Lor.What’s that, Man?Guil.Why, Sir, it is—it is—thrashing.Lor.An Artist, I vow; canst play on any Musick?Guil.Oh, most rogically, Sir, I have a Bagpipe thatEvery Breath sets the whole Village a dancing.Lor.Better still; and thou canst dance, I’ll warrant?Guil.Dance, he, he, he, I vow you’ve light onMy Master-piece, y’fegs.Lor.And I’ll try thee: Boy, go fetch some of theTo thePage.Musick hither which I keep in pay.Ex.Page.—But hark you, Friend, though I love Dancing very well,And that may recommend thee in a great degree;Yet ’tis wholly necessary that you should be valiant too:We Great ones ought to be serv’d by Men of Valour,For we are very liable to be affronted by many hereTo our Faces, which we would gladly have beaten behindOur Backs.—But Pox on’t, thou hast not the HuffAnd Grimace of a Man of Prowess.Guil.As for fighting, though I do not care for it,Yet I can do’t if any body angers me, or so.Lor.But I must have you learn to do’t whenAny body angers me too.Guil.Sir, they told me I should have no need on’tHere; but I shall learn.Lor.Why, you Fool, that’s not a thing to be learn’d,—That’s a brave Inclination born with Man,A brave undaunted something, a thing that,That comes from, from, I know not what,For I was born without it.
Lor.What’s the matter here? the Prince is wounded too.
Oh, what a Dog was I to know of some such thing,
And not secure them all?Lor.stands gazing atGuil.Guil.standstaberinghis Hat, and scruing his Face.
—What’s here? Ha, ha, ha, this is the pleasantest
Fellow that e’er I saw in my Life.
Prithee, Friend, what’s thy Name?
Guil.My Name, an’t shall like ye.
My Name, it isGuilliam.
Lor.From whence comest thou?
Guil.From a Village a great huge way off.
Lor.And what’s thy business here, hah?
Guil.Truly, Sir, not to tell a Lye;
I come to get a Service here at Court.
Lor.A Service at Court! ha, ha, that’s a pleasant
Humour, i’faith. Why, Fellow, what canst thou do?
Guil.Do, Sir! I can do any thing.
Lor.Why, what canst thou do? canst thou dress well?
—Set a Peruke to advantage, tie a Crevat,
And Cuffs? put on a Belt with dexterity, hah?
These be the Parts that must recommend you.
Guil.I know not what you mean,
But I am sure I can do them all.
Lor.Thou art confident it seems, and I can tell
You, Sirrah, that’s a great step to Preferment;
—But well, go on then, canst ride the great Horse?
Guil.The biggest in all our Town
I have rid a thousand times.
Lor.That’s well; canst fence?
Guil.Fence, Sir, what’s that?
Lor.A Term we use for the Art and Skill of handling a Weapon.
Guil.I can thrash, Sir.
Lor.What’s that, Man?
Guil.Why, Sir, it is—it is—thrashing.
Lor.An Artist, I vow; canst play on any Musick?
Guil.Oh, most rogically, Sir, I have a Bagpipe that
Every Breath sets the whole Village a dancing.
Lor.Better still; and thou canst dance, I’ll warrant?
Guil.Dance, he, he, he, I vow you’ve light on
My Master-piece, y’fegs.
Lor.And I’ll try thee: Boy, go fetch some of theTo thePage.
Musick hither which I keep in pay.Ex.Page.
—But hark you, Friend, though I love Dancing very well,
And that may recommend thee in a great degree;
Yet ’tis wholly necessary that you should be valiant too:
We Great ones ought to be serv’d by Men of Valour,
For we are very liable to be affronted by many here
To our Faces, which we would gladly have beaten behind
Our Backs.—But Pox on’t, thou hast not the Huff
And Grimace of a Man of Prowess.
Guil.As for fighting, though I do not care for it,
Yet I can do’t if any body angers me, or so.
Lor.But I must have you learn to do’t when
Any body angers me too.
Guil.Sir, they told me I should have no need on’t
Here; but I shall learn.
Lor.Why, you Fool, that’s not a thing to be learn’d,
—That’s a brave Inclination born with Man,
A brave undaunted something, a thing that,
That comes from, from, I know not what,
For I was born without it.
EnterPageand Musick.
Oh, are you come? let’s see, Sirrah, your Activity,For I must tell you that’s another step to Preferment.He dances a Jigen Paisant.’Tis well perform’d; well, hadst thou but Wit,Valour,Bone Mine, good Garb, a Peruke,Conduct and Secrecy in Love-Affairs, and halfA dozen more good Qualities, thou wertFit for something; but I will try thee.Boy, let him have better Clothes; as for his Documents,I’ll give him those my self.Guil.Hah, I don’t like that word, it sounds terribly.Aside.Ex.PageandGuil.with Musick.Lor.This Fellow may be of use to me; beingDoubtless very honest, because he is so very simple:For to say truth, we Men of Parts are sometimesOver-wise, witness my last night’s retreatFrom but a supposed Danger, and returning to fallInto a real one. Well, I’ll now toIsabella,And know her final Resolution; ifClarinawillBe kind, so; if not, there be those that will.—And though I cannot any Conquest boastFor all the Time and Money I have lost,At least ofIsabelI’ll be reveng’d,And have the flattering Baggage soundly swing’d;And rather than she shall escape my Anger,My self shall be the Hero that shall bang her.
Oh, are you come? let’s see, Sirrah, your Activity,
For I must tell you that’s another step to Preferment.He dances a Jigen Paisant.
’Tis well perform’d; well, hadst thou but Wit,
Valour,Bone Mine, good Garb, a Peruke,
Conduct and Secrecy in Love-Affairs, and half
A dozen more good Qualities, thou wert
Fit for something; but I will try thee.
Boy, let him have better Clothes; as for his Documents,
I’ll give him those my self.
Guil.Hah, I don’t like that word, it sounds terribly.Aside.
Ex.PageandGuil.with Musick.
Lor.This Fellow may be of use to me; being
Doubtless very honest, because he is so very simple:
For to say truth, we Men of Parts are sometimes
Over-wise, witness my last night’s retreat
From but a supposed Danger, and returning to fall
Into a real one. Well, I’ll now toIsabella,
And know her final Resolution; ifClarinawill
Be kind, so; if not, there be those that will.
—And though I cannot any Conquest boast
For all the Time and Money I have lost,
At least ofIsabelI’ll be reveng’d,
And have the flattering Baggage soundly swing’d;
And rather than she shall escape my Anger,
My self shall be the Hero that shall bang her.
Exit.
EnterIsmenaandIsabella.
Isab.Madam, turn your back to that side,For thereAntoniois hid; he must not see yourFace: now raise your Voice, that he may hear what ’tis you say.Ism.I’ll warrant you,Isabella:Was ever wretched Woman’s Fate like mine,Forc’d to obey the rigid Laws of Parents,And marry with a Man I did not love?Ant.Oh, there’s my cause of Fear.Ant.peeps.Ism.Though since I had him, thou know’st I have endeavour’dTo make his Will my Law,Till by degrees and Custom, which makes things natural,I found this Heart, which ne’er had been engag’dTo any other, grow more soft to him;And still the more he lov’d, the more I was oblig’d,And made returns still kinder; till I becameNot only to allow, but to repay his Tenderness.
Isab.Madam, turn your back to that side,
For thereAntoniois hid; he must not see your
Face: now raise your Voice, that he may hear what ’tis you say.
Ism.I’ll warrant you,Isabella:
Was ever wretched Woman’s Fate like mine,
Forc’d to obey the rigid Laws of Parents,
And marry with a Man I did not love?
Ant.Oh, there’s my cause of Fear.Ant.peeps.
Ism.Though since I had him, thou know’st I have endeavour’d
To make his Will my Law,
Till by degrees and Custom, which makes things natural,
I found this Heart, which ne’er had been engag’d
To any other, grow more soft to him;
And still the more he lov’d, the more I was oblig’d,
And made returns still kinder; till I became
Not only to allow, but to repay his Tenderness.
Isab.She counterfeits rarely.Aside.
Madam, indeed I have observ’d this truth.
Ism.See who ’tis knocks.One knocks.
Ant.What will this come to?Aside.
Isab.Madam, ’tisAlberto.
EnterAlberto. Bows.
Ism.My Lord, you’ve often told me that you lov’d me,Which I with Womens usual Pride believ’d;And now, encourag’d by my hopeful Promises,You look for some Returns: Sir, is it so?Alb.What means she?Pray Heaven I answer right.Aside.—Madam, if I have err’d in that belief,To know I do so, is sufficient punishment.—Lovers, Madam, though they have no returns,Like sinking Men, still catch at all they meet with;And whilst they live, though in the midst of Storms,Because they wish, they also hope for Calms.Ism.And did you, Sir, consider who I was?Alb.Yes, Madam, Wife unto my FriendAntonio,The only Man that has an Interest here:—But, Madam, that must still submit to Love.Ism.Canst thou at once be true to him and me?Alb.Madam, I know not that;But since I must lose one,My Friendship I can better lay aside.Ism.Hast thou forgot how dear thou art to him?Alb.No, I do believe I am, and that his LifeWere but a worthless trifle, if I needed it.Yet, Madam, you are dearer to him stillThan hisAlberto; and ’tis so with me:—Him I esteem, but you I do adore;And he whose Soul’s insensible of Love,Can never grateful to his Friendship prove.Ism.By your example, Sir, I’ll still retainMy Love for him; and what I had for you,Which was but Friendship, I’ll abandon too.Ant.HappyAntonio.—Aside.Ism.Pray what have youAntoniocannot own?Has he not equal Beauty, if not exceeding thine?Has he not equal Vigour, Wit, and Valour?And all that even raises Men to Gods,Wert not for poor Mortality?—Vain Man, couldst thou believeThat I would quit my Duty to this Husband,And sacrifice his Right to thee?—Couldst thou believe me yesterday?When from thy Importunity and Impudence,To send thee from me,I promised thee to love thee.—Nay, rather, treacherous Man,Couldst thou believe Idid not hatethee then,Who basely would betray thy Friend and me?Alb.Sure this is earnest.Aside.Ant.Oh braveClarina!Aside.Ism.Speak, Traitor to my Fame and Honour;Was there no Woman, butAntonio’sWife,With whom thou couldst commit so foul a Crime?And none but he to bring to publick Shame?A Man who trusted thee, and lov’d thee too?—Speak—and if yet thou hast a sense of Virtue,Call to the Saints for pardon, or thou dy’st.She draws a Poniard, and runs at him; he steps back to avoid it.Alb.Hold,Clarina!—I am amaz’d.Ism.But stay.Thou say’st my Beauty forc’d thee to this Wickedness,And that’s the cause you have abus’dAntonio.—Nor is it all the Power I have with him,Can make him credit what I tell him of thee;And should I live, I still must be pursu’d by thee,And unbeliev’d by him:—Alberto, thou shalt ne’er be guilty more,Whilst this—and this may meet.Offering to wound her self, is stay’d byAlb.andIsab.TheysetIsm.in a Chair;Alb.kneels weeping.Alb.Hold, my divineClarina.—Ant.Shall I discover my self, or steal away?Aside.And all asham’d of Life after this Action,Go where the Sun or Day mayneverfind me?Oh! what Virtue I’ve abus’d—Curse on my little Faith;And all the Curses Madness can invent,Light on my groundless Jealousy.Ex.Antonio.Alb.Clarina, why so cruel to my Heart?’Tis true, I love you, but with as chaste an Ardour,As Souls departing pay the Deities,When with incessant Sighs they haste away,And leave Humanity behind. Oh! so did IAbandon all the lesserJoysof Life,For that of being permitted but t’adore ye.Alas, if ’twere displeasing to you,Why did your self encourage it?I might have languish’d, as I did before,And hid those Crimes which make you hate me now.—Oh, I am lost?Antonio, thou’st undone me;He rises in Rage.—Hear me, Ungrate; I swear by all that’s good,I’ll wash away my Mischief with thy Blood.Isab.Antoniohears you not, Sir, for he’s departed.Ism.IsAntoniogone?She looks pertly up, who before lay half dead.Alb.How’s this, has she but feign’d?Ism.Know it wasbut feign’d; I hope this proofOf what I’ve promis’d you, does not displease you.Alb.Am I thus fortunate, thus strangely happy?Ism.Time will confirm it to you—go, do notNow thank me for’t, but seekAntonioout;Perhaps he may have too great a Sense of theMischiefs his Jealousies had like to have caus’d:But conjure him to take no notice of what’s past to me;This easyslightof mine secures our Fears,And serves to makeAntonioconfident,Who now will unbelieve his Eyes and Ears;And since before, when I was innocent,He could suspect my Love and Duty too,I’ll try what my dissembling it will do.—Go haste.—
Ism.My Lord, you’ve often told me that you lov’d me,
Which I with Womens usual Pride believ’d;
And now, encourag’d by my hopeful Promises,
You look for some Returns: Sir, is it so?
Alb.What means she?
Pray Heaven I answer right.Aside.
—Madam, if I have err’d in that belief,
To know I do so, is sufficient punishment.
—Lovers, Madam, though they have no returns,
Like sinking Men, still catch at all they meet with;
And whilst they live, though in the midst of Storms,
Because they wish, they also hope for Calms.
Ism.And did you, Sir, consider who I was?
Alb.Yes, Madam, Wife unto my FriendAntonio,
The only Man that has an Interest here:
—But, Madam, that must still submit to Love.
Ism.Canst thou at once be true to him and me?
Alb.Madam, I know not that;
But since I must lose one,
My Friendship I can better lay aside.
Ism.Hast thou forgot how dear thou art to him?
Alb.No, I do believe I am, and that his Life
Were but a worthless trifle, if I needed it.
Yet, Madam, you are dearer to him still
Than hisAlberto; and ’tis so with me:
—Him I esteem, but you I do adore;
And he whose Soul’s insensible of Love,
Can never grateful to his Friendship prove.
Ism.By your example, Sir, I’ll still retain
My Love for him; and what I had for you,
Which was but Friendship, I’ll abandon too.
Ant.HappyAntonio.—Aside.
Ism.Pray what have youAntoniocannot own?
Has he not equal Beauty, if not exceeding thine?
Has he not equal Vigour, Wit, and Valour?
And all that even raises Men to Gods,
Wert not for poor Mortality?
—Vain Man, couldst thou believe
That I would quit my Duty to this Husband,
And sacrifice his Right to thee?
—Couldst thou believe me yesterday?
When from thy Importunity and Impudence,
To send thee from me,
I promised thee to love thee.
—Nay, rather, treacherous Man,
Couldst thou believe Idid not hatethee then,
Who basely would betray thy Friend and me?
Alb.Sure this is earnest.Aside.
Ant.Oh braveClarina!Aside.
Ism.Speak, Traitor to my Fame and Honour;
Was there no Woman, butAntonio’sWife,
With whom thou couldst commit so foul a Crime?
And none but he to bring to publick Shame?
A Man who trusted thee, and lov’d thee too?
—Speak—and if yet thou hast a sense of Virtue,
Call to the Saints for pardon, or thou dy’st.She draws a Poniard, and runs at him; he steps back to avoid it.
Alb.Hold,Clarina!—I am amaz’d.
Ism.But stay.
Thou say’st my Beauty forc’d thee to this Wickedness,
And that’s the cause you have abus’dAntonio.
—Nor is it all the Power I have with him,
Can make him credit what I tell him of thee;
And should I live, I still must be pursu’d by thee,
And unbeliev’d by him:
—Alberto, thou shalt ne’er be guilty more,
Whilst this—and this may meet.Offering to wound her self, is stay’d byAlb.andIsab.TheysetIsm.in a Chair;Alb.kneels weeping.
Alb.Hold, my divineClarina.—
Ant.Shall I discover my self, or steal away?Aside.
And all asham’d of Life after this Action,
Go where the Sun or Day mayneverfind me?
Oh! what Virtue I’ve abus’d—
Curse on my little Faith;
And all the Curses Madness can invent,
Light on my groundless Jealousy.Ex.Antonio.
Alb.Clarina, why so cruel to my Heart?
’Tis true, I love you, but with as chaste an Ardour,
As Souls departing pay the Deities,
When with incessant Sighs they haste away,
And leave Humanity behind. Oh! so did I
Abandon all the lesserJoysof Life,
For that of being permitted but t’adore ye.
Alas, if ’twere displeasing to you,
Why did your self encourage it?
I might have languish’d, as I did before,
And hid those Crimes which make you hate me now.
—Oh, I am lost?Antonio, thou’st undone me;He rises in Rage.
—Hear me, Ungrate; I swear by all that’s good,
I’ll wash away my Mischief with thy Blood.
Isab.Antoniohears you not, Sir, for he’s departed.
Ism.IsAntoniogone?She looks pertly up, who before lay half dead.
Alb.How’s this, has she but feign’d?
Ism.Know it wasbut feign’d; I hope this proof
Of what I’ve promis’d you, does not displease you.
Alb.Am I thus fortunate, thus strangely happy?
Ism.Time will confirm it to you—go, do not
Now thank me for’t, but seekAntonioout;
Perhaps he may have too great a Sense of the
Mischiefs his Jealousies had like to have caus’d:
But conjure him to take no notice of what’s past to me;
This easyslightof mine secures our Fears,
And serves to makeAntonioconfident,
Who now will unbelieve his Eyes and Ears;
And since before, when I was innocent,
He could suspect my Love and Duty too,
I’ll try what my dissembling it will do.
—Go haste.—
Alb.Madam, I go, surpriz’d with Love and Wonder.Ex.Alb.
Ism.You’ll be more surpriz’d, when you knowAside.
That you are cheated too as well asAntonio.
Exeunt.
EnterCurtiusdisguis’d in a black Peruke and Beard, withPietrodisguised also.
Cur.Well, what hast thou learn’d?Piet.News enough, Sir, but none good;That the Prince’s Wounds are small,So that he intends to take the Air this Evening;That he sollicitsLaurahard;And, Sir, that you are proclaim’d Traitor.Cur.So, what says the Messenger you sent toCloris?Piet.Sir, he brings sad tidings back.Cur.What tidings? is she dead?That would revive my Soul,And fortify my easy Nature with some wicked Notions,As deep as those this flattering Prince made use of,When he betray’d my Sister, prettyCloris:—Come, speak it boldly, for nothing elseWill make me do her Justice.Piet.No, Sir, she is not dead,But fled, and none knows whither;OnlyGuilliamattends her.Cur.Worse and worse; but what ofLaura?Piet.She, Sir, is kept a Prisoner by her Father,And speaks with none but those that come fromFrederick.Cur.Lauraconfin’d too! ’tis time to hasten then,With my, till now, almost disarmed Revenge:—Thus I may pass unknown the Streets ofFlorence,And find an opportunity to reach this Prince’s Heart,—Oh, Vengeance! luxurious Vengeance!Thy Pleasures turn a Rival to my Love,And make the mightier Conquest o’er my Heart.—Cloris, I will revenge thy Tears and Sufferings;And to secure the Doom of him that wrong’d thee,I’ll call on injur’dLauratoo.—Here take these Pictures—and where thou see’stGives him Boxes.A knot of Gallants, open one or two, as if by stealth,To gaze upon the Beauties, and then straight close them—But stay, here comes the only ManI could have wish’d for; he’ll proclaim my BusinessBetter than a Picture or a Trumpet.They stand by.Curtiustakes back the Pictures.
Cur.Well, what hast thou learn’d?
Piet.News enough, Sir, but none good;
That the Prince’s Wounds are small,
So that he intends to take the Air this Evening;
That he sollicitsLaurahard;
And, Sir, that you are proclaim’d Traitor.
Cur.So, what says the Messenger you sent toCloris?
Piet.Sir, he brings sad tidings back.
Cur.What tidings? is she dead?
That would revive my Soul,
And fortify my easy Nature with some wicked Notions,
As deep as those this flattering Prince made use of,
When he betray’d my Sister, prettyCloris:
—Come, speak it boldly, for nothing else
Will make me do her Justice.
Piet.No, Sir, she is not dead,
But fled, and none knows whither;
OnlyGuilliamattends her.
Cur.Worse and worse; but what ofLaura?
Piet.She, Sir, is kept a Prisoner by her Father,
And speaks with none but those that come fromFrederick.
Cur.Lauraconfin’d too! ’tis time to hasten then,
With my, till now, almost disarmed Revenge:
—Thus I may pass unknown the Streets ofFlorence,
And find an opportunity to reach this Prince’s Heart,
—Oh, Vengeance! luxurious Vengeance!
Thy Pleasures turn a Rival to my Love,
And make the mightier Conquest o’er my Heart.
—Cloris, I will revenge thy Tears and Sufferings;
And to secure the Doom of him that wrong’d thee,
I’ll call on injur’dLauratoo.
—Here take these Pictures—and where thou see’stGives him Boxes.
A knot of Gallants, open one or two, as if by stealth,
To gaze upon the Beauties, and then straight close them—
But stay, here comes the only Man
I could have wish’d for; he’ll proclaim my Business
Better than a Picture or a Trumpet.They stand by.Curtiustakes back the Pictures.
EnterLorenzoandGuilliamdressed in fineish Clothes, but the same high-crown’d Hat.
Lor.Did, ha, ha, ha, did, ha, ha; did ever anyMortal Man behold such a Figure as thou art now?Well, I see ’tis a damnable thing not toBe born a Gentleman; the Devil himselfCan never make thee truly jantee now.—Come, come, come forward; these Clothes becomeThee, as a Saddle does a Sow; why com’st thou not?—Why—ha, ha, I hope thou hast notHansel’dthy new Breeches,Thou look’st so filthily on’t.He advances, looking sourly.Guil.No, Sir, I hope I have more manners than so;But if I should, ’tis not my fault;For the necessary Houses are hardTo be met withal here at Court.Lor.Very well, Sirrah; you begin already to beWitty with the Court: but I can tell you, it has asMany necessary Places in’t, as any Court in Christendom—But what a Hat thou hast?Guil.Why, Sir, though I say’t, this is accounted ofIn our Village; but I had another but now,Which I blew off in a high Wind; and I never mist it,Till I had an occasion to pluck it off to a youngSquire, they call a Lacquey; and, Fegs,I had none at all: and because I would not loseMy Leg for want of a Hat, I fetch’d this;And I can tell you, Sir, it has a fashionable Brim.Lor.A Fool’s head of your own, has it not?The Boys will hoot at us as we pass—hah,Who be these, who be these—Goes towardsCur.andPiet.Cur.Here—this toDon Alonso—this to theEnglishCount; and this you may shew to theYoungGermanPrince—and this—I will reserve for higher Prices.GivesPiet.Pictures.Piet.Will you shew none to the Courtiers, Sir?Cur.Away, you Fool, I deal in no such Trash.Lor.How, Sir, how was that? pray how came we toGain your dis-favour?Cur.I cry you mercy, Sir, pray what are you;Lor.A Courtier, Sir, I can assure you,And one of the best Rank too;I have the Prince’s ear, Sir.—What have you there, hah?—Pictures? let me see—What, are they to be bought?Cur.Sir, they are Copies of most fair Originals,Not to be bought but hired.Lor.Say you so, Friend? the Price, the Price.Cur.Five thousand Crowns a Month, Sir.Lor.The Price is somewhat saucy.Cur.Sir, they be curious Pieces, were never blown upon,Have never been in Courts, nor hardly Cities.Lor.Upon my word, that’s considerable;Friend, pray where do they live?Cur.In thePiazzo, near the Palace.Lor.Well, put up your Ware, shew not a face of themTill I return! for I will bring youThe best Chapman in allFlorence,Except the Duke himself.Cur.You must be speedy then,For I to morrow shall be going towardsRome.Lor.A subtle Rascal this: thou think’st, I warrant,To make a better Market amongst the Cardinals.—But take my word, ne’er a Cardinal of them allComes near this Man, I mean, to bring you inMatters of Beauty—so, this will infallibly makeMy Peace again:Aside.Look ye, Friend—Be ready, for ’tis the Prince, the noble generousFrederick,That I design your Merchant.Goes out.Cur.Your Servant, Sir,—that isGuilliam;I cannot be mistaken in him, go call him back.Pietrofetches him back, who puts on a surly Face.—Friend, what art thou?Guil.What am I? why, what am I? dost thou not seeWhat I am? a Courtier, Friend.Cur.But what’s thy Name?Guil.My Name, I have not yet considered.Cur.What was thy Name?Guil.What was my Name?Cur.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.Guil.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.Cur.Dog, do’st eccho me? do’st thou repeat?I say again, what is thy Name?Shakes him.Guil.Oh horrible!—why, Sir, it wasGuilliamWhen I was a silly Swain.Cur.Guilliam—the same;Didst thou not know a Maid whose name wasCloris?Guil.Yes, there was such a Maid,But now she’s none!Cur.Was such a Maid, but now she’s none!—The Slave upbraids my Griefs.Aside.Guil.Yes, Sir, so I said.Cur.So you said!Guil.Why, yes, Sir, what, do you repeat?Cur.What mean you, Sirrah? have you a mind toHave your Throat cut? tell me where she is.Guil.I dare as well be hang’d.Now must I devise a lye, or never lookClorisIn the Face more.Aside.Cur.Here’s Gold for thee; I will be secret too.Guil.Oh, Sir, the poor Maid you speak of is dead.Cur.Dead! where dy’d she? and how?Guil.Now am I put to my wits; this ’tis to beginIn Sin, as our Curate said: I must go on:Aside.—Why, Sir, she came into the Wood—and hard by aRiver-side—she sigh’d, and she wept full sore;And cry’d two or three times out uponCurtius,—And—then—Howls.Cur.PoorCloris, thy Fate was too severe.Guil.And then as I was saying, Sir,She leapt into the River, and swam up the Stream.Cur.weeps.Piet.And why up the Stream, Friend?
Lor.Did, ha, ha, ha, did, ha, ha; did ever any
Mortal Man behold such a Figure as thou art now?
Well, I see ’tis a damnable thing not to
Be born a Gentleman; the Devil himself
Can never make thee truly jantee now.
—Come, come, come forward; these Clothes become
Thee, as a Saddle does a Sow; why com’st thou not?
—Why—ha, ha, I hope thou hast not
Hansel’dthy new Breeches,
Thou look’st so filthily on’t.He advances, looking sourly.
Guil.No, Sir, I hope I have more manners than so;
But if I should, ’tis not my fault;
For the necessary Houses are hard
To be met withal here at Court.
Lor.Very well, Sirrah; you begin already to be
Witty with the Court: but I can tell you, it has as
Many necessary Places in’t, as any Court in Christendom
—But what a Hat thou hast?
Guil.Why, Sir, though I say’t, this is accounted of
In our Village; but I had another but now,
Which I blew off in a high Wind; and I never mist it,
Till I had an occasion to pluck it off to a young
Squire, they call a Lacquey; and, Fegs,
I had none at all: and because I would not lose
My Leg for want of a Hat, I fetch’d this;
And I can tell you, Sir, it has a fashionable Brim.
Lor.A Fool’s head of your own, has it not?
The Boys will hoot at us as we pass—hah,
Who be these, who be these—Goes towardsCur.andPiet.
Cur.Here—this toDon Alonso—this to the
EnglishCount; and this you may shew to the
YoungGermanPrince—and this—
I will reserve for higher Prices.GivesPiet.Pictures.
Piet.Will you shew none to the Courtiers, Sir?
Cur.Away, you Fool, I deal in no such Trash.
Lor.How, Sir, how was that? pray how came we to
Gain your dis-favour?
Cur.I cry you mercy, Sir, pray what are you;
Lor.A Courtier, Sir, I can assure you,
And one of the best Rank too;
I have the Prince’s ear, Sir.
—What have you there, hah?—Pictures? let me see—
What, are they to be bought?
Cur.Sir, they are Copies of most fair Originals,
Not to be bought but hired.
Lor.Say you so, Friend? the Price, the Price.
Cur.Five thousand Crowns a Month, Sir.
Lor.The Price is somewhat saucy.
Cur.Sir, they be curious Pieces, were never blown upon,
Have never been in Courts, nor hardly Cities.
Lor.Upon my word, that’s considerable;
Friend, pray where do they live?
Cur.In thePiazzo, near the Palace.
Lor.Well, put up your Ware, shew not a face of them
Till I return! for I will bring you
The best Chapman in allFlorence,
Except the Duke himself.
Cur.You must be speedy then,
For I to morrow shall be going towardsRome.
Lor.A subtle Rascal this: thou think’st, I warrant,
To make a better Market amongst the Cardinals.
—But take my word, ne’er a Cardinal of them all
Comes near this Man, I mean, to bring you in
Matters of Beauty—so, this will infallibly make
My Peace again:Aside.Look ye, Friend
—Be ready, for ’tis the Prince, the noble generousFrederick,
That I design your Merchant.Goes out.
Cur.Your Servant, Sir,—that isGuilliam;
I cannot be mistaken in him, go call him back.Pietrofetches him back, who puts on a surly Face.
—Friend, what art thou?
Guil.What am I? why, what am I? dost thou not see
What I am? a Courtier, Friend.
Cur.But what’s thy Name?
Guil.My Name, I have not yet considered.
Cur.What was thy Name?
Guil.What was my Name?
Cur.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.
Guil.Yes, Friend, thou hadst one.
Cur.Dog, do’st eccho me? do’st thou repeat?
I say again, what is thy Name?Shakes him.
Guil.Oh horrible!—why, Sir, it wasGuilliam
When I was a silly Swain.
Cur.Guilliam—the same;
Didst thou not know a Maid whose name wasCloris?
Guil.Yes, there was such a Maid,
But now she’s none!
Cur.Was such a Maid, but now she’s none!
—The Slave upbraids my Griefs.Aside.
Guil.Yes, Sir, so I said.
Cur.So you said!
Guil.Why, yes, Sir, what, do you repeat?
Cur.What mean you, Sirrah? have you a mind to
Have your Throat cut? tell me where she is.
Guil.I dare as well be hang’d.
Now must I devise a lye, or never lookCloris
In the Face more.Aside.
Cur.Here’s Gold for thee; I will be secret too.
Guil.Oh, Sir, the poor Maid you speak of is dead.
Cur.Dead! where dy’d she? and how?
Guil.Now am I put to my wits; this ’tis to begin
In Sin, as our Curate said: I must go on:Aside.
—Why, Sir, she came into the Wood—and hard by a
River-side—she sigh’d, and she wept full sore;
And cry’d two or three times out uponCurtius,
—And—then—Howls.
Cur.PoorCloris, thy Fate was too severe.
Guil.And then as I was saying, Sir,
She leapt into the River, and swam up the Stream.Cur.weeps.
Piet.And why up the Stream, Friend?
Guil.Because she was a Woman—and that’s all.Ex.Guil.