ACT I.

ACT I.Scene I.The Chamber ofCloris.EnterClorisdrest in her Night Attire, withFrederickdressing himself.Clo.And will you leave me now to Fears,Which Love it self can hardly satisfy?But those, and that together sure will kill me,If you stay long away.Fred.My Dear, ’tis almost day, and we must part;Should thoserude Eyes ’mongst whom thou dwell’st perceive us,’Twould prove unhappy both to thee and me.Clo.And will you, Sir, be constant to your Vows?Fred.Ah Cloris! do not question what I’ve sworn;If thou would’st have it once again repeated,I’ll do’t. By all that’s good, I’ll marry thee;By that most Holy Altar, before which we kneel’d,When first I saw the brightest Saint that e’er ador’d it;I’ll marry none but thee, my dearestCloris.Clo.Sir, you have said enough to gain a creditWith any Maid, though she had been deceiv’dBy some such Flatteries as these before.I never knew the pains of Fear till now;Sighs.And you must needs forgive the Faults you make,For had I still remain’d in Innocence,I should have still believ’d you.Fred.Why, dost thou not, my Love?Clo.Some doubts I have, but when I look on you,Though I must blush to do so, they all vanish;But I provide against your absence, Sir.Fred.Make no provision,Cloris, but of Hope,Prepare thy self against a Wedding day,When thou shalt be a little Deity on Earth.Clo.I know not what it is to dwell in Courts,But sure it must be fine, since you are there;Yet I could wish you were an humble Shepherd,And knew no other Palace than this Cottage;Where I would weave you Crowns, of Pinks and Daisies,And you should be a Monarch everyMay.Fred.And,Cloris, I could be content to sitWith thee, upon some shady River’s Bank,To hear thee sing, and tell a Tale of Love.For these, alas! I could do any thing;A Sheep-hook I could prize above a Sword;An Army I would quit to lead a Flock,And more esteem that Chaplet wreath’d by thee,Than the victoriousBays:All this I could, but, Dear, I have a Father,Whom for thy sake, to make thee great and glorious,I would not lose my Int’rest with.But,Cloris, see, the unkind day approaches,And we must kiss and part.Clo.Unkind it is indeed, may it prove soTo all that wish its presence,And pass as soon away,That welcome Night may re-assume its place,And bring you quickly back.Fred.With great impatience I’ll expect that Hour,That shall conduct me in its Shades to thee;Farewel.Clo.Farewel, Sir, if you must be gone.Sighs.Fred.One Kiss, and then indeed I will be gone.Kisses her.A new blown Rose kist by the Morning Dew,Has not more natural Sweetness.AhCloris! can you doubt that Heart,To whom such Blessings you impart?Unjustly you suspect that Prize,Won by such Touches and such Eyes.My Fairest, turn that Face away,Unless I could for ever stay;Turn but a little while I go.Clo.Sir, I must see the last of you.Fred.I dare not disobey; adieu till Evening.Exit.EnterLucia.Clo.How now,Lucia; is my Father up?Luc.No, not a Mouse stirs yet; I have kept a trueWatch all this Night, for I was cruelly afraidLest we should have been surpriz’d—Is the Prince gone? but why do I ask,That may read it in your sad Looks?Clo.Yes, he is gone, and with him too has taken—Sighs.Luc.What has he taken? I’ll swear you frighten me.Clo.My heart,Lucia.Luc.Your Heart, I am glad ’tis no worse.Clo.Why, what dost think he should have taken?Luc.A thing more hard to have beenRecovered again.Clo.What thing, prithee?Luc.Your Maiden-head.Clo.What’s that?Luc.A thing young Gallants long extremely for,And when they have it too, they sayThey care not a Daisy for the Giver.Clo.How comest thou so wise,Lucia?Luc.Oh, the fine Gentleman that comes a-nightsWith the Prince, told me so much, and bid meBe sure never to part with it for fine Words;For Men would lye as often as they swore;And so bid me tell you too.Clo.OhLucia!Luc.Why do you sigh?Clo.To think if Princes were like common Men,How I should be undone,Since I have given him all I had to give;And who that looks on him can blame my Faith?Luc.Indeed he surpassesDamonfar;But I’ad forgot my self, you are the Prince’s Wife;He said you should be kneel’d to, and ador’d,And never look’d on but on Holy-days:That many Maids should wait upon your call,And strow fine Flowers for you to tread upon.Musick and Love should daily fill your Ears,And all your other Senses should be ravish’dWith wonders of each kind great as your Beauty.Clo.Lucia, methinks you have learnt to speak fine things.Luc.I have a thousand more I’ve heard him say;Oh, I could listen a whole Night to hear him talk:But hark, I hear a Noise, the House is up,And must not find us here.Clo.Lock up this Box of Jewels for me.Luc.Oh rare! what, did these come to night?Clo.Yes, yes, away.Exeunt.Scene II.A Grove.EnterCurtiusandPietro.Cur.I wonder the Prince stays so long;I do not like these Night-works;Were I not confident ofCloris’sVirtue,—Which shall no more be tempted.I hear some coming, and hope ’tis he—Pietro, are the Horses ready?ExitPietro.EnterFrederick.Cur.Sir, you are welcome fromCloris’sArms.Fred.With much ado, I am got loose from those fairFetters, but not from those of her Beauty;By these she still inflames me,In spite of all my humours of Inconstancy;So soft and young, so fair and innocent,So full of Air, and yet of Languishment;So much of Nature in her Heart and Eyes,So timorous and so kind without disguise:Such untaught Sweets in every part do move,As ’gainst my Reason does compel my Love;Such artless smiles, look so unorder’d too,Gains more than all the charms of Courts can do;From Head to Foot, a spotless Statue seems,As Art, not Nature, had compos’d her Limbs;So white, and so unblemish’d, ohCurtius!I’m ravisht beyond Sense when I but think on’t;How much more must my Surprize be,When I behold these Wonders.Cur.And have you seen her, Sir, in all this Beauty?Oh Hell!Aside.Fred.Curtius, I will not hide my Soul from thee;I have seen all the marvels of that Maid.Cur.My Soul, learn now the Art of being disguis’d;Aside.—’Tis much, my Lord, that oneBred in such simple Innocence,Should learn so soon so much of Confidence:Pray, Sir, what Arts and Cunning do you use?Fred.Faith, time and importunity refuse no body.Cur.Is that the way? had you no other Aids?Made you no promise to her, Sir, of Marriage?Fred.Oh, yes, in abundance, that’s your only bait,And though they cannot hope we will perform it,Yet it secures their Honour and my Pleasure.Cur.Then, Sir, you have enjoy’d her?Fred.Oh, yes, and gather’d SweetsWould make an Anchoret neglect his Vow,And think he had mistook his way to future bliss,Which only can be found in such Embraces;’Twas hard to gain, but,Curtius, when once Victor,Oh, how the joys of Conquest did enslave me!Cur.But, Sir, methinks ’tis much that she should yield,With only a bare promise that you’d marry her.Fred.Yes, there was something more—but—Cur.But, what, Sir, you are not married.Fred.Faith, yes, I’ve made a Vow,And that you know would go as far with any other Man.Cur.But she it seems forgot you were the Prince?Fred.No, she urg’d that too,And left no Arguments unus’dMight make me sensible of what I did;But I was fixt, and overcame them all,Repeating still my Vows and Passions for her,Till in the presence of her Maid and HeavenWe solemnly contracted.Cur.But, Sir, by your permission, was it well?Fred.What wouldst thou have him doThat’s all on fire, and dies for an Enjoyment?Cur.But having gain’d it, do you love her still?Fred.Yes, yes, extremely,And would be constant to the Vows I’ve made,Were I a Man, as thou art of thy self;But with the aid of Counsels I must chuse,And what my Soul adores I must refuse.Cur.This Passion, Sir, Possession will destroy,And you’l love less, the more you do enjoy.Fred.That’s all my hope of cure; I’ll ply that game,And slacken by degrees th’ unworthy flame.Cur.Methinks, my Lord, it had more generous beenTo’ve check’d that flame when first it did begin,E’er you the slighted Victory had won,And a poor harmless Virgin quite undone:And what is worse, you’ve made her love you too.Fred.Faith, that’s the greater mischief of the two;I know to such nice virtuous Souls as thine,My juster Inclination is a Crime:But I love Pleasures which thou canst not prize,Beyond dull gazing on thy Mistress Eyes,The lovely Object which enslaves my Heart,Must yet more certain Cures than Smiles impart:—And you onLaurahave the same design.Cur.Yes, Sir, when justify’d by Laws Divine.Fred.Divine! a pleasant Warrant for your Sin,Which being not made, we ne’er had guilty been.But now we speak ofLaura,Prithee, when is’t that I shall see that Beauty?Cur.Never, I hope.Aside.I know not, Sir,Her Father still is cruel, and denies me,What she and I have long made suit in vain for:But, Sir, your Interest might prevail with him,When he shall know I’m one whom you esteem;He will allow my flame, and my address,He whom you favour cannot doubt Success.Fred.This day I will begin to serve thee in it.Cur.Sir, ’twill be difficult to get access to her,Her Father is an humorous old Man,And has his fits of Pride and Kindness too.Fred.Well, after Dinner I will try my Power,And will not quit his Lodgings till I’ve won him.Cur.I humbly thank you, Sir.Fred.Come let us haste, the Day comes on apace.Ex.Fred.Cur.I’ll wait upon you, Sir.OhCloris, thou’rt undone, false amorous Girl;Was it for this I bred thee in obscurity,Without permitting thee to know what Courts meant,Lest their too powerful TemptationMight have betray’d thy Soul?Not suffering thee to know thy Name or Parents,Thinking an humble Lifemight have secur’d thy Virtue:And yet I should not hate thee for this Sin,Since thou art bred in so much Innocence,Thou couldst not dream of Falsity in Men:Oh, that it were permitted me to kill this Prince,This false perfidious Prince;And yet he knows not that he has abus’d me.When did I know a Man of so much Virtue,That would refuse so sweet and soft a Maid?—No, he is just and good, only too much misledBy Youth and Flattery;And one to whom my Soul is ty’d by Friendship;—Yet what’s a Friend, a name above a Sister?Is not her Honour mine?And shall not I revenge the loss of it?It is but common Justice.But first I’ll try all gentle means I may,And let him know thatClorisis my Sister;And if he then persevere in his Crime,I’ll lay my Interest and my Duty by,And punish him, or with my Honour die.Exit.Scene III.The Apartment ofAntonio.EnterLorenzopulling in ofIsabella.Lor.Nay, nay,Isabella, there’s no avoiding me now,You and I must come to a parley.Pray what’s the reasonYou took no notice of me,When I came with so civil an address too?Isab.Can you ever think to thrive in an Amour,When you take notice of your Mistress,Or any that belongs to her, in publick,And when she’s a married Woman too?Lor.GoodIsabella, the loser may have leave to speak,I am sure it has been a plaguy dear Amour to me.Isab.Let me hear you name that again,And you shall miss of my Assistance.Lor.Nay, do but hear me a little;I vow ’tis the strangest thing in the World,A Man must part from so much Money as I have done,And be confin’d to Signs and Grimaces only,To declare his Mind in:If a Man has a Tongue, let him exercise it, I say,As long as he pays for speaking.Isab.Again with your paying for’t? I see you are notTo be reclaim’d; farewel—Lor.Stay, goodIsabella, stay,And thou shalt hear not one word of that more,Though I am soundly urg’d to’t.Isab.Yes, yes, pray count them, do;I know you long to be at it,And I am sure you will find you are in Arrears to us.Lor.Say you so, I am not of that opinion: but well,—Let me see—here ’tis, here ’tis—My Bill of Charge for courtingClarina.Draws out his Table Book, and reads.Isab.And here’s mine for the returns that have beenMade you; begin, begin.Pulls out her Book.Lor.Item, two hundred Crowns toIsabellafor undertaking.Isab.Item, I have promis’dLorenzoto serve himIn his Amour with all Fidelity.Lor.Well, I own that Debt paid, if you keepYour word—out with it then—He crosses that out.Item, two thousand Crowns in a Bracelet forClarina;What say you to that now,Isabella?Isab.Item, the day after they were presented,She saluted you with a smile at the Chappel.Lor.And dost thou think it was not dearly bought?Isab.No Man inFlorenceshould have had itA Souce cheaper.Lor.Say you so,Isabella? out with it then.Crosses it out.Item, one hundred more to thee for presenting them.Isab.Which I did with six lyes in your Commendation,Worth ten Pistoles a piece for the exactness of a Lye;Write there indebted to me—Lor.Nay then thou dost deserve it:Rest due toIsabella.Writes.Item, Innumerable Serenades, Night-walks, AffrontsAnd Fears; and lastly, to the Poets for Songs, and the like.Isab.All which was recompensed in the excessiveLaughing on you that Day you praunc’d under ourWindow on Horse-back, when you made such aDeal ofCaprioland Curvet.Lor.Yes, where I ventur’d my Neck to shew myActivity, and therefore may be wellaccomptedAmongst my Losses.Isab.Then she receiv’d your Presents,Suffer’d your Serenades, without sending her Foot-menTo break your Pate with the Fiddles.Lor.Indeed that was one of the best Signs;For I have been a great Sufferer in that kindUpon the like occasions: but dost thou thinkIn Conscience that this should satisfy?Isab.Yes, any reasonable Man in the World, for theFirst Month at least; and yet you are still upWith your Expences, as if a Lady of her QualityWere to be gain’d without them.—Let me hear of your Expences more, and I’ll—Lor.Oh sweetIsabella! upon my KneesI beg thou wilt take no fatal Resolution;For I protest, as I am a Man of Honour,And adore thy Sex, thou shalt only see,Not hear of my Expences more;And for a small testimony of it, here take this;There’s twenty Pistoles upon Reputation.Gives her Money.Isab.Fy, fy, ’tis not brave, nor generous to nameThe Sum, you should have slid it into my Coat,Without saying what you had done.Lor.What signifies that, mun, as long as ’tis current,And you have it sure?Isab.Well, leave the management of your Affairs to me—What shall we do? here’sAlberto.EnterAlberto.Lor.Well, who can help it? I cannot walk invisible.Alb.Lorenzo, what, making Love toIsabella?Lor.She’l serve, my Lord, for want of a better.Isab.That’s but a coarse Complement.Lor.’Twill serve to disguise a Truth however.Aside to her.Ex.Isab.Faith, I’ll tell you, Sir, ’twas such another DamselAs this, that sav’d me five hundred Pound once upon a time;And I have lov’d the whole Tribe of Waiting-womenThe better ever since.Alb.You have reason; how was it?Lor.Why, look you, Sir,I had made Love a long time to a Lady;But she shall be nameless,Since she was of a quality not to be gain’d underThe aforesaid Sum: well, I brought it,Came pouder’d and perfum’d, and high in expectation.Alb.Well, Sir.Lor.And she had a very pretty Wench, who was toConduct me, and in the dark too;And, on my Conscience, I e’en fell aboard of her,And was as well accommodated for my five,As five Hundred Pounds, and so return’d.Alb.A great defeat to the Lady the while,a myword.Lor.Ay, she smelt the Plot, and made a Vow to followTheItalianmode for the future;And be serv’d in Affairs of that kind by noneBut an old Woman.Alb.’Twas wittily resolv’d.Lor.Are you for the Presence this Morning?Alb.No, I have business here withAntonio.Lor.Your Servant, my Lord.Exit.Alb.I do not like this Fellow’s being here,The most notorious Pimp and Rascal inItaly;’Tis a vile shame that such as he should live,Who have the form and sense of Man about them,And in their Action Beast;And that he thrives by too.EnterIsabella.—Isabella, isAntoniostirring?Isab.He is, please your Lordship to walk in.Alb.You may tell him I wait here:For I would avoid all opportunity of seeingClarina.Aside.Isab.My Lord, you need not stand upon Ceremonies.ExitAlberto.EnterClarinaandIsmena, dress’d like one another in every thing, laughing and beholding one another.—Dress’d already! now on my conscienceI know not which is which:Pray GodAntoniobe not mistaken at night,For I’ll be sworn I am by day-light.Ism.Dost think I may pass thus forClarina?Isab.Madam, you are the same to a hair;Wou’d I might never stirIf I can do any thing but wonder.Clar.But hark,Isabella, if thou shou’dst haveHeard amiss, and that thy information should not be good,Thou hast defeated us of a design,Wherein we promise our selves no little pleasure.Ism.Yes, I vow, all the Jest is lost if it be so.Isab.I doubt ’twill be a true Jest on your side.Aside.—I warrant you, Madam, my Intelligence is good;And to assure you of what I have said,I dare undertake you shall hear the same over again:For just nowAlbertois come to visit my Lord,Who I am sure will entertain him with no other stories,But those of his Jealousy,And to persuade him to court you.Clar.’Tis strange, since he set him that Task so long ago,He would not begin before.Ism.Nay, pray God he begin now;Sister, he has hitherto took me for thee,And sometimes his Eyes give me hope of a secretFire within, but ’twill not out;And I am so impatient till he declares himself,That if he do not do it soon,I shall e’en tell him who I am;For perhaps the Wife takes off the appetite,Which would sharpen upon knowledge of the Virgin.Clar.What then, you’ll have all the sport to your self?—But,Ismena, remember my little Revenge onAntonioMust accompany your Love toAlberto.Aside.Isab.But why this resemblance?For, Madam, since he never saw you,And takesIsmenato be you;Might you not still pass so, without this likeness?Clar.Didst thou not sayAntonioleft the CourtAnd City, on purpose to giveAlbertothe more freedomTo Court me?—Whilst he was away, I needed but retire,AndIsmenaappear, and ’twould suffice;But now he is return’d,He may chance to see them together,en passant, or so,And this dress will abuse him as well asAlberto;For without that, this Plot of ours signifies little.Ism.Ay, truly, for my part, I have no other designThan doing my Sister a service.Isab.The Plot is very likely to thrive I see,Since you are so good at dissembling.Ism.Fie,Isabella, what an ill opinion you have of me?—But, Sister, ’tis muchAlbertobeing so intimateWithAntonio, should never see you all this wholeSix Months of your being married.Clar.Had you been bred any whereBut in a Monastery, you would have known’Tis not the custom here for Men to expose theirWives to the view of any.Isab.I hear them coming, let’s away,And pray listen to the Truths I have already told you.They retire.Scene IV.The Same.EnterAntonioandAlberto.ClarinaandIsmenalisten.Alb.Once more,Antonio, welcome back to Court.Ant.Oh my dear Friend, I long’d for thy Embraces;—How goes the Game I left with thee to play?What says my Wife, my beautifulClarina?Alb.Clarina!—Ant.Yes,Clarina, have you not seen her yet?I left the Court on purpose, for ’twas not handsomeFor me to introduce you,Lest she had look’d upon’t as some design.Alb.Seen her—yes—Ant.And I conjur’d her too, to give you freedomsEven equal toAntonio;As far as I durst press with modesty,And with pretence of Friendship;And have you not attempted her?Alb.Yes—but ’tis in vain.Ant.Oh villanous Dissembler!Aside.Alb.She’s cruel, strangely cruel,And I’m resolv’d to give the Courtship o’er.Ant.Sure, Friend, thou hast not us’d thy wonted power.Alb.Yes, all that I know I’m master of, I us’d.Ant.But didst thou urge it home? did she not seeThy Words and Actions did not well agree?Canst thou dissemble well? didst cry and melt,As if the pain you but express’d, you felt?Didst kneel, and swear, and urge thy Quality,Heightning it too with some Disgrace on me?And didst thou too assail her feeble side?For the best bait to Woman is her Pride;Which some mis-call her Guard:Didst thou present her with the set of Jewels?For Women naturally are more inclin’dTo Avarice, than Men: pray tell me, Friend.—Vile Woman! did she take them—Alb.I never ask’d her that.Clar.PoorAntonio, how I pity him.Aside.Ant.No!Alb.No, I’ve done enough to satisfy thy Jealousy.Here, take your set of Jewels back again;Gives a Box.Upon my LifeClarinais all Chastity.Ant.I were the happiest Man on Earth, were this but true;But what are single Courtships?—give her these,Which will assist thy Tongue to win her Heart;And that once got, the other soon will follow;There’s far more Women won by Gold than Industry:Try that, my dearAlberto,And save thy Eyes the trouble of dissembling.Alb.Content thee here, and do not tempt thy Fate,I have regard unto thy Honour, Friend;And should she yield, as Women are no Gods,Where were thy future Joys?What is’t could make thee happy, or restoreThat true Contentment which thou hadst before?Alas! thou tempt’st me too, for I am frail,And Love above my Friendship may prevail.Ant.This will not do;No, as thou art my Friend, and lov’st my Honour,PursueClarinafurther;Rally afresh, and charge her with this Present,Disturb her every night with Serenades;Make Love-Songs to her, and then sing them too;Thou hast a Voice enough alone to conquer.Alb.Fool,Antonio!Aside.Ant.Come, wilt thou undertake it once again?Alb.I would not.Ant.I am resolv’d to get this tryal made,And if thou dost refuse thy Amity,I’ll try a Friend more willing, though less faithful;With thee my Wife and Honour too are safe,For should she yield, and I by that were lost,’Twere yet some ease,That none but thou wert witness to’t.Alb.Well, if it must be done, I’ad rather do’t,Than you should be expos’d to th’ scorn of others.Ant.Spoke like my noble Friend;Come dine with her to day, for I must leave you,And give you all the opportunityA real Lover wishes with a Mistress.Ism.So we have heard enough.Ex.Clar.andIsm.Ant.Oh, wereClarinachaste, as on my SoulI cannot doubt, more than that I believeAll Womankind may be seduc’d from Virtue;I were the Man of all the World most bless’dIn such a Wife, and such a Friend as thou.Alb.But what if I prevail,Antonio?Ant.Then I’ll renounce my faith in Womankind,And place my satisfaction in thy Amity.—But see, she comes, I’ll leave you to your task.EnterIsmenaandIsabella.Ism.Antonio not yet gone—This must secure me.Pulls down her Veil.Ant.Clarina, why thus clouded?Isab.I see he has most happily mistaken.Ism.I was going, Sir, to visitLaura—Ant.You must not go, I’ve business to the Duke,And you must entertain my Friend till my return;It is a freedom not usual here amongst Ladies,But I will have it so;Whom I esteem, I’ll have you do so too.Ism.Sir, I am all obedience.ExitAntonio, she pulls off her Veil;Albertosalutes her with seeming lowness.Alb.Oh, how my Soul’s dividedBetween my Adoration and my Amity!Aside.Friendship, thou sacred band, hold fast thy Interest;For yonder Beauty has a subtle power,And can undo that knot, which other ArtsCould ne’er invent a way for.EnterAntonio, and listens at the Door.Ant.I’ll see a little how he behaves himself.Aside.Alb.But she’sAntonio’sWife; my FriendAntonio.Aside.A Youth that made an Interest in my Soul,When I had Language scarce to express my sense of it.Ant.Death! he speaks not to her.Aside.Alb.So grew we up to Man, and still morefixt;And shall a gaudy Beauty,A thing which t’other day I never saw,Deprive my Heart of that kind Heat,And place a new and unknown Fire within?Aside.Clarina, ’tis unjust.Ism.Sir, did you speak to me?Alb.I have betray’d my self—Aside.Madam, I was saying how unjust it wasAntonioshould leaveme alonewith a Lady,Being certainly the worst to entertain them in the World.Ant.His Face assures me he speaks of no Love to her now.Ism.Alas, he speaks not to me.SureIsabellawas mistaken, who told me that he lov’d me.—Alberto, if thou art oblig’d to me,Aside.For what I have not yet observ’d in thee,Oh, do not say my Heart was easily won,But blame your Eyes, whose forces none can shun.Ant.Not a word, what can he mean by this?Ism.Sir, will you please to sit a while?Isab.Madam, the inner Chamber is much better,For there he may repose upon the CushionsTill my Lord’s return; I see he is not well——And you are both sick of one Disease.Aside.Alb.I thank you, here’s more Air,—And that I need, for I am all on fire,Aside.And every Look adds fuel to my flame.—I must avoid those Eyes, whose Light misguides me:—Madam, I have some business calls me hence,And cannot wait my Friend’s return.Ism.Antonio, Sir, will think ’tis my neglectThat drove you hence; pray stay a little longer.Alb.You shall command me, if you can dispenseWith so dull Company.Ism.I can with any thingAntonioloves.Alb. Madam, it is a Virtue that becomes you;For though your Husband should not merit this,Your Goodness is not less to be admir’d;But he’s a Man so truly worth your Kindness,That ’twere a Sin to doubtYour Passion for him were not justly paid.Ism.Sir, I believe you, and I hope he thinksThat my opinion of him equals yours;’Tis plain he loves me not;Aside.Perhaps his Virtue, thinking meClarina,May hide the real Passion of his Soul.Oh Love, what dangerous Paths thou mak’st us tread!Ant.Cold, cold as Devotion, oh inhuman Friendship!Aside.Alb.What shall I do next? I must either be rude,And say nothing, or speak of Love to her;And then, my Friend, thou’rt lost should I prevail,And I’m undone should she not hear my Tale,Which for the World I would not have her hear;And yet I fear my Eyes too much declare.Ism.Since he’s in so ill an Humour, let’s leave him,I’m satisfy’d now that thou’rt mistaken.Ex.IsmenaandIsabellaunseen.Alb.But they shall gaze no more on hers,Nor stray beyond the limits of a just Salute.—I will my Honour to my Love prefer,And myAntonioshall out-rival her.Looks about, and misses them.—Ah, am I left alone! how frail is Man!That which last Moment I resolv’d upon,I find my Heart already disapprove,And grieve her loss; can this be ought but Love?My Soul’s dissatisfy’d now she is gone,And yet but now I wish’d to be alone.—Inform me, Love, who shares the better part,Friendship, or thee, in my divided Heart.Offers to go.EnterAntonio, and stays him.Ant.Whither in such haste?Thou look’st e’en as sad as a Lover repuls’d,I fear that Fate’s not thine.Alb.Now for a lye to satisfy him.Aside.Prithee discharge me of this toil of dissembling,Of which I grow as weary as she’s of hearing it.Ant.Indeed!Alb.Sure thou hast a design to make her hate me.Ant.Do you think so in earnest, why, was she angry?Alb.Oh! hadst thou seen her pretty blushing Scorn,Which she would fain have hid,Thou wouldst have pitied what I made her suffer.Ant.Is’t possible!And didst present her with the Box of Jewels?Alb.Yes.Ant.And kneel, and cry and swear, and—Alb.All, all.Ant.I hardly gave thee time for so much Courtship,—But you are sure she was displeased with it?Alb.Extremely.Ant.Enough,Alberto; adieu to thee and Friendship.Alb.What mean you?Ant.Ask your own Guilt, it will inform thee best.Alb.Thou canst not thinkClarinahas abus’d thee.Ant.I do not think she has, nor have you try’d her;In that you have not only disoblig’d me,But now you would impose upon my Weakness—Did I not see how unconcern’d you were,And hardly paying her a due respect;And when she even invited thee to speak,Most rudely thou wert silent?Alb.Be calm,Antonio, I confess my error,And hate that Virtue taught me to deceive thee;—Here, take my Hand,—I’ll serve you in good earnest.Ant.And now I do believe thee,Go—thou shalt lose no time, I must away,My Soul’s in torment, till I am confirm’dOf myClarina’sVirtue;I do believe thou hast a generous Shame,For what thou’st said and done to me thy Friend.For could I doubt thy Love, oh, how ridiculousThis act of mine would seem!But ’tis to thee, as to my Soul I come,Disputing every petty Crime and Doubt.Alb.Antonio,if there need an Oath between us—Ant.No, I credit thee; go in,And prithee dress thy Eyes in all their Charms;For this uncertainty disturbs me more,Than if I knewClarinawere a—Whore.Exeunt severally.ACT II.Scene I.The Apartment ofFrederick.EnterFrederickwith a Letter, andGalliard.

EnterClorisdrest in her Night Attire, withFrederickdressing himself.

Clo.And will you leave me now to Fears,Which Love it self can hardly satisfy?But those, and that together sure will kill me,If you stay long away.Fred.My Dear, ’tis almost day, and we must part;Should thoserude Eyes ’mongst whom thou dwell’st perceive us,’Twould prove unhappy both to thee and me.Clo.And will you, Sir, be constant to your Vows?Fred.Ah Cloris! do not question what I’ve sworn;If thou would’st have it once again repeated,I’ll do’t. By all that’s good, I’ll marry thee;By that most Holy Altar, before which we kneel’d,When first I saw the brightest Saint that e’er ador’d it;I’ll marry none but thee, my dearestCloris.Clo.Sir, you have said enough to gain a creditWith any Maid, though she had been deceiv’dBy some such Flatteries as these before.I never knew the pains of Fear till now;Sighs.And you must needs forgive the Faults you make,For had I still remain’d in Innocence,I should have still believ’d you.Fred.Why, dost thou not, my Love?Clo.Some doubts I have, but when I look on you,Though I must blush to do so, they all vanish;But I provide against your absence, Sir.Fred.Make no provision,Cloris, but of Hope,Prepare thy self against a Wedding day,When thou shalt be a little Deity on Earth.Clo.I know not what it is to dwell in Courts,But sure it must be fine, since you are there;Yet I could wish you were an humble Shepherd,And knew no other Palace than this Cottage;Where I would weave you Crowns, of Pinks and Daisies,And you should be a Monarch everyMay.Fred.And,Cloris, I could be content to sitWith thee, upon some shady River’s Bank,To hear thee sing, and tell a Tale of Love.For these, alas! I could do any thing;A Sheep-hook I could prize above a Sword;An Army I would quit to lead a Flock,And more esteem that Chaplet wreath’d by thee,Than the victoriousBays:All this I could, but, Dear, I have a Father,Whom for thy sake, to make thee great and glorious,I would not lose my Int’rest with.But,Cloris, see, the unkind day approaches,And we must kiss and part.Clo.Unkind it is indeed, may it prove soTo all that wish its presence,And pass as soon away,That welcome Night may re-assume its place,And bring you quickly back.Fred.With great impatience I’ll expect that Hour,That shall conduct me in its Shades to thee;Farewel.Clo.Farewel, Sir, if you must be gone.Sighs.Fred.One Kiss, and then indeed I will be gone.Kisses her.A new blown Rose kist by the Morning Dew,Has not more natural Sweetness.AhCloris! can you doubt that Heart,To whom such Blessings you impart?Unjustly you suspect that Prize,Won by such Touches and such Eyes.My Fairest, turn that Face away,Unless I could for ever stay;Turn but a little while I go.

Clo.And will you leave me now to Fears,

Which Love it self can hardly satisfy?

But those, and that together sure will kill me,

If you stay long away.

Fred.My Dear, ’tis almost day, and we must part;

Should thoserude Eyes ’mongst whom thou dwell’st perceive us,

’Twould prove unhappy both to thee and me.

Clo.And will you, Sir, be constant to your Vows?

Fred.Ah Cloris! do not question what I’ve sworn;

If thou would’st have it once again repeated,

I’ll do’t. By all that’s good, I’ll marry thee;

By that most Holy Altar, before which we kneel’d,

When first I saw the brightest Saint that e’er ador’d it;

I’ll marry none but thee, my dearestCloris.

Clo.Sir, you have said enough to gain a credit

With any Maid, though she had been deceiv’d

By some such Flatteries as these before.

I never knew the pains of Fear till now;Sighs.

And you must needs forgive the Faults you make,

For had I still remain’d in Innocence,

I should have still believ’d you.

Fred.Why, dost thou not, my Love?

Clo.Some doubts I have, but when I look on you,

Though I must blush to do so, they all vanish;

But I provide against your absence, Sir.

Fred.Make no provision,Cloris, but of Hope,

Prepare thy self against a Wedding day,

When thou shalt be a little Deity on Earth.

Clo.I know not what it is to dwell in Courts,

But sure it must be fine, since you are there;

Yet I could wish you were an humble Shepherd,

And knew no other Palace than this Cottage;

Where I would weave you Crowns, of Pinks and Daisies,

And you should be a Monarch everyMay.

Fred.And,Cloris, I could be content to sit

With thee, upon some shady River’s Bank,

To hear thee sing, and tell a Tale of Love.

For these, alas! I could do any thing;

A Sheep-hook I could prize above a Sword;

An Army I would quit to lead a Flock,

And more esteem that Chaplet wreath’d by thee,

Than the victoriousBays:

All this I could, but, Dear, I have a Father,

Whom for thy sake, to make thee great and glorious,

I would not lose my Int’rest with.

But,Cloris, see, the unkind day approaches,

And we must kiss and part.

Clo.Unkind it is indeed, may it prove so

To all that wish its presence,

And pass as soon away,

That welcome Night may re-assume its place,

And bring you quickly back.

Fred.With great impatience I’ll expect that Hour,

That shall conduct me in its Shades to thee;

Farewel.

Clo.Farewel, Sir, if you must be gone.Sighs.

Fred.One Kiss, and then indeed I will be gone.Kisses her.

A new blown Rose kist by the Morning Dew,

Has not more natural Sweetness.

AhCloris! can you doubt that Heart,

To whom such Blessings you impart?

Unjustly you suspect that Prize,

Won by such Touches and such Eyes.

My Fairest, turn that Face away,

Unless I could for ever stay;

Turn but a little while I go.

Clo.Sir, I must see the last of you.

Fred.I dare not disobey; adieu till Evening.Exit.

EnterLucia.

Clo.How now,Lucia; is my Father up?Luc.No, not a Mouse stirs yet; I have kept a trueWatch all this Night, for I was cruelly afraidLest we should have been surpriz’d—Is the Prince gone? but why do I ask,That may read it in your sad Looks?

Clo.How now,Lucia; is my Father up?

Luc.No, not a Mouse stirs yet; I have kept a true

Watch all this Night, for I was cruelly afraid

Lest we should have been surpriz’d—

Is the Prince gone? but why do I ask,

That may read it in your sad Looks?

Clo.Yes, he is gone, and with him too has taken—Sighs.

Luc.What has he taken? I’ll swear you frighten me.

Clo.My heart,Lucia.

Luc.Your Heart, I am glad ’tis no worse.

Clo.Why, what dost think he should have taken?

Luc.A thing more hard to have beenRecovered again.Clo.What thing, prithee?Luc.Your Maiden-head.Clo.What’s that?Luc.A thing young Gallants long extremely for,And when they have it too, they sayThey care not a Daisy for the Giver.Clo.How comest thou so wise,Lucia?Luc.Oh, the fine Gentleman that comes a-nightsWith the Prince, told me so much, and bid meBe sure never to part with it for fine Words;For Men would lye as often as they swore;And so bid me tell you too.Clo.OhLucia!Luc.Why do you sigh?Clo.To think if Princes were like common Men,How I should be undone,Since I have given him all I had to give;And who that looks on him can blame my Faith?Luc.Indeed he surpassesDamonfar;But I’ad forgot my self, you are the Prince’s Wife;He said you should be kneel’d to, and ador’d,And never look’d on but on Holy-days:That many Maids should wait upon your call,And strow fine Flowers for you to tread upon.Musick and Love should daily fill your Ears,And all your other Senses should be ravish’dWith wonders of each kind great as your Beauty.Clo.Lucia, methinks you have learnt to speak fine things.Luc.I have a thousand more I’ve heard him say;Oh, I could listen a whole Night to hear him talk:But hark, I hear a Noise, the House is up,And must not find us here.

Luc.A thing more hard to have been

Recovered again.

Clo.What thing, prithee?

Luc.Your Maiden-head.

Clo.What’s that?

Luc.A thing young Gallants long extremely for,

And when they have it too, they say

They care not a Daisy for the Giver.

Clo.How comest thou so wise,Lucia?

Luc.Oh, the fine Gentleman that comes a-nights

With the Prince, told me so much, and bid me

Be sure never to part with it for fine Words;

For Men would lye as often as they swore;

And so bid me tell you too.

Clo.OhLucia!

Luc.Why do you sigh?

Clo.To think if Princes were like common Men,

How I should be undone,

Since I have given him all I had to give;

And who that looks on him can blame my Faith?

Luc.Indeed he surpassesDamonfar;

But I’ad forgot my self, you are the Prince’s Wife;

He said you should be kneel’d to, and ador’d,

And never look’d on but on Holy-days:

That many Maids should wait upon your call,

And strow fine Flowers for you to tread upon.

Musick and Love should daily fill your Ears,

And all your other Senses should be ravish’d

With wonders of each kind great as your Beauty.

Clo.Lucia, methinks you have learnt to speak fine things.

Luc.I have a thousand more I’ve heard him say;

Oh, I could listen a whole Night to hear him talk:

But hark, I hear a Noise, the House is up,

And must not find us here.

Clo.Lock up this Box of Jewels for me.

Luc.Oh rare! what, did these come to night?

Clo.Yes, yes, away.

Exeunt.

EnterCurtiusandPietro.

Cur.I wonder the Prince stays so long;I do not like these Night-works;Were I not confident ofCloris’sVirtue,—Which shall no more be tempted.I hear some coming, and hope ’tis he—Pietro, are the Horses ready?

Cur.I wonder the Prince stays so long;

I do not like these Night-works;

Were I not confident ofCloris’sVirtue,

—Which shall no more be tempted.

I hear some coming, and hope ’tis he—

Pietro, are the Horses ready?

ExitPietro.

EnterFrederick.

Cur.Sir, you are welcome fromCloris’sArms.

Fred.With much ado, I am got loose from those fairFetters, but not from those of her Beauty;By these she still inflames me,In spite of all my humours of Inconstancy;So soft and young, so fair and innocent,So full of Air, and yet of Languishment;So much of Nature in her Heart and Eyes,So timorous and so kind without disguise:Such untaught Sweets in every part do move,As ’gainst my Reason does compel my Love;Such artless smiles, look so unorder’d too,Gains more than all the charms of Courts can do;From Head to Foot, a spotless Statue seems,As Art, not Nature, had compos’d her Limbs;So white, and so unblemish’d, ohCurtius!I’m ravisht beyond Sense when I but think on’t;How much more must my Surprize be,When I behold these Wonders.Cur.And have you seen her, Sir, in all this Beauty?Oh Hell!Aside.Fred.Curtius, I will not hide my Soul from thee;I have seen all the marvels of that Maid.Cur.My Soul, learn now the Art of being disguis’d;Aside.—’Tis much, my Lord, that oneBred in such simple Innocence,Should learn so soon so much of Confidence:Pray, Sir, what Arts and Cunning do you use?Fred.Faith, time and importunity refuse no body.Cur.Is that the way? had you no other Aids?Made you no promise to her, Sir, of Marriage?Fred.Oh, yes, in abundance, that’s your only bait,And though they cannot hope we will perform it,Yet it secures their Honour and my Pleasure.Cur.Then, Sir, you have enjoy’d her?Fred.Oh, yes, and gather’d SweetsWould make an Anchoret neglect his Vow,And think he had mistook his way to future bliss,Which only can be found in such Embraces;’Twas hard to gain, but,Curtius, when once Victor,Oh, how the joys of Conquest did enslave me!Cur.But, Sir, methinks ’tis much that she should yield,With only a bare promise that you’d marry her.Fred.Yes, there was something more—but—Cur.But, what, Sir, you are not married.Fred.Faith, yes, I’ve made a Vow,And that you know would go as far with any other Man.Cur.But she it seems forgot you were the Prince?Fred.No, she urg’d that too,And left no Arguments unus’dMight make me sensible of what I did;But I was fixt, and overcame them all,Repeating still my Vows and Passions for her,Till in the presence of her Maid and HeavenWe solemnly contracted.Cur.But, Sir, by your permission, was it well?Fred.What wouldst thou have him doThat’s all on fire, and dies for an Enjoyment?Cur.But having gain’d it, do you love her still?Fred.Yes, yes, extremely,And would be constant to the Vows I’ve made,Were I a Man, as thou art of thy self;But with the aid of Counsels I must chuse,And what my Soul adores I must refuse.Cur.This Passion, Sir, Possession will destroy,And you’l love less, the more you do enjoy.Fred.That’s all my hope of cure; I’ll ply that game,And slacken by degrees th’ unworthy flame.Cur.Methinks, my Lord, it had more generous beenTo’ve check’d that flame when first it did begin,E’er you the slighted Victory had won,And a poor harmless Virgin quite undone:And what is worse, you’ve made her love you too.Fred.Faith, that’s the greater mischief of the two;I know to such nice virtuous Souls as thine,My juster Inclination is a Crime:But I love Pleasures which thou canst not prize,Beyond dull gazing on thy Mistress Eyes,The lovely Object which enslaves my Heart,Must yet more certain Cures than Smiles impart:—And you onLaurahave the same design.Cur.Yes, Sir, when justify’d by Laws Divine.Fred.Divine! a pleasant Warrant for your Sin,Which being not made, we ne’er had guilty been.But now we speak ofLaura,Prithee, when is’t that I shall see that Beauty?Cur.Never, I hope.Aside.I know not, Sir,Her Father still is cruel, and denies me,What she and I have long made suit in vain for:But, Sir, your Interest might prevail with him,When he shall know I’m one whom you esteem;He will allow my flame, and my address,He whom you favour cannot doubt Success.Fred.This day I will begin to serve thee in it.Cur.Sir, ’twill be difficult to get access to her,Her Father is an humorous old Man,And has his fits of Pride and Kindness too.Fred.Well, after Dinner I will try my Power,And will not quit his Lodgings till I’ve won him.Cur.I humbly thank you, Sir.Fred.Come let us haste, the Day comes on apace.Ex.Fred.Cur.I’ll wait upon you, Sir.OhCloris, thou’rt undone, false amorous Girl;Was it for this I bred thee in obscurity,Without permitting thee to know what Courts meant,Lest their too powerful TemptationMight have betray’d thy Soul?Not suffering thee to know thy Name or Parents,Thinking an humble Lifemight have secur’d thy Virtue:And yet I should not hate thee for this Sin,Since thou art bred in so much Innocence,Thou couldst not dream of Falsity in Men:Oh, that it were permitted me to kill this Prince,This false perfidious Prince;And yet he knows not that he has abus’d me.When did I know a Man of so much Virtue,That would refuse so sweet and soft a Maid?—No, he is just and good, only too much misledBy Youth and Flattery;And one to whom my Soul is ty’d by Friendship;—Yet what’s a Friend, a name above a Sister?Is not her Honour mine?And shall not I revenge the loss of it?It is but common Justice.But first I’ll try all gentle means I may,And let him know thatClorisis my Sister;And if he then persevere in his Crime,I’ll lay my Interest and my Duty by,And punish him, or with my Honour die.

Fred.With much ado, I am got loose from those fair

Fetters, but not from those of her Beauty;

By these she still inflames me,

In spite of all my humours of Inconstancy;

So soft and young, so fair and innocent,

So full of Air, and yet of Languishment;

So much of Nature in her Heart and Eyes,

So timorous and so kind without disguise:

Such untaught Sweets in every part do move,

As ’gainst my Reason does compel my Love;

Such artless smiles, look so unorder’d too,

Gains more than all the charms of Courts can do;

From Head to Foot, a spotless Statue seems,

As Art, not Nature, had compos’d her Limbs;

So white, and so unblemish’d, ohCurtius!

I’m ravisht beyond Sense when I but think on’t;

How much more must my Surprize be,

When I behold these Wonders.

Cur.And have you seen her, Sir, in all this Beauty?

Oh Hell!Aside.

Fred.Curtius, I will not hide my Soul from thee;

I have seen all the marvels of that Maid.

Cur.My Soul, learn now the Art of being disguis’d;Aside.

—’Tis much, my Lord, that one

Bred in such simple Innocence,

Should learn so soon so much of Confidence:

Pray, Sir, what Arts and Cunning do you use?

Fred.Faith, time and importunity refuse no body.

Cur.Is that the way? had you no other Aids?

Made you no promise to her, Sir, of Marriage?

Fred.Oh, yes, in abundance, that’s your only bait,

And though they cannot hope we will perform it,

Yet it secures their Honour and my Pleasure.

Cur.Then, Sir, you have enjoy’d her?

Fred.Oh, yes, and gather’d Sweets

Would make an Anchoret neglect his Vow,

And think he had mistook his way to future bliss,

Which only can be found in such Embraces;

’Twas hard to gain, but,Curtius, when once Victor,

Oh, how the joys of Conquest did enslave me!

Cur.But, Sir, methinks ’tis much that she should yield,

With only a bare promise that you’d marry her.

Fred.Yes, there was something more—but—

Cur.But, what, Sir, you are not married.

Fred.Faith, yes, I’ve made a Vow,

And that you know would go as far with any other Man.

Cur.But she it seems forgot you were the Prince?

Fred.No, she urg’d that too,

And left no Arguments unus’d

Might make me sensible of what I did;

But I was fixt, and overcame them all,

Repeating still my Vows and Passions for her,

Till in the presence of her Maid and Heaven

We solemnly contracted.

Cur.But, Sir, by your permission, was it well?

Fred.What wouldst thou have him do

That’s all on fire, and dies for an Enjoyment?

Cur.But having gain’d it, do you love her still?

Fred.Yes, yes, extremely,

And would be constant to the Vows I’ve made,

Were I a Man, as thou art of thy self;

But with the aid of Counsels I must chuse,

And what my Soul adores I must refuse.

Cur.This Passion, Sir, Possession will destroy,

And you’l love less, the more you do enjoy.

Fred.That’s all my hope of cure; I’ll ply that game,

And slacken by degrees th’ unworthy flame.

Cur.Methinks, my Lord, it had more generous been

To’ve check’d that flame when first it did begin,

E’er you the slighted Victory had won,

And a poor harmless Virgin quite undone:

And what is worse, you’ve made her love you too.

Fred.Faith, that’s the greater mischief of the two;

I know to such nice virtuous Souls as thine,

My juster Inclination is a Crime:

But I love Pleasures which thou canst not prize,

Beyond dull gazing on thy Mistress Eyes,

The lovely Object which enslaves my Heart,

Must yet more certain Cures than Smiles impart:

—And you onLaurahave the same design.

Cur.Yes, Sir, when justify’d by Laws Divine.

Fred.Divine! a pleasant Warrant for your Sin,

Which being not made, we ne’er had guilty been.

But now we speak ofLaura,

Prithee, when is’t that I shall see that Beauty?

Cur.Never, I hope.Aside.I know not, Sir,

Her Father still is cruel, and denies me,

What she and I have long made suit in vain for:

But, Sir, your Interest might prevail with him,

When he shall know I’m one whom you esteem;

He will allow my flame, and my address,

He whom you favour cannot doubt Success.

Fred.This day I will begin to serve thee in it.

Cur.Sir, ’twill be difficult to get access to her,

Her Father is an humorous old Man,

And has his fits of Pride and Kindness too.

Fred.Well, after Dinner I will try my Power,

And will not quit his Lodgings till I’ve won him.

Cur.I humbly thank you, Sir.

Fred.Come let us haste, the Day comes on apace.Ex.Fred.

Cur.I’ll wait upon you, Sir.

OhCloris, thou’rt undone, false amorous Girl;

Was it for this I bred thee in obscurity,

Without permitting thee to know what Courts meant,

Lest their too powerful Temptation

Might have betray’d thy Soul?

Not suffering thee to know thy Name or Parents,

Thinking an humble Lifemight have secur’d thy Virtue:

And yet I should not hate thee for this Sin,

Since thou art bred in so much Innocence,

Thou couldst not dream of Falsity in Men:

Oh, that it were permitted me to kill this Prince,

This false perfidious Prince;

And yet he knows not that he has abus’d me.

When did I know a Man of so much Virtue,

That would refuse so sweet and soft a Maid?

—No, he is just and good, only too much misled

By Youth and Flattery;

And one to whom my Soul is ty’d by Friendship;

—Yet what’s a Friend, a name above a Sister?

Is not her Honour mine?

And shall not I revenge the loss of it?

It is but common Justice.

But first I’ll try all gentle means I may,

And let him know thatClorisis my Sister;

And if he then persevere in his Crime,

I’ll lay my Interest and my Duty by,

And punish him, or with my Honour die.

Exit.

EnterLorenzopulling in ofIsabella.

Lor.Nay, nay,Isabella, there’s no avoiding me now,You and I must come to a parley.Pray what’s the reasonYou took no notice of me,When I came with so civil an address too?Isab.Can you ever think to thrive in an Amour,When you take notice of your Mistress,Or any that belongs to her, in publick,And when she’s a married Woman too?Lor.GoodIsabella, the loser may have leave to speak,I am sure it has been a plaguy dear Amour to me.Isab.Let me hear you name that again,And you shall miss of my Assistance.Lor.Nay, do but hear me a little;I vow ’tis the strangest thing in the World,A Man must part from so much Money as I have done,And be confin’d to Signs and Grimaces only,To declare his Mind in:If a Man has a Tongue, let him exercise it, I say,As long as he pays for speaking.Isab.Again with your paying for’t? I see you are notTo be reclaim’d; farewel—Lor.Stay, goodIsabella, stay,And thou shalt hear not one word of that more,Though I am soundly urg’d to’t.Isab.Yes, yes, pray count them, do;I know you long to be at it,And I am sure you will find you are in Arrears to us.Lor.Say you so, I am not of that opinion: but well,—Let me see—here ’tis, here ’tis—My Bill of Charge for courtingClarina.Draws out his Table Book, and reads.Isab.And here’s mine for the returns that have beenMade you; begin, begin.Pulls out her Book.Lor.Item, two hundred Crowns toIsabellafor undertaking.Isab.Item, I have promis’dLorenzoto serve himIn his Amour with all Fidelity.Lor.Well, I own that Debt paid, if you keepYour word—out with it then—He crosses that out.Item, two thousand Crowns in a Bracelet forClarina;What say you to that now,Isabella?Isab.Item, the day after they were presented,She saluted you with a smile at the Chappel.Lor.And dost thou think it was not dearly bought?Isab.No Man inFlorenceshould have had itA Souce cheaper.Lor.Say you so,Isabella? out with it then.Crosses it out.Item, one hundred more to thee for presenting them.Isab.Which I did with six lyes in your Commendation,Worth ten Pistoles a piece for the exactness of a Lye;Write there indebted to me—Lor.Nay then thou dost deserve it:Rest due toIsabella.Writes.Item, Innumerable Serenades, Night-walks, AffrontsAnd Fears; and lastly, to the Poets for Songs, and the like.Isab.All which was recompensed in the excessiveLaughing on you that Day you praunc’d under ourWindow on Horse-back, when you made such aDeal ofCaprioland Curvet.Lor.Yes, where I ventur’d my Neck to shew myActivity, and therefore may be wellaccomptedAmongst my Losses.Isab.Then she receiv’d your Presents,Suffer’d your Serenades, without sending her Foot-menTo break your Pate with the Fiddles.Lor.Indeed that was one of the best Signs;For I have been a great Sufferer in that kindUpon the like occasions: but dost thou thinkIn Conscience that this should satisfy?Isab.Yes, any reasonable Man in the World, for theFirst Month at least; and yet you are still upWith your Expences, as if a Lady of her QualityWere to be gain’d without them.—Let me hear of your Expences more, and I’ll—Lor.Oh sweetIsabella! upon my KneesI beg thou wilt take no fatal Resolution;For I protest, as I am a Man of Honour,And adore thy Sex, thou shalt only see,Not hear of my Expences more;And for a small testimony of it, here take this;There’s twenty Pistoles upon Reputation.Gives her Money.Isab.Fy, fy, ’tis not brave, nor generous to nameThe Sum, you should have slid it into my Coat,Without saying what you had done.Lor.What signifies that, mun, as long as ’tis current,And you have it sure?Isab.Well, leave the management of your Affairs to me—What shall we do? here’sAlberto.

Lor.Nay, nay,Isabella, there’s no avoiding me now,

You and I must come to a parley.

Pray what’s the reason

You took no notice of me,

When I came with so civil an address too?

Isab.Can you ever think to thrive in an Amour,

When you take notice of your Mistress,

Or any that belongs to her, in publick,

And when she’s a married Woman too?

Lor.GoodIsabella, the loser may have leave to speak,

I am sure it has been a plaguy dear Amour to me.

Isab.Let me hear you name that again,

And you shall miss of my Assistance.

Lor.Nay, do but hear me a little;

I vow ’tis the strangest thing in the World,

A Man must part from so much Money as I have done,

And be confin’d to Signs and Grimaces only,

To declare his Mind in:

If a Man has a Tongue, let him exercise it, I say,

As long as he pays for speaking.

Isab.Again with your paying for’t? I see you are not

To be reclaim’d; farewel—

Lor.Stay, goodIsabella, stay,

And thou shalt hear not one word of that more,

Though I am soundly urg’d to’t.

Isab.Yes, yes, pray count them, do;

I know you long to be at it,

And I am sure you will find you are in Arrears to us.

Lor.Say you so, I am not of that opinion: but well,

—Let me see—here ’tis, here ’tis—

My Bill of Charge for courtingClarina.Draws out his Table Book, and reads.

Isab.And here’s mine for the returns that have been

Made you; begin, begin.Pulls out her Book.

Lor.Item, two hundred Crowns toIsabellafor undertaking.

Isab.Item, I have promis’dLorenzoto serve him

In his Amour with all Fidelity.

Lor.Well, I own that Debt paid, if you keep

Your word—out with it then—He crosses that out.

Item, two thousand Crowns in a Bracelet forClarina;

What say you to that now,Isabella?

Isab.Item, the day after they were presented,

She saluted you with a smile at the Chappel.

Lor.And dost thou think it was not dearly bought?

Isab.No Man inFlorenceshould have had it

A Souce cheaper.

Lor.Say you so,Isabella? out with it then.Crosses it out.

Item, one hundred more to thee for presenting them.

Isab.Which I did with six lyes in your Commendation,

Worth ten Pistoles a piece for the exactness of a Lye;

Write there indebted to me—

Lor.Nay then thou dost deserve it:

Rest due toIsabella.Writes.

Item, Innumerable Serenades, Night-walks, Affronts

And Fears; and lastly, to the Poets for Songs, and the like.

Isab.All which was recompensed in the excessive

Laughing on you that Day you praunc’d under our

Window on Horse-back, when you made such a

Deal ofCaprioland Curvet.

Lor.Yes, where I ventur’d my Neck to shew my

Activity, and therefore may be wellaccompted

Amongst my Losses.

Isab.Then she receiv’d your Presents,

Suffer’d your Serenades, without sending her Foot-men

To break your Pate with the Fiddles.

Lor.Indeed that was one of the best Signs;

For I have been a great Sufferer in that kind

Upon the like occasions: but dost thou think

In Conscience that this should satisfy?

Isab.Yes, any reasonable Man in the World, for the

First Month at least; and yet you are still up

With your Expences, as if a Lady of her Quality

Were to be gain’d without them.

—Let me hear of your Expences more, and I’ll—

Lor.Oh sweetIsabella! upon my Knees

I beg thou wilt take no fatal Resolution;

For I protest, as I am a Man of Honour,

And adore thy Sex, thou shalt only see,

Not hear of my Expences more;

And for a small testimony of it, here take this;

There’s twenty Pistoles upon Reputation.Gives her Money.

Isab.Fy, fy, ’tis not brave, nor generous to name

The Sum, you should have slid it into my Coat,

Without saying what you had done.

Lor.What signifies that, mun, as long as ’tis current,

And you have it sure?

Isab.Well, leave the management of your Affairs to me—

What shall we do? here’sAlberto.

EnterAlberto.

Lor.Well, who can help it? I cannot walk invisible.

Alb.Lorenzo, what, making Love toIsabella?

Lor.She’l serve, my Lord, for want of a better.

Isab.That’s but a coarse Complement.

Lor.’Twill serve to disguise a Truth however.Aside to her.Ex.Isab.Faith, I’ll tell you, Sir, ’twas such another DamselAs this, that sav’d me five hundred Pound once upon a time;And I have lov’d the whole Tribe of Waiting-womenThe better ever since.Alb.You have reason; how was it?Lor.Why, look you, Sir,I had made Love a long time to a Lady;But she shall be nameless,Since she was of a quality not to be gain’d underThe aforesaid Sum: well, I brought it,Came pouder’d and perfum’d, and high in expectation.Alb.Well, Sir.Lor.And she had a very pretty Wench, who was toConduct me, and in the dark too;And, on my Conscience, I e’en fell aboard of her,And was as well accommodated for my five,As five Hundred Pounds, and so return’d.Alb.A great defeat to the Lady the while,a myword.Lor.Ay, she smelt the Plot, and made a Vow to followTheItalianmode for the future;And be serv’d in Affairs of that kind by noneBut an old Woman.

Lor.’Twill serve to disguise a Truth however.Aside to her.Ex.Isab.

Faith, I’ll tell you, Sir, ’twas such another Damsel

As this, that sav’d me five hundred Pound once upon a time;

And I have lov’d the whole Tribe of Waiting-women

The better ever since.

Alb.You have reason; how was it?

Lor.Why, look you, Sir,

I had made Love a long time to a Lady;

But she shall be nameless,

Since she was of a quality not to be gain’d under

The aforesaid Sum: well, I brought it,

Came pouder’d and perfum’d, and high in expectation.

Alb.Well, Sir.

Lor.And she had a very pretty Wench, who was to

Conduct me, and in the dark too;

And, on my Conscience, I e’en fell aboard of her,

And was as well accommodated for my five,

As five Hundred Pounds, and so return’d.

Alb.A great defeat to the Lady the while,a myword.

Lor.Ay, she smelt the Plot, and made a Vow to follow

TheItalianmode for the future;

And be serv’d in Affairs of that kind by none

But an old Woman.

Alb.’Twas wittily resolv’d.

Lor.Are you for the Presence this Morning?

Alb.No, I have business here withAntonio.

Lor.Your Servant, my Lord.Exit.

Alb.I do not like this Fellow’s being here,The most notorious Pimp and Rascal inItaly;’Tis a vile shame that such as he should live,Who have the form and sense of Man about them,And in their Action Beast;And that he thrives by too.

Alb.I do not like this Fellow’s being here,

The most notorious Pimp and Rascal inItaly;

’Tis a vile shame that such as he should live,

Who have the form and sense of Man about them,

And in their Action Beast;

And that he thrives by too.

EnterIsabella.

—Isabella, isAntoniostirring?Isab.He is, please your Lordship to walk in.Alb.You may tell him I wait here:For I would avoid all opportunity of seeingClarina.Aside.

—Isabella, isAntoniostirring?

Isab.He is, please your Lordship to walk in.

Alb.You may tell him I wait here:

For I would avoid all opportunity of seeingClarina.Aside.

Isab.My Lord, you need not stand upon Ceremonies.ExitAlberto.

EnterClarinaandIsmena, dress’d like one another in every thing, laughing and beholding one another.

—Dress’d already! now on my conscienceI know not which is which:Pray GodAntoniobe not mistaken at night,For I’ll be sworn I am by day-light.Ism.Dost think I may pass thus forClarina?Isab.Madam, you are the same to a hair;Wou’d I might never stirIf I can do any thing but wonder.Clar.But hark,Isabella, if thou shou’dst haveHeard amiss, and that thy information should not be good,Thou hast defeated us of a design,Wherein we promise our selves no little pleasure.Ism.Yes, I vow, all the Jest is lost if it be so.Isab.I doubt ’twill be a true Jest on your side.Aside.—I warrant you, Madam, my Intelligence is good;And to assure you of what I have said,I dare undertake you shall hear the same over again:For just nowAlbertois come to visit my Lord,Who I am sure will entertain him with no other stories,But those of his Jealousy,And to persuade him to court you.Clar.’Tis strange, since he set him that Task so long ago,He would not begin before.Ism.Nay, pray God he begin now;Sister, he has hitherto took me for thee,And sometimes his Eyes give me hope of a secretFire within, but ’twill not out;And I am so impatient till he declares himself,That if he do not do it soon,I shall e’en tell him who I am;For perhaps the Wife takes off the appetite,Which would sharpen upon knowledge of the Virgin.Clar.What then, you’ll have all the sport to your self?—But,Ismena, remember my little Revenge onAntonioMust accompany your Love toAlberto.Aside.Isab.But why this resemblance?For, Madam, since he never saw you,And takesIsmenato be you;Might you not still pass so, without this likeness?Clar.Didst thou not sayAntonioleft the CourtAnd City, on purpose to giveAlbertothe more freedomTo Court me?—Whilst he was away, I needed but retire,AndIsmenaappear, and ’twould suffice;But now he is return’d,He may chance to see them together,en passant, or so,And this dress will abuse him as well asAlberto;For without that, this Plot of ours signifies little.Ism.Ay, truly, for my part, I have no other designThan doing my Sister a service.Isab.The Plot is very likely to thrive I see,Since you are so good at dissembling.Ism.Fie,Isabella, what an ill opinion you have of me?—But, Sister, ’tis muchAlbertobeing so intimateWithAntonio, should never see you all this wholeSix Months of your being married.Clar.Had you been bred any whereBut in a Monastery, you would have known’Tis not the custom here for Men to expose theirWives to the view of any.Isab.I hear them coming, let’s away,And pray listen to the Truths I have already told you.

—Dress’d already! now on my conscience

I know not which is which:

Pray GodAntoniobe not mistaken at night,

For I’ll be sworn I am by day-light.

Ism.Dost think I may pass thus forClarina?

Isab.Madam, you are the same to a hair;

Wou’d I might never stir

If I can do any thing but wonder.

Clar.But hark,Isabella, if thou shou’dst have

Heard amiss, and that thy information should not be good,

Thou hast defeated us of a design,

Wherein we promise our selves no little pleasure.

Ism.Yes, I vow, all the Jest is lost if it be so.

Isab.I doubt ’twill be a true Jest on your side.Aside.

—I warrant you, Madam, my Intelligence is good;

And to assure you of what I have said,

I dare undertake you shall hear the same over again:

For just nowAlbertois come to visit my Lord,

Who I am sure will entertain him with no other stories,

But those of his Jealousy,

And to persuade him to court you.

Clar.’Tis strange, since he set him that Task so long ago,

He would not begin before.

Ism.Nay, pray God he begin now;

Sister, he has hitherto took me for thee,

And sometimes his Eyes give me hope of a secret

Fire within, but ’twill not out;

And I am so impatient till he declares himself,

That if he do not do it soon,

I shall e’en tell him who I am;

For perhaps the Wife takes off the appetite,

Which would sharpen upon knowledge of the Virgin.

Clar.What then, you’ll have all the sport to your self?

—But,Ismena, remember my little Revenge onAntonio

Must accompany your Love toAlberto.Aside.

Isab.But why this resemblance?

For, Madam, since he never saw you,

And takesIsmenato be you;

Might you not still pass so, without this likeness?

Clar.Didst thou not sayAntonioleft the Court

And City, on purpose to giveAlbertothe more freedom

To Court me?—Whilst he was away, I needed but retire,

AndIsmenaappear, and ’twould suffice;

But now he is return’d,

He may chance to see them together,en passant, or so,

And this dress will abuse him as well asAlberto;

For without that, this Plot of ours signifies little.

Ism.Ay, truly, for my part, I have no other design

Than doing my Sister a service.

Isab.The Plot is very likely to thrive I see,

Since you are so good at dissembling.

Ism.Fie,Isabella, what an ill opinion you have of me?

—But, Sister, ’tis muchAlbertobeing so intimate

WithAntonio, should never see you all this whole

Six Months of your being married.

Clar.Had you been bred any where

But in a Monastery, you would have known

’Tis not the custom here for Men to expose their

Wives to the view of any.

Isab.I hear them coming, let’s away,

And pray listen to the Truths I have already told you.

They retire.

EnterAntonioandAlberto.ClarinaandIsmenalisten.

Alb.Once more,Antonio, welcome back to Court.Ant.Oh my dear Friend, I long’d for thy Embraces;—How goes the Game I left with thee to play?What says my Wife, my beautifulClarina?Alb.Clarina!—Ant.Yes,Clarina, have you not seen her yet?I left the Court on purpose, for ’twas not handsomeFor me to introduce you,Lest she had look’d upon’t as some design.Alb.Seen her—yes—Ant.And I conjur’d her too, to give you freedomsEven equal toAntonio;As far as I durst press with modesty,And with pretence of Friendship;And have you not attempted her?Alb.Yes—but ’tis in vain.Ant.Oh villanous Dissembler!Aside.Alb.She’s cruel, strangely cruel,And I’m resolv’d to give the Courtship o’er.Ant.Sure, Friend, thou hast not us’d thy wonted power.Alb.Yes, all that I know I’m master of, I us’d.Ant.But didst thou urge it home? did she not seeThy Words and Actions did not well agree?Canst thou dissemble well? didst cry and melt,As if the pain you but express’d, you felt?Didst kneel, and swear, and urge thy Quality,Heightning it too with some Disgrace on me?And didst thou too assail her feeble side?For the best bait to Woman is her Pride;Which some mis-call her Guard:Didst thou present her with the set of Jewels?For Women naturally are more inclin’dTo Avarice, than Men: pray tell me, Friend.—Vile Woman! did she take them—Alb.I never ask’d her that.Clar.PoorAntonio, how I pity him.Aside.Ant.No!Alb.No, I’ve done enough to satisfy thy Jealousy.Here, take your set of Jewels back again;Gives a Box.Upon my LifeClarinais all Chastity.Ant.I were the happiest Man on Earth, were this but true;But what are single Courtships?—give her these,Which will assist thy Tongue to win her Heart;And that once got, the other soon will follow;There’s far more Women won by Gold than Industry:Try that, my dearAlberto,And save thy Eyes the trouble of dissembling.Alb.Content thee here, and do not tempt thy Fate,I have regard unto thy Honour, Friend;And should she yield, as Women are no Gods,Where were thy future Joys?What is’t could make thee happy, or restoreThat true Contentment which thou hadst before?Alas! thou tempt’st me too, for I am frail,And Love above my Friendship may prevail.Ant.This will not do;No, as thou art my Friend, and lov’st my Honour,PursueClarinafurther;Rally afresh, and charge her with this Present,Disturb her every night with Serenades;Make Love-Songs to her, and then sing them too;Thou hast a Voice enough alone to conquer.Alb.Fool,Antonio!Aside.Ant.Come, wilt thou undertake it once again?Alb.I would not.Ant.I am resolv’d to get this tryal made,And if thou dost refuse thy Amity,I’ll try a Friend more willing, though less faithful;With thee my Wife and Honour too are safe,For should she yield, and I by that were lost,’Twere yet some ease,That none but thou wert witness to’t.Alb.Well, if it must be done, I’ad rather do’t,Than you should be expos’d to th’ scorn of others.Ant.Spoke like my noble Friend;Come dine with her to day, for I must leave you,And give you all the opportunityA real Lover wishes with a Mistress.Ism.So we have heard enough.Ex.Clar.andIsm.Ant.Oh, wereClarinachaste, as on my SoulI cannot doubt, more than that I believeAll Womankind may be seduc’d from Virtue;I were the Man of all the World most bless’dIn such a Wife, and such a Friend as thou.Alb.But what if I prevail,Antonio?Ant.Then I’ll renounce my faith in Womankind,And place my satisfaction in thy Amity.—But see, she comes, I’ll leave you to your task.

Alb.Once more,Antonio, welcome back to Court.

Ant.Oh my dear Friend, I long’d for thy Embraces;

—How goes the Game I left with thee to play?

What says my Wife, my beautifulClarina?

Alb.Clarina!—

Ant.Yes,Clarina, have you not seen her yet?

I left the Court on purpose, for ’twas not handsome

For me to introduce you,

Lest she had look’d upon’t as some design.

Alb.Seen her—yes—

Ant.And I conjur’d her too, to give you freedoms

Even equal toAntonio;

As far as I durst press with modesty,

And with pretence of Friendship;

And have you not attempted her?

Alb.Yes—but ’tis in vain.

Ant.Oh villanous Dissembler!Aside.

Alb.She’s cruel, strangely cruel,

And I’m resolv’d to give the Courtship o’er.

Ant.Sure, Friend, thou hast not us’d thy wonted power.

Alb.Yes, all that I know I’m master of, I us’d.

Ant.But didst thou urge it home? did she not see

Thy Words and Actions did not well agree?

Canst thou dissemble well? didst cry and melt,

As if the pain you but express’d, you felt?

Didst kneel, and swear, and urge thy Quality,

Heightning it too with some Disgrace on me?

And didst thou too assail her feeble side?

For the best bait to Woman is her Pride;

Which some mis-call her Guard:

Didst thou present her with the set of Jewels?

For Women naturally are more inclin’d

To Avarice, than Men: pray tell me, Friend.

—Vile Woman! did she take them—

Alb.I never ask’d her that.

Clar.PoorAntonio, how I pity him.Aside.

Ant.No!

Alb.No, I’ve done enough to satisfy thy Jealousy.

Here, take your set of Jewels back again;Gives a Box.

Upon my LifeClarinais all Chastity.

Ant.I were the happiest Man on Earth, were this but true;

But what are single Courtships?—give her these,

Which will assist thy Tongue to win her Heart;

And that once got, the other soon will follow;

There’s far more Women won by Gold than Industry:

Try that, my dearAlberto,

And save thy Eyes the trouble of dissembling.

Alb.Content thee here, and do not tempt thy Fate,

I have regard unto thy Honour, Friend;

And should she yield, as Women are no Gods,

Where were thy future Joys?

What is’t could make thee happy, or restore

That true Contentment which thou hadst before?

Alas! thou tempt’st me too, for I am frail,

And Love above my Friendship may prevail.

Ant.This will not do;

No, as thou art my Friend, and lov’st my Honour,

PursueClarinafurther;

Rally afresh, and charge her with this Present,

Disturb her every night with Serenades;

Make Love-Songs to her, and then sing them too;

Thou hast a Voice enough alone to conquer.

Alb.Fool,Antonio!Aside.

Ant.Come, wilt thou undertake it once again?

Alb.I would not.

Ant.I am resolv’d to get this tryal made,

And if thou dost refuse thy Amity,

I’ll try a Friend more willing, though less faithful;

With thee my Wife and Honour too are safe,

For should she yield, and I by that were lost,

’Twere yet some ease,

That none but thou wert witness to’t.

Alb.Well, if it must be done, I’ad rather do’t,

Than you should be expos’d to th’ scorn of others.

Ant.Spoke like my noble Friend;

Come dine with her to day, for I must leave you,

And give you all the opportunity

A real Lover wishes with a Mistress.

Ism.So we have heard enough.Ex.Clar.andIsm.

Ant.Oh, wereClarinachaste, as on my Soul

I cannot doubt, more than that I believe

All Womankind may be seduc’d from Virtue;

I were the Man of all the World most bless’d

In such a Wife, and such a Friend as thou.

Alb.But what if I prevail,Antonio?

Ant.Then I’ll renounce my faith in Womankind,

And place my satisfaction in thy Amity.

—But see, she comes, I’ll leave you to your task.

EnterIsmenaandIsabella.

Ism.Antonio not yet gone—This must secure me.Pulls down her Veil.Ant.Clarina, why thus clouded?Isab.I see he has most happily mistaken.Ism.I was going, Sir, to visitLaura—Ant.You must not go, I’ve business to the Duke,And you must entertain my Friend till my return;It is a freedom not usual here amongst Ladies,But I will have it so;Whom I esteem, I’ll have you do so too.

Ism.Antonio not yet gone—

This must secure me.Pulls down her Veil.

Ant.Clarina, why thus clouded?

Isab.I see he has most happily mistaken.

Ism.I was going, Sir, to visitLaura—

Ant.You must not go, I’ve business to the Duke,

And you must entertain my Friend till my return;

It is a freedom not usual here amongst Ladies,

But I will have it so;

Whom I esteem, I’ll have you do so too.

Ism.Sir, I am all obedience.

ExitAntonio, she pulls off her Veil;Albertosalutes her with seeming lowness.

Alb.Oh, how my Soul’s dividedBetween my Adoration and my Amity!Aside.Friendship, thou sacred band, hold fast thy Interest;For yonder Beauty has a subtle power,And can undo that knot, which other ArtsCould ne’er invent a way for.

Alb.Oh, how my Soul’s divided

Between my Adoration and my Amity!Aside.

Friendship, thou sacred band, hold fast thy Interest;

For yonder Beauty has a subtle power,

And can undo that knot, which other Arts

Could ne’er invent a way for.

EnterAntonio, and listens at the Door.

Ant.I’ll see a little how he behaves himself.Aside.

Alb.But she’sAntonio’sWife; my FriendAntonio.Aside.A Youth that made an Interest in my Soul,When I had Language scarce to express my sense of it.Ant.Death! he speaks not to her.Aside.Alb.So grew we up to Man, and still morefixt;And shall a gaudy Beauty,A thing which t’other day I never saw,Deprive my Heart of that kind Heat,And place a new and unknown Fire within?Aside.Clarina, ’tis unjust.Ism.Sir, did you speak to me?Alb.I have betray’d my self—Aside.Madam, I was saying how unjust it wasAntonioshould leaveme alonewith a Lady,Being certainly the worst to entertain them in the World.Ant.His Face assures me he speaks of no Love to her now.Ism.Alas, he speaks not to me.SureIsabellawas mistaken, who told me that he lov’d me.—Alberto, if thou art oblig’d to me,Aside.For what I have not yet observ’d in thee,Oh, do not say my Heart was easily won,But blame your Eyes, whose forces none can shun.Ant.Not a word, what can he mean by this?Ism.Sir, will you please to sit a while?Isab.Madam, the inner Chamber is much better,For there he may repose upon the CushionsTill my Lord’s return; I see he is not well——And you are both sick of one Disease.Aside.Alb.I thank you, here’s more Air,—And that I need, for I am all on fire,Aside.And every Look adds fuel to my flame.—I must avoid those Eyes, whose Light misguides me:—Madam, I have some business calls me hence,And cannot wait my Friend’s return.Ism.Antonio, Sir, will think ’tis my neglectThat drove you hence; pray stay a little longer.Alb.You shall command me, if you can dispenseWith so dull Company.Ism.I can with any thingAntonioloves.Alb. Madam, it is a Virtue that becomes you;For though your Husband should not merit this,Your Goodness is not less to be admir’d;But he’s a Man so truly worth your Kindness,That ’twere a Sin to doubtYour Passion for him were not justly paid.Ism.Sir, I believe you, and I hope he thinksThat my opinion of him equals yours;’Tis plain he loves me not;Aside.Perhaps his Virtue, thinking meClarina,May hide the real Passion of his Soul.Oh Love, what dangerous Paths thou mak’st us tread!Ant.Cold, cold as Devotion, oh inhuman Friendship!Aside.Alb.What shall I do next? I must either be rude,And say nothing, or speak of Love to her;And then, my Friend, thou’rt lost should I prevail,And I’m undone should she not hear my Tale,Which for the World I would not have her hear;And yet I fear my Eyes too much declare.Ism.Since he’s in so ill an Humour, let’s leave him,I’m satisfy’d now that thou’rt mistaken.Ex.IsmenaandIsabellaunseen.Alb.But they shall gaze no more on hers,Nor stray beyond the limits of a just Salute.—I will my Honour to my Love prefer,And myAntonioshall out-rival her.Looks about, and misses them.—Ah, am I left alone! how frail is Man!That which last Moment I resolv’d upon,I find my Heart already disapprove,And grieve her loss; can this be ought but Love?My Soul’s dissatisfy’d now she is gone,And yet but now I wish’d to be alone.—Inform me, Love, who shares the better part,Friendship, or thee, in my divided Heart.Offers to go.

Alb.But she’sAntonio’sWife; my FriendAntonio.Aside.

A Youth that made an Interest in my Soul,

When I had Language scarce to express my sense of it.

Ant.Death! he speaks not to her.Aside.

Alb.So grew we up to Man, and still morefixt;

And shall a gaudy Beauty,

A thing which t’other day I never saw,

Deprive my Heart of that kind Heat,

And place a new and unknown Fire within?Aside.

Clarina, ’tis unjust.

Ism.Sir, did you speak to me?

Alb.I have betray’d my self—Aside.

Madam, I was saying how unjust it was

Antonioshould leaveme alonewith a Lady,

Being certainly the worst to entertain them in the World.

Ant.His Face assures me he speaks of no Love to her now.

Ism.Alas, he speaks not to me.

SureIsabellawas mistaken, who told me that he lov’d me.

—Alberto, if thou art oblig’d to me,Aside.

For what I have not yet observ’d in thee,

Oh, do not say my Heart was easily won,

But blame your Eyes, whose forces none can shun.

Ant.Not a word, what can he mean by this?

Ism.Sir, will you please to sit a while?

Isab.Madam, the inner Chamber is much better,

For there he may repose upon the Cushions

Till my Lord’s return; I see he is not well—

—And you are both sick of one Disease.Aside.

Alb.I thank you, here’s more Air,

—And that I need, for I am all on fire,Aside.

And every Look adds fuel to my flame.

—I must avoid those Eyes, whose Light misguides me:

—Madam, I have some business calls me hence,

And cannot wait my Friend’s return.

Ism.Antonio, Sir, will think ’tis my neglect

That drove you hence; pray stay a little longer.

Alb.You shall command me, if you can dispense

With so dull Company.

Ism.I can with any thingAntonioloves.

Alb. Madam, it is a Virtue that becomes you;

For though your Husband should not merit this,

Your Goodness is not less to be admir’d;

But he’s a Man so truly worth your Kindness,

That ’twere a Sin to doubt

Your Passion for him were not justly paid.

Ism.Sir, I believe you, and I hope he thinks

That my opinion of him equals yours;

’Tis plain he loves me not;Aside.

Perhaps his Virtue, thinking meClarina,

May hide the real Passion of his Soul.

Oh Love, what dangerous Paths thou mak’st us tread!

Ant.Cold, cold as Devotion, oh inhuman Friendship!Aside.

Alb.What shall I do next? I must either be rude,

And say nothing, or speak of Love to her;

And then, my Friend, thou’rt lost should I prevail,

And I’m undone should she not hear my Tale,

Which for the World I would not have her hear;

And yet I fear my Eyes too much declare.

Ism.Since he’s in so ill an Humour, let’s leave him,

I’m satisfy’d now that thou’rt mistaken.Ex.IsmenaandIsabellaunseen.

Alb.But they shall gaze no more on hers,

Nor stray beyond the limits of a just Salute.

—I will my Honour to my Love prefer,

And myAntonioshall out-rival her.Looks about, and misses them.

—Ah, am I left alone! how frail is Man!

That which last Moment I resolv’d upon,

I find my Heart already disapprove,

And grieve her loss; can this be ought but Love?

My Soul’s dissatisfy’d now she is gone,

And yet but now I wish’d to be alone.

—Inform me, Love, who shares the better part,

Friendship, or thee, in my divided Heart.Offers to go.

EnterAntonio, and stays him.

Ant.Whither in such haste?Thou look’st e’en as sad as a Lover repuls’d,I fear that Fate’s not thine.Alb.Now for a lye to satisfy him.Aside.Prithee discharge me of this toil of dissembling,Of which I grow as weary as she’s of hearing it.Ant.Indeed!Alb.Sure thou hast a design to make her hate me.Ant.Do you think so in earnest, why, was she angry?Alb.Oh! hadst thou seen her pretty blushing Scorn,Which she would fain have hid,Thou wouldst have pitied what I made her suffer.Ant.Is’t possible!And didst present her with the Box of Jewels?Alb.Yes.Ant.And kneel, and cry and swear, and—Alb.All, all.Ant.I hardly gave thee time for so much Courtship,—But you are sure she was displeased with it?Alb.Extremely.Ant.Enough,Alberto; adieu to thee and Friendship.Alb.What mean you?Ant.Ask your own Guilt, it will inform thee best.Alb.Thou canst not thinkClarinahas abus’d thee.Ant.I do not think she has, nor have you try’d her;In that you have not only disoblig’d me,But now you would impose upon my Weakness—Did I not see how unconcern’d you were,And hardly paying her a due respect;And when she even invited thee to speak,Most rudely thou wert silent?Alb.Be calm,Antonio, I confess my error,And hate that Virtue taught me to deceive thee;—Here, take my Hand,—I’ll serve you in good earnest.Ant.And now I do believe thee,Go—thou shalt lose no time, I must away,My Soul’s in torment, till I am confirm’dOf myClarina’sVirtue;I do believe thou hast a generous Shame,For what thou’st said and done to me thy Friend.For could I doubt thy Love, oh, how ridiculousThis act of mine would seem!But ’tis to thee, as to my Soul I come,Disputing every petty Crime and Doubt.Alb.Antonio,if there need an Oath between us—Ant.No, I credit thee; go in,And prithee dress thy Eyes in all their Charms;For this uncertainty disturbs me more,Than if I knewClarinawere a—Whore.

Ant.Whither in such haste?

Thou look’st e’en as sad as a Lover repuls’d,

I fear that Fate’s not thine.

Alb.Now for a lye to satisfy him.Aside.

Prithee discharge me of this toil of dissembling,

Of which I grow as weary as she’s of hearing it.

Ant.Indeed!

Alb.Sure thou hast a design to make her hate me.

Ant.Do you think so in earnest, why, was she angry?

Alb.Oh! hadst thou seen her pretty blushing Scorn,

Which she would fain have hid,

Thou wouldst have pitied what I made her suffer.

Ant.Is’t possible!

And didst present her with the Box of Jewels?

Alb.Yes.

Ant.And kneel, and cry and swear, and—

Alb.All, all.

Ant.I hardly gave thee time for so much Courtship,

—But you are sure she was displeased with it?

Alb.Extremely.

Ant.Enough,Alberto; adieu to thee and Friendship.

Alb.What mean you?

Ant.Ask your own Guilt, it will inform thee best.

Alb.Thou canst not thinkClarinahas abus’d thee.

Ant.I do not think she has, nor have you try’d her;

In that you have not only disoblig’d me,

But now you would impose upon my Weakness

—Did I not see how unconcern’d you were,

And hardly paying her a due respect;

And when she even invited thee to speak,

Most rudely thou wert silent?

Alb.Be calm,Antonio, I confess my error,

And hate that Virtue taught me to deceive thee;

—Here, take my Hand,—

I’ll serve you in good earnest.

Ant.And now I do believe thee,

Go—thou shalt lose no time, I must away,

My Soul’s in torment, till I am confirm’d

Of myClarina’sVirtue;

I do believe thou hast a generous Shame,

For what thou’st said and done to me thy Friend.

For could I doubt thy Love, oh, how ridiculous

This act of mine would seem!

But ’tis to thee, as to my Soul I come,

Disputing every petty Crime and Doubt.

Alb.Antonio,if there need an Oath between us—

Ant.No, I credit thee; go in,

And prithee dress thy Eyes in all their Charms;

For this uncertainty disturbs me more,

Than if I knewClarinawere a—Whore.

Exeunt severally.

EnterFrederickwith a Letter, andGalliard.

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