The Rover Act III Chapter IV

Enter Belvile in Rage, Fred. holding him, and Willmore melancholy

WILL. Why, how the Devil shou’d I know Florinda?

BELV Ah plague of your ignorance! if it had not been Florinda, must you be a Beast? a Brute, a senseless Swine?

WILL. Well, Sir, you see I am endu’d with Patience I can bear tho egad y’re very free with me methinks, I was in good hopes the Quarrel wou’d have been on my side, for so uncivilly interrupting me

BELV Peace, Brute, whilst thou’rt safe oh, I’m distracted

WILL. Nay, nay, I’m an unlucky Dog, that’s certain

BELV Ah curse upon the Star that rul’d my Birth! or whatsoever other Influence that makes me still so wretched

WILL. Thou break’st my Heart with these Complaints; there is no Star in fault, no Influence but Sack, the cursed Sack I drank

FRED. Why, how the Devil came you so drunk?

WILL. Why, how the Devil came you so sober?

BELV A curse upon his thin Skull, he was always before-hand that way
Fred. Prithee, dear Colonel, forgive him, he’s sorry for his fault

BELV He’s always so after he has done a mischief a plague on all such Brutes

WILL. By this Light I took her for an errant Harlot

BELV Damn your debaucht Opinion: tell me, Sot, hadst thou so much sense and light about thee to distinguish her to be a Woman, and couldn’t not see something about her Face and Person, to strike an awful Reverence into thy Soul?

WILL. Faith no, I considered her as mere a Woman as I could wish

BELV ’Sdeath I have no patience draw, or I’ll kill you

WILL. Let that alone till tomorrow, and if I set not all right again, use your Pleasure

BELV Tomorrow, damn it. The spiteful Light will lead me to no happiness. Tomorrow is Antonio’s, and perhaps Guides him to my undoing; oh that I could meet This Rival, this powerful Fortunate

WILL. What then?

BELV Let thy own Reason, or my Rage instruct thee

WILL. I shall be finely informed then, no doubt; hear me, Colonel hear me shew me the Man and I’ll do his Business

BELV I know him no more than thou, or if I did, I should not need thy aid

WILL. This you say is Angelica’s House, I promised the kind Baggage to lie with her to Night

[Offers to go in

Enter Antonio and his PAGE. ANT knocks on the Hilt of his Sword

ANT You paid the thousand Crowns I directed?

PAGE. To the Lady’s old Woman, Sir, I did

WILL. Who the Devil have we here?

BELV I’ll now plant myself under Florinda’s Window, and if I find no comfort there, I’ll die.[Ex. BELV and Fred
Enter Moretta

MORET. Page!

PAGE. Here’s my Lord

WILL. How is this, a Piccaroon going to board my Frigate! here’s one Chase-Gun for you

[Drawing his Sword, justles

ANT who turns and draws. They fight

ANT falls

MORET. Oh, bless us, we are all undone![Runs in, and shuts the Door

PAGE. Help, Murder![Belvile returns at the noise of fighting

BELV Ha, the mad Rogue’s engag’d in some unlucky Adventure again

Enter two or three Masqueraders

MASQ. Ha, a Man killed!

WILL. How! a Man kill’d! then I’ll go home to sleep.[Puts up, and reels out. Ex. Masquers another way

BELV Who shou’d it be! pray Heaven the Rogue is safe, for all my Quarrel to him

[As Belvile is groping about, enter an Officer and six Soldiers

SOLD. Who’s there?

OFFIC. So, here’s one dispatcht secure the Murderer

BELV Do not mistake my Charity for Murder: I came to his Assistance

[Soldiers seize on Belvile

OFFIC. That shall be tried, Sir. St. Jago, Swords drawn in the Carnival time!

ANT Thy Hand prithee

OFFIC. Ha, Don Antonio! look well to the Villain there. How is’t, Sir?

ANT I’m hurt

BELV Has my Humanity made me a Criminal?

OFFIC. Away with him

BELV What a curst Chance is this![Ex. Soldiers with BELV

ANT This is the Man that has set upon me twice 62carry him to my Apartment till you have further Orders from me