The Rover Act IV Chapter II

The Molo.
Enter Florinda and Callis in Masques, with Stephano.

FLOR. I’m dying with my fears; Belvile’s not coming, As I expected, underneath my Window, Makes me believe that all those Fears are true. Canst thou not tell with whom my Brother fights?

STEPH. No, Madam, they were both in Masquerade, I was by when they challenged one another, and they had decided the Quarrel then, but were prevented by some Cavaliers; which made ’em put it off till now but I am sure ’tis about you they fight.

FLOR. Nay then ’tis with Belvile, for what other Lover have I that dares fight for me, except Antonio? and he is too much in favour with my Brother If it be he, for whom shall I direct my Prayers to Heaven?

STEPH. Madam, I must leave you; for if my Master see me, I shall be hang’d for being your Conductor. I escaped narrowly for the Excuse I made for you last night i’th’ Garden.

FLOR. And I’ll reward thee for’t prithee no more.

Enter Don Pedro in his Masquing Habit.

PEDRO. Antonio’s late to day, the place will fill, and we may be prevented.[Walk about.

FLOR. Antonio! sure I heard amiss.[Aside.

PEDRO. But who would not excuse a happy Lover. When soft fair Arms confine the yielding Neck; And the kind Whisper languishingly breathes, Must you be gone so soon? Sure I had dwelt for ever on her Bosom. But stay, he’s here. Enter Belvile drest in Antonio’s Clothes.

FLOR. ’Tis not Belvile, half my Fears are vanisht.

PEDRO. Antonio!

BELV. This must be he. You’re early, Sir, I do not use to be out-done this way.

PEDRO. The wretched, Sir, are watchful, and ’tis enough You have the advantage of me in Angelica.

BELV. Angelica! Or I’ve mistook my Man! Or else Antonio, Can he forget his Interest in Florinda, And fight for common Prize?

PEDRO. Come, Sir, you know our terms

BELV. By Heaven, not I. No talking, I am ready, Sir.

FLOR. runs in.

FLOR. Oh, hold! whoe’er you be, I do conjure you hold.

BELV. If you strike here I die

PEDRO. Florinda!

BELV. Florinda imploring for my Rival!

PEDRO. Away, this Kindness is unseasonable.

[Puts her by, they fight; she runs in just as BELV. disarms PEDRO.

FLOR. Who are you, Sir, that dare deny my Prayers?

BELV. Thy Prayers destroy him; if thou wouldst preserve him. Do that thou’rt unacquainted with, and curse him.

FLOR. By all you hold most dear, by her you love, I do conjure you, touch him not.

BELV. By her I love! See I obey and at your Feet resign The useless Trophy of my Victory.

[Lays his sword at her Feet.

PEDRO. Antonio, you’you've done enough to prove you love Florinda.

BELV. Love Florinda! Does Heaven love Adoration, Pray’r, or Penitence? Love her! here Sir, your Sword again.

[Snatches up the Sword, and gives it him.

PEDRO. No, you’ve redeem’d my Sister, and my Friendship.

BELV. Don Pedro!

PEDRO. Can you resign your Claims to other Women, And give your Heart intirely to Florinda?

BELV. Intire, as dying Saints Confessions are. I can delay my happiness no longer. This minute let me make Florinda mine.

PEDRO. This minute let it be no time so proper, This Night my Father will arrive from Rome, And possibly may hinder what we propose.

FLOR. Oh Heavens! this Minute![Enter Masqueraders, and pass over.

BELV. Oh, do not ruin me!

PEDRO. The place begins to fill; and that we may not be observ’d, do you walk off to St. Peter’s Church, where I will meet you, and conclude your Happiness.

BELV. I’ll meet you there if there be no more Saints Churches in Naples.[Aside.

FLOR. Oh stay, Sir, and recall your hasty Doom: Alas I have not yet prepared my Heart To entertain so strange a Guest.

PEDRO. Away, this silly Modesty is assumed too late.

BELV. Heaven, Madam! what do you do?

FLOR. Do! despise the Man that lays a Tyrant’s Claim To what he ought to conquer by Submission.

BELV. You do not know me move a little this way.

FLOR. Yes, you may even force me to the Altar, But not the holy Man that offers there Shall force me to be thine.[Pedro talks to Callis this while.
BELV. Oh do not lose so blest an opportunity! See ’tis your Belvile not Antonio, Whom your mistaken Scorn and Anger ruins.[Pulls off his Vizard.
FLOR. Belvile! Where was my Soul it cou’d not meet thy Voice, And take this knowledge in?

[As they are talking, enter Willmore finely drest, and Frederick.

WILL. No Intelligence! no News of Belvile yet well I am the most unlucky Rascal in Nature ha! am I deceiv’d or is it he look,

FRED. ’tis he my dear Belvile.

[Runs and embraces him

BELV. Vizard falls out on’s Hand.

BELV. Hell and Confusion seize thee!

PEDRO. Ha! Belvile! I beg your Pardon, Sir.

[Takes FLOR. from him.

BELV. Nay, touch her not, she’s mine by Conquest, Sir. I won her by my Sword.

WILL. Did’st thou so and egad, Child, we’ll keep her by the Sword.

[Draws on Pedro

BELV. goes between.

BELV. Stand off. Thou’rt so profanely leud, so curst by Heaven, All Quarrels thou espousest must be fatal.

WILL. Nay, an you be so hot, my Valour’s coy, And shall be courted when you want it next.[Puts up his Sword.

BELV. You know I ought to claim a Victor’s Right,

PEDRO. ’Twas by Antonio’s, not by Belvile’s Sword, This Question should have been decided, Sir: I must confess much to your Bravery’s due, Both now, and when I met you last in Arms. But I am nicely punctual in my word, As Men of Honor ought, and beg your Pardon. For this Mistake another Time shall clear. This was some Plot between you and Belvile But I’ll prevent you.

BELV. looks after her, and begins to walk up and down in a Rage.

WILL. Do not be modest now, and lose the Woman: but if we shall fetch her back, so

BELV. Do not speak to me.

WILL. Not speak to you! Egad, I’ll speak to you, and will be answered too.

BELV. Will you, Sir?

WILL. I know I’ve done some mischief, but I’m so dull a Puppy, that I am the Son of a Whore, if I know how, or where prithee inform my Understanding.

BELV. Leave me I say, and leave me instantly.

WILL. I will not leave you in this humour, nor till I know my Crime.

BELV. Death, I’ll tell you, Sir

Enter Angelica, Moretta, and Sebastian.

ANG. Ha Sebastian Is not that Willmore? haste, haste, and bring him back.

FRED. The Colonel’s mad I never saw him thus before; I’ll after ’em, lest he do some mischief, for I am sure Willmore will not draw on him.

ANG. I am all Rage! my first desires defeated For one, for ought he knows, that has no Other Merit than her Quality, Her being Don Pedro’s Sister He loves her: I know ’tis so dull, dull, insensible He will not see me now tho oft invited; And broke his Word last night false perjur’d Man! He that but yesterday fought for my Favors, And would have made his Life a Sacrifice To’ve gained one Night with me,
Must now be hired and courted to my Arms.

MORET. I told you what wou’d come on’t, but Moretta’s an old doating Fool Why did you give him five hundred Crowns, but to set himself out for other Lovers? You should have kept him poor, if you had meant to have had any good from him.

ANG. Oh, name not such mean Trifles. Had I given him all My Youth has earn’d from Sin, I had not lost a Thought nor Sigh upon’t.
But I have given him my eternal Rest, My whole Repose, my future Joys, my Heart; My Virgin Heart. Moretta! oh ’tis gone!

MORET. Curse on him, here he comes; How fine she has made him too!

Enter Willmore and SEBAST. ANG. turns and walks away.

WILL. How now, turn’d Shadow? Fly when I pursue, and follow when I fly! There’s a soft kind Look remaining yet.

ANG. Well, Sir, you may be gay; all Happiness, all Joys pursue you still, Fortune’s your Slave, and gives you every hour choice of new Hearts and Beauties, till you are cloyed with the repeated Bliss, which others vainly languish for But know, false Man, that I shall be revenged

WILL. So, ’gad, there are of those faint-hearted Lovers, whom such a sharp Lesson next their Hearts would make as impotent as Fourscore pox o’ this whining my Business is to laugh and love a pox don’t; I hate your sullen Lover, a Man shall lose as much time to put you in Humour now, as would serve to gain a new Woman.

ANG. I scorn to cool that Fire I cannot raise, Or do the Drudgery of your virtuous Mistress.

WILL. A virtuous Mistress! Death, what a thing thou hast found out for me! why what the Devil should I do with a virtuous Woman? a fort of ill-natured Creatures, that take a Pride to torment a Lover. Virtue is but an Infirmity in Women, a Disease that renders even the handsom ungrateful; whilst the ill-favored, for want of Solicitations and Address, only fancy themselves so. I have lain with a Woman of Quality, who has all the while been railing at Whores.

ANG. I will not answer for your Mistress’s Virtue, Tho she be young enough to know no Guilt: And I could wish you would persuade my Heart, ’Twas the two hundred thousand Crowns you courted.

WILL. Two hundred thousand Crowns! what Story’s this? what Trick? what Woman? ha.

ANG. How strange you make it! have you forgot the Creature you entertain’d on the Piazza last night?

WILL. Ha, my Gipsy worth two hundred thousand Crowns! oh how I long to be with her pox, I knew she was of Quality.

ANG. False Man, I see my Ruin in thy Face. How many vows you breathed upon my Bosom, Never to be unjust have you forgot so soon?

WILL. Faith no, I was just coming to repeat ’em but here’s a Humour indeed would make a Man a Saint Would she’d be angry enough to leave me, and command me not to wait on her.

Enter Hellena, drest in Man’s Clothes.

HELL. This must be Angelica, I know it by her mumping Matron here Ay, ay,’tis she: my mad Captain’s with her too, for all his swearing how this unconstraint Humour makes me love him: pray, good grave Gentlewoman, is not this Angelica?

MORET. My too young Sir, it is I hope ’tis one from Don Antonio.[Goes to Angelica.

HELL. Well, something I’ll do to vex him for this.[Aside.

ANG. I will not speak with him; am I in humour to receive a Lover?

WILL. Not speak with him! why I’ll be gone and wait your idler minutes Can I shew less Obedience to the thing I love so fondly?[Offers to go.

ANG. A fine Excuse this stay

WILL. And hinder your Advantage: should I repay your Bounties so ungratefully?

ANG. Come hither, Boy, that I may let you see How much above the Advantages you name I prize one Minute’s Joy with you.

WILL. Oh, you destroy me with this Endearment.[Impatient to be gone. Death, how shall I get away? Madam,’twill not be fit I should be seen with you besides, it will not be convenient and I’ve a Friend that’s dangerously sick.

ANG. I see you’re impatient yet you shall stay.

WILL. And miss my Assignation with my Gipsy.[Aside, and walks about impatiently.

HELL. Madam You’l hardly pardon my Intrusion, When you shall know my Business; And I’m too young to tell my Tale with Art: But there must be a wondrous store of Goodness Where so much Beauty dwells.

ANG. A pretty Advocate, whoever sent thee, Prithee proceed Nay, Sir, you shall not go.

WILL. Then shall I lose my dear Gipsy forever. Pox on’t, she stays me out of spite.

HELL. I am related to a Lady, Madam, Young, rich, and nobly born, but has the fate To be in love with a young English Gentleman. Strangely she loves him, at first sight she loved him, But did adore him when she heard him speak; For he, she said, had Charms in every word,
That fail’d not to surprise, to wound, and conquer

WILL. Ha, Egad I hope this concerns me.

ANG. ’Tis my false Man, he means would he were gone. This Praise will raise his Pride and ruin me Well, Since you are so impatient to be gone, I will release you, Sir.

WILL. Nay, then I’m sure ’twas me he spoke of, this cannot be the Effects of Kindness in her. No, Madam, I’ve considered better don’t,
And will not give you cause of Jealousy.

ANG. But, Sir, I’ve business, that.

WILL. This shall not do, I know ’tis but to try me.

ANG. Well, to your Story, Boy, tho ’twill undo me.

HELL. With this Addition to his other Beauties, He won her unresistant tender Heart, He vowed and sighed, and swore he loved her dearly; And she believed the cunning Flatterer, And thought her self the happiest Maid alive: To day was the appointed time by both,
To consummate their Bliss; The Virgin, Altar, and the Priest were drest, And whilst she languisht for the expected Bridegroom, She heard, he paid his broken Vows to you.

WILL. So, this is some dear Rogue that’s in love with me, and this way lets me know it; or if it be not me, she means some one whose place I may supply.

ANG. Now I perceive The cause of thy Impatience to be gone, And all the business of this glorious Dress.

WILL. Damn the young Prater, I know not what he means.

HELL. Madam, In your fair Eyes I read too much concern To tell my farther Business.

ANG. Prithee, sweet Youth, talk on, thou may’st perhaps Raise here a Storm that may undo my Passion, And then I’ll grant thee any thing.

HELL. Madam,’tis to entreat you, (oh unreasonable!) You would not see this Stranger; For if you do, she vows you are undone,
Tho Nature never made a Man so excellent; And sure he’ad been a God, but for Inconstancy.

WILL. Ah, Rogue, how finely he’s instructed!’Tis plain some Woman that has seen me en passant.

ANG. Oh, I shall burst with Jealousy! do you know the Man you speak of?

HELL. Yes, Madam, he us’d to be in Buff and Scarlet.

ANG. Thou, false as Hell, what canst thou say to this?[To WILL.

WILL. By Heaven

ANG. Hold, do not damn thy self

HELL. Nor hope to be believed.[He walks about, they follow.

ANG. Oh, perjur’d Man! Is’t thus you pay my generous Passion back?

HELL. Why wou’d you, Sir, abuse my Lady’s Faith?

ANG. And use me so inhumanly?

HELL. A Maid so young, so innocent

WILL. Ah, young Devil!

ANG. Dost thou not know thy Life is in my Power?

HELL. Or think my Lady cannot be revenged?

WILL. So, so, the Storm comes finely on.

ANG. Now thou art silent, Guilt has struck thee dumb. Oh, hadst thou still been so, I’d lived in safety.[She turns away and weeps.

WILL. Sweetheart, the Lady’s Name and House quickly: I’m impatient to be with her.

HELL. So now is he for another Woman.

WILL. The impudent’st young thing in Nature! I cannot persuade him out of his Error, Madam.

ANG. I know he’s in the right, yet thou’st a Tongue That would persuade him to deny his Faith.

WILL. Her Name, her Name, dear Boy

HELL. Have you forgot it, Sir?

WILL. Oh, I perceive he’s not to know I am a Stranger to his Lady. Yes, yes, I do know but I have forgot the By Heaven, such early confidence I never saw.

ANG. Did I not charge you with this Mistress, Sir? Which you denied, tho I beheld your Perjury.
This little Generosity of thine has render’d back my Heart.

WILL. So, you have made sweet work here, my little mischief; Look your Lady be kind and good-natured now, or I shall have but a cursed Bargain don’t.The Rogue’s bred up to Mischief, Art thou so great a Fool to credit him?

ANG. Yes, I do; and you in vain impose upon me. Come hither, Boy Is not this he you speak of?

HELL. I think it is; I cannot swear, but I vow he has just such another lying Lover’s look.

HELL. looks in his Face, he gazes on her.

WILL. Hah! do not I know that Face? By Heaven, my little Gipsy! what a dull Dog was I? Had I but lookt that way, I’d known her. Are all my hopes of a new Woman banisht? Egad, if I don’t fit thee for this, hang me. Madam, I have found out the Plot.

HELL. Oh Lord, what does he say? am I discovered now?

WILL. Do you see this young Spark here?

HELL. He’ll tell her who I am.

WILL. Who do you think this is?

HELL. Ay, ay, he does know me. Nay, dear Captain, I’m undone if you discover me.

WILL. Nay, nay, no cogging; she shall know what a precious Mistress I have.

HELL. Will you be such a Devil?

WILL. Nay, nay, I’ll teach you to spoil sport you will not make. This small Ambassador comes not from a Person of Quality, as you imagine, and he says; but from a very errant Gipsy, the talkingst, pratingst, cantingst little Animal thou ever saw’st.

ANG. What news you tell me! that’s the thing I mean.

HELL. Wou’d I were well off the place. If ever I go a Captain-hunting again.

WILL. Mean that thing? that Gipsy thing? thou may’st as well be jealous of thy Monkey, or Parrot as her: a German Motion were worth a dozen of her, and a Dream were a better Enjoyment, a Creature of Constitution fitter for Heaven than Man.

HELL. Tho I’m sure he lyes, yet this vexes me.[Aside.

ANG. You are mistaken, she’s a Spanish Woman Made up of no such dull Materials.

WILL. Materials! Egad, and she be made of any that will either dispense, or admit of Love, I’ll be bound to continence.

HELL. Unreasonable Man, do you think so?[Aside to him.

WILL. You may Return, my little Brazen Head, and tell your Lady, that till she be handsom enough to be belov’d, or I dull enough to be religious, there will be small hopes of me.

ANG. Did you not promise then to marry her?

WILL. Not I, by Heaven.

ANG. You cannot undeceive my fears and torments, till you have vow’d you will not marry her.

HELL. If he swears that, he’ll be reveng’d on me indeed for all my Rogueries.

ANG. I know what Arguments you’ll bring against me, Fortune and Honour.

WILL. Honor! I tell you, I hate it in your Sex; and those that fancy themselves possest of that Foppery, are 77the most impertinently troublesome of all Woman-kind, and will transgress nine Commandments to keep one: and to satisfy your Jealousy I swear

HELL. Oh, no swearing, dear Captain [Aside to him.

WILL. If it were possible I should ever be inclined to marry, it should be some kind young Sinner, one that has Generosity enough to give a favour handsomely to one that can ask it discreetly, one that has Wit enough to manage an Intrigue of Love oh, how civil such a Wench is, to a Man than does her the Honor to marry her.

ANG. By Heaven, there’s no Faith in any thing he says.

SEBAST. Madam, Don Antonio

ANG. Come hither.

HELL. Ha, Antonio! he may be coming hither, and he’ll certainly discover me, I’ll therefore retire without a Ceremony.[Exit Hellena.

ANG. I’ll see him, get my Coach ready.

SEBAST. It waits you, Madam.

WILL. This is lucky: what, Madam, now I may be gone and leave you to the enjoyment of my Rival?

ANG. Dull Man, that canst not see how ill, how poor That false dissimulation looks Be gone, And never let me see thy cozening Face again, Lest I relapse and kill thee.

WILL. Yes, you can spare me now, farewell till you are in a better Humour I’m glad of this release Now for my Gipsy: For tho to worse we change, yet still we find New Joys, New Charms, in a new Miss that’s kind.[Ex. WILL.

ANG. He’s gone, and in this Ague of My Soul The shivering Fit returns;
Oh with what willing haste he took his leave, As if the long’s for Minute were arrived, Of some blest Assignation. In vain I have consulted all my Charms,
In vain this Beauty priz’d, in vain believed My eyes could kindle any lasting Fires. I had forgot my Name, my Infamy, And the Reproach that Honor lays on those
That dare pretend a sober passion here. Nice Reputation, tho it leave behind
More Virtues than inhabit where that dwells, Yet that once gone, those virtues shine no more. Then since I am not fit to beloved, I am resolved to think on a Revenge On him that sooth’d me thus to my undoing.