The Rover Act V

After a great knocking as at his Chamber-door, enter Blunt softly, crossing the Stage in his Shirt and Drawers, as before

BLUNT. The Rogues are up in Arms, ’dsheartlikins, this villainous Frederick has betray’d me, they have heard of my blessed Fortune
Ned Blunt, Ned, Ned [and knocking within

BELV. Why, he’s dead, Sir, without dispute dead, he has not been seen to day; let’s break open the Door here Boy

BLUNT. Ha, break open the Door! ’dsheartlikins that mad Fellow will be as good as his word

BELV. Boy, bring something to force the Door

[A great noise within at the Door again

BLUNT. So, now must I speak in my own Defense, I’ll try what Rhetorick will do hold hold, what do you mean, Gentlemen, what do you mean?

BELV. Oh Rogue, art alive? prithee open the Door, and convince us

BLUNT. Yes, I am alive, Gentlemen but at present a little busy

BELV. How! Blunt grown a man of Business! come, come, open, and let’s see this Miracle.[within

BLUNT. No, no, no, no, Gentlemen, ’tis no great Business but I am at my Devotion, ’dsheartlikins, will you not allow a man time to pray?

BELV. Turn’d religious! a greater Wonder than the first, therefore open quickly, or we shall unhinge, we shall.[within

BLUNT. This won’t do Why, hark ye, Colonel; to tell you the plain Truth, I am about a necessary Affair of Life. I have a Wench with me you apprehend me? the Devil’s in’t if they be so uncivil as to disturb me now

WILL. How, a Wench! Nay, then we must enter and partake; no Resistance, unless it be your Lady of Quality, and then we’ll keep our distance

BLUNT. So, the Business is out

WILL. Come, come, lend more hands to the Door, now heave altogether so, well done, my Boys

[Breaks open the Door
Enter Belvile, Willmore, FRED. Pedro and Belvile’s Page: Blunt looks simply, they all laugh at him, he lays his hand on his Sword, and conies up to Willmore

BLUNT. Hark ye, Sir, laugh out your laugh quickly, d’ye hear, and be gone, I shall spoil your sport else; ’dsheartlikins, Sir, I shall the Jest has been carried on too long, a Plague upon my Taylor

WILL. ’Sdeath, how the Whore has drest him! Faith, Sir, I’m sorry

BLUNT. Are you so, Sir? keep’t to your self then, Sir, I advise you, d’ye hear? for I can as little endure your Pity as his Mirth.[Lays his Hand on’s Sword

BELV. Indeed, Willmore, thou wert a little too rough with Ned Blunt’s Mistress; call a Person of Quality Whore, and one so young, so handsome, and so eloquent! ha, ha, ha

BLUNT. Hark ye, Sir, you know me, and know I can be angry; have a care for ’dsheartlikins I can fight too I can, Sir, do you mark me no more

BELV. Why so peevish, good Ned? some Disappointments, I’ll warrant What! did the jealous Count her Husband return just in the nick?

BLUNT. Or the Devil, Sir, d’ye laugh? [They laugh.] Look ye, settle me a good sober Countenance, and that quickly too, or you shall know Ned Blunt is not

BELV. Not every Body, we know that

BLUNT. Not an Ass, to be laugh at, Sir

WILL. Unconscionable Sinner, to bring a Lover so near his Happiness, a vigorous passionate Lover, and then not only cheat him of his Movables, but his Desires too

BELV. Ah, Sir, a Mistress is a Trifle with Blunt, he’ll have a dozen the next time he looks abroad; his Eyes have Charms not to be resisted: There needs no more than to expose that taking Person to the view of the Fair, and he leads ’em all in Triumph

PED. Sir, tho I’m a stranger to you, I’m ashamed at the rudeness of my Nation; and could you learn who did it, would assist you to make an Example of ’em

BLUNT. Why, ay, there’s one speaks sense now, and handsomely; and let me tell you Gentlemen, I should not have shew’d my self like a Jack-Pudding, thus to have made you Mirth, but that I have revenge within my power; for know, I have got into my possession a Female, who had better have fallen under any Curse, than the Ruin I design her: ’dsheartlikins, she assaulted me here in my own Lodgings, and had doubtless committed a Rape upon me, had not this Sword defended me

FRED. I knew not that, but o’ my Conscience thou hadst ravish her, had she not redeem’d her self with a Ring let’s see’t

[Blunt shews the Ring

BELV. Hah! the Ring I gave FLOR.inda when we exchanged’d our Vows! hark ye, Blunt

[Goes to whisper to him

WILL. No whispering, good Colonel, there’s a Woman in the case, no whispering

BELV. Hark ye, Fool, be advised’d, and conceal both the Ring and the Story, for your Reputation’s sake; don’t let People know what despised Cullies we English are: to be cheated and abused’d by one Whore, and another rather bribe thee than be kind to thee, is an Infamy to our Nation

WILL. Come, come, where’s the Wench? we’ll see her, let her be what she will, we’ll see her

PED. Ay, ay, let us see her, I can soon discover whether she be of Quality, or for your Diversion

BLUNT. She’s in Fred’s Custody

WILL. Come, come, the Key.[To FRED. who gives him the Key, they are going

BELV. Death! what shall I do? stay, Gentlemen yet if I hinder ’em, I shall discover all hold, let’s go one at once give me the Key

WILL. Nay, hold there, Colonel, I’ll go first

FRED. Nay, no Dispute, Ned and I have the property of her

WILL. Damn Property then we’ll draw Cuts

BLUNT. I yield up my Interest to you Gentlemen, and that will be Revenge sufficient

WILL. The Wench is yours (To PED.) Pox of his Toledo, I had forgot that

FRED. Come, Sir, I’ll conduct you to the Lady

[Ex. FRED. and PED

BELV. To hinder him will certainly discover [Aside.] Dost know, dull Beast, what Mischief thou hast done?[ WILL. walking up and down out of Humour

WILL. Ay, ay, to trust our Fortune to Lots, a Devil on’t, ’twas madness, that’s the Truth on’t

BELV. Oh intolerable Sot!

Enter FLOR.inda, running masque, Pedro after her, WILL. gazing round her

FLOR.. Good Heaven, defend me from discovery

BELV. Sure she is undiscovered yet, but now I fear there is no way to bring her off

WILL. Why, what a Pox is not this my Woman, the same I follow’d but now?

PED. As if I did not know ye, and your Business here

FLOR.. Good Heaven! I fear he does indeed [Aside

PED. Come, pray be kind, I know you meant to be so when you enter’d here, for these are proper Gentlemen

WILL. But, Sir perhaps the Lady will not be imposed upon, she’ll choose her MAN

PED. I am better bred, than not to leave her Choice free

Enter Valeria, and is surprised at the Sight of Don Pedro

VAL. Don Pedro here! there’s no avoiding him

FLOR.. Valeria! then I’m undone

VAL. Oh! have I found you, Sir [To Pedro, running to him.] The strangest Accident if I had breath to tell it

PED. Speak?

FLOR.inda safe? Hellena well?

VAL. Ay, ay, Sir FLOR.inda is safe from any fears of you

PED. Why, where’s

FLOR.inda? speak

VAL. Ay, where indeed, Sir? I wish I could inform you, But to hold you no longer in doubt

FLOR.. Oh, what will she say!

VAL. She’s fled away in the Habit of one of her Pages, Sir but Callis thinks you may retrieve her yet, if you make haste away; she’ll tell you, Sir, the rest if you can find her out

PED. Dishonorable Girl, she has undone my Aim Sir you see my necessity of leaving you, and I hope you’ll pardon it: my Sister, I know, will make her flight to you; and if she do, I shall expect she should be render’d back

BELV. I shall consult my Love and Honour, Sir

FLOR.. My dear Preserver, let me embrace thee

[To VAL

WILL. What the Devil’s all this?

BLUNT. Mystery by this Light

VAL. Come, come, make haste and get your selves married quickly, for your Brother will return again

BELV. I am so surprised with Fears and Joys, so amazed to find you here in safety, I can scarce persuade my Heart into a Faith of what I see

WILL. Harkye, Colonel, is this that Mistress who has cost you so many Sighs, and me so many Quarrels with you?

BELV. It is Pray give him the Honor of your Hand

[To FLOR..

WILL. Thus it must be received then. [Kneels and kisses her Hand.] And with it give your Pardon too

FLOR.. The Friend to Belvile may command me anything

WILL. Death, would I might, ’tis a surprising Beauty.[Aside

BELV. Boy, run and fetch a Father instantly.[Ex. BOY

FRED. So, now do I stand like a Dog, and have not a Syllable to plead my own Cause with: by this Hand, Madam, I was never thorowly confounded before, nor shall I ever more dare look up with Confidence, till you are pleased to pardon me

FLOR.. Sir, I’ll be reconciled to you on one Condition, that you’ll follow the Example of your Friend, in marrying a Maid that does not hate you, and whose Fortune (I believe) will not be unwelcome to you

FRED. Madam, had I no Inclinations that way, I should obey your kind Commands

BELV. Who

FRED. marry; he has so few Inclinations for Womankind, that had he been posses of Paradise, he might have continued there to this Day, if no Crime but Love could have disinherited him

FRED. Oh, I do not use to boast of my Intrigues

BELV. Boast! why thou do’st nothing but boast; and I dare swear, wer’t thou as innocent from the Sin of the Grape, as thou art from the Apple, thou might’st yet claim that right in Eden which our first Parents lost by too much loving

FRED. I wish this Lady would think me so modest a MAN

VAL. She should be sorry then, and not like you half so well, and I should be loth to break my Word with you; which was, That if your Friend and mine are agreed, it should’d be a Match between you and I.[She gives him her Hand

FRED. Bear witness, Colonel, ’tis a Bargain.[Kisses her Hand

BLUNT. I have a Pardon to beg too; but adsheartlikins I am so out of Countenance, that I am a Dog if I can say any thing to purpose.[To

FLOR.inda

FLOR.. Sir, I heartily forgive you all

BLUNT. That’s nobly said, sweet Lady Belvile, prithee present her her Ring again, for I find I have not Courage to approach her my self

Enter BOY

BOY. Sir, I have brought the Father that you sent for

BELV. ’Tis well, and now my dear FLOR.inda, let’s fly to complete that mighty Joy we have so long wish’d and sigh’d for. Come

FRED. you’ll follow?

FRED. Your Example, Sir,’twas ever my Ambition in War, and must be so in Love

WILL. And must not I see this juggling Knot typed?

BELV. No, thou shalt do us better Service, and be our Guard, lest Don Pedro’ssudden Return interrupt the Ceremony

WILL. Content; I’ll secure this Pass.[Ex. Bel. FLOR.. FRED. and VAL

Enter BOY

BOY. Sir, there’s a Lady without wou’d speak to you.[To WILL

WILL. Conduct her in, I dare not quit my Post

BOY. And, Sir, your Taylor waits you in your Chamber

BLUNT. Some comfort yet, I shall not dance naked at the Wedding.[Ex. Blunt and BOY

Enter again the Boy, conducting in Angelica in a masquing Habit and a Vizard, WILL. runs to her

WILL. This can be none but my pretty Gipsy Oh, I see you can follow as well as fly Come, confess thy self the most malicious Devil in Nature, you think you have done my Business with Angelica

ANG. Stand off, base Villain [She draws a Pistol and holds to his Breast

WILL. Hah, ’tis not she: who art thou? and what’s thy Business?

ANG. One thou hast injured, and who comes to kill thee for’t

WILL. What the Devil canst thou mean?

ANG. By all my Hopes to kill thee [Holds still the Pistol to his Breast, he going back, she following still

WILL. Prithee on what Acquaintance? for I know thee not

ANG. Behold this Face! so lost to thy Remembrance! And then call all thy Sins about thy Soul, And let them die with thee

WILL. Angelica!

ANG. Yes, Traitor. Does not thy guilty Blood run shivering thro thy Veins? Hast thou no Horror at this Sight, that tells thee
Thou hast not long to boast thy shameful Conquest?

WILL. Faith, no Child, my Blood keeps its old Ebbs and Flows still, and that usual Heat too, that could’d oblige thee with a Kindness, had I but opportunity

ANG. Devil! dost wanton with my Pain have at thy Heart

WILL. Hold, dear Virago! hold thy Hand a little
I am not now at leisure to be kill’d hold and hear me Death, I think she’s in earnest.[Aside

ANG. Oh if I take not heed, My coward Heart will leave me to his Mercy. What have you, Sir, to say? but should I hear thee, Thousandth talk away all that is brave about me: And I have vow’d thy Death, by all that’s sacred

WILL. Why, then there’s an end of a proper handsome Fellow, that might have lived’d to have done good Service yet: That’s all I can say to’t

ANG. Yet I would give thee time for Penitence

WILL. Faith, Child, I thank God, I have ever took care to lead a good, sober, hopeful Life, and am of a Religion that teaches me to believe, I shall depart in Peace

ANG. So will the Devil: tell me How many poor believing Fools thou hast undone; How many Hearts thou hast betray’d to ruin! Yet these are little Mischief's to the Ills Thou’st taught mine to commit: thou’st taught it Love

WILL. Egad, ’twas shrewdly hurt the while

ANG. Love, that has robbed it of its Unconcern, Of all that Pride that taught me how to value it, And in its room a mean submissive Passion was convey’d, That made me humbly bow, which I never did To any thing but Heaven. Thou, perjur’d Man, didst this, and with thy Oaths, Which on thy Knees thou didst devoutly make, Soften’d my yielding Heart And then, I was a Slave Yet still had been content to’ve worn my Chains, Worn ’em with Vanity and Joy for ever, Hadst thou not broke those Vows that put them on
’Twas then I was undone

[All this while follows him with a Pistol to his Breast

WILL. Broke my Vows! why, where hast thou lived? Amongst the Gods! For I never heard of mortal Man, That has not broke a thousand Vows

ANG. Oh, Impudence!

WILL. Angelica! that Beauty has been too long tempting, Not to have made a thousand Lovers languish, Who in the amorous Favor, no doubt have sworn Like me; did they all die in that Faith? still adoring? I do not think they did

ANG. No, faithless Man: had I repaid their Vows, as I did thine, I wou’d have kill’d the ungrateful that had abandon’d me

WILL. This old General has quite spoil’d thee, nothing makes a Woman so vain, as being flatter’d; your old Lover ever supplies the Defects of Age, with intolerable Dotage, vast Charge, and that which you call Constancy; and attributing all this to your own Merits, you domineer, and throw your Favors in’s Teeth, upbraiding him still with the Defects of Age, and cuckold him as often as he deceives your Expectations. But the gay, young, brisk Lover, that brings his equal Fires, and can give you Dart for Dart, he’ll be as nice as you sometimes

ANG. All this thou’st made me know, for which I hate thee. Had I remain’d in innocent Security, I should have thought all Men were born my Slaves; And worn my Pow’r like Lightning in my Eyes, To have destroy’d at Pleasure when offended. But when Love held the Mirror, the undeceiving Glass Reflected all the Weakness of my Soul, and made me know, My richest Treasure being lost, my Honor
All the remaining Spoil could not be worth The Conqueror’s Care or Value. Oh how I fell like a long worship’d Idol, Discovering all the Cheat! Would not the Incense and rich Sacrifice, Which blind Devotion offer’d at my Altars, Have fall’n to thee? Why wouldst thou then destroy my fancy’d Power?

WILL. By Heaven thou art brave, and I admire thee strangely. I wish I were that dull, that constant thing, Which thou wouldst have, and Nature never meant me: I must, like cheerful Birds, sing in all Groves, And perch on every Bough, Billing the next kind She that flies to meet me; Yet after all could build my Nest with thee, Thither repairing when I’d loved my round, And still reserve a tributary Flame. To gain your Credit, I’ll pay you back your Charity, And be obliged for nothing but for Love.[Offers her a Purse of Gold

ANG. Oh that thou wert in earnest! So mean a Thought of me, Wound turn my Rage to Scorn, and I should pity thee, And give thee leave to live;
Which for the public Safety of our Sex, and my own private Injuries, I dare not do
Prepare I will no more be tempted with Replies

WILL. Sure

ANG. Another Word will damn thee! I’ve heard thee talk too long

[She follows him with a Pistol ready to shoot: he retires still amazed

Enter Don ANTONIO. his Arm in a Scarf, and lays hold on the Pistol

ANT. Hah! Angelica!

ANG. Antonio! What Devil brought thee hither?

ANT. Love and Curiosity, seeing your Coach at Door. Let me disarm you of this unbecoming Instrument of Death. Amongst the Number of your Slaves, was there not one worthy the Honor to have fought your Quarrel? Who are you, Sir, that are so very wretched To merit Death from her?

WILL. One, Sir, that could have made a better End of an amorous Quarrel without you, than with you

ANT. Sure ’tis some Rival hah the very Man took down her Picture yesterday the very same that set on me last night Blest opportunity [Offers to shoot him

ANG. Hold, you’re mistaken, Sir

ANT. By Heaven the very same! Sir, what pretensions have you to this Lady?

WILL. Sir, I don’t use to be examin’d, and am ill at all Disputes but this [Draws, Anton. offers to shoot

ANG. Oh, hold! you see he’s arm’d with certain Death:
By all the Passion you've so lately vow’d me
Enter Don Pedro, sees ANTONIO. and stays

PED. Hah, Antonio! and Angelica![Aside

ANT. When I refuse Obedience to your Will, May you destroy me with your mortal Hate. By all that’s Holy I adore you so, That even my Rival, who has Charms enough To make him fall a Victim to my Jealousy, Shall live, nay, and have leave to love on still

PED. What’s this I hear?

ANG. Ah thus, ’twas thus he talk’d, and I believed

[Pointing to WILL

ANTONIO. yesterday, I’d not have sold my Interest in his Heart, For all the Sword has won and lost in Battle. But now to show my utmost of Contempt, I give thee Life which if thou would’st preserve, Live where my Eyes may never see thee more, Live to undo some one, whose Soul may prove
So bravely constant to revenge my Love

[Goes out, ANT. follows, but PED. pulls him back

PED. Antonio stay

ANT. Don Pedro

PED. What Coward Fear was that prevented thee From meeting me this Morning on the Molo?

ANT. Meet thee?

PED. Yes me; I was the Man that dared thee to’t

ANT. Hast thou so often seen me fight in War, To find no better Cause to excuse my Absence? I sent my Sword and one to do thee Right
Finding my self incapable to use a Sword

PED. But ’twas

FLOR.inda’s Quarrel that we fought, And you to shew how little you esteem’d her, Sent me your Rival, giving him your Interest. But I have found the Cause of this Affront, But when I meet you fit for the Dispute, I’ll tell you my Resentment

ANT. I shall be ready, Sir, e’er long to do you Reason.[Exit ANT

PED. If I cou’d find FLOR.inda, now whilst my Anger’s high, I think I should be kind, and give her to Belvile in Revenge

WILL. Faith, Sir, I know not what you would’d do, but I believe the Priest within has been so kind

PED. How! my Sister married?

WILL. I hope by this time she is, and bedded too, or he has not my longings about him

PED. Dares he do thus? Does he not fear my Pow’r?

WILL. Faith not at all. If you will go in, and thank him for the Favor he has done your Sister, so; if not, Sir, my Power’s greater in this House than yours; I have a damn’d surly Crew here, that will keep you till the next Tide, and then clap you an board my Prize; my Ship lies but a League off the Molo, and we shall show your Donship a damn’d Tramontana Rover’s Trick

Enter Belvile

BELV. This Rogue’s in some new Mischief hah, Pedro return’d!

PED. Colonel Belvile, I hear you have married my Sister

BELV. You have heard truth then, Sir

PED. Have I so? then, Sir, I wish you Joy

BELV. How!

PED. By this Embrace I do, and I glad on’t

BELV. Are you in earnest?

PED. By our long Friendship and my Obligations to thee, I am. The sudden Change I’ll give you Reasons for anon. Come lead me into my Sister, that she may know I now approve her Choice.[Exit Bel. with PED

WILL. goes to follow them. Enter Hellena as before in Boy’s Clothes, and pulls him back

WILL. Ha! my Gipsy Now a thousand Blessings on thee for this Kindness. Egad, Child, I was e’en in despair of ever seeing thee again; my Friends are all provided for within, each Man his kind Wo MAN

HELL. Hah! I thought they had served me some such Trick

WILL. And I was e’en resolved to go aboard, condemn my self to my lone Cabin, and the Thoughts of thee

HELL. And could you have left me behind? would you have been so ill-natured?

WILL. Why, ’twou’d have broke my Heart, Child but since we are met again, I defy foul Weather to part us

HELL. And would’d you be a faithful Friend now, if a Maid should trust you?

WILL. For a Friend I cannot promise, thou art of a Form so excellent, a Face and Humour too good for cold dull Friendship; I am parlously afraid of being in love, Child, and you have not forgot how severely you have us’d me

HELL. That’s all one, such Usage you must still look for, to find out all your Haunts, to rail at you to all that love you, till I have made you love only me in your own Defense, because no body else will love

WILL. But hast thou no better Quality to recommend thy self by?

HELL. Faith none, Captain Why, ’twill be the greater Charity to take me for thy Mistress, I am a lone Child, a kind of Orphan Lover; and why I should die a Maid, and in a Captain’s Hands too, I do not understand

WILL. Egad, I was never claw’d away with Broad-Sides from any Female before, thou hast one Virtue I adore, good-Nature; I hate a coy demure Mistress, she’s as troublesome as a Colt, I’ll break none; no, give me a mad Mistress when mew’d, and in flying on[e] I dare trust upon the Wing, that whilst she’s kind will come to the Lure

HELL. Nay, as kind as you will, good Captain, whilst it lasts, but let’s lose no time

WILL. My time’s as precious to me, as thine can be; therefore, dear Creature, since we are so well agreed, let’s retire to my Chamber, and if ever thou were treated with such savory Love Come My Bed’s prepar’d for such a Guest, all clean and sweet as thy fair self; I love to steal a Dish and a Bottle with a Friend, and hate long Graces Come, let’s retire and fall to

HELL. ’Tis but getting my Consent, and the Business is soon done; let but old Gaffer Hymen and his Priest say Amen to’t, and I dare lay my Mother’s Daughter by as proper a Fellow as your Father’s Son, without fear or blushing

WILL. Hold, hold, no Bugg Words, Child, Priest and Hymen: prithee add Hangman to ’em to make up the Consort No, no, we’ll have no Vows but Love, Child, nor Witness but the Lover; the kind Diety injoins naught but love and enjoy. Hymen and Priest wait still upon Portion, and Joynture; Love and Beauty have their own Ceremonies. Marriage is as certain a Bane to Love, as lending Money is to Friendship: I’ll neither ask nor give a Vow, tho I could be content to turn Gipsy, and become a Left-hand Bridegroom, to have the Pleasure of working that great Miracle of making a Maid a Mother, if you durst venture; ’tis upse Gipsy that, and if I miss, I’ll lose my Labor

HELL. And if you do not lose, what shall I get? A Cradle full of Noise and Mischief, with a Pack of Repentance at my Back? Can you teach me to interweave to pass my time with? ’Tis upse Gipsy that too

WILL. I can teach thee to weave a true Love’s Knot better

HELL. So can my Dog

WILL. Well, I see we are both upon our Guard, and I see there’s no way to conquer good Nature, but by yielding here give me thy Hand one Kiss and I am thine

HELL. One Kiss! How like my Page he speaks; I am resolved you shall have none, for asking such a sneaking Sum He that will be satisfied with one Kiss, will never die of that Longing; good Friend single-Kiss, is all your talking come to this? A Kiss, a Caudle! farewel, Captain single-Kiss

[Going out he stays her

WILL. Nay, if we part so, let me die like a Bird upon a Bough, at the Sheriff’s Charge. By Heaven, both the Indies shall not buy thee from me. I adore thy Humour and will marry thee, and we are so of one Humour, it must be a Bargain give me thy Hand [Kisses her hand.]
And now let the blind ones (Love and Fortune) do their worst

HELL. Why, God-a-mercy, Captain!

WILL. But harkye The Bargain is now made; but is it not fit we should know each other’s Names? That when we have Reason to curse one another hereafter, and People ask me who ’tis I give to the Devil, I may at least be able to tell what Family you came of

HELL. Good reason, Captain; and where I have cause, (as I doubt not but I shall have plentiful) that I may know at whom to throw my Blessings I beseech ye your Name

WILL. I am call’d Robert the Const ANT

HELL. A very fine Name! pray was it your Faulkner or Butler that christen’d you? Do they not use to whistle when then call you?

WILL. I hope you have a better, that a Man may name without crossing himself, you are so merry with mine

HELL. I am call’d Hellena the Inconst ANT

Enter Pedro, Belvile, FLOR.inda, FRED. Valeria

PED. Hah! Hellena!

FLOR.. Hellena!

HELL. The very same hah my Brother! now, Captain, shew your Love and Courage; stand to your Arms, and defend me bravely, or I am lost for ever

PED. What’s this I hear? false Girl, how came you hither, and what’s your Business? Speak.[Goes roughly to her

WILL. Hold off, Sir, you have leave to parly only.[Puts himself between

HELL. I had e’en as good tell it, as you guess it. Faith, Brother, my Business is the same with all living Creatures of my Age, to love, and be loved, and here’s the MAN

PED. Perfidious Maid, hast thou deceived me too, deceived’d thy self and Heaven?

HELL. ’Tis time enough to make my Peace with that: Be you but kind, let me alone with Heaven

PED. Belvile, I did not expect this false Play from you; was’t not enough you’d gain

FLOR.inda (which I pardon’d) but your leud Friends too must be inrich’d with the Spoils of a noble Family?

BELV. Faith, Sir, I am as much surprised at this as you can be: Yet, Sir, my Friends are Gentlemen, and ought to be esteem’d for their Misfortunes, since they have the Glory to suffer with the best of Men and Kings; ’tis true, he’s a Rover of Fortune, yet a Prince aboard his little wooden World

PED. What’s this to the maintenance of a Woman or her Birth and Quality?

WILL. Faith, Sir, I can boast of nothing but a Sword which does me Right where-e’er I come, and has defended a worse Cause than a Woman’s: and since I lov’d her before I either knew her Birth or Name, I must pursue my Resolution, and marry her

PED. And is all your holy Intent of becoming a Nun debauch’d into a Desire of Man?

HELL. Why I have consider’d the matter, Brother, and find the Three hundred thousand Crowns my Uncle left me (and you cannot keep from me) will be better laid out in Love than in Religion, and turn to as good an Account let most Voices carry it, for Heaven or the Captain?
All cry, a Captain, a Captain

HELL. Look ye, Sir,’tis a clear Case

PED. Oh I am mad if I refuse, my Life’s in Danger [Aside.] Come There’s one motive induces me take her I shall now be free from the fear of her Honour; guard it you now, if you can, I have been a Slave to’t long enough.[Gives her to him

WILL. Faith, Sir, I am of a Nation, that are of opinion a Woman’s Honour is not worth guarding when she has a mind to part with it

HELL. Well said, Captain

PED. This was your Plot, Mistress, but I hope you have married one that will revenge my Quarrel to you [To Valeria

VAL. There’s no altering Destiny, Sir

PED. Sooner than a Woman’s Will, therefore I forgive you all and wish you may get my Father’s Pardon as easily; which I fear

Enter Blunt drest in a Spanish Habit, looking very ridiculously; his Man adjusting his Band

MAN. ’Tis very well, Sir

BLUNT. Well, Sir, ’dsheartlikins I tell you ’tis damnable ill, Sir a Spanish Habit, good Lord! could the Devil and my Taylor devise no other Punishment for me, but the Mode of a Nation I abominate?

BELV. What’s the matter, Ned?

BLUNT. Pray view me round, and judge [Turns round

BELV. I must confess thou art a kind of an odd Figure

BLUNT. In a Spanish Habit with a Vengeance! I had rather be in the Inquisition for Judaism, than in this Doublet and Breeches; a Pillory were an easy Collar to this, three Handfuls high; and these Shoes too are worse than the Stocks, with the Sole an Inch shorter than my Foot: In fine, Gentlemen, methinks I look altogether like a Bag of Bays stuff’d full of Fools Flesh

BELV. Methinks ’tis well, and makes thee look en Cavalier: Come, Sir, settle your Face, and salute our Friends, Lady

BLUNT. Hah! Say’st thou so, my little Rover? [To HELL.] Lady (if you be one) give me leave to kiss your Hand, and tell you, adsheartlikins, for all I look so, I am your humble Servant A Pox of my Spanish Habit

WILL. Hark what’s this?

Enter BOY

BOY. Sir, as the Custom is, the gay People in Masquerade, who make every Man’s House their own, are coming up

Enter several Men and Women in masquing Habits, with Musick, they put themselves in order and dance

BLUNT. Adsheartlikins, would’d ’twere lawful to pull off their false Faces, that I might see if my Doxy were not amongst them

BELV. Ladies and Gentlemen, since you are come so a propos, you must take a small Collation with us.[To the Masquers

WILL. Whilst we’ll to the Good Man within, who stays to give us a Cast of his Office. Have you no trembling at the near approach?

HELL. No more than you have in an Engagement or a Tempest

WILL. Egad, thou’rt a brave Girl, and I admire thy Love and Courage. Lead on, no other Dangers they can dread, Who venture in the Storms o’th’ Marriage-Bed