Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

going to Play at: What think you of drawing Stakes, and giving over in time?

Mel. No, hang't, that's not endeavouring to win, because it's possible we may lose; since we have shuffled and cut, let's e'en turn up Trump

now.

Cynt. Then I find it's like Cards; if either of us have a good Hand it is an Accident of Fortune. Mel. No, Marriage is rather like a Game at Bowls, Fortune indeed makes the Match, and the two nearest, and sometimes the two farthest are together, but the Game depends intirely upon Judgement.

Cynt. Still it is a Game, and confequently one of us must be a Loofer.

Mel. Not at all; only a friendly Trial of Skill, and the Winning's to be laid out in an Entertainment. What's here, the Musick! - Oh, my Lord has promised the Company a new Song, we'll get 'em to give it us by the way.

[Musicians crossing the Stage. Pray let us have the Favour of you, to practice the Song, before the Company hear it.

SONG.

I.

C

Ynthia frowns when-e'er I woe her
Yet she's vext if I give over;
Much the fears I should undo her,
But much more to lose her Lover:
Thus, in doubting, the refufes;
And not winning, thus (he lofes.

II.

Prithee Cynthia look behind you,
Age and Wrinkles will o'ertake you;
Then too late Desire will find you,

Cz

When

When the Power must forfake you :

Think, O think o'th' fad Condition,

To be past, yet wish Fruition.

Mel. You shall have my Thanks below.

[To the Musick: they go out.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

[To them] Sir PAUL PLYANT and
Lady PLYAN T.

GAD

Sir PAUL PLYANT.

ADS bud! I am provok'd into a Fermentation, as my Lady Froth says; was ever the like read

of in Story ?

L. P. Sir Paul have Patience, let me alone to rattle him up.

Sir Paul. Pray your Ladyship give me leave to be angry-I'll rattle him up I warrant you, I'll firk him with a Certiorari.

L. P. You firk him, I'll firk him my self; pray Sir Paul hold you contented.

Cynt. Blels me, what makes my Father in such a Paffion! - I never saw him thus before.

Sir Paul. Hold your self contented, my Lady Plyant, I find Passion coming upon me by Inspiration, and I cannot submit as formerly, therfore give way.

L. P. How now! will you be pleased to retire,

ar.d

Sir Paul. No marry will I not be pleased; I am pleased to be angry, that's my Pleasure at this

time.

Mel. What can this mean!

[ocr errors]

L. P. Gads my Life the Man's distracted, why how now, who are you? What am I? Slidikins can't I govern you? What did I marry you for? Am I not to be absolute and uncontrolable ? Is it fit a Woman of my Spirit, and Conduct, should be contradicted in a Matter of this Con

cern?

Sir. Paul. It concerns me, and only me; Besides, I'm not to be govern'd at all times. When I am in Tranquility, my Lady Plyant thall command Sir Paul; but when I am provok'd to Fury, I cannot incorporate with Patience and Reason, - As foon may Tygers match with Tygers, Lambs with Lambs, and every Creature couple with its Foe, as the Poet says.

L. P. He's hot-headed still! 'Tis in vain to talk to you; but remember I have a Curtain-Lecture for you, you disobedient, headstrong Brute.

Sir Paul. No, 'tis because I won't be Headstrong, because I won't be a Brute, and have my Head for. • tify'd, that I am thus exasperated, - But I will protect my Honour, and yonder is the Violater of my Fame.

L. P. Tis my Honour that is concern'd, and the Violation was intended to me. Your Honour! You have none but what is in my keeping; and I can dispose of it when I please - therefore don't provoke me.

Sir. Paul. Hum, gads bud she says true-Well, my Lady, marchon, I will fight under you then: Iam convinced, as far as Passion will permit.

[L. Plyant and Sir Paul come up to Mellefont.
L. P. Inhuman and treacherous -
Sir Paul. Thou Serpent and first Tempter of
Womankind-

Cynt. Bless me! Sir; Madam; what mean you?
Sir Paul. Thy, Thy, come away away Thy, touch him

not, come hither Girl, go not near him, there's nothing but Deceit about him; Snakes are in his Peruke, and the Crocodile of Nilus is in his Belly, he will eat thee up alive.

L. P. Dishonourable, impudent Creature! Mel. For Heav'ns fake, Madam, to whom do you direct this Language!

L. P. Have I behav'd my self with all the Decorum and Nicety, befitting the Perfon of Sir Pauls Wife ? Have I preserv'd my Honour as it were in a Snow-House for these three Years past ? Have I been white and unfully'd even by Sir Paul himself.

Sir Paul. Nay, the has been an invincible Wife even to me, that's the truth on't.

L. P. Havel, I say, preferv'd my self, like, a fair Sheet of Paper, for you to make a Blot upon ? Sir Paul. And the shall make a Simile with any Woman in England.

Mel. Iam so amaz'd, I know not what to say. Sir Paul. Do you think my Daughter, this pretty Creature; gads-bud she'sa Wife for a Cherubin! Do you think her fit for nothing but to be astalking Horse, to stand before you, while you take aim at my Wife; Gads bud I was never angry before in my Life, and I'll never be appeas'd again.

Mel. Hell and Damnation! This is my Aunt; such Malice can be engendred no whereelse. [Afide. L. P. Sir Paul, take Cynthia from his Sight; leave me to ftrike him with the Remorse ofhis intended Crime.

Cynt. Pray, Sir, stay, hear him, I dare affirm he's Innocent. Sir Paul. Innocent! Why hark'ee, come hither Thy, hark'ee, I had it from his Aunt, my Sifter Touchwood, gadsbud he does not care a Farthing for

for any thing of thee, but thy Portion; why he's in love with my Wife; he would have tantaliz'd thee, and made a Cuckold of thy poor Father, and that would certainly have broke my Heart I'm fure if ever I should have Horns, they would kill me; they would never come kindly; Ishould die' of 'em, like a Child, that was cutting his Teeth -I should indeed, Thy therefore come away; but Providence has prevented all, therefore come away, when I bid you.

Cynt. I must obey.

SCENEV.

Lady PLYANT, MELLEFONT.
Lady PLYAN T.

Such a thing! the Impiety of it startles me -to wrong to good, fo fair a Creature, and one that loves you tenderly - 'tis a Barbarity of Barbarities, and nothing could be guilty of it Mel. But the greatest Villain Imagination can form, Igrant it;" and next to the Villany Fact, is the Villany of afperfing me with the Guilt. How? which way was I to wrong her? For yet I understand you not.

L. P. Why, gads my Life, Coufin Mellefont you cannot be so peremptory as to deny it; when I tax you with it to your Face; for now Sir Paul's gone, you are Corum Nobus.

Mel. By Heav'n I love her more than Life,

or

L. P. Fiddle, faddle, don't tell me of this and that, and ev'ry Thing in the World, but give me

« EdellinenJatka »