The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 29

_Belv._ 'Tis well, and now my dear _Florinda_, let's fly to compleat 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 ty'd?

_Belv._ No, thou shalt do us better Service, and be our Guard, lest Don _Pedro's_ sudden Return interrupt the Ceremony.

_Will._ Content; I'll secure this Pa.s.s.

[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 Bus'ness 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 injur'd, 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. [Pulls off her Vizard.

_Will._ _Angelica!_

_Ang._ Yes, Traitor.

Does not thy guilty Blood run s.h.i.+vering thro thy Veins?

Hast thou no Horrour 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 cou'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.

[Aside, turning from him.

--What have you, Sir, to say?-- but should I hear thee, Thoud'st talk away all that is brave about me: [Follows him with the Pistol to his Breast.

And I have vow'd thy Death, by all that's sacred.

_Will._ Why, then there's an end of a proper handsom Fellow, that might have liv'd to have done good Service yet:-- That's all I can say to't.

_Ang._ Yet-- I wou'd give thee-- time for Penitence. [Pausingly.

_Will._ Faith, Child, I thank G.o.d, 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 Mischiefs to the Ills Thou'st taught mine to commit: thou'st taught it Love.

_Will._ Egad, 'twas shreudly hurt the while.

_Ang._ --Love, that has robb'd it of its Unconcern, Of all that Pride that taught me how to value it, And in its room a mean submissive Pa.s.sion was convey'd, That made me humbly bow, which I ne'er 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 G.o.ds! 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 Favour, 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 Favours 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 shou'd 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 Gla.s.s Reflected all the Weakness of my Soul, and made me know, My richest Treasure being lost, my Honour, All the remaining Spoil cou'd not be worth The Conqueror's Care or Value.

--Oh how I fell like a long wors.h.i.+p'd Idol, Discovering all the Cheat!

Wou'd not the Incense and rich Sacrifice, Which blind Devotion offer'd at my Altars, Have fall'n to thee?

Why woud'st 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 woud'st have, and Nature never meant me: I must, like chearful Birds, sing in all Groves, And perch on every Bough, Billing the next kind She that flies to meet me; Yet after all cou'd build my Nest with thee, Thither repairing when I'd lov'd my round, And still reserve a tributary Flame.

--To gain your Credit, I'll pay you back your Charity, And be oblig'd for nothing but for Love.

[Offers her a Purse of Gold.

_Ang._ Oh that thou wert in earnest!