The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 68

Pert sings.

_You, before you enter here On this sacred Ring must swear_, [Puts it on his Finger, holds his Hand.

_By the Figure which is round, Your Pa.s.sion constant and profound; By the Adamantine Stone, To be fixt to one alone:

By the l.u.s.tre, which is true, Ne'er to break your sacred Vow.

Lastly, by the Gold that's try'd, For Love all Dangers to abide_.

They all dance about him, while those same two sing.

Man. _Once about him let us move, To confirm him true to Love_. [bis.

Pert. _Twice with mystick turning Feet, Make him silent and discreet_. [bis.

Man. _Thrice about him let us tread, To keep him ever young in Bed_. [bis.

Gives him another part.

Man. _Forget_ Aminta's _proud Disdain; Haste here, and sigh no more in vain, The Joy of Love without the Pain_.

Pert. _That G.o.d repents his former Slights, And Fortune thus your Faith requites_.

Both. _Forget_ Aminta's _proud Disdain; Then taste, and sigh no more in vain, The Joy of Love without the Pain, The Joy of Love without the Pain_.

[_Exeunt_ all Dancers. Looks on himself, and feels about him.

_Gay_. What the Devil can all this mean? If there be a Woman in the Case--sure I have not liv'd so bad a Life, to gain the dull Reputation of so modest a c.o.xcomb, but that a Female might down with me, without all this Ceremony. Is it care of her Honour?--that cannot be--this Age affords none so nice: Nor Fiend nor G.o.ddess can she be, for these I saw were Mortal. No--'tis a Woman--I am positive. Not young nor handsom, for then Vanity had made her glory to have been seen. No--since 'tis resolved, a Woman--she must be old and ugly, and will not balk my Fancy with her sight, but baits me more with this essential Beauty.

_Well--be she young or old, Woman or Devil, She pays, and I'll endeavour to be civil_.

[_Exit_.

SCENE V. _In the same House. The flat Scene of the Hall_.

_After a Knocking, enter_ Bredwel _in his masking Habit, with his Vizard in the one Hand, and a Light in t'other, in haste_.

_Bred_. Hah, knocking so late at our Gate-- [_Opens the door_.

_Enter Sir_ Feeble _drest, and arm'd Cap-a-pee, with a broad Waste-Belt stuck round with Pistols, a Helmet, Scarf, Buff-coat and half Pike_.

Sir _Feeb_. How now, how now, what's the matter here?

_Bred_. Matter, what, is my Lady's innocent Intrigue found out?-- Heavens, Sir, what makes you here in this warlike Equipage?

Sir _Feeb_. What makes you in this showing Equipage, Sir?

_Bred_. I have been dancing among some of my Friends.

Sir _Feeb_. And I thought to have been fighting with some of my Friends.

Where's Sir _Cautious_, where's Sir _Cautious_?

_Bred_. Sir _Cautious_--Sir, in Bed.

Sir _Feeb_. Call him, call him--quickly, good _Edward_.

_Bred_. Sure my Lady's Frolick is betray'd, and he comes to make Mischief. However, I'll go and secure Mr. _Gayman_.

[_Exit_ Bredwel.

_Enter Sir_ Cautious _and_ d.i.c.k _his Boy with Light_.

_d.i.c.k_. Pray, Sir, go to Bed, here's no Thieves; all's still and well.

Sir _Cau_. This last Night's misfortune of mine, _d.i.c.k_, has kept me waking, and methought all night, I heard a kind of a silent Noise. I am still afraid of Thieves; mercy upon me, to lose five hundred Guineas at one clap, _d.i.c.k_.--Hah--bless me! what's yonder? Blow the great Horn, _d.i.c.k_--Thieves--Murder, Murder!

Sir _Feeb_. Why, what a Pox, are you mad? 'Tis I, 'tis I, man.

Sir _Cau_. I, who am I? Speak--declare--p.r.o.nounce.

Sir _Feeb_. Your Friend, old _Feeble Fainwou'd_.

Sir _Cau_. How, Sir _Feeble_! At this late hour, and on his Wedding-Night --why, what's the matter, Sir--is it Peace or War with you?

Sir _Feeb_. A Mistake, a Mistake, proceed to the business, good Brother, for time you know is precious.

Sir _Cau_. Some strange Catastrophe has happened between him and his Wife to Night, and makes him disturb me thus-- [_Aside_.

--Come, sit, good Brother, and to the business as you say--

[_They sit one at one end of the Table, the other at the other; _d.i.c.k_ sets down the Light and goes out--both sit gaping and staring, and expecting when either should speak_.

Sir _Feeb_. As soon as you please, Sir.

Lord, how wildly he stares! He's much disturb'd in's mind --Well, Sir, let us be brief--

Sir _Cau_. As brief as you please, Sir--Well, Brother-- [_Pausing still_.

Sir _Feeb_. So, Sir.

Sir _Cau_. How strangely he stares and gapes--some deep concern.

Sir _Feeb_. Hum--hum--

Sir _Cau_. I listen to you, advance--

Sir _Feeb_. Sir?

Sir _Cau_. A very distracted Countenance--pray Heaven he be not mad, and a young Wife is able to make an old Fellow mad, that's the Truth on't. [_Aside_.

Sir _Feeb_. Sure 'tis something of his Lady--he's so loth to bring it out --I am sorry you are thus disturb'd, Sir.