The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 103

L. _Blun._ What, disinherit your eldest Son, Brother?

Sir _Mer._ Ay, Aunt, his very Heir apparent? Aunt, to show you how the old Gentleman has misrepresented us, give me leave to present you a Dance I provided to entertain your Son with, in which is represented all the Beauties of our Lives.

L. _Blun._ Oh! by all means, Cousin, by all means.

Sir _Mer._ What hoa! _Roger_, bring in the Dancers.

_Here the Dance, representing Rake-h.e.l.ls, Constable, Watch, &c._

Enter _Philip_.

_Phil._ Sir, who do's your Wors.h.i.+p think is arriv'd?

Sir _Row._ My Son _George_, I hope, come in the Nick.

_Phil._ Even so, Sir, from _Paris_-- [Exit.

Sir _Row._ The Prodigal return'd! then kill the fatted Calf.

Enter _George_ drest like a Prentice.

--My own dear Boy, thou art welcome to my Arms, as e'er thy Mother was; for whose dear sake I pardon all thy Follies.

[_George_ Kneels.

Sir _Mer._ Ay, Sir, I had a Mother too, or I'm bely'd-- [Weeping.

Pox take him that he should come just in the nick, as the old Fellow says-- [Aside.

Sir _Row._ Yes, you had a Mother, whom in my Youth I was compel'd to marry; and, Gad, I think, I got thee with as ill a Will; but _George_ and my _Olivia_ in heat of Love, when my desire was new. But harkye, Boy _George_, you have cost me a d.a.m.n'd deal of Money, Sirrah; but you shall marry, and redeem all, _George_.

_Geo._ What you please, Sir; to study Virtue, Duty and Allegiance, shall be my future Business.

Sir _Row._ Well said, _George_, here's a Boy now.

Sir _Mer._ Virtue and Allegiance! Lord, Lord, how came so sneaking a fellow to spend five thousand Pounds of his Master's Cash?

Sir _Row._ She's rich, _George_, but something homely.

_Geo._ She'll not be proud then, Sir.

Sir _Row._ Not much of her Beauty--she's of a good staid Age too, about some fourscore.

_Geo._ Better still, Sir, I shall not fear Cuckoldom.

Sir _Row._ For that I cannot answer; but she has two thousand a year.

I mean to settle my Family, and then--marry my self, _George_.

L. _Blun._ What, to this old Lady's Grand-daughter? Methinks she's more fit for your Son, Sir _Rowland_, and the old Lady for you.

Sir _Row._ No, no, the young Rogues can help themselves with Mistresses; but 'tis well if an old Man can keep his Wife to himself--I've invited 'em to Dinner to day, and see, they are come.

Enter Lady _Youthly_, led by her Chaplain [Mr. _Tw.a.n.g_], and leaning on a Staff, and _Teresia_.

L. _Youth._ Where's Sir _Rowland Marteen_? Oh, your Servant, Sir, I am come.

[Runs against _George_.

_Tw.a.n.g._ Your Ladys.h.i.+p is mistaken, this is not Sir _Rowland_, but a handsome proper young Man.

L. _Youth._ A young Man! I cry your mercy heartily--Young Man, I alighted in the Sun, and am almost blind.

_Geo._ With wondrous old Age. [Aside.

L. _Youth._ Good lack, Sir _Rowland_, that I should mistake a young Man so!

Sir _Row._ Ay, Madam, and such a young Man too.

L. _Youth._ Ay, ay, I see him now. [Puts on her Spectacles.

_Geo._ S'death, what a Sepulcher is here to bury a Husband in? How came she to escape the Flood? for sure she was not born since.

[Aside.

Sir _Row._ This is the l.u.s.ty Lad, my Son _George_, I told your Ladys.h.i.+p of.

L. _Youth._ Cot so, cot so, is it so, Sir? I ask your Pardon, Sir. Mr.

_Tw.a.n.g_, take a survey of him, and give me your Opinion of his Person and his Parts.

_Tw.a.n.g._ Truly, Madam, the young Man is of a comely Personage and Lineaments.

L. _Youth._ Of what, Sir?--Lord, I have such a Cold. [Coughs.

_Geo._ Which she got when the _Picts_ went naked.

L. _Blun._ Madam, you have a Power over Sir _Rowland_; pray intreat him to take his Son, Sir _Merlin_, into Grace again.

[To _Teresia_.

_Ter._ That, Sir, you must grant me; pray let me know the Quarrel.

[Sir _Rowland_ seems to tell.

_Geo._ By Heaven, she's fair as the first ruddy Streaks of opening Day.

[Looking on _Teresia_.

Young as the budding Rose, soft as a _Cupid_, but never felt his Dart, she is so full of Life and Gaiety. Pray, Madam, who is that Lady?

[To Lady _Blun._

L. _Blun._ The Grandchild of your Mistress, and your Mother that must be.

_Geo._ Then I shall cuckold my Father, that's certain. [Aside.

Sir _Row._ For your sake, Madam, once again I re-establish him in my family; but the first Fault cas.h.i.+ers him--Come, let's in--Here, my Lady _Youthly_, take _George_ by the hand; but have a care of the young Rogue, if he comes once to touch so brisk a Widow, he sets her Heart on fire.