The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 108

_Dialogues in the Masque, at the beginning of the third Act._

_He._ Time and Place you see conspire, With tender Wishes, fierce Desire; See the willing Victim stands To be offer'd by your Hands: Ah! Let me on Love's Altars lying, Clasp my G.o.ddess whilst I'm dying.

_She._ Oh Lord! what hard words, and strange things d'ye say; Your Eyes too seem closing, and just dying away: Ah! pray what d'ye want? Explain but your mind, Which did I but know, perhaps I'd be kind.

_He._ My pretty soft Maid, full of innocent Charms, I languish to sigh out my Soul in thy Arms; Oh! then, if I'm lov'd, deny not the Bliss, But tell me I'm happy, with a ravis.h.i.+ng Kiss.

_She._ Oh! Fy, Sir, I vow I cannot endure you; Be civil, or else I'll cry out I a.s.sure you; I will not be kiss'd so, nor tumbled, not I, I'll tell all your tricks, that I will, if I die.

_He._ Nay, never dissemble, nor smother that Fire; Your Blushes, and Eyes betray your Desire.

The Practis'd, not Innocent, dally with Bliss, Then prithee be kind, and taste what it is.

_She._ Let me die now, you're grown a strange sort of a Man, To force a young Maid, let her do what she can; I fear now I blush to think what we're doing, And is this the end of all you Men's wooing?

_He._ At this Pleasure all aim, both G.o.dly and Sinners, And none of 'em blush for't but poor young Beginners.

In Pleasure both s.e.xes, all Ages agree, And those that take most, most happy will be.

_Chorus_. In Pleasure both s.e.xes, &c.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A rich Chamber.

Enter _Olivia_ as a Man, _Teresia_ in Masquerade; the Scene opens, and discovers Lady _Youthly_, Lady _Blunder_, _Mirtilla_, _Manage_, Prince _Frederick_ in a rich Habi, _Welborn_ in one like his, with a Cloke over him, stands aside, and several others of both s.e.xes.

_Oliv._ Oh, my dear _Teresia_, I'm lost in Love! I've seen a Man,--or rather 'tis an Angel! so gay, so soft, so charming, and so witty; so dress'd! so shap'd! and danc'd with such an Air!

_Ter._ Hey day! Prithee where's this Wonder to be seen?

_Oliv._ Why dost thou ask? Hast thou not seen a Man of Dress, and Movement of uncommon Fas.h.i.+on?

_Ter._ A great many, very odd, and fantastick, I'm sure my dear Man is none of 'em.

[Sighs.

_Oliv._ Thy Heart when fir'd burns easily, and soft, but I am all impatient, Darts, and Flames, and all the effects of Love are panting in my Heart, yet never saw his Face: but see, he comes, and I must find a way to let him know the mischiefs he has done.

_Mir._ _Endimion_, where's Sir _Morgan_?

_Oliv._ At his usual Diversion, Madam, drinking.

_Mir._ Do you wait near me to Night, I may perhaps have kinder Business for you e'er the Morning.

_Oliv._ You heap too many Blessings on me, Madam.

_Prince._ Oh, turn thy lovely Eyes upon thy Slave, that waits and watches for a tender Look.

_Mir._ Oh, Sir, why do you press a yielding Heart too much, undone by what you've said already?

_Oliv._ Those soft Addresses must be those of Love. [Aside.

_Mir._ My Honour was in danger when I promis'd--and yet I blush to tell you I was pleas'd, and blest the dear necessity that forc'd me.

_Oliv._ Ha! 'tis the Man I love--and courts _Mirtilla_, and she receives him with inviting Looks. 'Sdeath, she's a common Lover! already I'm arriv'd to Jealousy!

Enter _George_ in Masquerade, with a Paper on his Back and Breast, goes to _Mirtilla_, sees one courting her.

_Geo._ What gilded thing is that?--I must disturb 'em--'Tis I, _Mirtilla_, languis.h.i.+ng for the appointed Happiness, while you, perhaps, are taken up with different Thoughts--

_Mir._ _Lejere!_ How very feeble do old Lovers charm! Only the new and gay have pow'r to warm--How shall I put him off? For now my ambitious Love declares for _Frederick_; 'tis great to enslave a Prince.

[Aside.

--_Lejere_--wait till I give the word--perhaps it may be late--go mix your self i'th' Crowd, you may be else suspected-- [Goes from him.

_Ter._ I have a shreud guess that this should be my Man by his Shape, and Mein.

[Looking round about _George_.

Let me see--What's this written on his Back?--To be lett ready furnish'd-- [Reading it.

A very good hearing: So ho, ho, ho, who's within here?

[Claps him on the Back.

_Geo._ Who's there? [Exit _Olivia_.

_Ter._ Love and Fortune.

_Geo._ Two very good Friends of mine, prithee who art thou that bring'st 'em?

_Ter._ A wandring Nymph, that has had a swinging Character of your Person and Parts--if thou be'st the Man, prithee, dear Stranger, let me see thy Face; and if I'm not mistaken, 'tis ten to one, but we may go near to strike up some odd Bargain or other.

_Geo._ And I am as likely a Fellow for some odd Bargain or other, as ever you met with--Look ye, am I the Man?

_Ter._ Let me see--a very handsome Face, inclining to round; fine wanton Eyes, with a plaguy Roguish Lear; plump, round, red Lips; not tall, nor low, and extremely well fas.h.i.+on'd.

[Reads all this in her Tablets.

--Ay, ay, you are the Man--

_Geo._ I am glad on't, and prithee, dear Creature, let me see if thou art not the Woman--

_Ter._ Heav'n! what Woman, Sir?

_Geo._ Why, any Woman that's pretty, witty, young, and good-natur'd.

_Ter._ I had rather shew anything almost than my Face.

_Geo._ Faith, and that's kind; but every thing in its due time: I love to arrive at Happiness by degrees, there's as much Pleasure in the Journey of Love, as in the Arrival to't, and the first Stage is a handsom Face.

_Ter._ Where you bait a while, take a short Survey, and away.

_Geo._ To Wit, and good Humour; where a Man finds Pleasure enough to engage him a long while.