The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 55

_Pet._ So, now will I to the Seigniora's Bed my self, drest and perfum'd, and finish two good Works at once; earn five hundred Crowns, and keep up the Honour of the House. [Aside.] --Softly, sweet Don.

[Lights him out.

_Aur._ And I will do two more good things, and disappoint your Expectations; jilt the young _English_ Fool, and have old _Carlo_ well bang'd, if t'other have any Courage.

Enter _La Nuche_ in Rage, and _Sancho_.

_La Nu._ _Aurelia_, help, help me to be reveng'd upon this wretched unconsidering Heart.

_Aur._ Heavens, have you made the Rover happy, Madam?

_La Nu._ Oh wou'd I had! or that or any Sin wou'd change this Rage into some easier Pa.s.sion: Sickness and Poverty, Disgrace and Pity, all met in one, were kinder than this Love, this raging Fire of a proud amorous Heart.

Enter _Petronella_.

_Pet._ Heavens, what's the matter?

_Aur._ Here's _Petronella_, dissemble but your Rage a little.

_La Nu._ d.a.m.n all dissembling now, it is too late-- The Tyrant Love reigns absolute within, And I am lost, _Aurelia_.

_Pet._ How, Love! forbid it Heaven! will Love maintain ye?

_La Nu._ Curse on your Maxims, will they ease my Heart? Can your wise Counsel fetch me back my Rover?

_Pet._ Hah, your Rover, a Pox upon him.

_La Nu._ He's gone-- gone to the Arms of some gay generous Maid, who n.o.bly follows Love's diviner Dictates, whilst I 'gainst Nature studying thy dull Precepts, and to be base and infamously rich, have barter'd all the Joys of human Life-- Oh give me Love: I will be poor and love.

_Pet._ She's lost-- but hear me--

_La Nu._ I won't, from Childhood thou hast trained me up in Cunning, read Lectures to me of the use of Man, but kept me from the knowledge of the Right; taught me to jilt, to flatter and deceive: and hard it was to learn th' ungrateful Lessons. But oh how soon plain Nature taught me Love, and shew'd me all the cheat of thy false Tenents-- No-- give me Love with any other Curse.

_Pet._ But who will give you that when you are poor? when you are wretchedly despis'd and poor?

_La Nu._ Hah!

_Pet._ Do you not daily see fine Clothes, rich Furniture, Jewels and Plate are more inviting than Beauty unadorn'd? be old, diseas'd, deform'd, be any thing, so you be rich and splendidly attended, you'll find your self lov'd and ador'd by all-- But I'm an old fool still-- Well, _Petronella_, had'st thou been half as industrious in thy Youth as in thy Age-- thou hadst not come to this.

[Weeps.

_La Nu._ She's in the right.

_Pet._ What can this mad poor Captain do for you, love you whilst you can buy him Breeches, and then leave you? A Woman has a sweet time on't with any Soldier-Lover of 'em all, with their Iron Minds, and Buff Hearts; feather'd Inamorato's have nothing that belongs to Love but his Wings, the Devil clip 'em for _Petronella_.

_La Nu._ True-- he can ne'er be constant. [Pausing.

_Pet._ Heaven forbid he should! No, if you are so unhappy as that you must have him, give him a Night or two and pay him for't, and send him to feed again: But for your Heart, 'Sdeath, I would as soon part with my Beauty, or Youth, and as necessary a Tool 'tis for your Trade-- A Curtezan and love! but all my Counsel's thrown away upon ye.

[Weeps.

_La Nu._ No more, I will be rul'd-- I will be wise, be rich; and since I must yield somewhere, and some time,

_Beaumond_ shall be the Man, and this the Night; he's handsom, young, and lavishly profuse: This Night he comes, and I'll submit to Interest.

Let the gilded Apartment be made ready, and strew it o'er with Flowers, adorn my Bed of State; let all be fine; perfume my Chamber like the Phoenix's Nest, I'll be luxurious in my Pride to Night, and make the amorous prodigal Youth my Slave.

_Pet._ n.o.bly resolv'd! and for these other two who wait your coming, let me alone to manage.

[Goes out.

Scene changes to a Chamber, discovers _Fetherfool_ in Bed.

_Feth._ This Gentlewoman is plaguy long in coming:-- some Nicety now, some perfum'd Smock, or Point Night-Clothes to make her more lovely in my Eyes: Well, these Women are right City Cooks, they stay so long to garnish the Dish, till the Meat be cold-- but hark, the Door opens.

Enter _Carlo_ softly, half undrest.

_Car._ This Wench stays long, and Love's impatient; this is the Chamber of _La Nuche_, I take it: If she be awake, I'll let her know who I am; if not, I'll steal a Joy before she thinks of it.

_Feth._ Sure 'tis she, pretty modest Rogue, she comes i'th' dark to hide her Blushes-- hum, I'm plaguy eloquent o'th' sudden-- who's there?

[Whispering.

_Car._ 'Tis I, my Love.

_Feth._ Hah, sweet Soul, make haste.-- There 'twas again.

_Car._ So kind, sure she takes me for some other, or has some inkling of my Design-- [To himself.

Where are you, Sweetest?

_Feth._ Here, my Love, give me your Hand--

_Puts out his Hand; _Carlo_ kneels and kisses it._

_Car._ Here let me wors.h.i.+p the fair Shrine before I dare approach so fair a Saint.

[Kisses the Hand.

_Feth._ Hah, what a Pox have we here?-- wou'd I were well out o' t'other side-- perhaps-- 'tis her Husband, and then I'm a dead Man, if I'm discover'd.

[Removes to t'other side, _Carlo_ holds his Hand.

_Car._ Nay, do not fly-- I know you took me for some happier Person.

[_Feth._ struggles, _Car._ rises and takes him in his Arms, and kisses him.

_Feth._ What, will you ravish me? [In a shrill Voice.

_Car._ Hah, that Voice is not _La Nuche's_-- Lights there, Lights.

_Feth._ Nay, I can hold a bearded _Venus_, Sir, as well as any Man.

[Holds _Carlo_.

_Car._ What art thou, Rogue, Villain, Slave?

[They fall to Cuffs, and fight till they are b.l.o.o.d.y, fall from the Bed and fight on the Floor.

Enter _Petronella_, _Sancho_, and _Aurelia_.