The Perjur'd Husband Part 3

L. _Piz._ What a fine Gallant I'm like to have with these Principles!

Well----what did he say to a Summons from a Woman of my Quality? Did it not make him wish the Time of a.s.signation were sooner than the Appointment in the Letter?

_Lucy._ He first hum'd over your Billet; and pausing a while, he desired me to stay for an Answer in a next Room; then coming to me, he ask'd me what Countrywoman you were? For, said he, if she should prove an old Acquaintance, I would use her d.a.m.nably--But when I had a.s.sured him you never saw the Outside of these Walls, he began to have that Desire which all Men have to a new Face.

L. _Piz._ Very well; and what then?

_Lucy._ He strait enquir'd whether you were black, brown, fair, old, young, Maid, Wife, or Widow? I told him you was a wretched Wife to an old, impotent, rich, covetous, n.o.ble _Venetian_; beautiful, young, generous, and of a fair Complexion. He hugg'd me at these Words, seem'd transported with the News, and swore that in Intrigues a Wife was most suitable to his Temper; for, said he, there's neither Children to father, nor Honour to repair: And where his Pocket and Liberty are safe, he is contented to venture his Body and Soul.

L. _Piz._ Excellent Maxims!

_Lucy._ In short, Madam, he says he has had several Bills of this Nature drawn upon him of late, and how much his Stock may be exhausted, he knows not; but however he'll meet you, and if he cannot answer your Expectation, he'll give you Earnest.

L. _Piz._ You talk merrily, Girl; I hope you did not tell my Name. I should be loath to trust a Man of his Character with my Reputation at first Dash.

_Luc._ No, Madam, I only told your Quality.

L. _Piz._ That's well: Oh! Reputation, what several Sorts of Slavery do we undergo to preserve thee! for to be thought virtuous, we are forced to be constantly railing against Vice, tho' our Tongues and Maxims seldom agree.

_Lucy._ Alas! Madam, that Pretence is grown too common: For the Men now take it for granted, that a Lady is very near surrendering, when once she holds out that Flag of Defiance.

L. _Piz._ Well--Men use us very barbarously: They will neither suffer us to be honest, nor allow us to be thought so----Here, take this Key, and secure every thing that concerns my Reputation: And if my Husband wakes ere I come back, you may easily find some Excuse to prevent his Enquiries: for the Carnival allows us more Liberty, than at other times we dare pretend to----I know thy Honesty, and will rely upon't.

_Lucy._ Yes, indeed, Madam, I am honest at the Bottom.

L. _Piz._ Well, I'll be gone: 'Tis about the Hour. [_Ex._ L. _Piz._

_Enter_ Pizalto.

_Lucy._ Good Luck attend you, Madam----Oh! Heavens! here's my Lord----Madam, Madam, Madam----Oh! Lord, what shall I say, now she's gone?

_Piz._ Hist, hist, _Lucy_: Don't, don't, don't call your Lady, for I have a Word or two to say to thee in private, and have waited for this lucky Opportunity a great while----

_Lucy, aside._ Now _Venus_ be prais'd. I hope he has found some Business of his own, that may give my Lady an Opportunity to mind her's.

_Piz._ Well, _Lucy_, well,--canst thou guess my Business now?

_Lucy._ No, indeed, Sir--But I'm certain, an old Man's Business can't be great. [_Aside._

_Piz._ [_Gives her a Looking-gla.s.s._] Here, Child, this will tell thee--Look in't, look in't, I say----Ah! ah! thou hast a pretty pouting Lip, a delicate roguish Eye, such an Ogle, such a Cast----Ah!

Rogue----Faith, thou'rt very pretty: And, in short, if any one rival thy Lady, it will be thee, _Lucy_----Egad, I have Fire in me, yet.

_Lucy, aside._ O' my Conscience, and little too. I believe: Yet I wish he has enough to serve my Ends. I'll make my Fortune----Lord, Sir, what do you mean? I rival my Lady! Heaven forbid; I would not injure so good a Woman for the World----

_Piz._ Pshaw, pshaw--Where's the Injury done to her, Child? Adod, I'll give thee a hundred Crowns.

_Lucy._ No Injury, say you, my Lord? Why, I wonder you should be so jealous of my Lady, and preach such religious Maxims to her, when your own Principles are quite opposite.

_Piz._ Look ye, Child, a Man may do that, which would look abominable in a Wife----A Woman's Reputation is a nice Thing----

_Lucy._ 'Tis so----and therefore 'tis but Reason I should take Care of mine.

_Piz._ Prithee, no more of that: Thy Reputation shall be safe; I'll marry thee to my Gentleman.

_Lucy._ Gentleman--Valet! Faugh--And what Good will a hundred Crowns do me, when my Virginity is gone? Indeed, if you lov'd me as much as you say, and would make my Fortune, (for I should love extreamly to be a Lady) I cannot tell how far you might persuade me----I know my Reputation would be safe in your Hands.

_Piz._ Make thy Fortune! Why, I've known some of our n.o.bles marry a Wife with less than a hundred Crowns----But adod, thou'rt a charming Girl, and therefore I'll make it a hundred Pistoles--What say'st thou now, _Lucy_? Ah! adod, I must buss thee; [_Kisses her._] Ah! Rogue, methinks I'm a young, l.u.s.ty, vigorous Fellow again----Thou shalt find I am, Girl.

_Lucy, aside._ I believe I shall fail you, old Gentleman. Well, my Lord, make it up a thousand Pistoles, and I am your's else I'll die a Maid, I'm resolv'd.

_Piz._ A thousand Pistoles, why thou art the most unconscionable Wench in _Italy_: Why, 'tis a Price for a d.u.c.h.ess in some Countries. Come, come, prithee be reasonable, _Lucy_?

_Lucy._ Reasonable! why you don't ask a reasonable Thing----Look you, you know my Mind, I'll not bate a Penny----I'll warrant my Lady will give me two hundred at least for my Discovery. [_Going._

_Piz. aside._ Udslife! she won't tell my Wife, sure, I'm ruin'd if she does; I'd rather give her two thousand----Hold, hold, _Lucy_, sweet _Lucy_, prithee come back----Faith, thou'rt so charming, I can deny thee nothing----Come, it shall be what thou wilt----Come now, Rogue, let's retire to thy Chamber----

_Lucy._ Nay, nay, no ent'ring the Premises, till you have paid the Purchase----

_Piz._ Adod, thou'rt a Wag----Come in then, and I'll discharge the Debt: Thou'rt a cunning Gipsy. [_Exit_ Pizal.

_Lucy._ You shall have Reason to say so, e're I have done with you, old Gentleman----For I am resolv'd to shew you a Trick, and preserve my Virtue. [_Aside._

_For did base Men within my Power fall,_ _T' avenge my injur'd s.e.x, I'd jilt 'em all._ _And would but Women follow my Advice,_ _They should be glad at last to pay our Price._ [_Exit_ Lucy.

SCENE II.

_The_ Piazza d'Espagna _in_ Venice.

_Enter Lady_ Pizalta _sola_.

L. _Piz._ Not come yet! ungrateful Man! must a Woman of my Quality wait?

How have we lost our Pow'r since the Creation?

When the whole World had but one single Lord, Whom every Creature readily obey'd?

Yet he, that mighty he, caught with a Smile, Flew to th'Embraces of the tempting Fair.

But now each puny Sinner dares to cross A Woman's Inclinations----

_Enter_ Ludovico.

Oh! are you come, Signior? I suppose you have Some other a.s.signation, that made you miss My Hour----Pursue it pray----I'll not interrupt you-- Your Servant---- [_Going._ I hope he'll not take me at my Word. [_Aside._

_Lud._ Nay, nay, Signiora, why this Pa.s.sion? [_Stops her._ You sent me a Challenge, and I, like a Man of Courage, am come to answer it----Pray don't let a Quarter of an Hour break Squares----I own it was a fault to make a Lady wait; but Friends, Madam, Friends and good Wine are the Devil----Come I'll make you amends.

L. _Piz._ Friends and good Wine! I suppose those Friends were Female ones----

_Lud._ No, Faith: You shall judge of that----But suppose they were----Why should you be angry that I did not fly with the desired Haste, as long as I am come time enough to give you Satisfaction----Besides, I han't seen your Face yet, and for aught I know, it mayn't reward my Complement in coming now----Prithee, Child, unmask, and then I'll tell thee more of my Mind.

L. _Piz._ The Devil take this Fellow----and yet methinks I love him for his Indifferency----[_Aside._] You talk as if you were unskill'd in the Art of Love: Don't you know that Expectation feeds more than twenty tasted Pleasures?