Clo. I can't, upon my soul, sir; allons! now we shall come to a right understanding. [They fight. Serv. Help! murder! help! Clo. Allons! to our better acquaintance, sirAh, ha! [DoN DUART falls.] he has it! Never pushed better in my life, never in my life, split me! Serv. Oh, my master's killed! help, ho! murder! help! Clo. Hey! why, faith, child, that's very true, as thou sayest; and so, the devil take the hind[Exit CLODIO. most. Enter JAQUES and Bravoes, with a chair. Jaques. That's he, the tallest- -be sure you spare his person-only force him into this chair, and carry him as directed. 1 Brav. Nay, then, by your leave, old gentleman.-So, bring him along. D. Lew. Aw, aw, aw! [They gag him, and carry him head and heels. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.A chamber. ELVIRA and her Servants, with lights. Elv. Go and seek him; go, all of ye, everywhere I'll not rest 'till your return; take away your lights too; for my devotions are written in my heart, and I shall read them without a taper. [Exeunt Servants. Enter CLODIO, stealing in. Clo. Ah, poor Clody! what will become of thee? Thy condition, I'm afraid, is but very indifferent-Followed behind, stopped before, and beset on both sides! Ah, pox o' my wit! I must be bantering, must I? But let me see-where am I?-An odd sort of a house, this-all the doors open, and nobody in't; no noise, no whisper, no dog stirring! Elv. Who's that? Clo. Ha! a woman's voice! Elv. Who are you? Who waits there? Stephano! Julia! Clo. Gadso! 'tis the lady of the house she can't see my unfortunate face, however. Faith, I'll e'en make a grave speech, tell her my case, and beg her protection. Elv. Speak! what are you? Clo. Madam, a most unfortunate young gentleman. Elo. I am sure you are a man of most ill manners, to press thus boldly to my private chamber. Whither would you? What want 1 Brav. What must be done with the old fel-you? low? Jaques. We must have him, too, lest he should dog the other, and be troublesome. If he won't come quietly, bring him any how-Follow softly; we shall snap them as they turn the corner. [Exeunt after them. A noise of follow, &c.—Enter CLODIO hastily from the other side. Clo. Ah, pox of their noses! the dogs have smelled me out! What shall I do? If they take me I shall be hanged, split me- -Ha! a door open! faith, I'll in, at a venture. [Exit. Re-enter Bravoes with CARLOS in a chair; some hauling in DoN LEWIS. D. Lew. Oh, my poor boy, Charles!-Charles! -help! murder ! 1 Brav. Hold your peace, fool, if you'd be well used. D. Lew. Sir, I will not hold my peace; dogs! rogues! villains! help! murder! Clo. Gracious madam, hear me; I am a stranger most unfortunate, and my distress has made me rudely press for your protection: if you refuse it, madam, I am undone for ever, by -I say, madam, I am utterly undone-'Twas coming, faith! [Aside. Elo. Alas! his fear confounds him. What pursues you, sir? is it Clo. An outcry of officers; the law's at my heels, madam, though justice I'm not afraid of. Elv. How could you offend the one and not the other? Clo. Being provoked, madam, by the inso- Elv. Poor wretch, I pity him! tuary, my altar; therefore, I beg you, upon my knees, madam, take pity of a poor bleeding victim. Elv. Are you a Castilian? Clo. No, madam, I was born in-in-inwhat d'ye call'um-in fairly in a storm at sea again! for I'm plaguily Elv. Stand off; my sorrows will have way. Oh, my unhappy brother! such an end as this, thy haughty mind did long since prophesy; and to encrease my misery, thy wretched sister wilfully must make a breach of what she has vow Elv. Nay, I ask not with purpose to betray you; were you ten thousand times a Spaniard, the nation we Portuguese most hate, in such dis-ed, or thou fall unrevenged. tress, I yet would give you my protection. Clo. May I depend upon you, madam? Am I safe? Elv. Safe as my power, my word, or vow can make you. Enter that door, which leads you to a closet; should the officers come, as you expect, they owe such reverence to my lodgings, they'll search no further than my leave invites them. Clo. D'ye think, madam, you can persuade them? Elv. Fear not; I'll warrant you; away! Clo. The breath of gods, and eloquence of angels, go long with you. [Exit. Elv. Alas! who knows but that the charity I afford this stranger, perhaps my brother, elsewhere, may stand in need of? How he trembles! I hear his breath come short, hither. Be of comfort, sir; once more I give you my solemn promise for your safety. Enter Servant and Officers with DoN DUART's body. Serv. Here, bring in the body-Oh, madam! my master's killed! Elv. What sayest thou? Serv. Your brother, madam, my master, young Don Duart, is dead! he just now quarrelled with a gentleman, who unfortunately killed him in the Enter Governor and Servant. Gov. Where's this unhappy sight?-Alas! he's gone past all recovery.-Reproof comes now too late. Elv. It shall be so; I'll take the lighter evil of the two, and keep the solemn vow, to which just Heaven was witness: the wounds of perjury never can be cured; but justice may again o'ertake the murderer, when no rash vows pro tect him. Gov. I grieve for your misfortune, niece; but since you'll have it so, we take our leaves. Farewellbring forth the body. [Exeunt Governor, Servants, &c. Clo. Hey! what, are they gone away without me, and by her contrivance, too!-Gadso! Elv. Whoe'er thou art, to whom I've given means of life, to let thee see with what religion I have kept my vow, come fearless forth, while night's thy friend, and pass unknown! Clo. If this is not love, the devil's in it. [Aside. Elo. Fly with thy utmost speed, where I may never see thee more. SCENE I. Enter LOUISA and JAQUES. Lou. Were they both seized? ACT IV. Jaq. Both, madam, and will be here immediately. I ran before, to give your ladyship notice. Enter JAQUES, and Servant, with a banquet, wine, and lights. Car. More riddles yet; I dream sure! [JAQUES Compliments DON LEWIS to take his chair] D. Lew. For me? Sir, your most humble serLou. You know my orders; when they are vant: [Sits.] Charles, sit down, boy. Ha, ha, entered, bar all the doors, and, on your lives. ha! a parcel of silly dumb dogs! Is this all the let every one be mute, as I directed-I must re-business? Puppies! did they think I would not tire a while. come to supper, without being brought neck and heels to it? [Exeunt. Enter Bravoes, who let CARLOS out of the chair, while others throw down DoN LEWIS, gagged and bound. Car. So, gentlemen, you find I've not resisted you—but now, pray, let me know my crime? Why have you brought me hither? Where am I? If in prison, look in my face; perhaps you have mistaken me for another- [JACQUES holds up his lanthorn, nods and exit with the rest.] You seem to know me, sirAll dumb and vanished! my fortune's humorous; she sports with me. Sure they think I walk in my sleep, and won't speak, for fear of waking me. D. Lew. Sir, your most humble servant; and now my tongue's at liberty, pray, will you do me the favour to shew me the way home again? What a pox? are you all dumb![Exeunt mute.] Well, sir, and pray what are -Charles! ah! my dear boy! [Kisses him. Car. My uncle! Nay, then, my fortune has not quite forsaken me. How came you hither, sir? D. Lew. Faith, like a corpse into a church, boy, with my heels foremost; but, prithee, how didst thou come? Car. You saw the men, that seized us; they forced me into a chair, and brought me. D. Lew. Well, but a pox plague them, what is all this for? What would they have? Car. That we must wait their pleasure to be informed of; they have indeed alarmed my reason, not my conscience; that's still at rest, fearless of any danger. D. Lew. The sons of whores won't speak neither. Hey day! what's to be done, now? VOL. II. Car. Amazement all! What can it end in? D. Lew. Never trouble thy head, prithee; pox of questions fall to, man- -Delicate food truly-Here-Dumb! prithee give's a glass of wine, to wet the way a little. Come, Charles, here's, here's-honest Dumb's health to thee: [Drinks.] Dumb's a very honest fellow, faith. [Claps JAQUES on the head. Car. What harmony's this? [A flourish. D. Lew. Rare music, indeed; let's eat, and hear it. [Music here.] Mighty fine, truly- -I have not made a heartier meal a great while.[Here JAQUES offers a night-cap and gown to DON LEWIS.] Well, and what's to do now, lad? For me, boy? Odso, we lie here, do we? mighty well that again, faith; (for I was just thinking to go home, but that I had ne'er a lodging :) nay, I always said honest Dumb knew how to make his friends welcome-Well, but it's time enough yet; sha'nt we crack a bottle first? Charles is melancholy. [JAQUES shakes his head.] What, that's as much as to say, if I won't go, I shall be carried-Sir, your humble servant. [Puts on the gown.] Well, Charles, good-night, since they won't let me have a mind to stay any longer.I'd give a pistole, though, to know what this will come to Dumb, come along. [Ereunt DoN LEWIS and JAQUES. Car. I am buried in amazement—[Music is heard.] Ha, more music? I could almost say, 'twere welcome now. [Music again. Don LEWIS appears above. D. Lew. So, at last I have groped out a window, that will let me into the secret; now, if any foul play should happen, I am pretty near the street, too, and can bawl out murder to the watch-But, mum, the door opens. Enter LOUISA. Hey! ah! what dull rogues were we not to suspect this before!-Dumb's a sly dog: 'tis she, faith-tum, dum, dum-here will be fine work presently, toll, dum. di, dum-Now, I shall see what mettle the boy's made of; tum, dum, dum. Lou. You seem amazed, sir. Car. Your pardon, lady, if I confess it raises 2 H much my wonder, why a stranger, friendless and unknown, should meet, unmerited, such floods of courtesy: for, if I mistake not, once this day before, I've tasted of your bounty. Lou. I have forgot that; but I confess I saw you, sir. Car. Why, then, was I forced hither? If you relieved me only from a soft compassion of my fortune, you could not think but such humanity might, on the slightest hint, have drawn me to be grateful. Lou. I own I could not trust you to my fortune; I knew not but some other might have seen you-beside, methought you spoke less kind to me before. Car. If my poor thanks were offered in too plain a dress, (as I confess, I am little practised in the rules of graced behaviour) rather think me ignorant, than rude, and pity what you cannot pardon. Lou. Fie, you are too modest-how could you charge yourself with such a thought? I scarce can think 'tis in your nature to be rude at least to our sex. Car. 'Twere more unpardonable there. Lou. Nay, now you are too strict on the other side; for there may happen times, when, what the world calls rudeness, a woman might be brought to pardon; seasons, when even modesty were ignorance- -Pray be seated, sir-nay, I'll have it so. Suppose a woman were reduced to offer love; suppose yourself the man so loved; where could you find, at such a time, excuses for your modesty? Car. If I could love again, my eyes would tell her; if not, I should not easily believe, at least, in manners, would not seem to understand her. Lou. Oh, they have such subtle ways to steal into a lover's heart! nay, if she's resolute, not all your strength of modesty can guard you she'd press you still with plainer, stronger proofs; her life, her fortune should be yours: for, where a woman loves, such gifts as these are trifles. Thus, like the lazy minutes, would she steal them on, which once but past, are quite forgotten. [Gives him jewels. Car. Is't possible! can there be such a woman? Lou. Fie! I could chide you now; you would not, sure, be thought so slow of apprehension. Car. I would not willingly be thought so vain, or so uncharitable, to suppose there could be such a one. Lou. Nay, now, you force me to forsake my sex, and tell you plain-I cannot speak it-yet you must know--I am this creature so reduced for you. Car. Monstrous! Lou. What is't you start at? Car. Not for your beauty; though I confess you fair to a perfection, complete in all, that may engage the eye: but, when that beauty fades (as time leaves none unvisited) what charm shall then secure my love? Your riches? Noan honest mind's above the bribes of fortune :for, though distressed, a stranger, and in want, I thus return them thankless. Be modest, and be virtuous, I'll admire you; all good men will adore you; and, when your beauty and your fortune are no more, will still deliver down your name revered to ages. Lou. If I appear too free a lover, and talk beyond the usual courage of my sex, forgive me; I'll be again the fearful, softening wretch, that you would have me my wishes shall be dumb, unless my eyes may speak them: for pity speak, for I confess your hard reproofs have struck upon my heart! Oh! say you will be mine, and make your own conditions. If you suspect my temper, bind me by the most sacred tie, and let my love, my person, and my fortune, lawfully be yours. Car. Take heed! Consider yet, if even this humility be not the offspring of your first unruly passion but since, at least, it carries something a better claim to my concern, I'll be at once sincere, and tell you, 'tis impossible that we should ever meet in love. Lou. Impossible! Oh, why? Car. Because my love, my vows, and faith, are given to another: therefore, since you find I dare be honest, be early wise, and now release me to my fortune. Lou. I cannot part with you. Car. You must! I cannot with my reasonPray, let me pass! Why do you thus hang upon my arm, and strain your eyes, as if they had power to hold me? Lou. Ungrateful! Will you go? Take heed! for you have proved I am not mistress of my temper. Car. I see it, and am sorry, but needed not this threat to drive me; for still I dare be just, and force myself away. [Exit CARLOS. Lou. Oh, torture! left! refused! despised! Have I thrown off my pride for this? Oh, insupportable! If I am not revenged, may all thewell. [Walks disordered. D. Lew. What a pox! are all these fine things come to nothing, then?-Poor soul! she's in great heat, truly- -Ah, silly rogue!—now, could I find in my heart to put her into good humour again-I have a great mind, faith-Odd, she's a hummer!- -A strange mind, I ha'nt had such a mind a great while-Hey! ay; I'll do't faith-if she does but stay now; ah, if she does but stay! [As he is getting from the balco‐ ny, LOUISA is speaking to JAQUES.] Lou. Who waits there? D. Lew. I say, don't you be so modest; for there are times, do you see, when even modesty is ignorance, (pray be seated, madam-nay, I'll have it so) ah! [Sits down, and mimics her behaviour to CARLOS.] Lou. Confusion! have I exposed myself to this wretch, too!- -had witnesses to my folly! nay, I deserve it. [Stands mute. D. Lew. So, so, I shall bring her to ternis presently-you have a world of pretty jewels here, madam-ay, these now-these are a couple of fine large stones, truly; but, where a woman loves, such gifts as these are trifles. [Mimics again. Lou. Insupportable! within there! Enter Servants and Bravoes. D. Lew. Hey! [Rising. [Aside. Ser. Did your ladyship call, madam ? D. Lew. I don't like her looks, faith. Lou. Here, take this fool, let him be gagged, tied neck and heels, and locked into a garret; away with him! D. Lew. Dumb! Dumb! help, Dumb! Dumb! stand by me, Dumb! a pox of my finishing, awe! awe! [They gag him, and carry him off. Lou. The insolence of this fool was more provoking than the other's scorn; but I shall yet find ways to measure my revenge. [Exit LOUISA. Re-enter CARLOS in the dark. Car. What can this evil woman mean me? The doors all barred; the lights put out; the servants mute, and she with fury in her eyes now shot regardless by me. I would the worst would shew itself! Ha! yonder's a light; I'll follow it, and provoke my fortune. [Exit. Jaq. Say you so, sir? this shall to my lady. [Exit JAQUES. Ang. Oh, let me hold you ever thus, lest fate again should part us. Car. 'Twas death, indeed, to part; but from so hard a separation, thus again to meet, is life restored, Ang. Oh! I were happy, blessed above my sex, could but my plain simplicity of love deserve your kind endearments. Car. Is't possible, thou miracle of goodness, that thou canst thus forget the misery, the want, the ruin my unhappy love has brought thee to? Trust me, that stormy thought has clouded even the very joy I had to see thee. Enter JAQUES and LOUISA at a distance. Jaq. They are there; from hence, your ladyship may hear them. Lou. Leave me. |