Aim. No, no; we'll bind them. Arch. Ay, ay; here, Madam, lend me your garter. [To MRS. SULLEN, who stands by him. Mrs. S. The devil's in this fellow; he fights, loves, and banters, all in a breath: here's a rope that the rogues brought with them, I suppose. Arch. Right, right, the rogue's destiny, a rope to hang himself-Come, my lord-this is but a scandalous sort of an office, [Binding the rogues together.] if our adventure should end in this sort of hangman work; but I hope there is something in prospect that breakers. Arch. No matter for my adventure, yours is the principal-Press her this minute to marry you-now while she's hurried between the palpitation of her fear, and the joy of her deliverance; now while the tide of her spirits are at high flood:-throw yourself at her feet, speak some romantic nonsense or other confound her senses, bear down her reason, and away with her. The priest is now in the cellar, and dare not refuse to do the work. Aim. But how shall I get off without being observed? Arch. You a lover, and not find a way to get off!-Let me see. Aim. You bleed, Archer. Arch. 'Sdeath, I'm glad on't; this wound will do the business-I'll amuse the old lady and Mrs. Sullen about dressing my wound, while you carry off Dorinda. Lady B. Gentlemen, could we understand how you would be gratified for the servicesArch. Come, come, my lady, this is no time for compliments; I'm wounded, Madam. Lady B. & Mrs. S. How! wounded! Dor. I hope, Sir, you have received no hurt? [To AIM. Aim. None but what you may cure. [Makes love. Lady B. Let me see your arm, Sir-I must have some powder-sugar, to stop the blood-O me! an ugly gash; upon my word, Sir, you must go into bed. Arch. Ay, my lady, a bed would do very well -Madam, [To MRS. SULLEN.] will you do me the favour to conduct me to a chamber? Lady B. Do, do, daughter-while I get the lint, and the probe, and the plaister, ready. [Runs out one way; AIM. carries off DOR. another. Arch. Come, Madam, why don't you obey your mother's commands? Mrs. S. How can you, after what is past, have the confidence to ask me? Arch. And if you go to that, how can you, after what is past, have the confidence to deny me? -Was not this blood shed in your defence, an my life exposed for your protection ?—Lockye Madam, I'm none of your romantic fools, the fight giants and monsters for nothing; my valou: is downright Swiss; I am a soldier of fortune, and must be paid. Mrs. S. 'Tis ungenerous in you, Sir, to upbraid me with your services. Arch. 'Tis ungenerous in you, Madam, not to reward them. Mrs. S. How! at the expense of my honour! Arch. Honour! Can honour consist with ingratitude! If you would deal like a womand honour, do like a man of honour: d'ye think i would deny you in such a case? Enter GIPSEY. Gip. Madam, my lady has ordered me to te you, that your brother is below at the gate. Mrs. S. My brother! Heavens be praised:Sir, he shall thank you for your services; he ha it in his power. Arch. Who is your brother, Madam ? Mrs. S. Sir Charles Freeman. You'll excus me, Sir; I must go and receive him. [Erü. Arch. Sir Charles Freeman! 'Sdeath an hell!--my old acquaintance. Now, unless Aim well has made good use of his time, all our fair machine goes souse into the sea, like the Eddystone. [Eri SCENE IV-A Gallery in the same House. Enter AIMWELL and DORINDA. Your late generous action will, I hope, plead Dor. Well, well, my lord, you have conquered. for my easy yielding; though I must own your lordship had a friend in the fort before. Aim. The sweets of Hybla dwell upon her Here, doctor— tongue. Enter FOIGARD, with a book. Foig. Are you prepared, bote? Dor. I'm ready; but first, my lord, one wordI have a frightful example of a hasty marriage in my own family; when I reflect upon't, it shocks me. Pray, my lord, consider a little Aim. Consider! do you doubt my honour or my love? Dor. Neither. I do believe you equally just as brave-And were your whole sex drawn out for me to choose, I should not cast a look upon the multitude, if you were absent-But, my lord, I'm a woman:-colours, concealments, may hide a thousand faults in me-Therefore know me better first; I hardly dare affirm I know myself in any thing except my love. Aim. Such goodness who could injure? I find myself unequal to the task of villain. She has gained my soul, and made it honest like her own I cannot hurt her. [Aside.] Doctor, retire, [Exit FOIGARD.] Madam, behold your lover and your proselyte, and judge of my passion by my conversion-I'm all a lie, nor dare I give a fiction to your arms; I'm all a counterfeit, except my passion. Dor. Forbid it, Heaven! a counterfeit ! Aim. I am no lord, but a poor needy man, come, with a mean and scandalous design, to prey upon your fortune!-but the beauties of your mind and person have so won me from my self, that, like a trusty servant, I prefer the interest of my mistress to my own. Dor, Pray, Sir, who are you? Foig. Upon my shoul, and so is myshelf. Arch. What's the matter now, Madam? Dor. Lookye Sir, one generous action deserves another.-This gentleman's honour obliged him to hide nothing from me; my justice engages me to conceal nothing from him; in short, Sir, you are the person that you thought you counterfeited; you are the true Lord Viscount Aimwell, and I wish your lordship joy. Now, priest, you may be gone; if my lord is now pleased with the match, let his lordship marry me in the face of the world. Sir C. 'Tis truth, upon my honour. Arch. Discovered! and without my consent! What! Have I embarked my small remains in the same bottom with yours, and you dispose ofed this accident. all without my partnership? Aim. O, Archer, I own my fault. Arch. After conviction-'Tis then too late for pardon. You may remember, Mr. Aimwell, that you proposed this folly-As you began, so end it. -Henceforth I'll hunt my fortune singly-So, farewell. Aim. Stay, my dear Archer, but a minute. Arch. Stay! What, to be despised, exposed, and laughed at! No, I would sooner change conditions with the worst of the rogues we just now bound, than bear one scornful smile from the proud knight that once I treated as my equal. Aim. What knight? Arch. Thanks to the womb of time that brought it forth; away with it. Aim. Thanks to my guardian angel that led me to the prize. [Taking DORINDA's hand. Arch. And double thanks to the noble Sir Charles Freeman. My lord, I wish you joy. My lady, I wish you joy-'Egad, Sir Charles, you're the honestest fellow living-'Sdeath, I'm grown strangely airy upon this matter-My lord, how d'ye do?-A word, my lord. Don't you remember something of a previous agreement that entitles me to the moiety of this lady's fortune, which, I think, will amount to ten thousand pounds? Aim. Not a penny, Archer. You would ha' cut my throat just now, because I would not de Arch. Sir Charles Freeman, brother to the lady that I had almost-But no matter for that;ceive this lady." 'tis a cursed night's work, and so I leave you to make the best on't. Aim. Freeman!-One word, Archer. Still I Arch. Ay, and Ill cut your throat still if you should deceive her now. Aim. That's what I expect; and to end the have hopes; methought she received my confes-dispute, the lady's fortune is twenty thousand sion with pleasure. Arch. 'Sdeath, who doubts it? Aim. She consented after to the match; and still I dare believe she will be just. Arch. To herself, I warrant her, as you should have been. Aim. By all my hopes she comes, and smiling comes. Enter DORINDA, gaily. pounds; we'll divide stakes; take the twenty thousand pounds, or the lady. Dor. How! Is your lordship so indifferent? Arch. No, no, no, Madam, his lordship knows very well that I'll take the money; I leave you to his lordship, and so we're both provided for. Enter FOIGARD. Foig. Arrah fait, de people do say you be all impa-robbed, joy. Dor. Come, my dear lord-I fly with tience to your arms-The minutes of: my absence were a tedious year. Where's the priest? Enter FOIGARD. Arch. Oons, a brave girl. Dor. I suppose, my lord, this gentleman is privy to our affairs? Arch. Yes, yes, Madam, I'm to be your father. Dor. Come, priest, do your office. Arch. Make haste, make haste, couple them any way. [Takes AIMWELL'S hand.] Come, Madam, I'm to give you Dor. My mind's altered; I wont. Aim. I'm confounded Aim. The ladies have been in some danger, Sir, as you saw. Foig. Upon my shoul, our inn be robbed too. Aim. Our inn! By whom? Foig. Upon my shalvation, our landlord has robbed himself, and run away vid de money. Arch. Robbed himself? Foig. Ay fait! and me too, of a hundred pounds. Arch. Robbed you of a hundred pounds! Foig. Yes, fait, honey, that I did owe to him. Aim. Our money 's gone, Frank. Arch. Rot the money, my wench is goneSçavez-vous quelque-chose de Mademoiselle Cherry? Sir C. This good company meets opportunely in favour of a design I have in behalf of my unfortunate sister. I intend to part her from her husband-Gentlemen, will you assist me? Arch. Assist you! 'Sdeath, who would not? Foig. Ay, upon my shoul, we'll all ashist. Enter SULLEN. Sul. What's all this? They tell me, spouse, that you had like to have been robbed. Mrs. S. Truly, spouse, I was pretty near it— had not these two gentlemen interposed. Sul. How came these gentlemen here? Mrs. S. That's his way for returning thanks, you must know. Foig. Ay, but upon my conscience de question be a-propos for all dat. Sir C. You promised last night, Sir, that you would deliver your lady to me this morning. Sul. Humph! Arch. Humph! What do you mean by humph?-Sir, you shall deliver her-In short, Sir, we have saved you and your family; and if you are not civil, we'll unbind the rogues, join with 'em, and set fire to your house-What does the man mean? Not part with his wife. Foig. Arrah, not part wid your wife! Upon my shoul, de man does not understand common shivility. Mrs. S. Hold, gentlemen, all things here must move by consent. Compulsion would spoil us. Let my dear and I talk the matter over, and you shall judge between us. Sul. Let me know, first, who are to be our judges. Pray, Sir, who are you? Sir C. I am Sir Charles Freeman, come to take away your wife. Sul. And you, good Sir? Sul. South; as far as the poles asunder. Foig. Amen! Upon my shoul, a very pretty sheremony. Sir C. Now, Mr. Sullen, there wants only my sister's fortune to make us easy. Sul. Sir Charles, you love your sister, and I Arch. What is her portion? Sir C. Twenty thousand pounds, Sir. Aim. Thomas Viscount Aimwell, come to take enabled me. This night's adventure has proved away your sister. Sul. And you, pray, Sir? Arch. Francis Archer, Esq. come strangely lucky to us all-for Captain Gibbet in his walk has made bold, Mr. Sullen, with your study and escritoir, and has taken out all the Sul. To take away my mother, I hope-Gen-writings of your estate; all the articles of marriage tlemen, you're heartily welcome. I never met with three more obliging people since I was born -And now, my dear, if you please, you shall have the first word. Arch. And the last, for five pounds. [Aside. Mrs. S. How long have you been married? Sul. By the almanack fourteen months;-but by my account, fourteen years. Mrs. S. 'Tis thereabout by my reckoning. Foig. Upon my conscience, deir accounts vil agree. Mrs. S. Pray, spouse, what did you marry for? Arch. The condition fails on his side-Pray, Mrs. S. To support the weakness of my sex by the strength of his, and to enjoy the pleasures of an agreeable society. with your lady, bills, bonds, leases, and receipts, to an infinite value; I took 'em from him, and will deliver them to Sir Charles. [Gives him a parcel of papers and parchments. Sul. How, my writings! my head aches consumedly. Well, gentlemen, you shall have her fortune, but I can't talk. If you have a mind, Sir Charles, to be merry, and celebrate my sister's wedding, and my divorce, you may command my house! but my head aches consumedly-Scrub, bring me a dram. [Erit. Foig. And, Scrub, put a little drop on the top for me! (Eril. Arch. 'Twould be hard to guess which of these parties are the better pleased, the couple joined, or the couple parted: the one rejoicing in hopes of an untasted happiness, and the other in their deliverance from an experienced misery. Both happy in their several states we find; END OF VOL. I. |