SHE WOU'D AND SHE WOU'D NOT. ACT I. SCENE 1. An Inn in Madrid. Enter TRAPPANTI alone, talking to himself. INDEED, my friend Trappanti, thou'rt in a very thin condition; thou hast neither master, meat, nor money: not but, couldst thou part with that unappeaseable itch of eating too, thou hast all the ragged virtues that were requisite to set up an ancient philosopher: contempt and poverty, kicks, thumps, and thinking, thou hast endured with the best of them; but-when fortune turns thee up to hard fasting, that is to say, positively not eating at all, I perceive thou art a downright dunce, with the same stomach and no more philosophy than a hound upon horse-fleshFasting's the devil 1. Let me see-this I take it is the most frequented inn about Madrid, and if a keen guest or two should drop in now-Hark! Host. [Within.] Take care of the gentlemen's horses there; see them well rubbed and littered. Trap. Just alighted! if they do but stay to eat now! Impudence assist me. Ha! a couple of pretty young sparks, faith I Enter HYPOLITA and FLORA in Mens' Habits, a Trap. Welcome to Madrid, sir; welcome, sir. Serv. Have the horses pleased your honour? Hyp. Very well indeed, friend. Pr'ythee, set down the portmanteau, and see that the poor creatures want nothing: they have performed well, and deserve our care. Trap. I'll take care of that, sir. Here, ostler! [Exeunt Trap. and Servant. Flo. And pray, madam, what do I deserve that have lost the use of limbs to keep pace with you? 'Sheart! you whipped and spurred like a fox-hunter: it's a sign you had a lover in view; I'm sure my shoulders ache as if I had carried my horse on them. Hyp. Poor Flora! thou art fatigued indeed; but I shall find a way to thank thee for't. Flo. Thank me, quotha! Egad, I sha'n't be able to sit this fortnight. Well, I'm glad our journey's at an end however: and now, madam, pray what do you propose will be the end of our journey? Hyp. Why, now, I hope the end of my wishesDon Philip, I need not tell you how far he is in my heart. Flo. No, your sweet usage of him told me that long enough ago; but now, it seems, you think fit to confess it: and what is it you love him for, pray? Hyp. His manner of bearing that usage. Flo. Ah, dear pride! how we love to have it tickled! But he does not bear it, you see, for he's coming post to Madrid to marry another woman; nay, one he never saw. Hyp. An unknown face cann't have very far engaged him. Flo. How came he to be engaged to her at all? Flo. To another ! Hyp. To my whole sex rather than own I loved him. Flo. Ah, done like a woman of courage! Hyp. I could not bear the thought of parting with my power; besides, he took me at such an advantage, and pressed me so home to a surrender, I could have torn him piece-meal. Flo. Ay, I warrant you, an insolent-agreeable puppy. "Well, but to leave impertinence, madam, pray how came you to squabble with him? "Hyp. I'll tell thee, Flora: you know Don Phi"lip wants no charms that can recommend a lover; "in birth and quality I confess him my superior; "and it is the thought of that has been a constant "thorn upon my wishes. I never saw him in the "humblest posture, but still I fancied he secretly "presumed his rank and fortune might deserve me : "this always stung my pride, and made me overact "it: nay, sometimes when his sufferings have almost "drawn tears into my eyes, I have turned the sub"ject with some trivial talk, or hummed a spiteful tune, though I believe his heart was breaking. "Flo. A very tender principle, truly. "Hyp. Well, I don't know, it was in my nature. But to proceed-this and worse usage continued a "long time; at last, despairing of my heart, he then "resolved to do a violence on his own, by consenting to his father's commands of marrying a lady of "considerable fortune here in Madrid. The match "is concluded, articles are sealed, and the day is " fixed for his journey. Now the night before he set 3 out, he came to take his leave of me, in hopes, I 66 suppose, I would have staid him. I need not tell you my confusion at the news; and though I could "have given my soul to have deferred it, yet finding. "him, unless I bade him stay, resolved upon the "marriage, I (from the pure spirit of contradiction). 86 swore to myself I would not bid him do it, so called "for my veil, and told him I was in haste, begged "his pardon, your servant, and so whipped to prayers. "Flo. Well said again; that was a clincher. Ah, had not you better been at confession? "Hyp. Why, really, I might have saved a long "journey by it. To be short, when I came from "church, Don Philip had left this letter at home for "me, withou requiring an answer-Read it "Flo. [Reads.] Your usage has made me justly |