[Exeunt Oro. and Imo. at one door, Aboan at another. Welldon coming in before Mrs. Lackitt. Wid. These unmannerly Indians were something unreasonable to disturb us just in the nick, Mr. Welldon; but I have the parson within call still, to do us the good turn. Well. We had best stay a little, I think, to see thing's settled again, had not we? Marriage is a serious thing you know. Wid. What do you talk of a serious thing, Mr. Welldon? I think you have found me sufficiently serious I have married my son to your sister, to pleasure you; and now I come to claim your promise to me, you tell me marriage is a serious thing. Well. Why is it not? Wid. Fiddle, faddle, I know what it is: 'tis not the first time I have been married, I hope: but I shall begin to think you don't design to do fairly by me, so I shall. Well. Why indeed, Mrs. Lackitt, I'm afraid I can't do so fairly as I would by you. 'Tis what you must know first or last; and I should be the worst man in the world to conceal it any longer; therefore I must own to you that I am married already. Wid. Married! you don't say so, I hope! how have you the conscience to tell me such a thing to my face. Have you abused me then, fool'd and cheated me? What do you take me for, Mr. Welldon? Do you think I am to be served at this rate? But you shan't find me the silly creature you think me: I would have you to know, I understand better things, than to ruin my son without a valuable consideration. If I can't have you, I can keep my money. Your sister sha'n't have the catch of him she expected: I won't part with a shilling to 'em. Well. You made the match yourself, you know : you can't blame me. Wid. Yes, yes, I can, and do blame you: you might have told me before, you were married. Well. I would not have told you now; but you followed me so close, I was forced to it: indeed I am married in England; but 'tis as if I were not; for I have been parted from my wife a great while, and, to do reason on both sides, we hate one another heartily. Now I did design, and will marry you still, if you'll have a little patience. Wid. A likely business truly. Well. I have a friend in England that I will write to, to poison my wife, and then I can marry you with a good conscience; if you love me, as you say you do, you'll consent to that, I'm sure. Wid. And will he do it, Well. At the first word, him to be. do you think? or he is not the man I take Wid. Well, you are a dear devil, Mr. Welldon : and would you poison your wife for me? Well. I would do any thing for you. Wid. Well, I am mightily obliged to you. But 'twill be a great while before you can have an answer of your letter. Well. 'Twill be a great while indeed. Wid. In the mean time, Mr. Welldon Well. Why in the mean time-Here's company: We'll settle that within; I'll follow you. [Exit Widow. Enter STANMORE. Stan. So, Sir, you carry on your business swim. mingly you have stolen a wedding, I hear. Well. Ay, my sister is married: and I am very near being run away with myself. Stan. The widow will have you then. Well. You come very seasonably to my rescue. Jack Stanmore is to be had, I hope. Stan. At half an hour's warning. Well. I must advise with you. [Exeunt. "SCENE II. The Country. Enter OROONOKO with ABOAN, "HOTMAN, and Slaves. "Oro. Impossible! nothing's impossible: "We know our strength only by being try'd. "If you object the mountains, rivers, woods "Unpassable, that lie before our march: "Woods we can set on fire: we swim by nature : "What can oppose us then but we may tame? "All things submit to virtuous industry: "That we carry with us, that is ours. "Slav. Great Sir, we have attended all you said, "With silent joy and admiration : "And, were we only men, would follow such, "So great a leader, through the untry'd world. "But, oh, consider we have other names, "Husbands and fathers, and have things more dear "To us than life, our children and our wives, "Unfit for such an expedition: "What must become of them? "Oro. We wo'not wrong "The virtue of our women, to believe "There is a wife among them would refuse "To share her husband's fortune. What is hard, "We must make easy to them in our love: while we << live, "And have our limbs, we can take care of them; "Therefore I still propose to lead our march "Down to the sea, and plant a colony; "Where, in our native innocence, we shall live "Free, and be able to defend ourselves, "Provide a ship for us. "Abo. An accident! "The luckiest accident presents itself; "The very ship that brought and made us slaves "Swims in the river still; I see no cause "But we may seize on that. "Oro. It shall be so: "There is a justice in it pleases me. “Do you agree to it? "Omnes. We follow you. [To the slaves. "Oro. You do not relish it. "Hot. I'm afraid "You'll find it difficult and dangerous. [To Hotman. "Abo. Are you the man to find the dangers first? "You should have giv'n example. Dangerous! "I thought you had not understood the word; "You, who would be the head, the hand and heart: "Sir, I remember you; you can talk well; "I wo'not doubt but you'll maintain your word. "Oro. This fellow is not right, I'll try him fur[To Aboan. ❝ther. "The danger will be certain to us all, "By death upon the place, or liberty. "There is no mean, but death, or liberty. "There's no man here, I hope, but comes prepar'd "For all that can befal him. "Abo. Death is all : "In most conditions of humanity "To be desir'd, but to be shunn'd by none : “The remedy of many, wish of some, "And certain end of all. "If there be one among us, who can fear |