Chapter XIV: Act III: SCENE I. A Room in Salvator’s House

Enter _Frederick_ and _Laura_.

_Fred._ _Laura_, consider well my Quality,
And be not angry with your Father’s Confidence,
Who left us here alone.

_Lau._ He will repent that Freedom when he knows
What use you’ve made on’t, Sir.

_Fred._ Fy, fy, _Laura_, a Lady bred at Court, and
Yet want complaisance enough to entertain
A Gallant in private! this coy Humour
Is not _à-la-mode_.--Be not so peevish with a Heart that dies for you.

_Lau._ Pray tell me, Sir, what is’t in me that can
Encourage this?

_Fred._ That which is in all lovely Women, _Laura_;
A thousand Blushes play about your Cheeks,
Which shows the briskness of the Blood that warms them.
--If I but tell you how I do adore you,
You strait decline your Eyes;
Which does declare you understand my meaning,
And every Smile or Frown betrays your thoughts,
And yet you cry, you do not give me cause.

Enter _Maid_.

_Maid._ _Curtius_, Madam, waits without.

_Fred._ I do not like his haste,
--Tell him he cannot be admitted now.

_Lau._ Sir, he is one that merits better treatment from you;
How can you injure thus the Man you love?

_Fred._ Oh Madam, ask your Eyes, those powerful Attracts.
And do not call their Forces so in question,
As to believe they kindle feeble Fires,
Such as a Friendship can surmount. No, _Laura_,
They’ve done far greater Miracles.

_Lau._ Sir, ‘tis in vain you tell me of their Power,
Unless they could have made a nobler Conquest
Than Hearts that yield to every petty Victor.
--Look on me well,
Can nothing here inform you of my Soul,
And how it scorns to treat on these Conditions?
[Looks on him, he gazes with a half Smile.

_Fred._ Faith, no, _Laura_.
I see nothing there but wondrous Beauty,
And a deal of needless Pride and Scorn,
And such as may be humbled.

_Lau._ Sir, you mistake, that never can abate.
But yet I know your Power may do me injuries;
But I believe you’re guilty of no Sin,
Save your Inconstancy, which is sufficient;
And, Sir, I beg I may not be the first [Kneels and weeps.
May find new Crimes about you.

_Fred._ Rise, _Laura_, thou hast but too many Beauties,
Which pray be careful that you keep conceal’d. [Offers to go.

_Lau._ I humbly thank you, Sir.

_Fred._--But why should this interposing Virtue check me?
--Stay, _Laura_, tell me; must you marry _Curtius_?

_Lau._ Yes, Sir, I must.

_Fred._ _Laura_, you must not.

_Lau._ How, Sir!

_Fred._ I say you shall not marry him,
Unless you offer up a Victim,
That may appease the Anger you have rais’d in me.

_Lau._ I’ll offer up a thousand Prayers and Tears.

_Fred._ That will not do.
Since thou’st deny’d my just Pretensions to thee,
No less than what I told you of shall satisfy me.

_Lau._ Oh, where is all your Honour and your Virtue?

_Fred_. Just where it was, there’s no such real thing.
I know that thou wert made to be possest,
And he that does refuse it, loves thee least.
--There’s danger in my Love, and your Delay,
And you are most secure whilst you obey. [He pulls her gently.

_Lau._ Then this shall be my safety, hold off, [She draws a Dagger.
Or I’ll forget you are my Prince. [He laughs.

_Fred._ Pretty _Virago_, how you raise my Love?
--I have a Dagger too; what will you do? [Shows her a Dagger.

Enter _Curtius_.

_Cur._ How! the Prince! arm’d against _Laura_ too! [Draws.

_Fred._ Traitor, dost draw upon thy Prince?

_Cur._ Your Pardon, Sir, I meant it on a Ravisher,
A foul misguided Villain, [Bows.
One that scarce merits the brave name of Man;
One that betrays his Friend, forsakes his Wife,
And would commit a Rape upon my Mistress.

_Fred._ Her Presence is thy Safety, be gone and leave me.

_Cur._ By no means, Sir; the Villain may return,
To which fair _Laura_, should not be expos’d.

_Fred._ Slave, dar’st thou disobey? [Offers to fight.

_Cur._ Hold, Sir, and do not make me guilty of a Sin,
Greater than that of yours.

Enter _Salvator_.

_Salv._ Gods pity me; here’s fine doings!--Why, how
Came this roistring Youngster into my House? Sir,
Who sent for you, hah?

_Cur._ Love.

_Salv._ Love, with a Witness to whom? my Daughter?
--No, Sir, she’s otherwise dispos’d of I can assure
You. Be gone and leave my House, and that quickly
Too; and thank me that I do not secure
Thee for a Traitor.

_Cur._ Will you not hear me speak?

_Salv._ Not a word, Sir, go, be gone; unless your
Highness will have him apprehended. [To _Fred._

_Fred._ No, Sir, it shall not need--_Curtius_, look
To hear from me.--
[Comes up to him, and tells him so in a menacing Tone, and go out
severally.

_Salv._ Go, Mrs. _Minks_, get you in.

[Ex. _Salv._ and _Lau._

SCENE II. A Street.

Enter _Frederick_ passing in Anger over the Stage, meets
_Lorenzo_.

_Lor._ O Sir, I’m glad I’ve found you; for
I have the rarest News for you.

_Fred._ What News?

_Lor._ Oh the Devil, he’s angry;--Why, Sir, the prettiest young--

_Fred._ There’s for your Intelligence. [Strikes him, and goes out.

_Lor._ So, very well; how mortal is the favour of
Princes! these be turns of State now; what the
Devil ails he trow; sure he could not be
Offended with the News I have brought him;
If he be, he’s strangely out of tune:
And sure he has too much Wit to grow virtuous at these
Years. No, no, he has had some repulse from a
Lady; and that’s a wonder; for he has a Tongue and a
Purse that seldom fails: if Youth and Vigour would
Stretch as far, he were the wonder of the Age.

Enter _Curtius_.

_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, didst thou see the Prince?

_Lor._ Marry, did I, and feel him too.

_Cur._ Why, did he strike you?

_Lor._ I’m no true Subject if he did not; and that
Only for doing that Service which once was most acceptable
To him.--Prithee what’s the matter with him, hah?

_Cur._ I know not, leave me.

_Lor._ Leave thee, what, art thou out of humour too?
Let me but know who ‘tis has disoblig’d thee, and I’ll--

_Cur._ What wilt thou?

_Lor._ Never see his Face more, if a Man.

_Cur._ And what if a Woman?

_Lor._ Then she’s an idle peevish Slut, I’ll warrant her.

_Cur._ Conclude it so, and leave me.

_Lor._ Nay, now thou hast said the only thing that could
Keep me with thee, thou mayst be desperate; I’ll
Tell you, _Curtius_, these female Mischiefs make Men
Take dangerous Resolutions sometimes.

Enter _Alberto_.

_Alb._ _Curtius_, I’ve something to deliver to your Ear.
[Whispers.

_Cur._ Any thing from _Alberto_ is welcome.

_Lor._ Well, I will be hang’d if there be not some
Mischief in agitation; it cannot be wenching;
They look all too dull and sober for that;
And besides, then I should have been a party concern’d.

_Cur._ The place and time.

_Alb._ An hour hence i’th’ Grove by the River-side.

_Cur._ Alone, thou say’st?

_Alb._ Alone, the Prince will have it so.

_Cur._ I will not fail a moment. [Ex. _Alb._
--So this has eas’d my heart of half its Load.

_Lor._ I’ll sneak away, for this is some fighting
Business, and I may perhaps be invited a Second,
A Compliment I care not for. [Offers to go.

_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, a word with you.

_Lor._ ‘Tis so, what shall I do now? [Aside.

_Cur._ Stay.

_Lor._ I am a little in haste, my Lord.

_Cur._ I shall soon dispatch you.

_Lor._ I believe so, for I am half dead already
With Fear. [Aside.] --Sir, I have promis’d to make a visit
To a Lady, and--

_Cur._ What I’ve to say will not detain you long.

_Lor._ What a Dog was I, I went not
When he first desir’d me to go!
Oh Impertinency, thou art justly rewarded!

_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, may I believe you love me?

_Lor._ Now what shall I say, Ay or no? [Aside.
The Devil take me if I know.

_Cur._ Will you do me a favour?

_Lor._ There ‘tis again. [Aside.

_Cur._ I know I may trust thee with a secret.

_Lor._ Truly, _Curtius_, I cannot tell.
In some cases I am not very retentive.

_Cur._ I am going about a business, that perhaps
May take up all the time I have to live,
And I may never see thy Sister more;
Will you oblige me in a Message to her?

_Lor._ You know you may command me;
--I’m glad ‘tis no worse. [Aside.

_Cur._ Come, go with me into my Cabinet,
And there I’ll write to _Laura_;
And prithee if thou hear’st that I am dead,
Tell her I fell a Sacrifice to her,
And that’s enough, she understands the rest.

_Lor._ But harkye, _Curtius_, by your favour, this is but a Scurvy Tale to carry to your Mistress; I hope you are not in earnest.

_Cur._ Yes.

_Lor._ Yes! why, what a foolish idle humour’s this in you? I vow ‘twill go near to break the poor Girl’s Heart;-- Come, be advis’d, Man.

_Cur._ Perhaps I may consider on’t for that reason.

_Lor._ There are few that go about such businesses,
But have one thing or other to consider in favour of Life;
I find that even in the most magnanimous:--
Prithee who is’t with?

_Cur._ That’s counsel: and pray let this too which I have
Told you be a Secret, for ‘twill concern your Life.

_Lor._ Good _Curtius_, take it back again then;
For a hundred to one but my over-care of keeping it
Will betray it.

_Cur._ Thou lovest thy self better.

_Lor._ Well, that’s a comfort yet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Wood.

Enter _Cloris_ dressed like a Country-Boy, follow’d by _Guilliam_
a Clown; _Cloris_ comes reading a Letter.

_Clo._ [Reads.] Cloris, _beware of Men; for though I my self be one,_
_Yet I have the Frailties of my Sex, and can dissemble too;_
_Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;_
_We make Vows to all alike we see,_
_And even the best of Men, the Prince,_
_Is not to be credited in an affair of Love._
--Oh _Curtius_, thy advice was very kind;
Had it arriv’d before I’ad been undone!
--Can _Frederick_ too be false!
A Prince, and be unjust to her that loves him too?
--Surely it is impossible--
Perhaps thou lov’st me too, and this may be
[Pointing to the Letter.
Some Plot of thine to try my Constancy:
--Howe’er it be, since he could fail last night
Of seeing me, I have at least a cause to justify
This shameful change; and sure in this Disguise,
I shall not soon be known, dost think I shall? [Looks on herself.

_Guil._ Why, forsooth, what do you intend to pass for,
A Maid or a Boy?

_Clo._ Why, what I seem to be, will it not do?

_Guil._ Yes, yes, it may do, but I know not what;
I would Love would transmography me to a Maid now,
--We should be the prettiest Couple:
Don’t you remember when you dress’d me up the last
Carnival, was I not the woundiest handsome Lass
A body could see in a Summer’s day?
There was _Claud_ the Shepherd as freakish after me,
I’ll warrant you, and simper’d and tript it like any thing.

_Clo._ Ay, but they say ‘tis dangerous for young
Maids to live at Court.

_Guil._ Nay, then I should be loth to give temptation.
--Pray, forsooth, what’s that you read so often there?

_Clo._ An advice to young Maids that are in love.

_Guil._ Ay, ay, that same Love is a very vengeance thing,
Wou’d I were in love too; I see it makes a body valiant;
One neither feels Hunger nor Cold that is possest with it.

_Clo._ Thou art i’th’ right, it can do Miracles.

_Guil._ So it seems, for without a Miracle you and I could never
Have rambled about these Woods all night without either Bottle or
Wallet:
I could e’en cry for hunger now.

_Clo._ What a dull Soul this Fellow hath?
Sure it can never feel the generous Pains
Of Love, as mine does now; oh, how I glory
To find my Heart above the common rate!
Were not my Prince inconstant,
I would not envy what the Blessed do above:
But he is false, good Heaven!-- [Weeps. _Guil._ howls.
--What dost thou feel, that thou shouldst weep with me?

_Guil._ Nothing but Hunger, sharp Hunger, forsooth.

_Clo._ Leave calling me forsooth, it will betray us.

_Guil._ What shall I call you then?

_Clo._ Call me, _Philibert_, or any thing;
And be familiar with me: put on thy Hat, lest any come and see us.

_Guil._ ‘Tis a hard name, but I’ll learn it by heart.
--Well, _Philibert_--What shall we do when we come to Court?
[Puts on his Hat.
Besides eating and drinking, which I shall do in abundance.

_Clo._ We must get each of us a Service:
--But thou art such a Clown.

_Guil._ Nay, say not so, honest _Philibert_: for look ye,
I am much the properer Fellow of the two. [Walks.

_Clo._ Well, try thy fortune; but be sure you never discover
Me, whatever Questions may chance to be asked thee.

_Guil._ I warrant thee, honest Lad, I am true and trusty;
But I must be very familiar with you, you say.

_Clo._ Yes, before Company.

_Guil._ Pray let me begin and practise a little now,
An’t please you, for fear I should not be saucy enough,
When we arrive at Court.

_Clo._ I’ll warrant you you’ll soon learn there.

_Guil._ Oh Lord, _Philibert!_ _Philibert!_ I see a Man a coming
Most deadly fine, let’s run away.

_Clo._ Thus thou hast serv’d me all this night,
There’s not a Bush we come at, but thou start’st thus.

_Guil._ ‘Tis true you are a Lover, and may stay the danger on’t;
But I’ll make sure for one.

_Clo._ It is the Prince, oh Gods! what makes he here?
With Looks disorder’d too; this Place is fit for Death and sad
Despair; the melancholy Spring a sleepy murmur makes,
A proper Consort for departing Souls,
When mix’d with dying Groans, and the thick Boughs
Compose a dismal Roof;
Dark as the gloomy Shades of Death or Graves.
--He comes this way, I’ll hide my self awhile. [Goes behind a Bush.

Enter _Frederick_.

_Fred._ But yet not this, nor my despight to _Laura_,
Shall make me out of love with Life,
Whilst I have youthful Fires about my Heart:
--Yet I must fight with _Curtius_,
And so chastise the Pride of that fond Maid,
Whose saucy Virtue durst controul my Flame.
--And yet I love her not as I do _Cloris_;
But fain I would have overcome that Chastity,
Of which the foolish Beauty boasts so.

_Clo._ _Curtius_, I thank thee, now I do believe thee.
_Guilliam_, if thou seest any fighting anon, [The Prince walks.
Be sure you run out and call some body.

_Guil._ You need not bid me run away, when I once
See them go to that.

Enter _Curtius_.

_Cur._ Sir, I am come as you commanded me.

_Fred._ When you consider what you’ve lately done,
You will not wonder why I sent for you;
And when I mean to fight, I do not use to parly:
Come draw.

_Cur._ Shew me my Enemy, and then if I am slow--

_Fred._ I am he, needst thou one more powerful?

_Cur._ You, Sir! what have I done to make you so?

_Fred._ If yet thou want’st a further proof of it,
Know I’ll dispute my Claim to _Laura_.

_Cur._ That must not be with me, Sir;
God forbid that I should raise my Arm against my Prince.
--If _Laura_ have so little Faith and Virtue,
To render up that Right belongs to me,
With all my heart I yield her
To any but to you:
And, Sir, for your own sake you must not have her.

_Fred._ Your Reason?

_Cur._ Sir, you’re already married.

_Fred._ Thou lyest, and seek’st excuses for thy Cowardice.

_Cur._ I wish you would recal that hasty Injury;
Yet this I’ll bear from you, who know ‘tis false.

_Fred._ Will nothing move thee?

_Cur._ You would believe so, Sir, if I should tell you,
That besides all this, I have a juster Cause.

_Fred._ Juster than that of _Laura_? call it up, then,
And let it save thee from a further shame.

_Cur._ Yes, so I will, ‘tis that of _Cloris_,
Who needs my aids much more;
Do you remember such a Virgin, Sir?
For so she was till she knew _Frederick_,
The sweetest Innocent that ever Nature made.

_Fred._ Not thy own Honour, nor thy Love to _Laura_,
Would make thee draw, and now at _Cloris’. Name
Thou art incens’d, thy Eyes all red with Rage:
--Oh, thou hast rouz’d my Soul!
Nor would I justify my Wrongs to her,
Unless it were to satisfy my Jealousy,
Which thou hast rais’d in me by this concern.
--Draw, or I’ll kill thee.

_Cur._ Stay, Sir, and hear me out.

_Fred._ I will not stay, now I reflect on all
Thy former kindness to her--

_Cur._ I will not fight, but I’ll defend my self. [They fight.

_Fred._ We are betray’d.

_Cur._ Yes, Sir, and you are wounded.
[_Guil._ runs bawling out, they are both wounded.

_Clo._ Oh Heaven defend the Prince! [She peeps.

_Fred._ I hear some coming, go, be gone,
And save thy self by flight.
[_Frederick_ stands leaning on his Sword.

_Cur._ Sir, give me leave to stay, my flight will look like Guilt.

_Fred._ By no means, _Curtius_, thou wilt be taken here,
And thou shalt never charge me with that Crime of betraying
Thee: when we meet next, we’ll end it.

_Cur._ I must obey you then. [Exit.

Enter _Cloris_.

_Clo._ Sir, has the Villain hurt you? [She supports him.
--Pray Heaven my Sorrows do not betray me now;
For since he’s false, I fain would die conceal’d. [Aside.
--Shew me your Wound, and I will tie it up.
Alas, you bleed extremely.--

_Fred._ Kind Youth, thy Succours are in vain, though welcome;
For though I bleed, I am not wounded much.

_Clo._ No? why did you let him pass unpunish’d then,
Who would have hurt you more?

Enter _Guilliam_ with _Galliard_.

_Gal._ Where was’t?

_Guil._ Look ye, Sir, there, don’t you see them?

_Gal._ How does your Highness? This Fellow told me
Of a quarrel here, which made me haste.

_Fred._ Be silent, and carry me to my own apartment.

_Gal._ Alas, Sir, is it you that fought?

_Fred._ No more Questions.--
Kind Boy, pray leave me not till I have found
A way to recompense thy pretty care of me.

_Clo._ I will wait on you, Sir.

[Exeunt all but _Guil._

Enter _Lorenzo_ and his _Page_. Peeps first.

_Lor._ What’s the matter here? the Prince is wounded too.
Oh, what a Dog was I to know of some such thing,
And not secure them all?
[_Lor._ stands gazing at _Guil._ _Guil._ stands tabering his Hat,
and scruing his Face.
--What’s here? Ha, ha, ha, this is the pleasantest
Fellow that e’er I saw in my Life.
Prithee, Friend, what’s thy Name?

_Guil._ My Name, an’t shall like ye.
My Name, it is _Guilliam_.

_Lor._ From whence comest thou?

_Guil._ From a Village a great huge way off.

_Lor._ And what’s thy business here, hah?

_Guil._ Truly, Sir, not to tell a Lye;
I come to get a Service here at Court.

_Lor._ A Service at Court! ha, ha, that’s a pleasant
Humour, i’faith. Why, Fellow, what canst thou do?

_Guil._ Do, Sir! I can do any thing.

_Lor._ Why, what canst thou do? canst thou dress well?
--Set a Peruke to advantage, tie a Crevat,
And Cuffs? put on a Belt with dexterity, hah?
These be the Parts that must recommend you.

_Guil._ I know not what you mean,
But I am sure I can do them all.

_Lor._ Thou art confident it seems, and I can tell
You, Sirrah, that’s a great step to Preferment;
--But well, go on then, canst ride the great Horse?

_Guil._ The biggest in all our Town
I have rid a thousand times.

_Lor._ That’s well; canst fence?

_Guil._ Fence, Sir, what’s that?

_Lor._ A Term we use for the Art and Skill of handling a Weapon.

_Guil._ I can thrash, Sir.

_Lor._ What’s that, Man?

_Guil._ Why, Sir, it is--it is--thrashing.

_Lor._ An Artist, I vow; canst play on any Musick?

_Guil._ Oh, most rogically, Sir, I have a Bagpipe that
Every Breath sets the whole Village a dancing.

_Lor._ Better still; and thou canst dance, I’ll warrant?

_Guil._ Dance, he, he, he, I vow you’ve light on
My Master-piece, y’fegs.

_Lor_. And I’ll try thee: Boy, go fetch some of the [To the _Page_.
Musick hither which I keep in pay. [Ex. _Page_.
--But hark you, Friend, though I love Dancing very well,
And that may recommend thee in a great degree;
Yet ‘tis wholly necessary that you should be valiant too:
We Great ones ought to be serv’d by Men of Valour,
For we are very liable to be affronted by many here
To our Faces, which we would gladly have beaten behind
Our Backs.--But Pox on’t, thou hast not the Huff
And Grimace of a Man of Prowess.

_Guil._ As for fighting, though I do not care for it,
Yet I can do’t if any body angers me, or so.

_Lor._ But I must have you learn to do’t when
Any body angers me too.

_Guil._ Sir, they told me I should have no need on’t
Here; but I shall learn.

_Lor._ Why, you Fool, that’s not a thing to be learn’d,
--That’s a brave Inclination born with Man,
A brave undaunted something, a thing that,
That comes from, from, I know not what,
For I was born without it.

Enter _Page_ and Musick.

Oh, are you come? let’s see, Sirrah, your Activity,
For I must tell you that’s another step to Preferment.
[He dances a Jig _en Paisant_.
‘Tis well perform’d; well, hadst thou but Wit,
Valour, _Bone Mine_, good Garb, a Peruke,
Conduct and Secrecy in Love-Affairs, and half
A dozen more good Qualities, thou wert
Fit for something; but I will try thee.
Boy, let him have better Clothes; as for his Documents,
I’ll give him those my self.

_Guil._ Hah, I don’t like that word, it sounds terribly.
[Aside.

[Ex. _Page_ and _Guil._ with Musick.

_Lor._ This Fellow may be of use to me; being
Doubtless very honest, because he is so very simple:
For to say truth, we Men of Parts are sometimes
Over-wise, witness my last night’s retreat
From but a supposed Danger, and returning to fall
Into a real one. Well, I’ll now to _Isabella_,
And know her final Resolution; if _Clarina_ will
Be kind, so; if not, there be those that will.
--And though I cannot any Conquest boast
For all the Time and Money I have lost,
At least of _Isabel_ I’ll be reveng’d,
And have the flattering Baggage soundly swing’d;
And rather than she shall escape my Anger,
My self shall be the Hero that shall bang her. [Exit.