The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 102

_Hau._ I was always of that mind.-- Ha, ha, Boys, who be all these Dons and Donnas?-- Harkye, _Lovis_, I hope the Wife you promis'd me is amongst these fair Ladies, for so I guess they are both, fair and Ladies.

_Lov._ You guess right, Sir.

_Alon._ Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, command your Musick, and do what likes you best.

_Lov._ Here's the Lady I recommend to you, take her, Sir, be thankful.

[Gives him _Olinda_.

_Olin._ This is the Fool that I am to manage.

_Dor._ And this is my Lot. [Takes _Gload_.

[Musick plays, they all dance.

_Lov._ There is within a young Father ready to join your Hands: take this opportunity, and make sure of a Wife.

_Hau._ I warrant you, Sir.

[Exeunt _Haunce_, _Olinda_, _Gload_, and _Dorice_.

Enter _Pedro_.

_Ped._ Your Mother, Sir, whom I found more dead than living, for the loss of your Sister, was very near dying outright with Joy, to hear of your Arrival, and most impatiently expects you.

_Dorm._ And are we all forgiven, _Pedro_?

_Ped._ Yes, you and I are like to be Fellow-Servants together again, _Dormida_.

_Dorm._ And Fellow-Lovers too I hope, _Pedro_.

_Ped._ The Devil's in't if Age have not allay'd Flames of all sorts in thee; but if you contribute to my allowance--

_Dorm._ Thou know'st I could never keep any thing from thee, _Pedro_.

_Alon._ Come, Ladies, there is a small Banquet attends you in the next Room.

_Silv._ We'll wait on you, Sir.

Enter _Haunce_, _Gload_, _Olinda_, and _Dorice_.

_Hau._ Hold, hold, and give me Joy too, for I am married, if she has not mistaken her Man again, and I my Woman.

_Olin._ No, you are the Man I look for, and I no Cheat, having all about me that you look for too, but Money.

[Discovers her self.

_Alon._ How, _Olinda_!

_Olin._ Yes, indeed, Sir, I serv'd my Lady first, and then thought it no Offence to take the Reward due to that Service.

_Hau._ Here's a _Spanish_ Trick for you now, to marry a Wife, before one sees her.

_Euph._ What, _Dorice_ married too?

_Dor._ After your Example, Madam.

_Glo._ Yes, indeed, forsooth, and I have made bold too after the Example of my Master.

_Hau._ Now do they all expect I should be dissatisfied; but, Gentlemen, in sign and token that I am not, I'll have one more merry Frisk before we part, 'tis a witty Wench; faith and troth, after a Month 'tis all one who's who; therefore come on, _Gload_.

[They dance together.

_Alon._ Monsieur _Haunce_, I see you are a Man of Gallantry. Come let us in, I know every Man here desires to make this Night his own, and sacrifice it to Pleasure.

_The Ladies too in Blushes do confess.

Equal Desires; which yet they'll not confess.

Theirs, tho less fierce, more constant will abide; But ours less current grow the more they're try'd._

EPILOGUE.

_Hiss 'em, and cry 'em down, 'tis all in vain, Incorrigible Scriblers can't abstain: But impudently i'th' old Sin engage; Tho doom'd before, nay banish'd from the Stage.

Whilst sad Experience our Eyes convinces, That d.a.m.n'd their Plays which hang'd the _German_ Princess; And we with Ornament set off a Play, Like her drest fine for Execution-day.

And faith, I think, with as small hopes to live; Unless kind Gallants the same Grace you'd give Our Comedy as Her; beg a Reprieve.

Well, what the other mist, let our Scribe get, A Pardon, for she swears she's the less Cheat.

She never gull'd you Gallants of the Town Of Sum above four s.h.i.+llings, or half a Crown.

Nor does she, as some late great Authors do, Bubble the Audience, and the Players too.

Her humble Muse soars not in the High-rode Of Wit transverst, or Baudy _A-la-mode_; Yet hopes her plain and easy Style is such, As your high Censures will disdain to touch.

Let her low Sense creep safe from your Bravadoes, Whilst Rotas and Cabals aim at Granadoes._

NOTES

[Transcriber's Note:

The Notes in the printed text give only page and line numbers.

Act-and-scene designations shown between +marks+ have been added by the transcriber. Labels such as "Scene IIa" refer to points where the scene description changes without a new scene number.]

NOTES ON THE TEXT.

+Dramatis Personae+

p. 226 I have added to the Dramatis Personae 'Boy, Page to Marcel, Servant to Carlo, A Friar, Swains, Four Shepherds, Four Nymphs, Dutch men and Dutch women.'

+Act I: Scene i+