The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 131

_Lov._ With all our Hearts, here's Mony to make Fires--

_Free._ And here's for Drink to't, Boys.

_All._ Hey-- _Viva le Roy, viva les Heroicks!_ [Go out hollowing.

Enter _Ananias_ peeping, _Felt-maker_, and _Joyner_.

_Ana._ So, the Rabble's gone: ah, Brethren! what will this wicked World come to?

_Felt._ Alack, alack, to no Goodness, you may be sure: pray what's the News?

[_Fleet._ peeping out of a Garret-Window.

_Fleet._ _Anania_, _Anania_!

_Ana._ Who calleth _Ananias_? lo, here am I.

_Fleet._ Behold, it is I, look up. How goeth tidings?

_Ana._ Full ill, I fear; 'tis a bad Omen to see your Lords.h.i.+p so nigh Heaven; when the Saints are Garretified.

_Fleet._ I am fortifying my self against the Evil-Day.

_Ana._ Which is come upon us like a Thief in the night; like a Torrent from the Mountain of Waters, or a Whirlwind from the Wilderness.

_Fleet._ Why, what has the _Scotch_ General done?

_Ana._ Ah! he playeth the Devil with the Saints in the City, because they put the Covenant-Oath unto him; he pulls up their Gates, their Posts and Chains, and enters.

_Felt._ And wou'd the wicked City let him have his beastly Will of her?

_Ana._ Nay, but she was ravish'd-- deflower'd.

_Joy._ How, ravish'd! oh monstrous! was ever such a Rape committed upon an innocent City? lay her Legs open to the wide World, for every Knave to view her Nakedness?

_Felt._ Ah, ah! what Days, what Times, and what Seasons are here?

[Exeunt.

Enter _Capt._ _Corp._ and _Prent._ with f.a.ggots, hollowing.

_Corp._ What say you now, Lads, is not my Prophecy truer than _Lilly's_?

I told you the Rump would fall to our handling and drinking for: the King's proclaim'd, Rogues.

_Capt._ Ay, ay, _Lilly_, a Plague on him, he prophesied _Lambert_ should be uppermost.

_Corp._ Yes, he meant perhaps on _Westminster_ Pinacle: where's _Lilly_ now, with all his Prophecies against the _Royal Family_?

_Capt._ In one of his Twelve Houses.

_1 Pren._ We'll fire him out to Night, Boy; come, all hands to work for the Fire.

[Ex. all hollowing.

_Fleet._ Ah, dismal, heavy day, a day of Grief and Woe, Which hast bereft me of my hopes for ay, Ah, Lard, ah what shall I do?

[Exit.

SCENE IV. _A Chamber in _Lambert's_ House._

Enter _Lov._ leading L. _Lam._ in disguise, _Page_ and _Gilliflower_ disguised, _Lov._ dressing her.

_Lov._ My Charmer, why these Tears, If for the fall of all thy painted Glories, Thou art, in the esteem of all good Men, Above what thou wert then?

The glorious Sun is rising in our Hemisphere, And I, amongst the crowd of Loyal Sufferers, Shall share in its kindly Rays.

_L. Lam._ Best of thy s.e.x-- What have I left to gratify thy Goodness?

_Lov._ You have already by your n.o.ble Bounty, Made me a Fortune, had I nothing else; All which I render back, with all that Wealth Heaven and my Parents left me: Which, tho unjustly now detain'd from me, Will once again be mine, and then be yours.

Enter _Free._

_Free._ Come, haste, the Rabble gather round the House, And swear they'll have this Sorceress.

_Lov._ Let me loose among 'em, their rude officious Honesty must be punish'd.

_L. Lam._ Oh, let me out, do not expose thy Person to their mad Rage, rather resign the Victim.

[Holds him.

_Lov._ Resign thee! by Heaven, I think I shou'd turn Rebel first.

Enter La. _Des._ disguised, and _Tom_ with Jewels in a Box.

_L. Des._ With much ado, according to thy direction, dear _Freeman_, I have pa.s.s'd the Pikes, my House being surrounded; and my Husband demanded, fell down dead with fear.

_Free._ How, thy Husband dead!

_L. Des._ Dead as old _Oliver_, and much ado I got off with these Jewels, the Rabble swore I was one of the Party; and had not the honest Corporal convinc'd em, I had been pull'd to pieces.-- Come, haste away, Madam, we shall be roasted with the Rump else.

_L. Lam._ Adieu, dear Mansion! whose rich gilded Roofs so oft put me in mind of Majesty-- And thou, my Bed of State, where my soft Slumbers have presented me with Diadems and Scepters-- when waking I have stretch'd my greedy Arms to grasp the vanish'd Phantom! ah, adieu! and all my hopes of _Royalty_ adieu.--

_Free._ And dare you put your self into my Protection? Well, if you do, I doubt you'll never be your own Woman again.

_L. Des._ No matter, I'm better lost than found on such occasions.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. _A Street; a great Bonfire, with Spits, and Rumps roasting, and the Mobile about the Fire, with Pots, Bottles, Fiddles._

_1 Pren._ Here, _Jack_, a Health to the King.

_2 Pren._ Let it pa.s.s, Lad, and next to the n.o.ble General.