The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 113

_Man._ Those whose Influence are always gracious to your Ladys.h.i.+p.

_Mir._ But where's the Prince? where's my ill.u.s.trious Lover?

_Man._ Waiting the Return of the Chair, Madam.

_Mir._ But my _Endimion_?--Is _Endimion_ safe?

_Man._ Madam, he is: I saw him in the Garden.

_Mir._ Then perish all the rest--Go send to search him out, and let him instantly be brought to me--Hah--_Lejere_.

Enter _George_.

_Geo._ Baud, stand aside--and do your Office yonder-- [Puts away _Manage_.

Why are you frighted, Madam, because I'm not the Lover you expected?

_Mir._ What Lover! be witness, Heaven--

_Geo._ That thou art false, false as the insatiate Seas, that smiling tempt the vain Adventurer, whom flattering, far from any saving there, swell their false Waves to a destructive Storm.

_Mir._ Why all this mighty Rage?--Because I disappointed you to night?

_Geo._ No, by Heaven, I dully cou'd have waited for the Hour; have hop'd, and wish'd, and languish'd out an Age. But, oh _Mirtilla_! Oh thou perjur'd Fair!--But vanish all the Softness of my Soul, I will be satirical.

_A Plague, a Torment, to your fickle s.e.x,_ _Those smiling, sighing, weeping Hypocrites._

_Mir._ And can you think my Flight is criminal? because I sav'd this worthless Life--for you--

_Geo._ What Innocence adorns her Tongue, and Eyes! while h.e.l.l and Furies give her Heart its motion. You know not where you are?

_Mir._ Perhaps I do not.

_Geo._ Swear, for thou'rt d.a.m.n'd already, and by what black Degrees I will unfold: When first I saw this gay, this glorious Mischief, though n.o.bly born, 'twas hid in mean Obscurity; the s.h.i.+ning Viper lay half dead with Poverty, I took it up, and laid it next my Heart, fed it, and call'd its faded Beauties back.

_Mir._ Confess'd; And what of this?

_Geo._ Confirm'd you mine, by all the Obligations Profuseness cou'd invent, or Love inspire.

_Mir._ And yet at your Return you found me marry'd to another.

_Geo._ Death and h.e.l.l! that was not yet the worst: You flatter'd me with some Pretence of Penitence; but on the Night, the dear destructive Night, you rais'd my Hopes to all distracting Love cou'd wish--that very Night--Oh, let me rave and die, and never think that Disappointment o'er!

_Mir._ What, you saw me courted at the Ball, perhaps.

_Geo._ Perhaps I saw it in your Chamber too. Breathless and panting, with new-acted Joys, the happy Lover lay--Oh _Mirtilla_!

_Mir._ Nay, if he knows it, I'll deny't no more. [Aside.

_Geo._ There is no Honesty in all thy Kind.

_Mir._ Or if there be, those that deal in't are weary of their Trade.

But where's the mighty Crime?

_Geo._ No, I expect thou shouldst out-face my Eyes, out-swear my Hearing, and out-lye my Senses.--The Prince! the Prince! thou faithless dear destruction.

_Mir._ The Prince! good Heaven! Is all this Heat for him?

_Geo._ Thou own'st the Conquest then?

_Mir._ With as much Vanity as thou wouldst do, if thou hadst won his Sword: Hast thou took care wisely to teach me all the Arts of Life, and dost thou now upbraid my Industry? Look round the World, and thou shalt see, _Lejere_, Ambition still supplies the place of Love. The worn-out Lady, that can serve your Interest, you swear has Beauties that out-charms Fifteen; and for the Vanity of Quality, you feign and languish, lye, protest, and flatter--All Things in Nature cheat, or else are cheated.

_Geo._ Well said; take off thy Veil, and shew the Jilt.

_Mir._ You never knew a Woman thrive so well by real Love, as by Dissimulation: This has a thousand Arts and Tricks to conquer; appears in any Shape, in any Humour; can laugh or weep, be coy or play, by turns, as suits the Lover best, while simple Love has only one Road of Sighs and Softness; these to _Lejere_ are due: But all my Charms, and Arts of gay dissembling, are for the credulous Prince.--Ha--he's here!--and with him the dear Youth that has enslav'd me, who triumphs o'er the rest.

[Aside.

Enter Prince _Frederick_, _Olivia_ following, sees _Mirtilla_, and withdraws.

_Oliv._ Ha! _Mirtilla_, and my Brother here? Oh, how I long to see that Stranger's Face.

[Aside.

_Prince._ _Mirtilla_, thou Charmer of Life's dull and tedious Hours, how fares thy Heart? Dwells any Pantings there, but those that Love, and his dear Joys create?

_Mir._ Or if there do, you shou'd excuse it now.

_Geo._ How many Devils reign in beauteous Woman!

_Prince._ My dear _Lejere_, congratulate my Joys; take all my Friends.h.i.+p thou--but thou my Soul. Come, come, my Friend, let us retire together; I'll give thee leave to gaze upon my Heaven, and feed on all the Sweets that Friends.h.i.+p may: But all the rest of the vast Store is mine.

_Man._ Madam, _Endimion_ is already here. [Aside to her.

_Mir._ Thou hast reviv'd me--Let him wait my Call.

[Exit _Prince_ with _Mirtilla_, _George_ goes out, and peeps at the Door. _Olivia_ comes forward.

_Oliv._ Spite, Spite, and dire Revenge seize my fond Soul!--Oh, that I were a Man, a loose leud Man; how easily wou'd I rob him of her Heart, and leave him but the shadow of Enjoyment!

Re-enter _George_.

_Geo._ Now, my dear Sister, if thou ever lov'dst me, revenge thy Brother on this perjur'd Woman, and s.n.a.t.c.h her from this gallant Rival's Arms.

She loves thee--Dissemble thou to love again; meet her Advances with an equal Ardour, and when thou hast wound her up to dalliance, I'll bring the Prince a witness of her Shame.

_Oliv._ But what if he shou'd kill me--

_Geo._ I'll take care of that.

_Oliv._ Then e'er the morning dawns, you shall behold it: She languishes to see me, and I wait on purpose for her Commands.

_Geo._ As I cou'd wish: Be sure to act the Lover well. [Exit.