The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 81

[Gives him Letters.

_Car._ I remember amongst his other Faults, my Son writ me word he had Courage: If so, I shall consider what to do. [Reads.] Sir, I find by these your Father's Letters, you are not yet arriv'd.

_Alon._ I know that, Sir, but I was told I should express my Love in my haste; therefore outsailing the Pacquet, I was the welcome Messenger my self; and since I am so forward, I beseech you, Sir-- [_Carlo_ coming to imbrace him.

Now dare not I proceed, he has so credulous a consenting Face.

[Aside.

_Car._ Spare your Words, I understand their meaning; a prudent Man speaks least, as the _Spaniard_ has it: and since you are so forward, as you were saying, I shall not be backward; but as your Father adviseth here, hasten the uniting of our Families, with all celerity; for delay in these Affairs is but to prolong time, as the wise Man says.

_Alon._ You are much in the right, Sir. But my Wife, I desire to be better acquainted with her.

_Car._ She shall be forth-coming, Sir. Had you a good Pa.s.sage? for the Seas and Winds regard no Man's necessity.

_Alon._ No, no, a very ill one; your Daughter, Sir.

_Car._ Pray, how long were you at Sea?

_Alon._ _Euphemia_, Sir, _Euphemia_, your Daughter. This Don's fuller of Questions than of Proverbs, and that's a Wonder.

[Aside.

_Car._ They say _Flanders_ is a very fine Country, I never saw it; but--

_Alon._ Nor 'tis no matter, Sir, if you never do, so I saw your Daughter. He'll catechize me home to my _Dutch_ Parents by and by, of which I can give him no more account than-- [Aside.

_Car._ Are they as dissatisfied with their new Governour, as they were with Don _John_? for they love change.

_Alon._ A Pox of their Government, I tell you I love your Daughter.

_Car._ I fear 'tis so, he's valiant; and what a dangerous Quality is that in _Spain_! 'tis well he's rich.

[Aside.

_Lov._ Pray, Sir, keep him not long in Discourse, the Sea has made him unfit for--

_Alon._ Any thing but seeing my Mistress.

_Lov._ I'll have mercy upon thee, and fetch her to thee.

[Ex. _Lovis_.

_Car._ Sir, you must know, that we suffer not our Women in Spain to converse so frequently with your s.e.x, and that thro a cautious-- well consider'd prudent-- Consideration.

_Alon._ But, Sir, do you consider what an impatient thing a young Lover is? Or is it so long since you were one your self, you have forgot it?

'Tis well he wanted Words. [Enter _Euphemia_ and _Lovis_.] But yonder's _Euphemia_, whose Beauty is sufficient to excuse every Defect in the whole Family, tho each were a mortal sin; and now 'tis impossible to guard my self longer from those fair Eyes.

[Aside.

_Car._ I must not urge him to speak much before _Euphemia_, lest she discover he wants Wit by his much Tongue: [Aside.

There's my Daughter, Sir, go and salute her.

_Alon._ Oh, I thank you for that, Sir.

[He stands ridiculously looking on her.

_Car._ You must be bold, Sir.

_Alon._ Well, Sir, since you command me-- [Goes rudely to kiss her.

_Car._ I did not mean kissing by saluting.

_Alon._ I cry you Mercy, Sir, so I understood you.

_Car._ Fie upon't, that he should be no more a Master of Civility.

_Lov._ I fear, Sir, my Sister will never like this Humour in her Lover; he wants common Conversation.

_Car._ Conversation-- ye foolish Boy, he has Money, and needs none of your Conversation. And yet if I thought he were valiant-- [This while _Alonzo_ and _Euphemia_ make signs of Love with their Eyes.

_Lov._ I hope, Sir, he does not boast of more of that than he really has.

_Car._ That Fault I my self have been guilty of, and can excuse; but the thing it self I shall never endure: you know I was forc'd to send you abroad, because I thought you addicted to that. I shall never sleep in quiet-- Valiant! that's such a thing, to be Rich, or Wise and Valiant.

[Goes to _Euphemia_.

_Lov._ Colonel, pray to the business, for I fear you will betray your self.

_Car._ But look upon his Wealth, _Euphemia_, and you will find those Advantages there which are wanting in his Person; but I think the Man's well.

_Euph._ I must not seem to yield too soon. [Aside.

Sir, there be many Spaniards born that are as rich as he, and have Wit too.

_Car._ She was ever very averse to this Marriage. [Aside.

This Man is half a _Spaniard_, his Mother was one, and my first Mistress, and she I can tell you, was a great Fortune--

_Euph._ I, Sir, but he is such a Fool--

_Car._ You are a worse, to find fault with that in a Husband.

_Alon._ Stand aside, Sir, are you to court your Daughter or I?

_Car._ I was inclining her--

_Alon._ You inclining her! an old Man wants Rhetorick; set me to her.

[Goes to _Euphemia_.

_Car._ This capricious Humour was tolerable in him, Whilst I believ'd it the Effects of Folly, but now 'tis that of Valour: Oh, I tremble at the Sight of him.

[Retires.

_Euph._ Now, I see you are a Cavalier of your Word.

_Alon._ Faith, _Euphemia_, you might have believ'd, and taken me upon better Terms, if you had so pleas'd: To marry you is but an ill-favour'd Proof to give you of my Pa.s.sion.

_Euph._ Do you repent it?