The Street.
Enter Hippolyta drest like a Man, with a Paper.
Hip. Thus I dare look abroad again:
Methinks I am not what I was,
My Soul too is all Man;
Where dwells no Tenderness, no womanish Passions.
I cannot sigh, nor weep, nor think of Love,
But as a foolish Dream that’s gone and past.
Revenge has took possession of my Soul,
And drove those Shadows thence; and shows me now
Love, in so poor, so despicable a Shape,
So quite devested of his Artful Beauty,
That I’m asham’d I ever was his Votary.
Well, here’s my Challenge to Antonio;
But how to get it to him is the Question.
Base as he is, he’ll not refuse to come,
And since he never saw the wrong’d Alonzo,
Sure I may pass for him. Who’s here? —
Enter Haunce and Gload. She stands aside.
Hau. Gload, if it were possible I could be sober, and valiant at once, I should now be provok’d to exercise it: for I cannot find Lovis, and then how I shall come off, the Lord knows. And then again, for letting the Lady go, whom I rescu’d in the Grove this Morning.
Glo. Should I disobey a Lady, Sir? for she commanded me to let her go so soon as she came into the Gate. And, Sir, look, here comes Don Lovis.
Enter Lovis and Alonzo.
Hau. Oh, Brother Lovis, where the Devil have you been all this Day? I stay’d for you to go with me to your Sister’s, as long as Flesh and Blood could forbear.
Lov. Why, have you been there without me?
Hau. Yes, marry have I, Sir.
Alon. I am undone then —
[Aside.
Hau. I needed no Recommendation mun, for when I came they were all as well acquainted with me — I never saw them before; but by the way, they are all no wiser than they should be, except your Sister, who is the pretty’st loving, sweet Rogue —
Alon. How’s this?
Lov. But have you seen my Sister?
Hau. Seen her! yes, and will marry her too mun before Night, an she were a thousand Sisters — but harkye, Lovis, the business is this — you must know that before I marry her, I am to seek out a certain Fellow, they call — they call Alonzo, ay, ay, Alonzo — a Pox on him, a troublesome Rascal they say he is; and his leave, it seems, must be askt to marry your Sister.
Lov. Well, Sir, and what if he will not give you leave?
Hau. Why then, you must know I am to get him very well favour’dly beaten.
Alon. Sure this is the Coxcomb himself.
Hau. Now for your Sister’s sake, who loves me, poor thing, I will not run the danger of beating him my self, but must desire that small courtesy of thee.
Lov. How! I beat him?
Hau. You beat him, yes, you; what a Pox do you scruple such a kindness to a Friend? I know you make no more of killing a Man next your Heart in a Morning, than I do of eating a pickled Herring.
Lov. But she desir’d you to do’t.
Hau. That’s all one so it be done, mun; besides, why should I run my self into a Premunire, when I need not? Your Father is bound by Agreement to mine, to deliver me the Wares (that is, his Daughter) safe and sound; and I have no more to do, but to protest against him in case of Non-performance. ‘Twill be a dear Commodity to me at this rate.
[Cries.
Lov. Well, Sir, I’ll see what may be done.
Hau. Spoke like a Friend now: Well, you must about it instantly, for I must be married to day.
Alon. Must you so, Sir? —
Hau. Yes marry must I, Sir — Who the Devil’s this now?
[To Lovis.
Alon. That same Alonzo whom you inquire for.
Hau. Are you so, Sir? — Why, what then, Sir, — Lovis, Lovis.
[Runs behind Lovis.
Alon. What then, Sir? then I tell you, I will not be beaten.
Hau. Look ye here now — Lovis.
Lov. Ha, ha, ha, canst thou be angry with him?
[To Alonzo.
Hau. I, can you be angry with me?
Alon. I know not why an Ass should have more privilege than any other rude Beast.
Lov. Ha, ha, ha, this Humour’s so pleasant in thee, I wish thou wouldst pursue it a little — Haunce, bear up to him, he’s but a mere Huff, ha, ha, ha.
[Claps him on the Back, he goes fearfully forward.
Glo. I, Sir, as long as Don Lovis is here, you may say what you will.
Hau. May I so? — and why, Sir? — am I, Sir — an Ass, Sir?
[Runs behind Lovis.
Alon. ‘Sdeath, you Rascal, do you question me?
Hau. Oh, hold, Sir, hold, not I, God forbid I should question it, Lovis — is it, indeed, Alonzo, hah?
Lov. Yes indeed is it.
Hau. And wilt thou not do so much as to beat him for me a little?
Lov. Not I, I dare not, he’s a terrible Man.
Hau. Why look you here now, you damn’d Rogue,
[To Gload.] Have not you serv’d me finely, hah?
Gload. Why, Sir, ’tis but crying Peccavi.
Hau. Peccavi, and be hang’d to you — Lord, Sir, [To Alonzo.] why are you so angry? I came but to ask you a civil Question, from my Wife that must be.
Alon. You must ask me leave, first.
Hau. Yes, yes, Sir, so she said mun; for she must marry me to night.
Alon. Yes, you shall have it with this — too.
[Draws.
Hau. Why look you [Haunce runs away, Lovis stays him.] here now, here’s damn’d doings. For my part, I declare it here upon my Death-bed, I am forc’d to what I do, and you kill me against my Will.
Alon. Do’st think we are not discover’d in our Design? I’d kill the Dog if I thought we were.
Lov. I believe not; and perceive by my Sister’s Message, that we are to come to her, and prevent this Fellow’s marrying her.
Alon. Well, Sir, I’ll spare your Life, and give your Mistress leave to marry to night.
Hau. How, Sir, to Night? — But is he in earnest, Lovis?
Lov. In very good earnest.
Hau. Tan, ta, ra, ra, ra — hay, Boys, what a Night we’ll have on’t, Gload, for Fiddles and Dancing.
Alon. Tell your Mistress I will dispatch a little Affair, and wait on her.
Gload. And pray, Sir, may I have leave to marry the Maid too?
Alon. We’ll consider on’t.
Hau. I am not such a Fool to venture tho, till I know the Coast is clear, for his very Looks are terrible; but go you, Gload, and tell her what he says.
[Alonzo talks to Lovis.
Enter Hippolyta from aside.
Hip. These be the Men that rescu’d me this morning,
And are not to be employ’d in my Affair.
But yonder Stranger has a noble Look,
And from him I’ll intreat this Favour — Sir —
[To Alonzo.
Alon. With me, Sir?
Hip. Yes, please you to walk a little this way, Sir.
[Takes him aside.
Hau. Well, make you sure of Fiddles, for look ye, we’ll appear to night like our selves.
Gload. It shall be done, Sir.
Hip. I am a Stranger and a Gentleman,
And have an humble Suit to you.
Alon. You may command me any thing.
Hip. Sir, there is a Gentleman, if I may call him so, that dares do ill; has put a base Affront upon a Lady — a Lady whom all brave Men are bound to vindicate: I’ve writ him here a Challenge, and only beg you’ll give it him; I will attend you in St. Peter’s Grove, where I desire the perfidious Antonio (for that’s his Name, to whom this is directed) to meet me.
Alon. I’m pleas’d to see this Gallantry in a Man so young, and will serve you in this, or whatever else you shall command. But where is this Antonio?
Hip. That I’ll inquire of these. Sir, pray can you give any account of the Cavalier [To Haunce, who starts as afraid.] you fought with this Morning in St. Peter’s Grove, that had a Lady with him?
Hau. So, now perhaps I shall be hang’d for that.
[Aside.
I fight, Sir! I never fought in my Life, nor saw no Man, not I.
Gload. ‘Sha, you may confess it, Sir; there’s no Law against killing in Spain.
Hip. How, have you murder’d him?
[Takes hold of him.
Hau. This Rogue has a mind to have me dispatch’d.
[Aside.
Hold, Sir, the Man’s as well and alive as you are, and is now at my Lodgings: look ye, here’s the Dagger I disarm’d him of — but that I do not love to boast.
[Shews it.
Hip. It is the same.
Alon. Sir, I shall not fail to wait on you with the Answer I receive.
Hip. I humbly thank you, Sir.
Alon. So prithee, dear Lovis, go make my excuse to your Sister for a moment, and let her get all things ready against I come; let the Priest too wait, for I see my Destiny, which I can no longer prevent, draws on apace.
[Exit Lovis.
Come, Sir, you must conduct me to Antonio.
[Exeunt Alonzo, Haunce, and Gload.
Hip. So now the Work’s half done, that will redeem
All the lost Credit of our Family.
To kill, or to be kill’d, I care not which,
[Weeps.
So one or both expire; be strong, my Soul,
And let no feeble Woman dwell about thee.
Hence Fears and Pity, such poor things as these
Cannot the Storms of my Revenge appease:
Those Showers must from his treacherous Heart proceed,
If I can live and see Antonio bleed.
[Sighs, and Exit.