The Corso.
Enter Petro, Tickletext, from the Garden.
Tick. Haste, honest Barberacho, before the Day discover us to the wicked World, and that more wicked Galliard.
Pet. Well, Signior, of a bad turn it was a good one, that he took you for Sir Signal! the Scandal lies at his door now Sir, — so the Ladder’s fast, you may now mount and away. —
Tick. Very well, go your ways, and commend me, honest Barberacho, to the young Gentlewoman, and let her know, as soon as I may be certain to run no hazard in my Reputation, I’ll visit her again.
Pet. I’ll warrant ye, Signior, for the future.
Tick. So, now get you gone lest we be discover’d.
Pet. Farewel, Signior, a bon viage. [Ex. Pet. Tick, descends.
Tick. ’Tis marvellous dark, and I have lost my Lanthorn in the fray! [Groping.] — hah — whereabouts am I — hum — what have we here! — ah, help, help, help! [Stumbles at the Well, gets hold of the Rope, and slides down in the Bucket.] I shall be drown’d, Fire, Fire, Fire! for I have Water enough! Oh, for some House, — some Street; nay, wou’d Rome it-self were a second time in flames, that my Deliverance might be wrought by the necessity for Water: but no human Help is nigh — oh!
Enter Sir Sig. as before.
Sir Sig. Did ever any Knight-Adventurer run through so many Disasters in one night! my worshipful Carcase has been cudgel’d most plentifully, first bang’d for a Coward, which by the way was none of my Fault, I cannot help Nature: then claw’d away for a Diavillo, there I was the Fool; but who can help that too? frighted with Gal’s coming into an Ague; then chimney’d into a Fever, where I had a fine Regale of Soot, a Perfume which nothing but my Cackamarda Orangate cou’d exceell; and which I find by [snuffs] my smelling has defac’d Nature’s Image, and a second time made me be suspected for a Devil. — let me see — [Opens his Lanthorn, and looks on his Hands.] ’tis so — I am in a cleanly Pickle: if my Face be of the same Hue, I am fit to scare away old Beelzebub himself, i’faith: [Wipes his Face.] — ay, ’tis so, like to like, quoth the Devil to the Collier: well I’ll home, scrub my self clean if possible, get me to Bed, devise a handsom Lye to excuse my long stay to my Governour, and all’s well, and the Man has his Mare again. [Shuts his Lanthorn and gropes away, runs against the Well. — Quequesto (feels gently.)] Make me thankful ’tis substantial Wood, by your leave — [Opens his Lanthorn.] How! a Well! sent by Providence that I may wash my self, lest People smoke me by the scent, and beat me a-new for stinking: [Sets down his Lanthorn, pulls of his Masking-Coat, and goes to draw Water.] ’Tis a damnable heavy Bucket! now do I fancy I shall look, when I am washing my self, like the sign of the Labour-in-vain.
Tick. So, my cry is gone forth, and I am delivered by Miracle from this Dungeon of Death and Darkness, this cold Element of Destruction —
Sir Sig. Hah — sure I heard a dismal hollow Voice.
[Tick. appears in the Bucket above the Well.
Tick. What, art thou come in Charity?
Sir Sig. Ah, le Diavilo, le Diavilo, le Diavilo. [Lets go the Bucket, and is running frighted away.
Enter Fillamour and Page, he returns.
— How, a Man! was ever wretched Wight so miserable, the Devil at one hand, and a Roman Night-walker at the other; which danger shall I chuse? [Gets to the door of the House.
Tick. So, I am got up at last — thanks to my Knight, for I am sure ’twas he! hah, he’s here — I’ll hear his Business. [Goes near to Fillamour.
Fil. Confound this Woman, this bewitching Woman: I cannot shake her from my sullen Heart; Spite of my Soul I linger hereabouts, and cannot to Viterbo.
Tick. Very good; a dainty Rascal this!
Enter Galliard with a Lanthorn, as from Silvia’s House, held by Philippa.
Fil. — Hah, who’s this coming from her House? Perhaps ’tis Galliard.
Gal. No Argument shall fetch me back, by Heaven.
Fil. ’Tis the mad Rogue.
Tick. Oh Lord, ’tis Galliard, and angry too; now cou’d I but get off, and leave Sir Signal to be beaten, ‘twere a rare project — but ’tis impossible without discovery.
Phil. But will you hear her, Signior?
Gal. That is, will I lose more time about her? Plague on’t, I have thrown away already such Songs and Sonnets, such Madrigals and Posies, such Night-walks, Sighs, and direful Lovers looks, as wou’d have mollify’d any Woman of Conscience and Religion; and now to be popt i’th’ mouth with Quality! Well, if ever you catch me lying with any but honest well-meaning Damsels hereafter, hang me: — farewel, old Secret, farewel. [Ex. Philippa. — Now am I asham’d of being cozen’d so damnably, Fillamour, that virtuous Rascal, will so laugh at me; s’heart, cou’d I but have debaucht him, we had been on equal terms. — but I must help my self with lying, and swear I have — a —
Fil. You shall not need, I’ll keep your Counsel, Sir.
Gal. Hah — estes vous la? —
Tick. How, Fillamour all this while! some Comfort yet, I am not the only Professor that dissembles: but how to get away —
Gal. Oh Harry, the most damnably defeated!
[A Noise of Swords.
Fil. Hold! what Noise is that? two Men coming this way as from the house of the Curtezans.
Enter Julio backwards, fighting Octavio and Bravoes.
Gal. Hah, on retreating, — S’death, I’ve no Sword!
Fil. Here’s one, I’ll take my Page’s. [Takes the Boy’s Sword.
Gal. Now am I mad for mischief; here, hold my Lanthorn, Boy.
[They fight on Julio’s side, and fight Octavio out at t’other side: Enter Laura and Sabina at the Fore-door, which is the same where Sir Signal stands: Tick. groping up that way, finds Sir Sig. just entring in; Laura and Sab. pass over the Stage.
Sir Sig. Hah, a door open! I care not who it belongs to, ’tis better dying within Doors like a Man, than in the Street like a Dog. [Going in, Tick. in great fear comes up and pulls him.
Tick. Signior, gentle Signior, whoe’er you are that owns this Mansion, I beseech you to give Protection to a wretched Man half dead with Fear and Injury.
Sir Sig. Nay, I defy the Devil to be more dead with Fear than I — Signior, you may enter, perhaps ’tis some body that will make an Excuse for us both, — but hark, they return. [Both go in, just after Lau. and Sab. and Silvio enter.
Lau. He’s gone! he’s gone! perhaps for ever gone. —
Tell me, thou silly Manager of Love,
How got this Ruffian in? how was it possible
Without thy Knowledge he cou’d get Admittance?
Sab. Now as I hope to live and learn, I know not, Madam, unless he follow’d you when you let in the Cavalier, which being by dark he easily conceal’d himself; no doubt some Lover of Silvianetta’s, who mistaking you for her, took him too for a Rival.
Lau. ’Tis likely, and my Fortune is to blame, my cursed Fortune,
Who like Misers deals her scanty Bounties with so slow a hand,
That or we die before the Blessing falls,
Or have it snatcht e’er we can call it ours.
[Raving.]
To have him in my House, to have him kind,
Kind as young Lovers when they meet by stealth;
As fond as Age to Beauty, and as soft
As Love and Wit cou’d make impatient Youth,
Preventing even my Wishes and Desires,
— Oh Gods! and then, even then to be defeated,
Then from my o’erjoy’d Arms to have him snatcht;
Then when our Vows had made our Freedom lawful;
What Maid cou’d suffer a Surprize so cruel?
— The Day begins to break, — go search the Streets,
And bring me news he’s safe, or I am lost.
Enter Gal. Fil. and Jul.
Fil. Galliard, where art thou?
Gal. Here safe, and by thy side. —
Lau. ’Tis he!
Jul. Whoe’er he were, the Rogue fought like a Fury, and but for your timely Aid I’d been in some Danger.
Fil. But, Galliard, thou wert telling me thy Adventure with Silvianetta; there may be comfort in’t.
Lau. So, now I shall hear with what concern he speaks of me. — [Aside.
Gal. Oh, damn her, damn her!
Lau. Hah!
Gal. The veriest Jilt that ever learnt the Art.
Lau. Heavens!
Gal. Death, the Whore took me for some amorous English elder Brother, and was for Matrimony, in the Devil’s name; thought me a loving Fool, that ne’er had seen so glorious a sight before, and wou’d at any rate enjoy.
Lau. Oh Heaven! I’m amaz’d, how much he differs from the thing he was but a few Minutes since. [Aside.
Gal. And to advance her Price, set up for Quality; nay, swore she was a Maid, and that she did but act the Curtezan.
Lau. Which then he seem’d to give a credit to. — O, the forsworn Dissembler!
Gal. But when I came to the matter then in debate, she was for honourable Love forsooth, and wou’d not yield, no marry wou’d she, not under a Licence from the Parson of the Parish.
Jul. Who was it, prithee? ‘twere a good Deed to be so reveng’d on her.
Gal. Pox on her; no, I’m sure she’s a damn’d Gipsy, for at the same time she had her Lovers in reserve, lay hid her Bed-chamber.
Lau. ’Twas that he took unkindly, And makes me guilty of that rude Address.
Fil. Another Lover had she?
Gal. Yes, our Coxcomb Knight Buffoon, laid by for a relishing Bit, in case I prov’d not season’d to her Mind.
Lau. Hah, he knew him then.
Gal. But damn her, she passes with the Night, the Day will bring new Objects.
Fil. Oh, do not doubt it, Frank.
Lau. False and Inconstant! Oh, I shall rave, Silvio — [Aside to Sil.
Enter Cornelia in Man’s Clothes with a Letter.
Cor. Here be the Cavaliers: give me, kind Heaven, but hold of him; and if I keep him not, I here renounce my Charms of Wit and Beauty — Signiors, is there a Cavalier amongst ye, call’d Fillamour?
Fil. I own that Name; what wou’d you, Sir?
Cor. Only deliver this, Signior.
[Fil. goes aside, opens his Lanthorn, and reads,
Jul. and Gal. talk aside.
Fil. [Reads.] I’ll only tell you I am Brother to that Marcella whom you have injured, to oblige you to meet me an Hour hence, in the Piazo Despagnia: I need not say with your Sword in your hand, since you will there meet Julio Sebastiano Morosini! — Hah! her Brother sure return’d from Travel. [Aside.
— Signior, — I will not fail to answer it as he desires.
[To Cornelia.
I’ll take this Opportunity to steal off undiscover’d.
[Aside going out.
Cor. So, I’ve done my Sister’s Business; now for my own.
Gal. But, my good Friend, pray what Adventure have you been on to night.
Jul. Faith, Sir, ’twas like to have prov’d a pleasant one, I came just now from Silvianetta, the fair young Curtezan.
Cor. Hah! what said the Man — came from me! [Aside.
Gal. How, Sir, you with Silvianetta! when?
Jul. Now, all the dear live-long Night.
Cor. A Pox take him, who can this be? [Aside.
Gal. This night! this night! that is not yet departed.
Jul. This very happy Night, — I told you I saw a lovely Woman at St. Peter’s Church.
Gal. You did so.
Jul. I told you too I follow’d her home, but you’d learn neither her Name nor Quality; but my Page getting into the acquaintance of one of hers, brought me News of both; her Name Silvianetta, her Quality a Curtezan.
Cor. I at Church yesterday! now hang me if I had any such devout Thoughts about me: why, what a damn’d scandalous Rascal’s this?
Jul. Fill’d with hopes of Success, at night I made her a Visit, and under her Window had a skirmish with some Rival, who was then serenading her.
Gal. Was’t he that fought us then. — [Aside. — But it seems you were not mistaken in the House — On with your Story pray — Death, I grow jealous now — [Aside.] You came at Night you said?
Jul. Yes, and was receiv’d at the door by the kind Silvianetta, who softly whisper’d me, come to my Bosom, and be safe for ever! and doubtless took me for some happier Man.
Lau. Confusion on him, ’twas my very Language! [Aside raving.
Jul. Then led me by dark into her Chamber.
Cor. Oh, this damn’d lying Rascal! I do this? [Aside.
Jul. But oh, the things, the dear obliging things, the kind, the fair young Charmer said and did.
Gal. To thee!
Jul. To me.
Gal. Did Silvianetta do this, Silvianetta the Curtezan?
Jul. That passes, Sir, for such, but is indeed of Quality.
Cor. This Stranger is the Devil, how shou’d he know that Secret else?
Jul. She told me too ’twas for my sake alone, whom from the first Minute she saw she lov’d, she had assum’d that Name and that Disguise, the sooner to invite me.
Lau. ’Tis plain, the things I utter’d! — Oh, my Heart!
Gal. Curse on the publick Jilt, the very Flattery she wou’d have past on me.
Cor. Pox take him, I must draw on him, I cannot hold. [Aside.
Gal. Was ever such a Whore?
Lau. Oh, that I knew this Man, whom by mistake I lavisht all the Secrets of my Soul to! [Aside.
Jul. I prest for something more than dear Expressions,
And found her yield apace;
But sighing, told me of a fatal Contract,
She was oblig’d to make to one she never saw;
And yet if I wou’d vow to marry her, when she cou’d prove
To merit it, she wou’d deny me nothing.
Lau. ’Twas I, by Heaven, that heedless Fool was I.
Jul. Which I with Lover’s’ eager Joy perform’d, And on my Knees utter’d the hasty Words, Which she repeated o’er, and gave me back.
Gal. So, he has swallow’d with a vengeance the very Bait she had prepar’d for me, or any body that wou’d bite. [Aside.
Jul. But e’er I cou’d receive the dear Reward of all my Vows,
I was drawn upon by a Man that lay hid in her Chamber;
Whether by chance or design I know not; who fought me out,
And was the same you found me engag’d with.
Cor. A pleasant Rascal this, as e’er the Devil taught his Lesson to.
Gal. So, my Comfort is, she has jilted him too most damnably.
Cor. Slife, I have anger enough to make me valiant; why shou’d I not make use on’t, and beat this lying Villain whilst the Fit holds?
Gal. And you design to keep these Vows, though you’re contracted to another Woman?
Jul. I neither thought of breaking those, or keeping these; My Soul was all employ’d another way.
Lau. It shall be so, Silvio, — I’ve thought upon a way that must redeem all: — hark and observe me. [Takes Sil. and whispers to him.
Jul. But I’m impatient to pursue my Adventure, which I must endeavour to do, before the Light discover the Mistake. — Farewel, Sir. [Ex. Julio.
Gal. Go and be ruin’d quite, she has the Knack of doing it.
Sil. I’ll warrant ye, Madam, for my Part. [Ex. Laura and Sabina.
Gal. I have a damn’d hankering after this Woman: why cou’d I not have put the cheat on her, as Julio has? I stand as little on my Word as he: a good round Oath or two had done the Business. — But a pox on’t, I lov’d too well to be so wise.
[Silvio comes up to him.
Sil. Con licentia, Signior; is your Name Galliard?
Gal. I am the Man, sweet Heart, — let me behold thee — hah — Sans Coeur’s Page!
Sil. A duce of his Lanthorn, what shall I say now? — Softly, Signior, I am that Page whose chiefest Business is to attend my Lord’s Mistress, Sir.
Cor. His Mistress! whose Mistress, what Mistress? S’life, how that little Word has nettled me! [Aside, listening close.
Gal. Upon my Life, the Woman that he boasted of — [Aside, hugging of himself.] — A fair young amorous — noble — Wanton — a — And she wou’d speak with me, my lovely Boy?
Sil. You have prevented the Commands I had; but should my Lord know of it —
Gal. Thou wert undone, I understand thee —
And will be secret as a Confessor,
As lonely Shades, or everlasting Night.
Come, lead the way.
Cor. Where I will follow thee, though to the Bed of her thou’rt going to, and even prevent thy very Business there. [Aside.]
[Exeunt.