Sir _Cau_. I say the Devil; Heaven bless every wise Man from the Devil.
_Bea_. The Devil, sha! there"s no such Animal in Nature; I rather think he pads.
_Noi_. Oh, Sir, he has not Courage for that--but he"s an admirable Fellow at your Lock.
Sir _Cau_. Lock! My Study-Lock was pickt--I begin to suspect him--
_Bea_. I saw him once open a Lock with the Bone of a Breast of Mutton, and break an Iron Bar asunder with the Eye of a Needle.
Sir _Cau_. Prodigious!--well, I say the Devil still.
_Enter Sir_ Feeble.
Sir _Feeb_. Who"s this talks of the Devil?--a Pox of the Devil, I say, this last night"s Devil has so haunted me--
Sir _Cau_. Why, have you seen it since, Brother?
Sir _Feeb_. In Imagination, Sir.
_Bel_. How, Sir, a Devil?
Sir _Feeb_. Ay, or a Ghost.
_Bel_. Where, good Sir?
_Bea_. Ay, where? I"d travel a hundred Mile to see a Ghost--
_Bel_. Sure, Sir, "twas Fancy.
Sir _Feeb_. If "twere a Fancy, "twas a strong one; and Ghosts and Fancy are all one if they can deceive. I tell you--if ever I thought in my Life--I thought I saw a Ghost--Ay, and a d.a.m.nable impudent Ghost too; he said he was a--a Fellow here--they call _Bellmour_.
_Bel_. How, Sir!
_Bea_. Well, I wou"d give the world to see the Devil, provided he were a civil affable Devil, such an one as _Wasteall"s_ Acquaintance is--
Sir _Cau_. He can show him too soon, it may be. I"m sure as civil as he is, he helps him to steal my Gold, I doubt--and to be sure--Gentlemen, you say he"s a Gamester--I desire when he comes anon, that you wou"d propose to sport a Dye, or so--and we"ll fall to play for a Teaster, or the like--and if he sets any money, I shall go near to know my own Gold, by some remarkable Pieces amongst it; and if he have it, I"ll hang him, and then all his six hundred a Year will be my own, which I have in Mortgage.
_Bea_. Let the Captain and I alone to top upon him--mean time, Sir, I have brought my Musick, to entertain my Mistress with a Song.
Sir _Feeb_. Take your own methods, Sir--they are at leisure--while we go drink their Healths within. Adod, I long for night, we are not half in kelter, this d.a.m.n"d Ghost will not out of my Head yet.
[_Exeunt all but_ Bellmour.
_Bel_. Hah--a Ghost! what can he mean? A Ghost, and _Bellmour"s_!
--Sure my good Angel, or my Genius, In pity of my Love, and of _Leticia_-- But see _Leticia_ comes, but still attended--
_Enter_ Leticia, _Lady_ Fulbank, Diana.
--Remember--oh, remember to be true?
[Aside to her, pa.s.sing by goes out.
L. _Ful_. I was sick to know with what Christian Patience you bore the Martyrdom of this Night.
_Let_. As those condemn"d bear the last Hour of Life. A short Reprieve I had--and by a kind Mistake, _Diana_ only was my Bedfellow-- [_Weeps_.
_Dia_. And I wish for your Repose you ne"er had seen my Father.
[_Weeps_.
_Let_. And so do I, I fear he has undone me--
_Dia_. And me, in breaking of his word with _Bredwel_--
L. _Ful_.--So--as _Trincolo_ says, wou"d you were both hang"d for me, for putting me in mind of my Husband. For I have e"en no better luck than either of you--Let our two Fates warn your approaching one: I love young _Bredwel_ and must plead for him.
_Dia_. I know his Virtue justifies my Choice: But Pride and Modesty forbids I shou"d unlov"d pursue him.
_Let_. Wrong not my Brother so, who dies for you--
_Dia_. Cou"d he so easily see me given away, Without a Sigh at parting?
For all the day a Calm was in his Eyes, And unconcern"d he look"d and talk"d to me; In dancing never prest my willing Hand, Nor with a scornful Glance reproach"d my Falshood.
_Let_. Believe me, that Dissembling was his Master-piece.
_Dia_. Why should he fear, did not my Father promise him?
_Let_. Ay, that was in his wooing time to me: But now "tis all forgotten-- [_Musick at the door_.
_After which enter_ Bearjest _and_ Bredwel.
L. _Ful_. How now, Cousin! Is this high piece of Gallantry from you?
_Bea_. Ay, Madam, I have not travel"d for nothing--
L. _Ful_. I find my Cousin is resolv"d to conquer, he a.s.sails with all his Artillery of Charms; we"ll leave him to his success, Madam.--
[_Ex_. Leticia _and L_. Fulbank.
_Bea_. Oh Lord, Madam, you oblige me--look, _Ned_, you had a mind to have a full view of my Mistress, Sir, and--here she is.
[_He stands gazing_.
Go, salute her--look how he stands now; what a sneaking thing is a Fellow who has never travel"d and seen the World!--Madam--this is a very honest Friend of mine, for all he looks so simply.
_Dia_. Come, he speaks for you, Sir.
_Bea_. He, Madam! though he be but a Banker"s Prentice, Madam, he"s as pretty a Fellow of his Inches as any i"th" City--he has made love in Dancing-Schools, and to Ladies of Quality in the middle Gallery, and shall joke ye--and repartee with any Fore-man within the Walls--prithee to her--and commend me, I"ll give thee a new Point Crevat.
_Dia_. He looks as if he cou"d not speak to me.
_Bea_. Not speak to you! yes, Gad, Madam, and do any thing to you too.