_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.
SCENE III. _A deep Grove._
Enter _Marcel_ alone.
_Mar._ The hour is almost come which I appointed, And yet no _Silvio_ appears, the time seems long to me; But he that"s circled in his Mistress" Arms, Forgets the hasty hours, And pa.s.ses them as unregarded by, As Men do Beggars who demand a Charity.
Enter _Hippolyta_.
Young Man, hast thou encounter"d none within this Grove?
_Hip._ Not any, Sir,-- _Marcel_! my injur"d Brother!
_Mar._ Why dost thou turn away, and hide thy Face?
_Hip._ "Tis not my Face I hide, but Sorrow there. [Weeps.
_Mar._ Trust me, thou weepest; would I could do so too, That I might be less angry; And Silence best expresses Grief: But thine"s a saucy Sorrow dares approach A Face so fair and young.
_Hip._ If the Ingrate for whom I grieve had thought so, I might have spar"d my Tears. Farewel, Sir.
_Mar._ Stay, hast thou been a Lover?
_Hip._ A very, very pa.s.sionate one.
_Mar._ And wert thou not belov"d?
_Hip._ At first, to draw me in, the cunning Artist Made me believe I was.
_Mar._ Oh! I could kiss thee now, for the alliance Between thy Grief and mine.
Hadst thou a loose and wanton Sister too, Then thou wert perfect wretched, as I am. [Weeps.
But prithee leave me, now I think of it: For shouldst thou stay, thou"dst rob me of my Anger; For since a Youth like thee can be unhappy, With such a Shape, and so divine a Face, Methinks I should not quarrel with my Star, But bow to all my faithless Mistress" Scorns.
[Hollowing within.] So ho, ho, so ho, ho--
_Mar._ So ho, so ho, ho, ho-- "Tis my false Rival.
Now leave me, Sir, to rea.s.sume my Anger.
_Hip._ I will obey-- farewel-- My own Despair makes me neglect his Life. [Goes out.
Enter _Silvio_.
_Mar._ "Tis _Silvio_.
_Silv._ You see I have obey"d you, Sir.
_Mar._ Come, Sir, your Sword.
_Silv._ You are my Brother, and "twere an impious Action, To fight you unprovok"d: give me a cause, Nay, and a just one too, or I shall find it hard --To wound _Cleonte"s_ Brother. [Aside sighing.
_Mar._ Thou cam"st prepar"d to talk, and not to fight.
I cannot blame thee for"t, for were I _Silvio_, Thus I would do to save a Life belov"d: [Offers to fight, _Silvio_ steps back.
But "twill not serve you now.
_Silv._ Your Reason, Sir, and I"m ready, if it be just.
_Mar._ Oh do not urge me to repeat my Wrongs, For if thou dost, I hardly shall have Man enough remain To fight thee fairly. [Offers still.
_Silv._ Surely he knows my Pa.s.sion for _Cleonte_-- [Aside.
I urge the Reason still.
_Mar._ Hast thou forgot thy last Night"s Treachery?
How like a Thief thou stol"st into her Lodgings?