_Belv._ "Sdeath I have no patience-- draw, or I"ll kill you.
_Will._ Let that alone till to morrow, and if I set not all right again, use your Pleasure.
_Belv._ To morrow, d.a.m.n it.
The spiteful Light will lead me to no happiness.
To morrow is _Antonio"s_, and perhaps Guides him to my undoing;-- oh that I could meet This Rival, this powerful Fortunate.
_Will._ What then?
_Belv._ Let thy own Reason, or my Rage instruct thee.
_Will._ I shall be finely inform"d then, no doubt; hear me, Colonel-- hear me-- shew me the Man and I"ll do his Business.
_Belv._ I know him no more than thou, or if I did, I should not need thy aid.
_Will._ This you say is _Angelica"s_ House, I promis"d the kind Baggage to lie with her to Night.
[Offers to go in.
Enter _Antonio_ and his Page. _Ant._ knocks on the Hilt of his Sword.
_Ant._ You paid the thousand Crowns I directed?
_Page._ To the Lady"s old Woman, Sir, I did.
_Will._ Who the Devil have we here?
_Belv._ I"ll now plant my self under _Florinda"s_ Window, and if I find no comfort there, I"ll die.
[Ex. _Belv._ and _Fred._
Enter _Moretta_.
_Moret._ Page!
_Page._ Here"s my Lord.
_Will._ How is this, a Piccaroon going to board my Frigate! here"s one Chase-Gun for you.
[Drawing his Sword, justles _Ant._ who turns and draws. They fight, _Ant._ falls.
_Moret._ Oh, bless us, we are all undone!
[Runs in, and shuts the Door.
_Page._ Help, Murder! [_Belvile_ returns at the noise of fighting.
_Belv._ Ha, the mad Rogue"s engag"d in some unlucky Adventure again.
Enter two or three Masqueraders.
_Masq._ Ha, a Man kill"d!
_Will._ How! a Man kill"d! then I"ll go home to sleep.
[Puts up, and reels out. _Ex._ Masquers another way.
_Belv._ Who shou"d it be! pray Heaven the Rogue is safe, for all my Quarrel to him.
[As _Belvile_ is groping about, enter an Officer and six Soldiers.
_Sold._ Who"s there?
_Offic._ So, here"s one dispatcht-- secure the Murderer.
_Belv._ Do not mistake my Charity for Murder: I came to his a.s.sistance. [Soldiers seize on _Belvile_.
_Offic._ That shall be tried, Sir.-- St. _Jago_, Swords drawn in the Carnival time!
[Goes to _Antonio_.
_Ant._ Thy Hand prithee.
_Offic._ Ha, Don _Antonio_! look well to the Villain there.-- How is"t, Sir?
_Ant._ I"m hurt.
_Belv._ Has my Humanity made me a Criminal?
_Offic._ Away with him.
_Belv._ What a curst Chance is this! [Ex. Soldiers with _Belv._
_Ant._ This is the Man that has set upon me twice-- carry him to my Apartment till you have further Orders from me.
[To the Officer. Ex. _Ant._ led.
ACT IV.
SCENE I. _A fine Room._
_Discovers _Belvile_, as by Dark alone._
_Belv._ When shall I be weary of railing on Fortune, who is resolv"d never to turn with Smiles upon me?-- Two such Defeats in one Night-- none but the Devil and that mad Rogue could have contriv"d to have plagued me with-- I am here a Prisoner-- but where?-- Heaven knows-- and if there be Murder done, I can soon decide the Fate of a Stranger in a Nation without Mercy-- Yet this is nothing to the Torture my Soul bows with, when I think of losing my fair, my dear _Florinda_.-- Hark-- my Door opens-- a Light-- a Man-- and seems of Quality-- arm"d too.-- Now shall I die like a Dog without defence.
Enter _Antonio_ in a Night-Gown, with a Light; his Arm in a Scarf, and a Sword under his Arm: He sets the Candle on the Table.
_Ant._ Sir, I come to know what Injuries I have done you, that could provoke you to so mean an Action, as to attack me basely, without allowing time for my Defence.
_Belv._ Sir, for a Man in my Circ.u.mstances to plead Innocence, would look like Fear-- but view me well, and you will find no marks of a Coward on me, nor any thing that betrays that Brutality you accuse me of.
_Ant._ In vain, Sir, you impose upon my Sense, You are not only he who drew on me last Night, But yesterday before the same House, that of _Angelica_.
Yet there is something in your Face and Mein--