_Cur._ Hold, Sir, and do not make me guilty of a Sin, Greater than that of yours.
Enter _Salvator_.
_Salv._ G.o.ds pity me; here"s fine doings!--Why, how Came this roistring Youngster into my House? Sir, Who sent for you, hah?
_Cur._ Love.
_Salv._ Love, with a Witness to whom? my Daughter?
--No, Sir, she"s otherwise dispos"d of I can a.s.sure You. Be gone and leave my House, and that quickly Too; and thank me that I do not secure Thee for a Traitor.
_Cur._ Will you not hear me speak?
_Salv._ Not a word, Sir, go, be gone; unless your Highness will have him apprehended. [To _Fred._
_Fred._ No, Sir, it shall not need--_Curtius_, look To hear from me.-- [Comes up to him, and tells him so in a menacing Tone, and go out severally.
_Salv._ Go, Mrs. _Minks_, get you in.
[Ex. _Salv._ and _Lau._
SCENE II. A Street.
Enter _Frederick_ pa.s.sing in Anger over the Stage, meets _Lorenzo_.
_Lor._ O Sir, I"m glad I"ve found you; for I have the rarest News for you.
_Fred._ What News?
_Lor._ Oh the Devil, he"s angry;--Why, Sir, the prettiest young--
_Fred._ There"s for your Intelligence. [Strikes him, and goes out.
_Lor._ So, very well; how mortal is the favour of Princes! these be turns of State now; what the Devil ails he trow; sure he could not be Offended with the News I have brought him; If he be, he"s strangely out of tune: And sure he has too much Wit to grow virtuous at these Years. No, no, he has had some repulse from a Lady; and that"s a wonder; for he has a Tongue and a Purse that seldom fails: if Youth and Vigour would Stretch as far, he were the wonder of the Age.
Enter _Curtius_.
_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, didst thou see the Prince?
_Lor._ Marry, did I, and feel him too.
_Cur._ Why, did he strike you?
_Lor._ I"m no true Subject if he did not; and that Only for doing that Service which once was most acceptable To him.--Prithee what"s the matter with him, hah?
_Cur._ I know not, leave me.
_Lor._ Leave thee, what, art thou out of humour too?
Let me but know who "tis has disoblig"d thee, and I"ll--
_Cur._ What wilt thou?
_Lor._ Never see his Face more, if a Man.
_Cur._ And what if a Woman?
_Lor._ Then she"s an idle peevish s.l.u.t, I"ll warrant her.
_Cur._ Conclude it so, and leave me.
_Lor._ Nay, now thou hast said the only thing that could Keep me with thee, thou mayst be desperate; I"ll Tell you, _Curtius_, these female Mischiefs make Men Take dangerous Resolutions sometimes.
Enter _Alberto_.
_Alb._ _Curtius_, I"ve something to deliver to your Ear.
[Whispers.
_Cur._ Any thing from _Alberto_ is welcome.
_Lor._ Well, I will be hang"d if there be not some Mischief in agitation; it cannot be wenching; They look all too dull and sober for that; And besides, then I should have been a party concern"d.
_Cur._ The place and time.
_Alb._ An hour hence i"th" Grove by the River-side.
_Cur._ Alone, thou say"st?
_Alb._ Alone, the Prince will have it so.
_Cur._ I will not fail a moment. [Ex. _Alb._ --So this has eas"d my heart of half its Load.
_Lor._ I"ll sneak away, for this is some fighting Business, and I may perhaps be invited a Second, A Compliment I care not for. [Offers to go.
_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, a word with you.
_Lor._ "Tis so, what shall I do now? [Aside.
_Cur._ Stay.
_Lor._ I am a little in haste, my Lord.
_Cur._ I shall soon dispatch you.
_Lor._ I believe so, for I am half dead already With Fear. [Aside.] --Sir, I have promis"d to make a visit To a Lady, and--
_Cur._ What I"ve to say will not detain you long.
_Lor._ What a Dog was I, I went not When he first desir"d me to go!