The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume I

Blunt. This won’t do—Why, hark ye, Colonel; to tell you the plain Truth, I am about a necessary Affair of Life.—I have a Wench with me—you apprehend me? the Devil’s in’t if they...

Will. A Pox upon this Woman that has jilted me, and I for being a fond believing Puppy to be in earnest with so great a Devil. Where be these Coxcombs too? this _Blunt_ and _Fet...

Shift. Well, Gentlemen, this is the Doctor’s House, and your fifty Pistoles has made him intirely yours; the Ladies 154 too are here in safe Custody—Come, draw Lots who shall ha...

Feth. Prithee, dear Captain, no more Delays, unless thou thinkest he will invite us to Dinner; for this fine thin sharp Air of _Madrid_ has a most notable Faculty of provoking a...

Roderigo—the natural son of the great Count d’ Olivarez, minister to Philip IV of Spain—was, upon his father’s disgrace, given over when very young to the care of a certain Don...

Blunt. Ah, see the Inconstancy of fickle Fortune, _Nicholas_—A Man to day, and beaten to morrow: but take comfort, there’s many a proper fellow has been robb’d and beaten on thi...

L. Lam. Heaven help thy Ignorance! he’s gone to be made Protector, Fool, or at least a King, thou Creature; and from this Day I date my self her Highness.

Will. ’Tis so, by Heaven, he’s chaffering with her Pimp. I’ll spare my Curses on him for having her, he has a Plague beyond ’em. —Harkye, I’ll never love, nor lie with Women mor...

She had but two fair Pledges of her Nuptial Bed. And both by cruel Fate are ravisht from her. _Manuel_ a Child was lost, And this; not holy Relicks were more strictly guarded, T...

Flor. I’m dying with my fears; _Belvile’s_ not coming, As I expected, underneath my Window, Makes me believe that all those Fears are true. [Aside. —Canst thou not tell with who...

The historical state of affairs 1659-60 was briefly as follows:—the Protectorate of Richard Cromwell expired 22 April, 1659. Hereupon Fleetwood and some other officers recalled...

Fred. Why, what the Devil ails the Colonel, in a time when all the World is gay, to look like mere Lent thus? Hadst thou been long enough in _Naples_ to have been in love, I sho...

Hell. No, if he had, we should have heard on’t at both Ears, and have been mew’d up this Afternoon; which I would not for the World should have happen’d—Hey ho! I’m sad as a Lov...

Will. I should have chang’d my Eternal Buff too: but no matter, my little Gipsy wou’d not have found me out then: for if she should change hers, it is impossible I should know h...

Cor. For! who shou’d we be for, but _Lambert_, Noble _Lambert?_ Is this a time o’th’ day to declare for _Fleetwood_, with a Pox? indeed, i’th’ Morning ’twas a Question had like...

War. Bread a gued, Gentlemen, I’s serv’d the Commonwealth long and faithfully; I’s turn’d and turn’d to aud Interest and aud Religions that turn’d up Trump, and wons a me, but I...

Hau. Ha, ha, ha, say’st thou so? faith, ’tis a good Device to save the Charges of the first Compliments, hah: but 286 hark ye, hark ye, Friend, are you sure this is the House of...

Val. A Lover and fear! why, I am but half a one, and yet I have Courage for any Attempt. Would _Hellena_ were here. I wou’d fain have had her as deep in this Mischief as we, she...

L. Lam. How mean you? do you suspect my Virtue? do you believe _Loveless_ dares attempt any thing against my Honour? No, _Gilliflower_, he acted all things so like a Gentleman,...

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...

Olin. As it use to be? Oh ignorance! I see these young Wenches are not arriv’d yet to bare Imagination: Well, I must order it my self, I see that.

Alon. By this Light I’ll lose thy Sister first; Why, who can indure the grave approaches to the Matter? ’Dslife, I would have it as I would my Fate, sudden and unexpected.

Hell. The more’s my Grief; I wou’d fain know as much as you, which makes me so inquisitive; nor is’t enough to know you’re a Lover, unless you tell me too, who ’tis you sigh for.

Will. Oh Gods! no more! I see a yielding in thy charming Eyes; 190 The Blushes on thy Face, thy trembling Arms, Thy panting Breast, and short-breath’d Sighs confess, Thou wo’t b...

Page. _Cock_, Here must I wait, to give my Lady notice when my Lord approaches;—The fine Gentleman that is alone with her, gave me these two fine Pieces of Gold, and bad me buy...

Ah false _Amyntas_, can that Hour So soon forgotten be, When first I yielded up my Power To be betray’d by thee? God knows with how much Innocence I did my Heart resign Unto thy...

During the exile of Charles II a band of cavaliers, prominent amongst whom are Willmore (the Rover), Belvile, Frederick, and Ned Blunt, find themselves at Naples in carnival tim...

Free. On the zealous Parole of _Rabbie Ananias_; that Rhetorick that can convert whole Congregations of well-meaning Blockheads to errant Knaves, has now mollify’d my Keeper; I’...

Whit. That will not recommend him at this _Juncto_, tho he’s an excellent Tool for your Lordship to make use of; and therefore use him, Sir, as _Cataline_ did _Lentulus_; drill...

Euph. _Olinda_ stays long; I hope she has overtook the Cavalier. Lord, how I am concern’d; if this should be Love now, I were in fine condition, at least if he be married, or a...

149 Aria. Come, help to undress me, for I’ll to this Mountebank, to know what success I shall have with my Cavalier. [Unpins her things before a great Glass that is fasten’d.

Silv. I must remove _Marcel_, for his nice Honour Will ne’er permit that I should court my Sister; My Passion will admit of no Restraint, ’Tis grown so violent; and fair _Cleont...

p. 205, l. 27 _Ariadne!— How vain is all._ 1724 give this speech as prose. I have followed the metrical division of the 4to 1681 with some slight rearrangement of the lines.

The exiled cavaliers, Willmore the Rover, Shift and Hunt, two officers, Ned Blunt and Fetherfool, his friend, have arrived at Madrid, where they are welcomed by Beaumond, nephew...

Hip. Thus I dare look abroad again: Methinks I am not what I was, My Soul too is all Man; 294 Where dwells no Tenderness, no womanish Passions. I cannot sigh, nor weep, nor thin...

Will. Rather, how durst you set it up, to tempt poor amorous Mortals with so much Excellence? which I find you have but too well consulted by the unmerciful price you set upon’t...

Fran. My Lord, she will; I have at last prevail’d, to what intent she knows not; this is an Hour wherein you’ll scarce be interrupted: The amorous Entertainment you have prepar’...

_Amyntas_ led me to a Grove, Where all the Trees did shade us; The Sun it self, tho it had strove, Yet could not have betrayed us. The place secure from human Eyes, No other fea...

p. 7 _Rabel’s Drops._ Monsieur Rabell, as he is sometimes termed, was a famous empiric of the day. A description of his medicaments may be found in ‘_Pharmacopoeia Bateana_; or,...

L. Des. Seiz’d on, secur’d! Was there no time but this? What made him at the Committee, or when there why 384 spoke he honest Truth? What shall I do, good Corporal? Advise; take...

Felt. Have a care what you say, Sir; but as to the City’s being in Mutiny, that makes well for us: we shall fall to our old Trade of plundering; something will fall to the Right...

Luc. Now we are safe and free, no fears of the coming home of my old jealous Husband, which made me a little thoughtful when you came in first—but now Love is all the business o...

Lo. Dear _Alonzo!_ I shall love a Church the better this Month for giving me a sight of thee, whom I so little expected in this part of the World, and less in so sanctifi’d a Pl...

p. 337 _To the Right Noble Henry Fitzroy._ Second son of Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, afterwards Duchess of Cleveland, was born 20 September, 1663. H...

270 Gload. Which is as often as you are drunk; I find it has the same Effects on me too: but truly, Sir, I meant no other than that you smell a little of the Vessel, a certain s...

Mar. Prevented! whoe’er thou be’st. It was unjustly done, To save his Life who merits Death, By a more shameful way. But thank the Gods she still remains to meet That Punishment...

Lam. I thought I had enough satisfied all your Fears; the Army’s mine, that is,—’tis yours, my Lords, and I’ll imploy it too so well for the Good of the Commonwealth, you shall...

Flor. Well, thus far I’m in my way to Happiness; I have got my self free from _Callis_; my Brother too, I find by yonder light, is gone into his Cabinet, and thinks not of me: I...

War. Will ya buy a guedly Ballat or a _Scotch_ Spur, Sirs? a guedly Ballat, or a _Scotch_ Spur.—’Sbread, I’s scapt hitherte weele enough, I’s say’d my Crag fro stretching twa In...

Lov. Faith, Sir, I thought I had got a Prize; but a Pox on’t, when I came into the Street, e’er she had recover’d Breath to tell me who she was, the Cavalier you rescu’d from _M...

Dorm. You sure! you have wondrous Skill indeed in the Humours of Men: how came you to be so well acquainted with them? you scarce ever saw any but Don _Marcel_, and him too but...

p. 26 _a Piece of Eight._ A piastre, a coin of varying values in different countries. The Spanish piastre is now synonymous with a dollar and so worth about four shillings. The...

Mar. The Night comes on, and offers me two Pleasures, The least of which would make another blest, Love and Revenge: but I, whilst I dispute 243 Which Happiness to chuse, neglec...

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 h...

Will. Well, Sir, you see I am endu’d with Patience—I can bear—tho egad y’re very free with me methinks,—I was in good hopes the Quarrel wou’d have been on my side, for so uncivi...

p. 412 _Lord Capel._ Arthur, Lord Capel, Baron Hadham, a gallant royalist leader, was, after the surrender of Colchester, treacherously imprisoned. He escaped, but was betrayed,...

p. 363 _Pryn._ William Prynne (1600-69) had been sentenced to severe punishment in February, 1634, for the scandals and libels contained in his dull diatribe, _Histriomastix._ H...

Will. Set down the Chair; you’re now within call, I’ll to the Garden-Door, and see if any Lady Bright appear—Dear _Beaumond_, stay here a minute, and if I find occasion, I’ll gi...

Capt. I say we’ll have the She-Politican out, she did more mischief than her Husband, pitiful, dittiful _Lambert_; who is, thanks be prais’d, in the Tower, to which place Lord o...

p. 378 _Highness’s Funeral._ A large portion of the debt incurred for Oliver Cromwell’s magnificently extravagant funeral ceremonies fell on Richard, who was obliged to retire f...

IN vain we labour to reform the Stage, Poets have caught too the Disease o’th’ Age, That Pest, _of not being quiet when they’re well_, That restless Fever, in the Brethren, _Zea...

WITS, like Physicians, never can agree, When of a different Society; And _Rabel’s_ Drops were never more cry’d down By all the Learned Doctors of the Town, Than a new Play, whos...

p. 344 _Gad and the Lord Fleetwood._ Fleetwood, even in an age of Tartuffes, was especially distinguished for the fluency of his canting hypocrisy and godliness. He was a bitter...

Alon. Now am I in a worse Condition than before, can neither advance nor retreat: I do not like this groping alone in the Dark thus. Whereabouts am I? I dare not call: were this...

Lov. My Charmer, why these Tears, If for the fall of all thy painted Glories, Thou art, in the esteem of all good Men, Above what thou wert then? The glorious Sun is rising in o...

p. 209 _Guzman Medicines._ Trashy, worthless medicines. In _The Emperor of The Moon_, Act iii, 2, ‘Guzman’ is used as a term of abuse to signify a rascal. The first English tran...

p. 221 _An Epistle to the Reader._ This amusing and witty Epistle only appears in the 4to, 1673, finding no place in the various collected editions of Mrs. Behn’s plays. The wri...

p. 329 _the German Princess._ Mary Morders, alias Stedman, alias Kentish Moll, a notorious imposter of the day, who pretended to be a Princess from Germany. She had been transpo...

Gill. In my Lady’s Apartment, Sir, she’ll be with you presently; you need not fear betraying, Sir, for I’ll assure you I’m an Heroick in my Heart: my Husband was a Captain for h...

p. 234 _Women must be watcht as Witches are._ One of the tests to which beldames suspected of sorcery were put—a mode particularly favoured by that arch-scamp, Matthew Hopkins,...

p. 157 _the Royal Sovereign._ In a Navy List of 1684 the _Royal Sovereign_ is classed as one of the ‘Nine First Rate’ vessels. 1545 tons, 100 guns at home, 90 guns abroad, 815 m...

p. 107 _The famous Virgil._ There is a tale, reported by Donatus, that Vergil once anonymously wrote up on the palace gates a distich in praise of Augustus, which, when nobody w...

Alon. Madam, I will, but know not where to carry ye; my Lodging is in an Inn, and is neither safe nor honourable: but Fortune dares no less than protect the Fair, and I’ll ventu...

p. 198 _Plymouth Cloaks._ Obsolete slang for a cudgel ‘carried by one who walked _en cuerpo_, and thus facetiously assumed to take the place of a cloak’. Fuller (1661), _Worthie...

p. 126 _I ... must be this very Mountebank expected._ One may remember Rochester’s unpenetrated masquerade as Alexander Bendo, high above ‘the bastard race of quacks and cheats,...

p. 142, l. 5 _Harlequin, Scaramouche._ I have added these two names to the stage direction. Harlequin is obviously present from the business. Scaramouche is given in Dramatis Pe...

p. 406 _The Tall Irishman._ Oliver Cromwell’s porter, yclept Daniel, was a giant. This fellow, through poring over mystical divinity, lost his wits: he preached, prophesied, and...

p. 11 _Siege of Pampelona._ Pampluna, the strongly fortified capital of Navarra, has from its geographical position very frequently been a centre of military operations. It will...

p. 289 _Bethlehem-Gaber._ Bethlen-Gabor (Gabriel Bethlen), 1580-1629, was a Hungarian noble who embraced the Protestant religion, and in 1613, with the help of an Ottoman army,...

On 8 March, 1790, J. P. Kemble presented at Drury Lane a pudibond alteration of _The Rover_, which he dubbed _Love in Many Masks_ (8vo, 1790). It was well received, and acted ei...

p. 278 _Snick-a-Sne._ A combat with knives amongst the Dutch. Snik: Dutch = a sharp weapon. Dryden in his _Parallel betwixt Painting and Poetry_ (4to, June, 1695) speaks of ‘the...

p. 384, l. 7 _Enter Tom._ 4tos and 1724 ‘Enter Page’ with speech-prefix— ‘Pag.’ and ‘Exit Page’; but Act iv, 1, 4tos we have ‘Enter Page’ with speech-prefix ‘Tom’ and later in t...

p. 423 _Colt-staff._ Or col-staff (Latin _collum_). A staff by which two men carry a load, one end of the pole resting on a shoulder of each porter. cf. _Merry Wives of Windsor_...

p. 357 _Wallingford House._ Stood on the site of the present Admiralty. It was so called from Sir William Knollys, Baron Wallingford, Treasurer of the Household to Elizabeth and...

p. 133 _old Adam’s Ale._ A very ancient colloquialism for water. In Scotland ‘Adam’s wine’ and frequently merely ‘Adam’. Prynne in his _Sovereign Power of Parliament_ (1648), sp...