Chapter 68

Enter _Marcel_ in a Cloak alone.

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, neglect them both. The greatest Bliss that Mankind can possess, Persuades me this way, to my fair _Clarinda:_ But tyrannick Honour Presents the Credit of my House before me, And bids me first redeem its fading Glory, By sacrificing that false Woman’s Heart That has undone its Fame. But stay, Oh Conscience, when I look within, And lay my Anger by, I find that Sin Which I would punish in _Antonio’s_ Soul, Lie nourish’d up in mine without Controul. To fair _Clarinda_ such a Siege I lay, As did that Traitor to _Hippolyta_; Only _Hippolyta_ a Brother has, _Clarinda_, none to punish her Disgrace: And ’tis more Glory the defenc’d to win, Than ’tis to take unguarded Virtue in. I either must my shameful Love resign, Or my more brave and just Revenge decline.

[Enter _Alonzo_ drest, with _Lovis_. _Marcel_ stays.

Alon. But to be thus in love, is’t not a Wonder, _Lovis?_

Lov. No, Sir, it had been much a greater, if you had stay’d a Night in Town without being so; and I shall see this Wonder as often as you see a new Face of a pretty Woman.

Alon. I do not say that I shall lose all Passion for the fair Sex hereafter; but on my Conscience, this amiable Stranger has given me a deeper Wound than ever I received from any before.

Lov. Well, you remember the Bargain.

Alon. What Bargain?

Lov. To communicate; you understand.

Alon. There’s the Devil on’t, she is not such a Prize: Oh, were she not honest, Friend! [Hugs him.

244 Lov. Is it so to do? What, you pretend to be a Lover, and she honest, now only to deprive me of my Part: remember this, _Alonzo_.

Mar. Did not I hear _Alonzo_ nam’d? [Aside.

Alon. By all that’s good I am in earnest, Friend; Nay thy own Eyes shall convince thee Of the Power of hers. Her Veil fell off, and she appear’d to me, Like unexpected Day, from out a Cloud; The lost benighted Traveller Sees not th’ Approach of the next Morning’s Sun With more transported Joy, Than I this ravishing and unknown Beauty.

Lov. Hey day! What Stuff’s here? Nay, now I see thou art quite gone indeed.

Alon. I fear it. Oh, had she not been honest! What Joy, what Heaven of Joys she would distribute! With such a Face, and Shape, a Wit, and Mein— But as she is, I know not what to do.

Lov. You cannot marry her.

Alon. I would not willingly, tho I think I’m free: For _Pedro_ went to _Marcel_ to tell him I was arriv’d, and would wait on him; but was treated more like a Spy, than a Messenger of Love: They sent no Answer back, which I tell you, _Lovis_, angers me: ’twas not the Entertainment I expected from my brave Friend _Marcel_. But now I am for the fair Stranger who by this expects me.

Mar. ’Tis _Alonzo_. O how he animates my Rage, and turns me over to Revenge, upon _Hippolyta_ and her false Lover! [Aside.

Lov. Who’s this that walks before us? [They go out.

Alon. No matter who.

Mar. I am follow’d. [They enter again.

Lov. See, he stops. [_Marcel_ looks back.

Alon. Let him do what he please, we will out-go him. [They go out.

245 Lov. This Man whoe’er he be still follows us.

Alon. I care not, nothing shall hinder my Design, I’ll go tho I make my passage thro his Heart. [They enter at another Door, he follows.

Lov. See, he advances, pray stand by a little. [They stand by.

Mar. Sure there’s some Trick in this, but I’ll not fear it. This is the Street, and hereabout’s the House. [Looks about. This must be it, if I can get admittance now. [Knocks.

Enter _Olinda_ with a Light.

Olin. O, Sir, are you come? my Lady grew impatient. [They go in.

Mar. She takes me for some other: This is happy. [Aside.

Alon. Gods! is not that the Maid that first conducted me to the fair thing that rob’d me of my Heart?

Lov. I think it is.

Alon. She gives admittance to another Man. All Women-kind are false, I’ll in and tell her so. [Offers to go.

Lov. You are too rash, ’tis dangerous.

Alan. I do despise thy Counsel, let me go.

Lov. If you are resolv’d, I’ll run the Hazard with you. [They both go in.