Chapter 71

_Mir._ Is the Prince gone?

_Man._ Yes, Madam.

_Mir._ Then bring _Endimion_ to me.

_Man._ Madam, I wish you’d think no more of him; for I foresee, that this Amour must ruin you. Remember you have left a Husband for the Prince.

_Mir._ A Husband! my Drudge, to toil for me, and save me the Expence of careful Thoughts: My Cloke, my Led-Horse, for Necessity to fill my Train--no more--but _Endimion_ waits. [Exit _Manage_. --There is a native Generosity in me, that checks my Inconstancy to this great Man; yet I have so much Woman in my Soul, cannot pain my self to do him Justice--A new desire of humouring my wish, sways all my Interest, and controuls all my Honour. Why should I lose a Pleasure for a Promise? since Time, that gives our Youth so short a Date, may well excuse our needful Perjury.

Enter _Manage_, and _Olivia_, she runs and embraces him.

--Let the young bashful Maid, unskill’d in Love, deny the pressing Swain.

Let wither’d Age, who fondly dreams of Virtue, lose the dear Opportunities of Life.

The coming Hours present themselves to us; and are too nice, not to be snatch’d when offer’d.

_Oliv._ So hasty! this disarms me of Excuse. [Aside.

_Mir._ Why are thy Eyes bent down? Why dost thou pause?

_Oliv._ So hot!--I must prepare to shew my Sex’s Evidence, if nothing else will do. [Unbuttons her Coat.

_Mir._ What, not a Word!

Advance, thou bashful Youth--Love in thy Eyes, and Coward in thy Heart! The one all Fire, the other too much Ice.

_Prince_ and _George_ looking out.

_Prince._ Yet stay me, my _Lejere_, from my hasty Vengeance.

_Oliv._ Ah, Madam, how are you mistaken! ‘Tis not Coldness in me--but--

_Mir._ What, Bashfulness! Oh, Love will lend thee Courage; This Trembling is the soft Effects of it.

_Oliv._ Oh, how vilely she’s mistaken!

_Mir._ Come to my Bed, and press the Roses down; and lend more sweetness to ‘em than they bring. [She leading him to her Bed, the _Prince_ enters, with _Lejere_, holding his Sword in Hand; he takes hold of _Olivia_.

_Prince._ Love--thus I fling thy gaudy Fetters off, and am no more a Slave to faithless Beauty. [The _Prince_ holding _Olivia_ by the Bosom of her Coat, her Breast appears to _Mirtilla_.

_Mir._ Ha! what do I see?--Two Female rising Breasts. By Heav’n, a Woman.--Oh fortunate Mischance! [This while _George_ is arguing with the _Prince_ not to hurt _Olivia_.

_Prince._ No, I will not hurt thee, cease thy trembling.

_Mir._ Oh, Sir, ‘twere Sin to hurt the lovely Youth.

_Prince._ No, Madam, since I have taken back my Heart, I can present you with another Lover. [Gives _Olivia_ to her.

_Mir._ Ha! another Lover!--What means my Prince?

_Prince._ Eternally to leave you to your Frailty.

_Mir._ Can you so easily cancel all your Vows? Then kill me at your Feet, I do implore it. [Kneels and weeps.

_Prince._ Away, I do forgive thee, wretched Woman.--But yet be gone--lest Love and Rage return, and I should kill you yet with your young Darling.

_Mir._ Whom mean you, Sir, this lovely Maid?

_Oliv._ Maid!--What means she? Sure she cannot know me.

_Prince._ Talk on, false Woman! till thou hast persuaded my Eyes and Ears out of their native Faculties, I scorn to credit other Evidences.

_Mir._ Try ‘em once more, and then repent, and die. [Opens _Olivia’s_ Bosom, shews her Breasts.

_Prince._ Ha--By Heav’n, a Woman!

_Mir._ You that wou’d smile at my suppos’d undoing, present yourself no more before my Eyes. ‘Twas to perplex you that I feign’d this Passion. I saw you had your Spies to watch for Mischief, [To _George_. And poison all my Happiness with the Prince.--

And since I am thought so criminal, I’ll take an everlasting leave of you. [To the _Prince_. When I am dead, may she you honour next repay your Tenderness as I have done--But may she never meet my wretched Fate. [She snatches _Olivia’s_ Sword out.

_Prince._ Hold, thou most valu’d Treasure of the World, or turn the pointed Weapon to my Heart.

_Mir._ No, I’m false, unworthy of your Love.

_Geo._ Yes, by Heaven. But thou hast jilted him so handsomly, thou’st vanquish’d all my Rage.

_Mir._ Yes, I am false; false to this Gallant Man,-- [To _George_. false to my Husband, to my Sex’s Fame; for you more charming, I alas am perjur’d.

_Prince._ _Lejere_, have I then injur’d thee?

_Geo._ This is the fatal Beauty, Sir, for whom so often you have seen me languish.

_Prince._ Ah! wouldst thou see me on a Precipice, and not prevent my Danger?

_Geo._ To mightier Friendship I cou’d all surrender, and silently have born her Perjuries; but those to you, awaken’d all my Rage: but she has out-trick’d me, and I beg her Pardon--And to secure her yours, have lov’d anew, and beg Protection in your Lodgings, Sir, for a young Maid whom I design to marry.

_Prince._ Command my Life, my Fortune, and my Sword, for the unwilling Injury I have done thee--And is this the charming, perjur’d Fair, _Mirtilla_?

_Geo._ It is, Sir.

_Prince._ Since it is possible that you cou’d cease to love this Gallant Man, whom I have heard with so much tender Passion tell your Loves, what sacred Vows had past, and what Endearments, how can I hope from thee a lasting Faith?--Yet on the Oaths that thou hast sworn to me--by all thy Hopes of Pardon for thy Perjuries, to ease my panting Heart--once speak the Truth--Didst thou not take this Woman for a Man?

_Mir._ I did--and were she so, I wou’d with Pride own all the Vows I’ve broke.

_Prince._ Why, this is fair--and though I buy this Knowledge at the vast Price of all my Repose; yet I must own, ‘tis a better Bargain than chaff’ring of a Heart for feign’d Embraces--Thou hast undone me--yet must have my Friendship; and ‘twill be still some Ease in this Extreme, to see thee yet repent, and love _Lejere_.

_Mir._ No, Sir, this Beauty must be first declining, to make me take up with a former Lover.

_Geo._ No, Sir, I have dispos’d my Heart another way; and the first knowledge of her Falshood cur’d me: Her Marriage I forgave--that thing of Form--but never could her Fondness to this Youth.

_Prince._ Who’s this Lady, Sir, whose Pardon I must beg?

_Geo._ My Sister, Sir, who I disguis’d on purpose to be a Guard to this suspected Fair One.

Enter _Welborn_.

_Wel._ Ha, she’s there!

Now every Feature points me out my Conqueress.--Nay, start not--I have found Thee, thou malicious Charmer, to bring me so near to Bliss, and not afford me one kind hint.

_Oliv._ And are not you a very dull Fellow, that lov’d and long’d, and had the Maid so near you, and yet needed a Hint?

_Wel._ Nay, if you conceal’d your precious Talent, how shou’d it profit any body?

_Oliv._ Conceal’d it!--No, Faith, I made a very fair Tender; but you refus’d it, as not being current Coin.

_Wel._ But if you most feloniously, and unlawfully deface our Sovereign’s Image, so as it may be as soon taken for the Grand Signior’s, I may suspect the Metal too.

_Oliv._ What say you if I tender it before these lawful Witnesses?

_Wel._ I’ll take it for good Payment--I _Charles Welborn_--

_Oliv._ Ha, _Welborn_! [Aside.

_Wel._ Take thee--whom?--Gad, if the Parson of the Parish knew your Name no better than I--’twill be but a blind Bargain.

_Geo._ _Olivia Marteen_--

_Wel._ My destin’d Wife!

_Geo._ The very same: Have you the Parson ready?

_Wel._ He waits in my Chamber.

_Oliv._ Madam, I beg you’ll lend me something more becoming my Sex.

_Mir._ _Manage_ will furnish you from my Wardrobe. [Exit _Olivia_ with _Manage_.

Enter _Teresia_.

_Geo._ And see my good Genius appears too.

_Ter._ See, Sir, I am resolv’d to be welcome to your Arms; look, here are the Writings of the Estate my Grandfather left me, and here’s three thousand Pound my Grandmother has settled on me, upon her Marriage with you. [Gives him the Writings.

_Geo._ And here’s my Father’s Estate settled on me--Come, let’s put them together--and go in, and let the Parson do as much for us. [Puts ‘em in her Case.

_Ter._ But have you very well considered this Matter?

_Geo._ Teresia, we’ll do like most Couples, marry first, and consider afterwards-- [Leads her in.

Enter a Footman.

_Foot._ Sir, here’s Sir _Merlin_, with a Lady mask’d, wou’d speak with you.

_Wel._ Carry ‘em into the Dining-Room, I’ll wait on ‘em anon.

[Exeunt _Omnes_.