SCENE I.--_A Room in_ Don DIEGO'S _House.

_Enter_ Monsieur de PARIS _and the_ Black, _stalking over the stage; to them_ GERRARD.

_Mons._ Good morrow to thee, noble dancing-master:--ha! ha! ha! your little black brother here, my master, I see, is the more diligent man of the two. But why do you come so late?--What! you begin to neglect your scholar, do you?--Little black master, _con licencia_, pray get you out of the room.--[_Exit_ Black.] What! out of humour, man! a dancing-master should be like his fiddle, always in tune. Come, my cousin has made an ass of thee; what then? I know it.

_Ger._ Does he know it! [_Aside._

_Mons._ But prithee don't be angry: 'twas agreed upon betwixt us, before I sent you, to make a fool of thee;--ha! ha! ha! ha!

_Ger._ Was it so?

_Mons._ I knew you would be apt to entertain vain hopes from the summons of a lady: but, faith, the design was but to make a fool of thee, as you find.

_Ger._ 'Tis very well.

_Mons._ But indeed I did not think the jest would have lasted so long, and that my cousin would have made a dancing-master of you, ha! ha! ha!

_Ger._ The fool has reason, I find, and I am the coxcomb while I thought him so. [_Aside_.

_Mons._ Come, I see you are uneasy, and the jest of being a dancing-master grows tedious to you:--but have a little patience; the parson is sent for, and when once my cousin and I are married, my uncle may know who you are.

_Ger._ I am certainly abused. [_Aside._

_Mons._ [_Listening._] What do you say?

_Ger._ Merely fooled! [_Aside._

_Mons._ Why do you doubt it? ha! ha! ha!

_Ger._ Can it be? [_Aside._

_Mons._ Pish! pish! she told me yesterday as soon as you were gone, that she had led you into a fool's paradise, and made you believe she would go away with you--ha! ha! ha!

_Ger._ Did she so?--I am no longer to doubt it then. [_Aside._

_Mons._ Ay, ay, she makes a mere fool of thee, I vow and swear; but don't be concerned, there's hardly a man of a thousand but has been made a fool of by some woman or other.--I have been made a fool of myself, man, by the women; I have, I vow and swear I have.

_Ger._ Well, you have, I believe it, for you are a coxcomb.

_Mons._ Lord! you need not be so touchy with one; I tell you but the truth, for your good; for though she does, I would not fool you any longer; but prithee don't be troubled at what can't be helped. Women are made on purpose to fool men: when they are children, they fool their fathers; and when they have taken their leaves of their hanging sleeves, they fool their gallants or dancing masters,--ha! ha! ha!

_Ger._ Hark you, sir! to be fooled by a woman, you say, is not to be helped; but I will not be fooled by a fool.

_Mons._ You show your English breeding now; an English rival is so dull and brutish as not to understand raillery; but what is spoken in your passion I'll take no notice of, for I am your friend, and would not have you my rival to make yourself ridiculous.--Come, prithee, prithee, don't be so concerned; for, as I was saying, women first fool their fathers, then their gallants, and then their husbands; so that it will be my turn to be fooled too (for your comfort); and when they come to be widows, they would fool the devil, I vow and swear.--Come, come, dear Gerrard, prithee don't be out of humour, and look so sillily.

_Ger._ Prithee do not talk so sillily.

_Mons._ Nay, faith, I am resolved to beat you out of this ill-humour.

_Ger._ Faith, I am afraid I shall first beat you into an ill-humour.

_Mons._ Ha! ha! ha! that thou shouldst be gulled so by a little gipsy, who left off her bib but yesterday!--faith I can't but laugh at thee.

_Ger._ Faith, then I shall make your mirth (as being too violent) conclude in some little misfortune to you. The fool begins to be tyrannical.

_Mons._ Ha! ha! ha! poor angry dancing-master! prithee match my Spanish pumps and legs with one of your best and newest sarabands; ha! ha! ha! come--

_Ger._ I will match your Spanish ear, thus, sir, and make you dance thus. [_Strikes and kicks him._

_Mons._ How! sa! sa! sa! then I'll make you dance thus. [Monsieur _draws his sword and runs at him, but_ GERRARD _drawing, he retires._

Hold! hold a little!--[_Aside._] A desperate disappointed lover will cut his own throat, then sure he will make nothing of cutting his rival's throat.

_Ger._ Consideration is an enemy to fighting; if you have a mind to revenge yourself, your sword's in your hand.

_Mons._ Pray, sir, hold your peace; I'll ne'er take my rival's counsel, be't what 'twill. I know what you would be at; you are disappointed of your mistress, and could hang yourself, and therefore will not fear hanging. But I am a successful lover, and need neither hang for you nor my mistress: nay, if I should kill you, I know I should do you a kindness; therefore e'en live, to die daily with envy of my happiness. But if you will needs die, kill yourself, and be damned for me, I vow and swear.

_Ger._ But won't you fight for your mistress?

_Mons._ I tell you, you shall not have the honour to be killed for her: besides I will not be hit in the teeth by her as long as I live, with the great love you had for her. Women speak well of their dead husbands; what will they do of their dead gallants?

_Ger._ But if you will not fight for her, you shall dance for her, since you desired me to teach you to dance too;--I'll teach you to dance thus--[_Strikes his sword at his legs,_ Monsieur _leaps._

_Mons._ Nay, if it be for the sake of my mistress, there's nothing I will refuse to do.

_Ger._ Nay, you must dance on.

_Mons._ Ay, ay, for my mistress, and sing too, la, la, la, ra, la.

_Enter_ HIPPOLITA _and_ PRUE.

_Hip._ What! swords drawn betwixt you two! what's the matter?

_Mons._ [_Aside._] Is she here?--[_Aloud._] Come, put up your sword; you see this is no place for us; but the devil eat me if you shall not eat my sword, but--

_Hip._ What's the matter, cousin?

_Mons._ Nothing, nothing, cousin, but your presence is a sanctuary for my greatest enemy, or else, _tête non!_--

_Hip._ What, you have not hurt my cousin, sir, I hope? [_To_ GERRARD.

_Ger._ How! she's concerned for him! nay, then I need not doubt, my fears are true. [_Aside._

_Mons._ What was that you said, cousin? hurt me!--ha! ha! ha! hurt me!--if any man hurt me, he must do it basely; he shall ne'er do it when my sword's drawn, sa! sa! sa!

_Hip._ Because you will ne'er draw your sword, perhaps.

_Mons._ [_Aside._] Scurvily guessed.--[_Aloud._] You ladies may say anything; but, cousin, pray do not you talk of swords and fighting; meddle with your guitar, and talk of dancing with your dancing-master there, ha! ha! ha!

_Hip._ But I am afraid you have hurt my master, cousin:--he says nothing; can he draw his breath?

_Mons._ No, 'tis you have hurt your master, cousin, in the very heart, cousin, and therefore he would hurt me; for love is a disease makes people as malicious as the plague does.

_Hip._ Indeed, poor master, something does ail you.

_Mons._ Nay, nay, cousin, faith don't abuse him any longer; he's an honest gentleman, and has been long of my acquaintance, and a man of tolerable sense, to take him out of his love; but prithee, cousin, don't drive the jest too far for my sake.

_Ger._ He counsels you well, pleasant, cunning, jilting miss, for his sake; for if I am your divertisement, it shall be at his cost, since he's your gallant in favour.

_Hip._ I don't understand you.

_Mons._ But I do, a pox take him! and the custom that so orders it, forsooth! that if a lady abuse or affront a man, presently the gallant must be beaten; nay, what's more unreasonable, if a woman abuse her husband, the poor cuckold must bear the shame as well as the injury. [_Aside._

_Hip._ But what's the matter, master? what was it you said?

_Ger._ I say, pleasant, cunning, jilting lady, though you make him a cuckold, it will not be revenge enough for me upon him for marrying you.

_Hip._ How! my surly, huffing, jealous, senseless, saucy master?

_Mons._ Nay, nay, faith, give losers leave to speak, losers of mistresses especially, ha! ha! ha! Besides, your anger is too great a favour for him; I scorn to honour him with mine you see.

_Hip._ I tell you, my saucy master, my cousin shall never be made that monstrous thing you mention, by me.

_Mons._ Thank you, I vow and swear, cousin; no, no, I never thought I should.

_Ger._ Sure you marry him by the sage maxim of your sex, which is, wittols make the best husbands, that is, cuckolds.

_Hip._ Indeed, master, whatsoever you think, I would sooner choose you for that purpose than him.

_Mons._ Ha! ha! ha! there she was with him, i'faith;--I thank you for that, cousin, I vow and swear.

_Hip._ Nay, he shall thank me for that too:--but how came you two to quarrel? I thought, cousin, you had had more wit than to quarrel, or more kindness for me than to quarrel here. What if my father, hearing the bustle, should have come in? he would have soon discovered our false dancing-master (for passion unmasks every man), and then the result of your quarrel had been my ruin.

_Mons._ Nay, you had both felt his desperate deadly daunting dagger:--there are your d's for you!

_Hip._ Go, go presently, therefore, and hinder my father from coming in, whilst I put my master into a better humour, that we may not be discovered, to the prevention of our wedding, or worse when he comes; go, go.

_Mons._ Well, well, I will, cousin.

_Hip._ Be sure you let him not come in this good while.

_Mons._ No, no, I warrant you.--[_Goes out and returns._]--But if he should come before I would have him, I'll come before him, and cough and hawk soundly, that you may not be surprised. Won't that do well, cousin?

_Hip._ Very well, pray begone.--[_Exit_ Monsieur.] Well, master, since I find you are quarrelsome and melancholy, and would have taken me away without a portion, three infallible signs of a true lover, faith here's my hand now in earnest, to lead me a dance as long as I live.

_Ger._ How's this! you surprise me as much, as when first I found so much beauty and wit in company with so much innocency. But, dearest, I would be assured of what you say, and yet dare not ask the question. You h----do not abuse me again? You h----will fool me no more sure?

_Hip._ Yes, but I will sure.

_Ger._ How? nay, I was afraid on't.

_Hip._ For, I say, you are to be my husband, and you say husbands must be wittols, and some strange things to boot.

_Ger._ Well, I will take my fortune.

_Hip._ But have a care, rash man.

_Ger._ I will venture.

_Hip._ At your peril; remember I wished you to have a care: forewarned, fore-armed.

_Prue._ Indeed now, that's fair; for most men are fore-armed before they are warned.

_Hip._ Plain dealing is some kind of honesty however, and few women would have said so much.

_Ger._ None but those who would delight in a husband's jealousy, as the proof of his love and her honour.

_Hip._ Hold, sir, let us have a good understanding betwixt one another at first, that we may be long friends. I differ from you in the point; for a husband's jealousy, which cunning men would pass upon their wives for a compliment, is the worst can be made 'em; for indeed it is a compliment to their beauty, but an affront to their honour.

_Ger._ But madam--

_Hip._ So that upon the whole matter I conclude, jealousy in a gallant is humble true love, and the height of respect, and only an undervaluing of himself to overvalue her; but in a husband 'tis arrant sauciness, cowardice, and ill-breeding, and not to be suffered.

_Ger._ I stand corrected, gracious miss.

_Hip._ Well, but have you brought the gentlemen fiddlers with you, as I desired?

_Ger._ They are below.

_Hip._ Are they armed well?

_Ger._ Yes, they have instruments too that are not of wood; but what will you do with them?

_Hip._ What did you think I intended to do with them? when I whispered you to bring gentlemen of your acquaintance instead of fiddlers, as my father desired you to bring, pray what did you think I intended?

_Ger._ Faith, e'en to make fools of the gentlemen fiddlers, as you had done of your gentleman dancing-master.

_Hip._ I intended 'em for our guard and defence against my father's Spanish and Guinea force, when we were to make our retreat from hence; and to help us to take the keys from my aunt, who has been the watchful porter of this house this twelve-month; and this design (if your heart do not fail you) we will put in execution as soon as you have given your friends below instructions.

_Ger._ Are you sure your heart will stand right still? You flinched last night, when I little expected it, I am sure.

_Hip._ The time last night was not so proper for us as now, for reasons I will give you. But besides that, I confess I had a mind to try whether your interest did not sway you more than your love; whether the twelve hundred pounds a-year I told you of had not made a greater impression in your heart than Hippolita: but finding it otherwise--yet hold, perhaps upon consideration you are grown wiser; can you yet, as I said, be so desperate, so out of fashion, as to steal a woman with nothing?

_Ger._ With you I can want nothing, nor can be made by anything more rich or happy.

_Hip._ Think well again; can you take me without the twelve hundred pounds a-year,--the twelve hundred pounds a-year?

_Ger._ Indeed, miss, now you begin to be unkind again, and use me worse than e'er you did.

_Hip._ Well, though you are so modest a gentleman as to suffer a wife to be put upon you with nothing, I have more conscience than to do it. I have the twelve hundred pounds a-year out of my father's power, which is yours, and I am sorry it is not the Indies to mend your bargain.

_Ger._ Dear miss, you but increase my fears, and not my wealth. Pray let us make haste away; I desire but to be secure of you:--come, what are you thinking of?

_Hip._ I am thinking if some little, filching, inquisitive poet should get my story, and represent it to the stage, what those ladies who are never precise but at a play would say of me now;--that I were a confident, coming piece, I warrant, and they would damn the poor poet for libelling the sex. But sure, though I give myself and fortune away frankly, without the consent of my friends, my confidence is less than theirs who stand off only for separate maintenance.

_Ger._ They would be widows before their time, have a husband and no husband:--but let us begone, lest fortune should recant my happiness, now you are fixed, my dearest miss. [_He kisses her hand._

_Re-enter_ Monsieur, _coughing, followed by_ Don DIEGO.

_Hip._ Oh, here's my father!

_Don._ How now, sir!--What, kissing her hand! what means that, friend, ha?--Daughter, ha! do you permit this insolence, ha? _voto á mi honra!_

_Ger._ We are prevented again. [_Aside to_ HIPPOLITA.

_Hip._ Ha! ha! ha! you are so full of your Spanish jealousy, father; why, you must know he is a city dancing-master, and they, forsooth, think it fine to kiss the hand at the honour before the corant.

_Mons._ Ay, ay, ay, uncle, don't you know that?

_Don._ Go to, go to, you are an easy French fool; there's more in it than so, look you.

_Mons._ I vow and swear there's nothing more in't, if you'll believe one.--[_Aside to_ HIPPOLITA _and_ GERRARD.] Did not I cough and hawk? a jealous, prudent husband could not cough and hawk louder at the approach of his wife's chamber in visiting time, and yet you would not hear me. He'll make now ado about nothing, and you'll be discovered both.

_Don._ Umph, umph,--no, no, I see it plain, he is no dancing-master: now I have found it out, and I think I can see as far into matters as another: I have found it now, look you.

_Ger._ My fear was prophetical. [_Aside to_ HIPPOLITA.

_Hip._ What shall we do?--nay, pray, sir, do not stir yet. [GERRARD _offers to go out with her._

_Enter_ Mrs. CAUTION.

_Mrs. Caut._ What's the matter, brother? what's the matter?

_Don._ I have found it out, sister, I have found it out, sister; this villain here is no dancing-master--but a dishonourer of my house and daughter; I caught him kissing her hand.

_Mons._ Pish! pish! you are a strange Spanish kind of an uncle, that you are.--A dishonourer of your daughter, because he kissed her hand! pray how could he honour her more? he kissed her hand, you see, while he was making his honour to her.

_Don._ You are an unthinking, shallow French fop, _voto!_--But I tell you, sister, I have thought of it, and have found it out; he is no dancing-master, sister. Do you remember the whispering last night? I have found out the meaning of that too; and I tell you, sister, he's no dancing-master, I have found it out.

_Mrs. Caut._ You found it out! marry come up, did not I tell you always he was no dancing-master?

_Don._ You tell me! you silly woman, what then? what of that?--You tell me! d'ye think I heeded what you told me? but I tell you now I have found it out.

_Mrs. Caut._ I say I found it out.

_Don._ I say 'tis false, gossip, I found him out.

_Mrs. Caut._ I say I found him out first, say you what you will.

_Don._ Sister, mum, not such a word again, _guarda!_--You found him out!

_Mrs. Caut._ I must submit, or dissemble like other prudent women, or--[_Aside._

_Don._ Come, come, sister, take it from me, he is no dancing-master.

_Mrs. Caut._ O yes, he is a dancing-master.

_Don._ What! will you be wiser than I every way?--remember the whispering, I say.

_Mrs. Caut._ [_Aside._] So, he thinks I speak in earnest, then I'll fit him still.--[_To_ Don DIEGO.] But what do you talk of their whispering! they would not whisper any ill before us, sure.

_Don._ Will you still be an idiot, a dolt, and see nothing?

_Mons._ Lord! you'll be wiser than all the world, will you? are we not all against you? pshaw! pshaw! I ne'er saw such a _donissimo_ as you are, I vow and swear.

_Don._ No, sister, he's no dancing-master; for now I think on't too, he could not play upon the fiddle.

_Mrs. Caut._ Pish! pish! what dancing-master can play upon a fiddle without strings?

_Don._ Again, I tell you he broke them on purpose, because he could not play; I have found it out now, sister.

_Mrs. Caut._ Nay, you see farther than I, brother. [GERRARD _offers to lead her out._

_Hip._ For Heaven's sake stir not yet. [_Aside to_ GERRARD.

_Don._ Besides, if you remember, they were perpetually putting me out of the room; that was, sister, because they had a mind to be alone, I have found that out too:--now, sister, look you, he is no dancing-master.

_Mrs. Caut._ But has he not given her a lesson often before you?

_Don._ Ay, but sister, he did not go about his business like a dancing-master; but go, go down to the door, somebody rings. [_Exit_ Mrs. CAUTION.

_Mons._ I vow and swear, uncle, he is a dancing-master; pray be appeased.--Lord! d'ye think I'd tell you a lie?

_Don._ If it prove to be a lie, and you do not confess it, though you are my next heir after my daughter, I will disown thee as much as I do her, for thy folly and treachery to thyself, as well as me.--You may have her, but never my estate, look you.

_Mons._ How! I must look to my hits then. [_Aside._

_Don._ Look to't.

_Mons._ [_Aside._] Then I had best confess all, before he discover all, which he will soon do.--

_Enter_ Parson.

O here's the parson too! he won't be in choler, nor brandish toledo before the parson sure?--[_To_ Don DIEGO.] Well, uncle, I must confess, rather than lose your favour, he is no dancing-master.

_Don._ No!

_Ger._ What! has the fool betrayed us then at last, nay, then 'tis time to be gone; come away, miss. [_Going out._

_Don._ Nay, sir, if you pass this way, my toledo will pass that way, look you. [_Thrusts at him with his sword._

_Hip._ O hold, Mr. Gerrard!--Hold father!

_Mons._ I tell you, uncle, he's an honest gentleman, means no hurt, and came hither but upon a frolic of mine and your daughter's. [_Stops_ Don DIEGO.

_Don. Ladron! traidor!_

_Mons._ I tell you all's but a jest, a mere jest, I vow and swear.

_Don._ A jest!--jest with my honour, _voto!_ ha! no family to dishonour but the grave, wise, noble, honourable, illustrious, puissant, and right worshipful family of the Formals!--Nay, I am contented to reprieve you, till you know who you have dishonoured, and convict you of the greatness of your crime before you die. We are descended, look you--

_Mons._ Nay, pray, uncle, hear me.

_Don._ I say, we are descended--

_Mons._ 'Tis no matter for that.

_Don._ And my great, great, great-grandfather was--

_Mons._ Well, well, I have something to say more to the purpose.

_Don._ My great, great, great-grandfather, I say, was--

_Mons._ Well, a pinmaker in--

_Don._ But he was a gentleman for all that, fop, for he was a sergeant to a company of the trainbands; and my great-great-grandfather was--

_Mons._ Was his son, what then? won't you let me clear this gentleman?

_Don._ He was, he was--

_Mons._ He was a felt-maker, his son a wine-cooper, your father a vintner, and so you came to be a Canary merchant.

_Don._ But we were still gentlemen, for our coat was, as the heralds say--was--

_Mons._ Was! your sign was the Three Tuns, and the field Canary; now let me tell you, this honest gentleman--

_Don._ Now, that you should dare to dishonour this family!--by the graves of my ancestors in Great St. Helen's church--

_Mons._ Yard.

_Don._ Thou shalt die for't, _ladron!_ [_Runs at_ GERRARD.

_Mons._ Hold, hold, uncle, are you mad?

_Hip._ Oh! oh!--

_Mons._ Nay then, by your own Spanish rules of honour (though he be my rival), I must help him; [_Draws his sword._] since I brought him into danger.--[_Aside._] Sure he will not show his valour upon his nephew and son-in-law, otherwise I should be afraid of showing mine.--Here, Mr. Gerrard, go in here, nay, you shall go in, Mr. Gerrard, I'll secure you all; and, parson, do you go in too with 'em, for I see you are afraid of a sword and the other world, though you talk of it so familiarly, and make it so fine a place. [_Opens a door, and thrusts_ GERRARD, HIPPOLITA, Parson, _and_ PRUE _in, then shuts it, and guards it with his sword._

_Don. Tu quoque, Brute!_

_Mons._ Nay, now, uncle, you must understand reason.--What, you are not only a Don, but you are a Don Quixote too, I vow and swear!

_Don._ Thou spot, sploach[66] of my family and blood! I will have his blood, look you.

_Mons._ Pray, good Spanish uncle, have but patience to hear me. Suppose--I say, suppose he had done, done, done the feat to your daughter.

_Don._ How! done the feat! done the feat: done the feat! _en hora mala!_

_Mons._ I say, suppose, suppose--

_Don._ Suppose!

_Mons._ I say, suppose he had, for I do but suppose it; well, I am ready to marry her, however. Now marriage is as good a solder for cracked female honour as blood; and can't you suffer the shame but for a quarter of an hour, till the parson has married us? and then if there be any shame, it becomes mine; for here in England, the father has nothing to do with the daughter's business, honour, what d'ye call't, when once she's married, d'ye see.

_Don._ England! what d'ye tell me of England? I'll be a Spaniard still, _voto á mi honra!_ and I will be revenged.--Pedro! Juan! Sanchez! [_Calls at the door._

_Re-enter_ Mrs. CAUTION, _followed by_ FLIRT _and_ FLOUNCE, _in vizard masks._

_Mrs. Caut._ What's the matter, brother?

_Don._ Pedro! Sanchez! Juan!--but who are these, sister? are they not men in women's clothes? what make they here?

_Mrs. Caut._ They are relations, they say, of my cousin's, who pressed in when I let in the parson; they say my cousin invited 'em to his wedding.

_Mons._ Two of my relations!--[_Aside._] Ha! they are my cousins indeed of the other night; a pox take 'em!--but that's no curse for 'em; a plague take 'em then!--but how came they here?

_Don._ [_Aside._] Now must I have witnesses too of the dishonour of my family; it were Spanish prudence to despatch 'em away out of the house, before I begin my revenge. [_To_ FLIRT _and_ FLOUNCE.] What are you? what make you here? who would you speak with?

_Flirt._ With monsieur.

_Don._ Here he is.

_Mons._ Now will these jades discredit me, and spoil my match just in the coupling minute. [_Aside._

_Don._ Do you know 'em?

_Mons._ Yes, sir, sure, I know 'em.--[_Aside to them._] Pray, ladies, say as I say, or you will spoil my wedding, for I am just going to be married; and if my uncle or mistress should know who you are, it might break off the match.

_Flou._ We come on purpose to break the match.

_Mons._ How!

_Flirt._ Why, d'ye think to marry, and leave us so in the lurch?

_Mons._ What do the jades mean? [_Aside._

_Don._ Come, who are they? what would they have? If they come to the wedding, ladies, I assure you there will be none to-day here.

_Mons._ They won't trouble you, sir; they are going again.--Ladies, you hear what my uncle says; I know you won't trouble him.--[_Aside._] I wish I were well rid of 'em.

_Flou._ You shall not think to put us off so. [_Aside._

_Don._ Who are they? what are their names?

_Flirt._ We are, sir--

_Mons._ Nay, for Heaven's sake don't tell who you are, for you will undo me, and spoil my match infallibly. [_Aside to them._

_Flou._ We care not, 'tis our business to spoil matches.

_Mons._ You need not, for I believe married men are your best customers, for greedy bachelors take up with their wives.

_Don._ Come, pray ladies, if you have no business here, be pleased to retire; for few of us are in humour to be so civil to you as you may deserve.

_Mons._ Ay, prithee, dear jades, get you gone.

_Flirt._ We will not stir.

_Don._ Who are they, I say, fool? and why don't they go?

_Flou._ We are, sir--

_Mons._ Hold! hold!--They are persons of honour and quality, and--

_Flirt._ We are no persons of honour and quality, sir, we are--

_Mons._ They are modest ladies, and being in a kind of disguise, will not own their quality.

_Flou._ We modest ladies!

_Mons._ Why, sometimes you are in the humour to pass for women of honour and quality; prithee, dear jades, let your modesty and greatness come upon you now. [_Aside to them._

_Flirt._ Come, sir, not to delude you, as he would have us, we are--

_Mons._ Hold! hold!--

_Flirt._ The other night at the French-house--

_Mons._ Hold, I say!--'Tis even true as Gerrard says, the women will tell, I see.

_Flou._ If you would have her silent, stop her mouth with that ring.

_Mons._ Will that do't? here, here--'Tis worth one hundred and fifty pounds.--[_Takes off his ring and gives it her._] But I must not lose my match, I must not lose a trout for a fly.--That men should live to hire women to silence!

_Re-enter_ GERRARD, HIPPOLITA, Parson, _and_ PRUE.

_Don._ Oh, are you come again. [_Draws his sword and runs at them_, Monsieur _holds him._

_Mons._ Oh! hold! hold! uncle!--What, are you mad, Gerrard, to expose yourself to a new danger? why would you come out yet?

_Ger._ Because our danger now is over, I thank the parson there. And now we must beg-- [GERRARD _and_ HIPPOLITA _kneel._

_Mons._ Nay, faith, uncle, forgive him now, since he asks you forgiveness upon his knees, and my poor cousin too.

_Hip._ You are mistaken, cousin; we ask him blessing, and you forgiveness.

_Mons._ How, how, how! what do you talk of blessing? what, do you ask your father blessing and he ask me forgiveness? but why should he ask me forgiveness?

_Hip._ Because he asks my father's blessing.

_Mons._ Pish! pish! I don't understand you, I vow and swear.

_Hip._ The parson will expound it to you, cousin.

_Mons._ Hey! what say you to it, parson?

_Par._ They are married, sir.

_Mons._ Married!

_Mrs. Caut._ Married! so, I told you what 'twould come to.

_Don._ You told us!--

_Mons._ Nay, she is setting up for the reputation of a witch.

_Don._ Married!--Juan, Sanchez, Pedro, arm! arm! arm!

_Mrs. Caut._ A witch! a witch!

_Hip._ Nay, indeed, father, now we are married, you had better call the fiddlers.--Call 'em, Prue, quickly. [_Exit_ PRUE.

_Mons._ Who do you say, married, man?

_Par._ Was I not sent for on purpose to marry 'em? why should you wonder at it?

_Mons._ No, no, you were to marry me, man, to her; I knew there was a mistake in't somehow; you were merely mistaken, therefore you must do your business over again for me now.--The parson was mistaken, uncle, it seems, ha! ha! ha!

_Mrs. Caut._ I suppose five or six guineas made him make the mistake, which will not be rectified now, nephew. They'll marry all that come near 'em, and, for a guinea or two, care not what mischief they do, nephew.

_Don._ Married!--Pedro! Sanchez!

_Mons._ How! and must she be his wife then for ever and ever? have I held the door then for this, like a fool as I was?

_Mrs. Caut._ Yes, indeed!

_Mons._ Have I worn _golilla_ here for this? little breeches for this?

_Mrs. Caut._ Yes, truly.

_Mons._ And put on the Spanish honour with the habit, in defending my rival? nay then, I'll have another turn of honour in revenge. Come, uncle, I'm of your side now, sa! sa! sa! but let's stay for our force; Sanchez, Juan, Pedro, arm! arm! arm!

_Enter two_ Blacks _and a_ Spaniard, _followed by_ PRUE, MARTIN, _and five other gentlemen-like_ Fiddlers.

_Don._ Murder the villain! kill him! [_Running all upon_ GERRARD.

_Mar._ Hold! hold! sir!

_Don._ How now! who sent for you, friends?

_Mar._ We fiddlers, sir, often come unsent for.

_Don._ And you are often kicked down stairs for't too.

_Mar._ No, sir, our company was never kicked, I think.

_Don._ Fiddlers, and not kicked! then to preserve your virgin honour, get you down stairs quickly; for we are not at present disposed much for mirth, _voto!_

_Mons._ [_Peeping._] A pox! is it you, is it you, Martin?--Nay, uncle, then 'tis in vain; for they won't be kicked down stairs, to my knowledge. They are gentlemen fiddlers, forsooth! A pox on all gentlemen fiddlers and gentlemen dancing-masters! say I.

_Don._ How! ha! [_Pausing._

_Mons._ Well, Flirt, now I am a match for thee: now I may keep you.--And there's little difference betwixt keeping a wench and marriage; only marriage is a little the cheaper; but the other is the more honourable now, _vert_ and _bleu!_ Nay, now I may swear a French oath too. Come, come, I am thine; let us strike up the bargain: thine, according to the honourable institution of keeping.--Come.

_Flirt._ Nay, hold, sir; two words to the bargain; first, I have ne'er a lawyer here to draw articles and settlements.

_Mons._ How! is the world come to that? A man cannot keep a wench without articles and settlements! Nay, then 'tis e'en as bad as marriage, indeed, and there's no difference betwixt a wife and a wench.

_Flirt._ Only in cohabitation; for the first article shall be against cohabitation:--we mistresses suffer no cohabitation.

_Mons._ Nor wives neither now.

_Flirt._ Then separate maintenance, in case you should take a wife, or I a new friend.

_Mons._ How! that too! then you are every whit as bad as a wife.

_Flirt._ Then my house in town and yours in the country, if you will.

_Mons._ A mere wife!

_Flirt._ Then my coach apart, as well as my bed apart.

_Mons._ As bad as a wife still!

_Flirt._ But take notice, I will have no little, dirty, second-hand chariot new furbished, but a large, sociable, well-painted coach; nor will I keep it till it be as well known as myself, and it come to be called Flirt-coach; nor will I have such pitiful horses as cannot carry me every night to the Park; for I will not miss a night in the Park, I'd have you to know.

_Mons._ 'Tis very well: you must have your great, gilt, fine painted coaches. I'm sure they are grown so common already amongst you, that ladies of quality begin to take up with hackneys again, _jarni!_--But what else?

_Flirt._ Then, that you do not think I will be served by a little dirty boy in a bonnet, but a couple of handsome, lusty, cleanly footmen, fit to serve ladies of quality, and do their business as they should do.

_Mons._ What then?

_Flirt._ Then, that you never grow jealous of them.

_Mons._ Why, will you make so much of them?

_Flirt._ I delight to be kind to my servants.

_Mons._ Well, is this all?

_Flirt._ No.--Then, that when you come to my house, you never presume to touch a key, lift up a latch, or thrust a door, without knocking beforehand: and that you ask no questions, if you see a stray piece of plate, cabinet, or looking-glass, in my house.

_Mons._ Just a wife in everything.--But what else?

_Flirt._ Then, that you take no acquaintance with me abroad, nor bring me home any when you are drunk, whom you will not be willing to see there when you are sober.

_Mons._ But what allowance? let's come to the main business; the money.

_Flirt._ Stay, let me think: first for advance-money, five hundred pounds for pins.

_Mons._ A very wife!

_Flirt._ Then you must take the lease of my house, and furnish it as becomes one of my quality; for don't you think we'll take up with your old Queen Elizabeth furniture, as your wives do.

_Mons._ Indeed there she is least like a wife, as she says.

_Flirt._ Then for house-keeping, servants' wages, clothes, and the rest, I'll be contented with a thousand pounds a year present maintenance, and but three hundred pounds a year separate maintenance for my life, when your love grows cold. But I am contented with a thousand pounds a year, because for pendants, neck-laces, and all sorts of jewels, and such trifles, nay, and some plate, I will shift myself as I can; make shifts, which you shall not take any notice of.

_Mons._ A thousand pounds a year! what will wenching come to? Time was a man might have fared as well at a much cheaper rate, and a lady of one's affections, instead of a house, would have been contented with a little chamber, three pair of stairs backward, with a little closet or ladder to't; and instead of variety of new gowns and rich petticoats, with her _deshabillé_, or flame-colour gown called Indian, and slippers of the same, would have been contented for a twelvemonth; and instead of visits and gadding to plays, would have entertained herself at home with "St. George for England," "The Knight of the Sun," or "The Practice of Piety;" and instead of sending her wine and meat from the French-houses, would have been contented, if you had given her, poor wretch, but credit at the next chandler's and chequered cellar;[67] and then, instead of a coach, would have been well satisfied to have gone out and taken the air for three or four hours in the evening in the balcony, poor soul. Well, Flirt, however, we'll agree:--'tis but three hundred pounds a year separate maintenance, you say, when I am weary of thee and the charge.

_Don._ [_Aside._]--Robbed of my honour, my daughter, and my revenge too! O my dear honour! Nothing vexes me, but that the world should say I had not Spanish policy enough to keep my daughter from being debauched from me. But methinks my Spanish policy might help me yet. I have it--so--I will cheat 'em all; for I will declare I understood the whole plot and contrivance, and connived at it, finding my cousin a fool, and not answering my expectation. Well, but then if I approve of the match, I must give this mock-dancing-master my estate, especially since half he would have in right of my daughter, and in spite of me. Well, I am resolved to turn the cheat upon themselves, and give them my consent and estate.

_Mons._ Come, come, ne'er be troubled, uncle: 'twas a combination, you see, of all these heads and your daughter's, you know what I mean, uncle, not to be thwarted or governed by all the Spanish policy in Christendom. I'm sure my French policy would not have governed her; so since I have 'scaped her, I am glad I have 'scaped her, _jarni!_

_Mrs. Caut._ Come, brother, you are wiser than I, you see: ay, ay.

_Don._ No, you think you are wiser than I now, in earnest: but know, while I was thought a gull, I gulled you all, and made them and you think I knew nothing of the contrivance. Confess, did not you think verily that I knew nothing of it, and that I was a gull?

_Mrs. Caut._ Yes indeed, brother, I did think verily you were a gull.

_Hip._ How's this? [_Listening._

_Don._ Alas, alas! all the sputter I made was but to make this young man, my cousin, believe, when the thing should be effected, that it was not with my connivance or consent; but since he is so well satisfied, I own it. For do you think I would ever have suffered her to marry a monsieur, a monsieur? _guarda!_--besides, it had been but a beastly incestuous kind of a match, _voto!_--

_Mrs. Caut._ Nay, then I see, brother, you are wiser than I indeed.

_Ger._ So, so.

_Mrs. Caut._ Nay, young man, you have danced a fair dance for yourself, royally; and now you may go jig it together till you are both weary. And though you were so eager to have him, Mrs. Minx, you'll soon have your bellyful of him, let me tell you, mistress.

_Prue._ Ha! ha!

_Mons._ How, uncle! what was't you said? Nay, if I had your Spanish policy against me, it was no wonder I missed of my aim, _ma foi!_

_Don._ I was resolved too my daughter should not marry a coward, therefore made the more the more ado to try you, sir. But I find you are a brisk man of honour, firm stiff Spanish honour; and that you may see I deceived you all along, and you not me, ay, and am able to deceive you still, for I know now you think that I will give you little or nothing with my daughter, like other fathers, since you have married her without my consent--but, I say, I'll deceive you now; for you shall have the most part of my estate in present, and the rest at my death.--There's for you: I think I have deceived you now, look you.

_Ger._ No, indeed, sir, you have not deceived me; for I never suspected your love to your daughter, nor your generosity.

_Don._ How, sir! have a care of saying I have not deceived you, lest I deceive you another way, _guarda!_--Pray, gentlemen, do not think any man could deceive me, look you; that any man could steal my daughter, look you, without my connivance:--

The less we speak, the more we think; And he sees most, that seems to wink.

_Hip._ So, so, now I could give you my blessing, father; now you are a good complaisant father, indeed:--

When children marry, parents should obey, Since love claims more obedience far than they.

[_Exeunt._

EPILOGUE

SPOKEN BY FLIRT.

The ladies first I am to compliment, Whom (if he could) the poet would content, But to their pleasure then they must consent; Most spoil their sport still by their modesty, And when they should be pleased, cry out, "O fy!" And the least smutty jest will ne'er pass by. But city damsel ne'er had confidence At smutty play to take the least offence, But mercy shows, to show her innocence, Yet lest the merchants' daughters should to-day Be scandalised, not at our harmless play, But our Hippolita, since she's like one Of us bold flirts of t'other end o' th' town; Our poet sending to you (though unknown) His best respects by me, does frankly own The character to be unnatural; Hippolita is not like you at all: You, while your lovers court you, still look grum, And far from wooing, when they woo, cry mum; And if some of you e'er were stol'n away, Your portion's fault 'twas only, I dare say. Thus much for him the poet bid me speak; Now to the men I my own mind will break. You good men o' th' Exchange, on whom alone We must depend, when sparks to sea are gone; Into the pit already you are come, 'Tis but a step more to our tiring-room; Where none of us but will be wondrous sweet Upon an able love of Lombard-street. You we had rather see between our scenes, Than spendthrift fops with better clothes and miens; Instead of laced coats, belts, and pantaloons, Your velvet jumps,[68] gold chains, and grave fur gowns, Instead of periwigs, and broad cocked hats, Your satin caps, small cuffs, and vast cravats. For you are fair and square in all your dealings, You never cheat your doxies with gilt shillings; You ne'er will break our windows; then you are Fit to make love, while our huzzas make war; And since all gentlemen must pack to sea, Our gallants and our judges you must be! We, therefore, and our poet, do submit, To all the camlet cloaks now i' the pit.

_THE COUNTRY WIFE._

Indignor quidquam reprehendi, non quia crasse Compositum illepideve putetur, sed quia nuper: Nec veniam antiquis, sed honorem et præmia posci.[69] HORAT.

_The Country Wife_ was written, according to its author's own statement, about the year 1671 or 1672. Its production upon the stage was subsequent to that of _The Gentleman Dancing-Master_, to which allusion is made in the prologue, and antecedent to that of the earlier-written _Plain Dealer_, in the second act of which the author inserted some critical observations upon _The Country Wife_. The first performance of _The Plain Dealer_, as will afterwards appear, admits not of a later date than that of March, or the very beginning of April, 1674; it follows then that _The Country Wife_ was brought forward some time between the early spring of 1672 and that of 1674. It was acted by the King's Company, established during these two years at the theatre in Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, and was published in the year 1675.

If we can overlook the immorality which, in this play, is more offensive and pronounced than in any of Wycherley's other dramas, we shall find in _The Country Wife_ a brilliantly written and skilfully constructed comedy, superior to either of the preceding dramas from the same pen, and surpassed, among comedies of the Restoration, only by its author's own masterpiece, _The Plain Dealer_. The plot of _The Country Wife_ is partly based upon two comedies by Molière--_L'Ecole des Femmes_ and _L'Ecole des Maris_. From the former of these Wycherley derived his conception of the jealous man who keeps under close restraint a young and ignorant woman, with the vain hope of thereby securing her fidelity to him. Agnes's innocent confessions to Arnolphe of her lover's stratagems and her own esteem for him find a counterpart in the Country Wife's frankness on a similar occasion, but beyond these points of coincidence there is little resemblance between the two plays. From _L'Ecole des Maris_, again, Wycherley has borrowed one or two incidents: the imprisoned girl's device of making her would-be husband (in the English play, her actual husband) the bearer of a letter to her gallant, and the trick by which Isabella causes her tyrant, under the impression that she is another woman, to consign her with his own hands to his rival.

Steele has published, in the _Tatler_ of April 16, 1709, a very just criticism upon this play, which, as it cannot fail to interest the reader, I venture to subjoin.

"Will's Coffee-house, April 14.

"This evening the Comedy, called _The Country Wife_, was acted in Drury Lane, for the benefit of Mrs. Bignell. The part which gives name to the Play was performed by herself. Through the whole action she made a very pretty figure, and exactly entered into the nature of the part. Her husband, in the Drama, is represented to be one of those debauchees who run through the vices of the town, and believe, when they think fit, they can marry and settle at their ease. His own knowledge of the iniquity of the age makes him choose a wife wholly ignorant of it, and place his security in her want of skill to abuse him. The Poet, on many occasions, where the propriety of the character will admit of it, insinuates that there is no defence against vice but the contempt of it: and has, in the natural ideas of an untainted innocent, shown the gradual steps to ruin and destruction which persons of condition run into, without the help of a good education to form their conduct. The torment of a jealous coxcomb, which arises from his own false maxims, and the aggravation of his pain by the very words in which he sees her innocence, makes a very pleasant and instructive satire. The character of Horner, and the design of it, is a good representation of the age in which that Comedy was written: at which time love and wenching were the business of life, and the gallant manner of pursuing women was the best recommendation at Court. To this only it is to be imputed that a Gentleman of Mr. Wycherley's character and sense condescends to represent the insults done to the honour of the bed without just reproof; but to have drawn a man of probity with regard to such considerations had been a monster, and a Poet had at that time discovered his want of knowing the manners of the Court he lived in, by a virtuous character in his fine gentleman, as he would show his ignorance by drawing a vicious one to please the present audience."

PROLOGUE

SPOKEN BY MR. HART.[70]

Poets, like cudgelled bullies, never do At first or second blow submit to you; But will provoke you still, and ne'er have done, Till you are weary first with laying on. The late so baffled scribbler of this day, Though he stands trembling, bids me boldly say, What we before most plays are used to do, For poets out of fear first draw on you; In a fierce prologue the still pit defy, And, ere you speak, like Castril[71] give the lie. But though our Bayes's battles oft I've fought, And with bruised knuckles their dear conquests bought; Nay, never yet feared odds upon the stage, In prologue dare not hector with the age; But would take quarter from your saving hands, Though Bayes within all yielding countermands, Says, you confederate wits no quarter give, Therefore his play shan't ask your leave to live. Well, let the vain rash fop, by huffing so, Think to obtain the better terms of you; But we, the actors, humbly will submit, Now, and at any time, to a full pit; Nay, often we anticipate your rage, And murder poets for you on our stage: We set no guards upon our tiring-room, But when with dying colours there you come, We patiently, you see, give up to you Our poets, virgins, nay, our matrons too.

_DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._

Mr. HORNER.

Mr. HARCOURT.

Mr. DORILANT.

Mr. PINCHWIFE.

Mr. SPARKISH.

Sir JASPER FIDGET.

A Boy.

A Quack.

Waiters, Servants, and Attendants.

Mrs. MARGERY PINCHWIFE.

ALITHEA, Sister of PINCHWIFE.

Lady FIDGET.

Mrs. DAINTY FIDGET, Sister of Sir JASPER.

Mrs. SQUEAMISH.

Old Lady SQUEAMISH.

LUCY, ALITHEA'S Maid.

SCENE--LONDON.

_THE COUNTRY WIFE._

ACT THE FIRST.