Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the secondVanbrugh, John
General
Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the second
Vanbrugh, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 18th century
Don _Fel._ Nay, son, I wou'd not have thee despise thy adversary
neither; thou'lt find Camillo will put thee hardly to't.
_Lor._ I wish we were come to the trial. Why does he not appear?
_Jacin._ Now do I hate to hear people brag thus. Sir, with my lady's
leave, I'll hold a ducat he disarms you.
[_They laugh._
_Lor._ Why, what!--I think I'm sported with. Take heed, I warn you all;
I am not to be trifled with.
_Enter ~Camillo~ and ~Isabella~._
_Leo._ You shan't, Sir, here's one will be in earnest with you.
_Lor._ He's welcome: tho' I had rather have drawn my sword against
another. I'm sorry, _Camillo_, we should meet on such bad terms as
these; yet more sorry your sister should be the wicked cause on't:
but since nothing will serve her but the blood either of a husband or
brother, she shall be glutted with't. Draw.
_Lop._ Ah Lard, ah Lard, ah Lard!
_Lor._ And yet before I take this instrument of death into my fatal
hand, hear me, _Camillo_; hear _Alvarez_; all! I imprecate the utmost
powers of heaven to shower upon my head the deadliest of its wrath;
I ask that all hell's torments may unite to round my soul with one
eternal anguish, if wicked _Leonora_ ben't my wife.
_Omnes._ O Lord, O Lord, O Lord!
_Leo._ Why then may all those curses pass him by, and wrap me in their
everlasting pains, if ever once I had a fleeting thought of making him
my husband.
_Lop._ O Lord, O Lord, O Lord!
_Leo._ Nay more; to strike him dumb at once, and shew what men with
honest looks can practise, know he's married to another.
_Alv._ and _Fel._ How!
_Leo._ The truth of this is known to some here.
_Jacin._ Nay, 'tis certainly so.
_Isab._ 'Tis to a friend of mine.
_Car._ I know the person.
_Lor._ 'Tis false, and thou art a villain for thy testimony.
_Cam._ Then let me speak; what they aver is true, and I myself was in
disguise, a witness of its doing.
_Lor._ Death and confusion! he a villain too! have at thy heart.
[_He draws._
_Lop._ Ah!----I can't bear the sight on't.
_Cam._ Put up that furious thing, there's no business for't.
_Lor._ There's business for a dagger, strippling; 'tis that should be
thy recompence.
_Cam._ Why then to shew thee naked to the world, and close thy mouth
for ever----I am myself thy wife.----
_Lor._ What does the dog mean?
_Cam._ To fall upon the earth and sue for mercy.
[_Kneels and lets her perriwig fall off._
_Lor._ A woman!
_Lop._ Ay----cod, and a pretty one too; you wags you.
_Lor._ I'm all amazement. Rise, _Camillo_, (if I am still to call you
by that name) and let me hear the wonders you have for me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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