Will. Enough—I must have my Share of this Jest, and for divers and
sundry Reasons thereunto belonging, must be this very Mountebank
expected.
Shift. Faith, Sir, and that were no hard matter, for a day or two the
Town will believe it, the same they look for: and the Bank, Operators
and Musick are all ready.
Will. Well enough, add but a _Harlequin_ and _Scaramouch_, and I shall
mount in querpo.
Shift. Take no care for that, Sir, your Man, and Ensign _Hunt_, are
excellent at those two; I saw ’em act ’em the other day to a Wonder,
they’ll be glad of the Employment, my self will be an Operator.
Will. No more, get ’em ready, and give it out, the Man of Art’s
arriv’d: Be diligent and secret, for these two politick Asses must be
cozen’d.
Shift. I will about the Business instantly. [Ex. _Shift_.
Beau. This Fellow will do Feats if he keeps his Word.
Will. I’ll give you mine he shall—But, dear _Beaumond_, where shall we
meet anon?
Beau. I thank ye for that—’Gad, ye shall dine with me.
Feth. A good Motion—
Will. I beg your Pardon now, dear _Beaumond_—I having lately nothing
else to do, took a Command of Horse from the General at the last Siege,
from which I am just arriv’d, and my Baggage is behind, which I must
take order for.
Feth. Pox on’t now there’s a Dinner lost,’twas ever an unlucky Rascal.
Beau. To tempt thee more, thou shalt see my Wife that is to be.
Will. Pox on’t, I am the leudest Company in Christendom with your
honest Women—but—What, art thou to be noos’d then?
Beau. ’Tis so design’d by my Uncle, if an old Grandee 127 my Rival
prevent it not; the Wench is very pretty, young, and rich, and lives in
the same House with me, for ’tis my Aunt’s Daughter.
Will. Much good may it d’ye, _Harry_, I pity you, but ’tis the common
Grievance of you happy Men of Fortune. [Goes towards the House-door
with _Beau._
Enter _La Nuche_, _Aurelia_, _Petronella_, _Sancho_, Women veil’d a
little.
Aur. Heavens, Madam, is not that the _English_ Captain? [Looking on
_Will._
La Nu. ’Tis, and with him Don _Henrick_ the Ambassador’s Nephew—how my
Heart pants and heaves at sight of him! some Fire of the old Flames
remaining, which I must strive to extinguish. For I’ll not bate a Ducat
of this Price I’ve set upon my self, for all the Pleasures Youth or
Love can bring me—for see _Aurelia_—the sad Memento of a decay’d poor
old forsaken Whore in _Petronella_; consider her, and then commend my
Prudence.
Will. Hah, Women!—
Feth. Egad, and fine ones too, I’ll tell you that.
Will. No matter, Kindness is better Sauce to Woman than Beauty! By this
Hand she looks at me—Why dost hold me? [_Feth._ holds him.
Feth. Why, what a Devil, art mad?
Will. Raging, as vigorous Youth kept long from Beauty; wild for the
charming Sex, eager for Woman, I long to give a Loose to Love and
Pleasure.
Blunt. These are not Women, Sir, for you to ruffle—
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