Aria. I scorn to flinch for a bare Wound or two; nor is he routed that
has lost the day, he may again rally, renew the Fight, and vanquish.
La Nu. You have a good opinion of that Beauty, which I find not so
forcible, nor that fond Prattle uttered with such Confidence.
Aria. But I have Quality and Fortune too.
La Nu. So had you need. I should have guest the first by your pertness;
for your saucy thing of Quality acts the Man as impudently at fourteen,
as another at thirty: nor is there any thing so hateful as to hear it
talk of Love, Women and Drinking; nay, to see it marry too at that Age,
and get itself a Play-fellow in its Son and Heir.
Aria. This Satyr on my Youth shall never put me out of countenance, or
make me think you wish me one day older; and egad, I’ll warrant them
that tries me, shall find me ne’er an hour too young.
La Nu. You mistake my Humour, I hate the Person of a fair conceited
Boy.
Enter _Willmore_ drest, singing.
Will. Vole, vole dans cette Cage,
Petite Oyseau dans cet bocage.
—How now, Fool, where’s the Doctor?
Shift. A little busy, Sir.
164
Will. Call him, I am in haste, and come to cheapen the Price of
Monster.
Shift. As how, Sir?
Will. In an honourable way, I will lawfully marry one of ’em, and have
pitcht upon the Giant; I’ll bid as fair as any Man.
Shift. No doubt but you will speed, Sir: please you, Sir, to walk in.
Will. I’ll follow—_Vole, vole dans cette Cage_, &c.
Luc. Why,’tis the Captain, Madam— [Aside to _Aria._
La Nu. Hah—marry—harkye, Sir,—a word, pray. [As he is going out she
pulls him.
Will. Your Servant, Madam, your Servant—_Vole, vole_, &c. [Puts his Hat
off carelesly, and walks by, going out.
Luc. And to be marry’d, mark that.
Aria. Then there’s one doubt over, I’m glad he is not married.
La Nu. Come back—Death, I shall burst with Anger—this Coldness blows my
Flame, which if once visible, makes him a Tyrant—
Will. Fool, what’s a Clock, fool? this noise hinders me from hearing it
strike. [Shakes his Pockets, and walks up and down.
La Nu. A blessed sound, if no Hue and Cry pursue it.—what—you are
resolv’d then upon this notable Exploit?
Will. What Exploit, good Madam?
La Nu. Why, marrying of a Monster, and an ugly Monster.
Will. Yes faith, Child, here stands the bold Knight, that singly, and
unarm’d, designs to enter the List with _Thogogandiga_ the Giant; a
good Sword will defend a worse cause than an ugly Wife. I know no
danger worse than fighting for my Living, and I have don’t this dozen
years for Bread.
La Nu. This is the common trick of all Rogues, when they have done an
ill thing to face it out.
165
Will. An ill thing—your Pardon, Sweet-heart, compare it but to
Banishment, a frozen Sentry with brown George and _Spanish_ Pay; and if
it be not better to be Master of a Monster, than Slave to a damn’d
Commonwealth—I submit—and since my Fortune has thrown this good in my
way—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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