_Cel_. Oh Heaven! ‘tis true, these Eyes confirm my Fate.
Yonder he is--and that fair splendid Thing,
That gazes on him with such kind Desire,
Is my blest Rival--Oh, he is married!
--Gods! And yet you let him live;
Live too with all his Charms, as fine and gay,
As if you meant he shou’d undo all easy Maids,
And kill ‘em for their Sin of loving him.
Wretched _Celinda_!
But I must turn my Eyes from looking on
The fatal Triumphs of my Death--Which of all these
Is my Brother? Oh, that is he: I know him
By the Habit he sent for to the Play-House.
[Points to Sir Tim.
And hither he’s come in Masquerade,
I know with some Design against my _Bellmour_,
Whom though he kill me, I must still preserve:
Whilst I, lost in despair, thus as a Boy
Will seek a Death from any welcome Hand,
Since I want Courage to perform the Sacrifice.
_Enter one and dances an Entry, and a Jig at the end on’t_.
_Lord_. Enough, enough at this time, let’s see the Bride to bed, the
Bridegroom thinks it long.
_Friend_. Hell! Can I endure to hear all this with Patience?
Shall he depart with Life to enjoy my Right,
And to deprive my Sister of her due?
--Stay, stay, and resign
That Virgin.
_Bel_. Who art thou that dar’st lay a Claim to ought that’s here?
_Friend_. This Sword shall answer ye.
[_Draws_.
_Bel_. Though I could spare my Life, I’ll not be robb’d of it.
[_Draws_.
_Dia_. Oh, my dear _Bellmour_!
[_All draw on_ Bellmour’s side_--Diana _holds_ Bellmour,
Celinda _runs between their Swords, and defends_ Bellmour;
_Sir_ Tim. Sham, _and_ Sharp _draw, and run into several
Corners, with signs of Fear_.
_Friend_. Who art thou, that thus fondly guard’st his Heart?
[_To_ Celinda.
--Be gone, and let me meet it.
_Cel_. That thou mayst do through mine, but no way else.
_Friend_. Here are too many to encounter, and I’ll defer my Vengeance.
_Char_. Stay, Sir, we must not part so.
[_Ex. Drawing at the same Door, that Sir_ Tim. _is sneaking out at_.
Come back I say. [_Pulls in Sir_ Tim.
Slave! Dost thou tremble?--
Sir _Tim_. Sir, I’m not the Man you look for--
By Fortune, _Sham_, we’re all undone:
He has mistook me for the fighting Fellow.
_Char_. Villain, defend thy Life.
Sir _Tim_. Who, I, Sir? I have no quarrel to you, nor no man breathing,
not I, by Fortune.
_Cel_. This Coward cannot be my Brother. [_Aside_.
_Char_. What made thee draw upon my Brother?
Sir _Tim_. Who, I, Sir? by Fortune, I love him--I draw upon him!
_Char_. I do not wonder thou canst lye, for thou’rt a Coward!
Didst not thou draw upon him? Is not thy Sword yet out?
Did I not see thee fierce, and active too, as if thou hadst dar’d?
Sir _Tim_. Why, he’s gone, Sir; a Pox of all Mistakes and Masqueradings
I say--this was your Plot, _Sham_.
_Char_. Coward! Shew then thy Face.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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