_Guil_. Shaw, Conditions, any Conditions, noble _Antonio_.
_Ant_. You must disrobe anon, and do’n your native Habiliments--and in
the Equipage give that fair Viscountess to understand the true quality
of her Husband.
_Guil_. Hum--I’m afraid, ‘tis a harder task to leap from a Lord to a
Rogue, than ‘tis from a Rogue to a Lord.
_Ant_. Not at all, we have examples of both daily.
_Guil_. Well, Sir, I’ll show you my agility--but, Sir, I desire I may
consummate, d’ye see,--consummate--a little like a Lord, to make the
Marriage sure.
_Ant_. You have the Freedom to do so--the Writings I’ll provide.
_Guil_. I’ll about it then, the Priest waits within for you, and
_Guzman_ for you, _Jacinta_,--haste, for he is to arrive anon Ambassador
from _Cadiz_.
_Jac_. I know not, this noise of Weddings has set me agog, and I’ll e’en
in, and try what ‘tis.
[_Ex_. Antonio, Clara, _and_ Jacinta.
_Guil_. Come, Madam, your Honour and I have something else to do, before
I have fully dub’d you a Viscountess.
_Isa_. Ah, Heav’ns, what’s that?
_Guil_. Why a certain Ceremony, which must be performed between a pair
of Sheets,--but we’ll let it alone till Night.
_Isa_. Till Night, no; whate’er it be, I wou’d not be without an Inch
of that Ceremony, that may compleat my Honour for the World; no, for
Heaven’s sake, let’s retire, and dub me presently.
_Guil_. Time enough, time enough.
_Isa_. You love me not, that can deny me this.
_Guil_. Love--no, we are married now, and People of our Quality never
Love after Marriage; ‘tis not great.
_Isa_. Nay, let’s retire, and compleat my Quality, and you will find me
a Wife of the Mode, I’ll warrant you.
_Guil_. For once you have prevail’d.
_Enter_ Francisco.
_Fran_. Whither away?
_Isa_. Only to consummate a little, pray keep your distance.
[_She pulls off his hat_.
_Fran_. Consummate!
_Isa_. Ay, Sir, that is to make me an absolute Viscountess--we cannot
stay--farewel.
[Guiliom _leads her out_.
_Fran_. Hum--this _Turkey_ Air has a notable faculty, where the Women
are all plaguy kind.
_Enter_ Carlos _and_ Julia.
_Car_. By Heav’n, each Moment makes me more your Slave.
_Fran_. The Business is done.
_Jul_. My Husband! [_Aside_.
_Car_. And all this constant love to old _Francisco_ has but engaged
me more.
_Fran_. Ha, Love to me? [_Aside_.
_Jul_. Sir, if this Virtue be but real in you, how happy I shou’d be;
but you’ll relapse again, and tempt my virtue, which if you do--
_Fran_. I’ll warrant she wou’d kill herself. [_Aside_.
_Jul_. I should be sure to yield. [_In a soft tone to him_.
_Car_. No, thou hast made an absolute Conquest o’er me--and if that
Beauty tempt me every hour, I shall still be the same I was the last.
_Fran_. Pray Heaven he be _John_.
_Enter First_ Turk.
1st _Turk_. Most mighty Emperor, a Messenger from _Cadiz_ has Letters for
your Highness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account