Ducat. If by these perverse huniours, I should be forced to part with her, and allow her a separate maintenance; the thing is fo common among people of condition, that it could not prove to my difcredit. Family divifions, and matrimonial controverfies are a kind of proof of a man's riches; for the poor people are happy in marriage out of neceffity, because they cannot afford to disagree. [Enter Damaris.] Damaris, faw you my wife? Is the in her own room? What faid the? Which way went she? Damaris. Blefs me, I was perfectly frighten'd, she look'd fo like a fury! Thank my ftars, I never faw her look fo before in all my life; tho' mayhap you may have feen her look fo before a thoufand times. Woe be to the fervants that fall in her way! I'm fure I'm glad to be out of it. Ducat. I would have you, Damaris, have an eye upon your miftrefs. You should have her good at heart, and inform me when she has any fchemes a-foot; may be the means to reconcile us. it Damaris. She's wild, fir. There's no fpeaking to her. She's flown into the garden! Mercy upon us all, say I! How can you be fo unreasonable to contradict a woman, when you know we can't bear it? Ducat. I depend upon you, Damaris, for intelligence. You may obferve her at a distance: and as fooh as the comes into her own foom, bring me word. There is the fweeteft pleasure in the revenge that I have now in my head! I'll this inftant go and take my charge from Mrs. Trapes. [Afide.] Damaris, you know your instructions. [Exit. H 2 Damaris: Damaris. Sure all masters and miftreffes, like politicians, judge the confcience of mankind by their own, and require treachery of their fervants as a duty. I am employ'd by my mafter to watch my mistress, and by my mistress to watch my mafter. Which party fhall I efpoufe? To be fure my miftrefs's. For in her's, jurifdiction and power, the common caufe of the whole fex, are at stake. But my mafter I fee is coming this way. I'll avoid him, and make my obfervations. [Exit, Enter Ducat and Polly. Ducat. Be chearful, Polly, for your good fortune hath thrown you into a faniily, where, if you rightly confult your own intereft, as every body now-a-days does, you may make yourself perfectly eafy. Thofe eyes of your's Polly, are a fufficient fortune for any woman, if the have but conduct, and knew how to make the most of 'em. Polly. As I am your fervant, fir, my duty obliges me not to contradict you; and I must hear your flattery, tho' I know myself undeferving. But fure, fir, in handfome women, you must have obferved that their hearts often oppofe their intereft and beauty certainly has ruin'd more women than it has made happy. AIR XIII. The bush a boon Traquair. But birds of voice or feather rare That other beauties fell in; For fure at heart was never yet If my lady, fir, will let me know my duty, gratitude will make me ftudy to please her. Ducat. I have a mind to have a little converfation with you, and I would not be interrupted. [bars the door. Polly. I with, fir, you would let me receive dy's command. my la Ducat. And fo, Polly, by thefe downcaft looks of your's, you would have me believe you don't know you you are handsome, and that you have no faith in your looking-glafs. Why every pretty woman ftudies her face, and a looking-glafs to her is what a book is to a pedant; fhe is poring upon it all day long. In troth, a man can never know how much love is in him by converfations with his wife. A kifs on thofe lips, would make me young again. [Kiffes ber. AIR XIV. Bury Fair. Polly. How can you be fo teazing? Ducat. How can you be fo pleafing! Polly. I vow I'll not be naught. Ducat. All maids I know at first refift. [Going to kiss her. [Struggling. Polly. You're monstrous rude; I'll not be kifs'd: Nay, fye, let go my band. Ducat. 'Tis foolish pride Polly.> Poor innocence to wrong ; Ducat. I'll force you. Polly. 'Tis vile, 'tis base, Guard me from difgrace. You find that virtue's ftrong. [ufhing him away. 'Tis barbarous in you, fir, to take the occasion of my neceffities to infult me. Ducat. Nay, huffy, F'll give you money. Polly. I defpife it. No, fir, tho' I was born and bred in England, I can dare to be poor, which is the only thing now-a-days men are afhain'd of. Ducat. I fhall humble thefe faucy airs of your's, Mrs. Minx. Is this language from a fervant! from a flave! Polly. Am I then betray'd and fold! Ducat. Yes, huffy, that you are; and as legally my property, as any woman is her husband's, who fells herfelf in marriage. Polly. Climates that change conftitutions have no effect upon manners. What a profligate is that Trapes! Ducat. Your fortune, your happinefs depends upon your compliance. What, proof against a bribe! Sure, huffy, you belie your country, or you must have had a very vulgar education. 'Tis unnatural. H 3 AIR AIR XV. Bobbing Joan. When we bid up to their price. Befides, huffy, your confent may make me your flave there's power to tempt you into the bargain. You must be more than woman if can stand that too. Polly. Sure you only mean to try me! but 'tis barbarous to trifle with my diftreffes. you Ducat. I'll have none of these airs. 'Tis impertinent in a fervant, to have fcruples of any kind. I hire honour, confcience and all, for I will not be served by halves. And fo, to be plain with you, you obstinate flut, you shall either contribute to my pleasure or my profit; and if you refufe play in the bed-chamber, you fhall go work in the fields among the planters. I hope now I have explain'd myself. Polly. My freedom may be loft, but you cannot rob me of my virtue and integrity: and whatever is my lot, having that, I fhall have the comfort of hope, and find pleasure in reflection. AIR XVI. A fwain long tortur'd with disdain. Can I or toil or hunger fear? For love's a pain that's more fevere. But love, when unhappy, the more virtuous it is, the more it fuffers. Ducat. What noife is that? Damaris. [Without,] Sir, fir. Ducat. Step into the clofet; I will mediately to prefent you to my wife. fulness ruin your fortune. The next hope you will be better difpofed. [Afide. call you out imDon't let bafh opportunity I [Exit Polly. Damaris. Damaris. Open the door, fir. This moment, this moment. Enter Damaris. Ducat. What's the matter? Was any body about to ravish you? Is the house o'fire? Or my wife in a paffion ? ! Damaris. O fir, the whole country is in an uproar The pirates are all coming down upon us; and if they fhould raise the militia, you are an officer you know. I hope you have time enough to fling up your commiflion. Enter ft Footman. At Footman. The neighbours, fir, are frighted out of their wits; they leave their houses, and fly to your's for protection. Where's my lady, your wife? Heaven grant, they have not taken her! Ducat. If they only took what one could spare. Ift Footm. That's true, there were no great harm done. Ducat. How are the mufquets? ift Footm. Rufty, fir, all rufty and peaceable! For we never clean them but againft training-day. Damaris. Then, fir, your honour is fafe, for now you have a just excufe against fighting. Enter 2d Footman. zd Footman. The Indians, fir, with whom we are in alliance, are all in arms there will be bloody work to be fure. I hope they will decide the matter before we can get ready. Enter Mrs. Ducat. Mrs. Ducat. O dear husband, I'm frighten'd to death! What will become of us all! I thought a punishment for your wicked lewdness would light upon you at last. Ducat. Prefence of mind, my dear, is as neceffery in dangers as courage. Damaris. But you are too rich to have courage. You fhould fight by deputy. 'Tis only for poor people to be brave and defperate, who cannot afford to live. H 4 Enter |