Nay, dear madam, you shall not go without me. Though I have my particular reafons to be out of humour, I cannot be deficient in good-manners. Art. I know they would take it mortally ill if they thought your complaifance had put yourfelf under the leaft restraint. Ach. Ican't forgive myself for my behaviour. You must excufe me, madam; for absence in converfation is an incivility that I am but too liable to. Art. You know we all rally you upon your being in love, as that is one of its most infallible symptoms. Thet. I charge you, upon my bleffing;-as you expect fame, glory, immortality, obey me. [To Achilles. [Thetis kiffes bim. Exeunt Achilles and Artemona. As for his face, his air, his figure, I am not under the least apprehenfion: all my concern is from the impetuofity of his temper.-Yet, after all, why bou'd I fear a difcovery? for women have the fame paffions, though they employ 'em upon different objects. AIR V. A minuet. Man's fo touchy, a word that's injurious Or four, or refty, If balk'd of honours, or pow'r, or pelf: And all for reafons she keeps to herself. He is fudden, he is impatient What then? Are women lefs fo? Afk almost all fervants what they know of their mistreffes.—He is wilful, tefty, and untractable. Can't thousands of hufbands fay as much of their wives? Then as for their obftinacy-that can never fhew him lefs a woman. But he hath not that command of his tongue I cou'd with him: he is too vehement, too severe in his expreflions. In this particular, indeed, few women take equal liberties to one another's faces, but they make ample amends for it behind each other's backs; fo that, with all thefe infirmities of man, he may with the leaft conduct very well pals for a fine fpirited fpirited woman-This reflexion hath cured my anxiety, and will make me believe him fecure. Enter Lycomedes. Thet. 'Tis with the utmoft gratitude that I return your majefty thanks for the honours and hofpitable favours fhewn to me and my daughter. Lycom. You wou'd oblige me more, madam, if your affairs wou'd allow you to accept 'em longer. Thet. I have prefum'd, fir, to trefpafs further on your generofity, in leaving my daughter under your protection.- -I hope Pyrrha's behaviour will deferve it. AIR VI. To you, my dear, and to no other. Lycom. Defert her child? Ah, why this tear? In me, paternal love and care. Had you taken her with you, my daughters wou'd have been miferable beyond expreffion. Theirs and her education fhall be the fame. Thet. I beg you, fir, not to regard my gratitude like the common obligations of princes; for neither time nor intereft can ever cancel it. Lycom. Affairs of confequence may require your prefence. Importunity upon thefe occafions is troublefome and unhofpitable. I afk no queftions, madam, because I choose not to pry into fecrets. Thet. I can only thank, and rely upon your majesty's goodness.My duty to the queen, fir, calls me hence, to own my obligations, and receive her commands. [Exit. Enter Diphilus. Lycom. The princefs Califta hath taken her leave; fhe is but juft gone out of the room. Diph. That Pyrrha, fir, was a moft delicious piece. Lycom. With all her little vixen humours, to my taste she is infinitely agreeable. Diph. Your parting with her, fir, in this eafy manner is astonishing. One too fo exceffively fond of you! Lycom. Parting with her, Diphilus ! Diph. Diph. But no prince alive hath fo great a command of his paffions. Lycom. Dear Diphilus, let me understand you. Diph. To my knowledge you might have had her. Lycom. Can I believe thee? Diph. I really thought the queen began to be a little uneafy; and, for the quiet of the family (fince the is gone) I must own I am heartily glad of it. AIR VII. John went fuiting unto Joan. How your patience had been try'd, Joy for moments, plague for life. Lycom. I am not fo unhappy, Diphilus.-Her mother hath left her to my care. Diph. Juft as I wifh'd. Lycom. Wou'd fhe had taken her with her! Diph. It might have been better. For beyond difpute, fir, both you and the queen wou'd have been eafier. Lycom. Why did fhe truft her to me? Diph. There cou'd be but one reafon. Diph. 'Twas upon that very prefumption you was trusted. Lycom. Wou'd I could believe thee! Diph. "Tis an apparent manifeft scheme, fir; and you wou'd disappoint both mother and daughter if your majefty did not betray your truft.-You love her, fir, you fay. Lycom. To diftraction, Diphilus. Diph. And was the betraying a truft ever as yet an obftacle to that passion? What wou'd you have a mother do more upon fuch an occafion? Ladies of her rank cannot tranfact an affair of this kind, but with fome decorum. Lycom. But you can never fuppofe Pyrrha knows any thing of the matter. Diph. Why not, fir? Lycom. From me fhe cannot; for I have never as yet made any downright profeflions. Diph. There lies the true caufe of her thoughtfulnefs; 'tis nothing but anxiety, for fear her fcheme fhould not take place; for, no doubt, her mother hath inftructed her not to be too forward, to make you more fo.-Believe me, fir, you will have no difficulties in this affair, but thofe little ones that every woman knows how to practise to quicken a lover. Lycom. Be it as it will, Diphilus, I must have her. Diph. Had I been acquainted with your pleafure fooner, your majefty by this time had been tir'd of her-How happy fhall I make her, if I may have the honour of your majefty's commands to hint your paffron to her! Lycom. Never did eyes receive a passion with such coldness, such indifference! AIR VIII. Groom's complaint. Diph. Though 'tis what he wishes, what the longs for, what the fighs for, refpect and awe are a restraint upon her eyes as well as tongue. I have often told you, fir, the dares not understand you; the dares not believe herself fo happy. Lycom. This ring, Diphilus-I must leave the reft to your discretion. Diph. There may be a manner in giving it her, a little hint or fo-but the prefent will fpeak for itfelf; 'tis the most fuccefsful advocate of love, and never wants an interpreter. Lycom. Say every thing for me, Diphilus; for I feel I cannot speak for myself. Diph. Cou'd I be as fuccessful in all my other negociations! Yet there may be difficulties, for, if I miftake not, the lady hath fomething of the coquette about her; and what felf-denial will not those creatures fuffer to give a lover anxiety ! AIR IX. O'er Bogie. Obferve the wanton kitten's play, Now in fond embrace, Steals off, and bilks the chafe. Lycom. Dear Diphilus, what do you mean? I never faw a woman fo little of that character. Diph. Pardon me, fir; your fituation is such, that In your you can never see what mankind really are. prefence every one is acting a part; no one is himself, and was it not for the eyes and tongues of your faithful fervants, how little wou'd your fubjects be known to you! Though she is so prim and referv'd before you, fhe is never at a lofs for airs to draw all the young flirting lords of the court about her. Lycom. Beauty must always have its followers. Diph. If I miftake not, general Ajax too (who is fent to folicit your quota for the Trojan war) hath another folicitation more at heart -But fuppofe fhe had ten thousand lovers; a woman's prevalent paffion is ambition, which muft answer your ends.-The queen is coming this way, and her commands detain me. -I go, fir, to make Pyrrha the happieft creature upon earth. Enter Theafpe. may [Exit. Theafpe. I think the princefs Califta might as well have taken her daughter with her. That girl is fo intolerably forward, that I cannot imagine fuch converfation can poffibly be of any great advantage to your daughter's education. Lycom. You feem of late to have taken an averfion to the girl. She hath fpirit and vivacity, but not more than is becoming the fex; and I never faw any thing in her behaviour but what was extremely modeft. Theafpe. |