For now I find you fafe, I fhould be glad Brom. [Pulling him on one fide.] I afk'd the first queftion: answer me, my lord. Phad. [Pulling him on t'other fide.] Peace, mine's a lover, and yours but a husband: and my judge is my lord too; the title shall take place, and I will be anfwer'd. Jup. Sofia is fafe-Gripus is rich-both coming I rode before 'em with a lover's hafte- Alc. Then I, it feems, am laft to be regarded? Ale. I am the fool of love, and find within me, Jup. Juno may grudge; for fhe may fear a rival Phad. [Afide.] But Jupiter fhou'd afk my leave firft. Akc. Bromia, prepare the chamber : The tedious journey has difpos'd my lord To feek his needful reft. [Exit Bromia. Phad. 'Tis very true, madam; the poor gentleman muft needs be weary: and, therefore, 'twas not illcontriv'd that he muft lie alone to-night. Alc. [To Jupiter.] I must confefs I made a kind of promife Phad. [Almoft crying.] A kind of promife, do you call it? I fee you wou'd fain be coming off: I am fure you swore to me, by Jupiter, that I fhould be your bedfellow, and I'll accufe you to him too, the firft prayers I make; and I'll pray on purpose too, that I will. Jup. O, the malicious hilding! Alc. I did fwear indeed, my lord. Jup. Forfwear thyself; for Jupiter but laughs At lovers perjuries. Phad. The more fhame for him if he does. Alc. [Sighing.] She has my oath; And fure the may release it if the pleases Phad. Why truly, madam, I am not cruel in my nature to poor diftreffed lovers: for it may be my own cafe another day: and therefore, if my lord pleases to confider me —— Jup. Any thing, any thing! but name thy wish, and have it.- Phad. Ay, now you fay, any thing, any thing! but you wou'd tell me another story to-morrow morning. Look you, my lord, here's a hand open to receive; you know the meaning of it. Jup. Thou shalt have all the treasury of heav'n. Phad. Yes, when you are Jupiter to difpofe of it. You have got fome part of the enemies spoil I warrant you-I fee a little trifling diamond upon your finger; and I am proud enough to think it would become mine too. Jup. Here, take it. [Taking a ring off his finger and giving it. This is a very woman: Her fex is avarice, and fhe, in one, Is all her fex. Phad. Ay, ay, 'tis no matter what you fay of us. Go, get you together, you naughty couple: tomorrow morning I fhall have another fee for parting you. [Phædra goes out before Alcmena with a light. Jup. [Solus.] Now, for one night I leave the world to fate; Love is alone my great affair of state. By fome fond youth an am'rous vow's addreft, [Exit. ACT ACT II. A Night Scene of a Palace. Sofia with a dark lanthorn: Mercury in Sofia's shape, with a dark lantborn also. Sof. W 'AS not the devil in my mafter, to fend me out this dreadful dark night, to bring the news of his victory to my lady? And was not I poffefs'd with ten devils, for going on his errand, without a convoy for the fafeguard of my perfon? Lord, how am I melted into fweat with fear! I am diminish'd of my natural weight above two ftone: I fhall not bring half myself home again, to my poor wife and family. Well! the greatest plague of a ferving-man is to be hir'd to fome great lord! They care not what drudgery they put upon us, while they lie lolling at their eafe a-bed, and stretch their lazy limbs, in expectation of the whore which we are fetching for them. The better fort of 'em will fay, upon my honour, at every word: Yet afk 'em for our wages, and they plead the privilege of their honour, and will not pay us; nor let us take our privilege of the law upon them. These are à very hopeful fort of patriots, to ftand up as they do for liberty and property of the fubject: "there's confcience for you! Merc. [Afide. This fellow has fomething of the Republican spirit in him. Sof. [Looking about him.] Stay, this methinks fhou'd be our house. And I fhou'd thank the Gods now for bringing me fafe home: but I think I had as good let my devotions alone, till I have got the reward for my good news, and then thank 'em once for all for if I praife 'em before I am fafe within doors, fome damn'd mastiff-dog may come out and worry me; and then my thanks are thrown away upon 'em. Merc. [Afide.] Thou art a wicked rogue, and wilt have my bargain before-hand: therefore thou get'ft not into the house this night; and thank me accordingly as I ufe thee. Sof. Now I am to give my lady an account of my lord's victory 'tis good to exercife my parts before hand, hand, and file my tongue into eloquent expreffions, to tickle her ladyship's imagination. Merc. [Afide.] Good! and here's the God of Eloquence to judge of thy oration. Sof. [Setting down his lanthorn.] This lanthorn, for once, fhall be my lady; becaufe fhe is the lamp of all beauty and perfection. Merc. [Afide.] Excellent! Sof. Then thus I make my addreffes to her: [Bows:] Madam, my lord has chofen me out, as the most faithful, tho' the most unworthy of his followers, to bring your ladyfhip this following account of our glorious expedition. Then fhe-O my poor Sofia, [in a fhrill tone.] how am I overjoy'd to fee thee !She can fay no lefs- Madam, you do me too much honour, and the world will envy me this glory :Well anfwer'd on my fide- -And how does my lord Amphitryon --Madam, he always does like a man of courage, when he is call'd by honour.. There I think I nick'd it.- -But when will he return - -As foon as poffibly he can: but not fo foon as his impatient heart cou'd wish him with your ladyship. Merc. [Afide.] When Thebes is an univerfity, thou deferveft to be their orator. Sof. But what does he do, and what does he fay ? Pr'ythee tell me fomething more of him--He always fays less than he does, madam; and his enemies have found it to their coft-Where the devil did I learn thefe elegancies and gallantries? Merc. So; he has all the natural endowments of a fop, and only wants the education! Sof. [Staring up to the sky.] What, is the devil in the night? She's as long as two nights: the Seven Stars are just where they were feven hours ago! High day-high night, I mean, by my favour-What, has Phoebus been playing the good-fellow, and over-flept himself, that he forgets his duty to us mortals? Merc. How familiarly the rafcal treats us Gods! but I fhall make him alter his tone immediately. [Mercury comes nearer, and stands just before him. Sof. [Seeing him, and starting back, afide.] How now! What do my eyes dazzle, or is my dark lanthorn thorn falfe to me? Is not that a giant before our door? or a ghost of fomebody flain in the late battle? If he be, 'tis unconfcionably done, to fright an honeft man thus, who never drew weapon wrathfully in all his lifeWhatever wight he be, I am devilishly afraid, that's certain; but 'tis difcretion to keep my own counfel: I'll fing, that I may feem valiant. [Sofia fings, and as Mercury Speaks, by little and little drops his voice. Merc. What faucy companion is this, that deafens us with his hoarfe voice? What midnight ballad finger have we here? I fhall teach the villain to leave off catterwawling. Sof. I would I had courage, for his fake, that I might teach him to call my finging catterwawlingan illiterate rogue; an enemy to the Mufes and to mufic! Merc. There is an ill favour that offends my noftrils, and it wafteth this way. Sof. He has fmelt me out: my fear has betray'd me into this favour--I am a dead man! The bloody villain is at his fee, fa, fum, already. Merc. Stand, who goes there? Sof. A friend. Merc. What friend? Sof. Why a friend to all the world, that will give me leave to live peaceably. Merc. I defy peace and all its works-My arms are out of exercife, they have maul'd nobody these three days: I long for an honourable occafion to pound a man, and lay him asleep at the first buffet. Sof. [Afide.] That would almoft do me a kindness; for I have been kept waking, without tipping one wink of fleep, thefe three nights. Merc. Of what quality are you, fellow? Sof. Why, I am a man, fellow-Courage Sofia!- Sof. Why, a two-legg'd man, what man fhould I be Afide.]-I muft bear up to him, he may prove as errant a milkfop as myself. Merc. Thou art a coward, I warrant thee; do not I hear thy teeth chatter in thy head ? |