Lau. Now for a Power that never yet was known To charm this Stranger quickly into Love. Assist my Eyes, thou God of kind Desires; Inspire my Language with a moving Force, That may at once gain and secure the Victory.

Enter Silvio.

Sil. Madam, your Lover’s here: your time’s but short; consider too, Count Julio may arrive.

Lau. Let him arrive; having secur’d my self of what I love, I’ll leave him to complain his unknown Loss To careless Winds as pitiless as I—Silvio, see the Rooms Be fill’d with Lights, whilst I prepare my self to entertain him. Darkness shall ne’er deceive me more—

[Enter to Sil. Gal. gazing about him, Cor. peeping at the Door.

Gal. All’s wondrous rich,—gay as the Court of Love, But still and silent as the Shades of Death; —Hah—Musick! and excellent! [Soft Musick whilst they speak. Pox on’t—but where’s the Woman?—I need no preparation.—

Cor. No, you are always provided for such Encounters, and can fall to sans Ceremony,—but I may spoil your Stomach. [A Song tuning.

Gal. A Voice too! by Heaven, and ‘tis a sweet one: Grant she be young, and I’ll excuse the rest, Yet vie for Pleasure with the happiest Roman.

[The Song as by Laura, after which soft Musick till she enters.

The SONG by a Person of Quality.

_Farewel the World and mortal Cares, The ravished Strephon cry’d, As full of Joy and tender Tears He lay by Phillis’ side: Let others toil for Wealth and Fame, Whilst not one Thought of mine At any other Bliss shall aim, But those dear Arms, but those dear Arms of thine.

Still let me gaze in thy bright Eyes, And hear thy charming Tongue; I nothing ask t’increase my Joys, But thus to feel ‘em long. In close Embraces let us lie, And spend our Lives to come; Then let us both together die, And be each other’s, be each other’s Tomb_.

—Death, I’m fir’d already with her Voice—

Cor. So, I am like to thrive.—

Enter Julio.

Jul. What mean these Lights in every Room, as if to make The day without the Sun, and quite destroy my Hopes!— Hah, Galliard here!

Cor. A Man! grant it some Lover, or some Husband, Heaven, Or any thing that will but spoil the Sport. The Lady! Oh, blast her, how fair she is!

Enter Laura with her Lute, drest in a careless rich Dress, followed by Sabina, to whom she gives her Lute, and Silvio.

Jul. Hah! ‘tis the same Woman. [She sees Julio and starts.

Lau. A Stranger here! What Art can help me now? [She pauses.

Gal. By all my Joys, a lovely Woman ‘tis.

Lau. Help me, Deceit, Dissembling, all that’s Woman— [She starts and gazes on Gal. pulling Silvio.

Cor. Sure I shou’d know that Face.—

Lau. Ah, look, my Silvio, is’t not he?—it is! That Smile, that Air, that Mien, that Bow is his: ’.is he, by all my Hopes, by all my Wishes.

Gal. He! yes, yes, I am a He, I thank my Stars, And never blest ‘em half so much for being so, As for the dear Variety of Woman.

Cor. Curse on her Charms, she’ll make him love in earnest.

Lau. It is my Brother; and Report was false. [Going towards him.

Gal. How, her Brother! Gad, I’m sorry we are so near akin, with all my Soul; for I’m damnably pleas’d with her.

Lau. Ah, why do you shun my Arms? or are ye Air? And not to be enclos’d in human Twines— Perhaps you are the Ghost of that dead Lord, That comes to whisper Vengeance to my Soul.

Gal. S’heart, a Ghost! This is an odd preparative to Love. [Aside.

Cor, ‘Tis Laura, my Brother Julio’s Mistress, and Sister to Octavio.

Gal. Death, Madam! do not scare away my Love with Tales of Ghosts, and Fancies of the Dead. I’ll give ye Proofs I’m living loving Man, as errant an amorous Mortal as Heart can wish—I hope she will not jilt me too. [Aside.

Cor. So! he’s at his common Proof for all Arguments; if she shou’d take him at his Word now, and she’ll be sure to do’t.

Lau. Amiable Stranger, pardon the Mistake, And charge it on a Passion for a Brother: Devotion was not more retir’d than I, Vestals or widow’d Matrons when they weep; Till by a fatal Chance I saw in you, The dear Resemblance of a murder’d Brother. [Weeps.

Jul. What the Devil can she mean by this? [Aside.

Lau. I durst not trust my Eyes, yet still I gaz’d, And that encreas’d my Faith you were my Brother: But since they err’d, and he indeed is dead, Oh, give me leave to pay you all that Love, That Tenderness and Passion that was his. [Weeping.

Cor. So, I knew she wou’d bring Matters about some way or other. Oh Mischief, Mischief, help me! S’life, I can be wicked enough when I have no use on’t! and now have, I’m as harmless as a Fool.

[_As Gal. is earnestly talking to Lau. Julio pulls him by the Sleeve.

Lau. Oh, save me, save me from the Murderer.

Jul. Hah!

Gal. A Murderer, where?

Lau. I faint, I die with horror of the Sight!

Gal. Hah—my Friend a Murderer! sure you mistake him, Madam; he saw not Rome till yesterday; an honest Youth, Madam, and one that knows his distance upon occasion!—S’life, how cam’st thou here?—prithee be gone and leave us.

Jul. Why, do you know this Lady, Sir?

Gal. Know her!—a—ay, ay,—Man—and all her Relations, she’s of Quality:—withdraw, withdraw—Madam—a—he is my Friend, and shall be civil.—

Lau. I have an easy Faith for all you say:—but yet however innocent he be, or dear to you, I beg he wou’d depart—he is so like my Brother’s Murderer, that one Look more wou’d kill me—

Jul. A Murderer! charge me with Cowardice, with Rapes or Treasons— Gods, a Murderer!

Cor. A Devil on her, she has robb’d the Sex of all their Arts of Cunning.

Gal. Pox on’t, thou’rt rude; go, in good Manners go.

Lau. I do conjure ye to torture me no more: If you wou’d have me think you’re not that Murderer, Be gone, and leave your Friend to calm my Heart Into some kinder Thoughts.

Gal. Ay, prithee go, I’ll be sure to do thy Business for thee.

Cor. Yes, yes, you will not fail to do a friendly Part, no doubt—

Jul. ‘Tis but in vain to stay—I see she did mistake her Man last night, and ‘twas to Chance I am in debt for that good Fortune;—I will retire to shew my Obedience, Madam. [Exit. Jul. Gal. going to the door with him.

Lau. He’s gone, and left me Mistress of my Wish. Descend, ye little winged Gods of Love, Descend and hover round our Bower of Bliss; Play all in various Forms about the Youth, And empty all your Quivers at his Heart. [Aside. [Gal. returns, she takes him by the hand. —Advance, thou dearer to my Soul than Kindred, Thou more than Friend or Brother. Let meaner Souls base-born conceal the God; Love owns his Monarchy within my Heart, So Kings that deign to visit humble Roofs, Enter disguis’d, but in a noble Palace, Own their great Power, and shew themselves in Glory.

Gal. I am all Transport with this sudden Bliss, And want some kind Allay to fit my Soul for Recompence.

Cor. Yes, yes, my forward Friend, you shall have an Allay, if all my Art can do’t, to damp thee even to Disappointment.

Gal. My Soul’s all Wonder; now let us retire, And gaze till I have softened it to Love. [Going out is met by Cor.

Cor. Madam!

Lau. More Interruption!—hah— [Turns.

Cor. My Master, the young Count Julio—

Lau. Julio!

Gal. What of him? [Aside.

Cor. Being just now arriv’d at Rome—

Lau. Heavens, arriv’d! [Aside.

Cor. Sent me to beg the Honour of waiting on you.

Lau. Sure, Stranger, you mistake.—

Cor. If, Madam, you are Laura Lucretia.—

Gal. Laura Lucretia! by Heaven, the very Woman he’s to marry. [Aside.

Lau. This would surprize a Virgin less resolv’d: But what have I to do with ought but Love? [Aside. —And can your Lord imagine this an Hour To make a ceremonious Visit in?

Gal. Riddles by Love! or is’t some Trick again? [Aside.

Cor. Madam, where Vows are past, the want of Ceremony may be pardon’d.

Lau. I do not use to have my Will disputed, Be gone, and let him know I’ll be obey’d.

Cor. S’life, she’ll out-wit me yet,— [Aside. Madam, I see this Niceness is not general, —You can except some Lovers.

Gal. My pert young Confident, depart, and let your Master know he’ll find a better welcome from the fair vain Curtezan, la Silvianetta, where he has past the Night, and given his Vows.

Lau. Dearly devis’d, and I must take the hint. [Aside smiling.

Cor. He knows me sure, and says all this to plague me. [Aside. My Lord, my Master with a Curtezan! he’s but just now arriv’d.

Gal. A pretty forward saucy lying Boy this; and may do well in time.— Madam, believe him not, I saw his Master yesterday,—convers’d with him. —I know him, he’s my Friend;—’twas he that parted hence but now, he told me all his Passion for a Curtezan scarce half an hour since.

Cor. So!

Lau. I do not doubt it, Oh, how I love him for this seasonable Lye: —And can you think I’ll see a perjur’d Man, [To Cor. Who gives my interest in him to another? —Do I not help ye out most artfully?— [Aside. Laughing to Gal.

Cor. I see they are resolv’d to out-face me.

Gal. Nay, vow’d to marry her.

Lau. Heavens, to marry her!

Cor. To be conquer’d at my own Weapon too!—Lying! ‘tis a hard case.— [Aside.

Gal. Go, Boy, you may be gone; you have you Answer, Child, and may depart—Come, Madam, let us leave him.

Cor. Gone, no help! Death, I’ll quarrel with him,—nay, fight him,— damn him,—rather than lose him thus.—Stay, Signior. [Pulls him.]—You call me Boy—but you may find your self mistaken, Sir,—And know—I’ve that about me may convince ye. [Shewing his Sword. —’Thas done some Execution.

Gal. Prithee, on whom or what? small Village Curs? The barking of a Mastiff wou’d unman thee. [Offers to go.

Cor. Hold—follow me from the Refuge of her Arms; As thou’rt a Man, I do conjure thee do’t:—I hope he will, I’ll venture beating for’t. [Aside.

Gal. Yes, my brisk little Rascal, I will a—a—

Lau. By all that’s good, you shall not stir from hence; ho, who waits there, Antonio, Silvio, Gaspero? [Enter all.] —take that fierce Youth, and bear him from my sight.

Cor. You shall not need; s’life, these rough Rogues will be too hard for me; I’ve one prevention left,—farewel.

May’st thou supply her with as feeble Art, As I should do, were I to play thy part.

[Goes out with the rest.

Gal. He’s gone, now let’s redeem our blessed Minutes lost.

[Go in.