Pert sings.
_You, before you enter here On this sacred Ring must swear_, [Puts it on his Finger, holds his Hand.
_By the Figure which is round, Your Passion constant and profound; By the Adamantine Stone, To be fixt to one alone:
By the Lustre, which is true, Ne'er to break your sacred Vow.
Lastly, by the Gold that's try'd, For Love all Dangers to abide_.
They all dance about him, while those same two sing.
Man. _Once about him let us move, To confirm him true to Love_. [bis.
Pert. _Twice with mystick turning Feet, Make him silent and discreet_. [bis.
Man. _Thrice about him let us tread, To keep him ever young in Bed_. [bis.
Gives him another part.
Man. _Forget_ Aminta's _proud Disdain; Haste here, and sigh no more in vain, The Joy of Love without the Pain_.
Pert. _That God repents his former Slights, And Fortune thus your Faith requites_.
Both. _Forget_ Aminta's _proud Disdain; Then taste, and sigh no more in vain, The Joy of Love without the Pain, The Joy of Love without the Pain_.
[_Exeunt_ all Dancers. Looks on himself, and feels about him.
_Gay_. What the Devil can all this mean? If there be a Woman in the Case--sure I have not liv'd so bad a Life, to gain the dull Reputation of so modest a Coxcomb, but that a Female might down with me, without all this Ceremony. Is it care of her Honour?--that cannot be--this Age affords none so nice: Nor Fiend nor Goddess can she be, for these I saw were Mortal. No--'tis a Woman--I am positive. Not young nor handsom, for then Vanity had made her glory to have been seen. No--since 'tis resolved, a Woman--she must be old and ugly, and will not balk my Fancy with her sight, but baits me more with this essential Beauty.
_Well--be she young or old, Woman or Devil, She pays, and I'll endeavour to be civil_.
[_Exit_.
SCENE V. _In the same House. The flat Scene of the Hall_.
_After a Knocking, enter_ Bredwel _in his masking Habit, with his Vizard in the one Hand, and a Light in t'other, in haste_.
_Bred_. Hah, knocking so late at our Gate-- [_Opens the door_.
_Enter Sir_ Feeble _drest, and arm'd Cap-a-pee, with a broad Waste-Belt stuck round with Pistols, a Helmet, Scarf, Buff-coat and half Pike_.
Sir _Feeb_. How now, how now, what's the matter here?
_Bred_. Matter, what, is my Lady's innocent Intrigue found out?-- Heavens, Sir, what makes you here in this warlike Equipage?
Sir _Feeb_. What makes you in this showing Equipage, Sir?
_Bred_. I have been dancing among some of my Friends.
Sir _Feeb_. And I thought to have been fighting with some of my Friends.
Where's Sir _Cautious_, where's Sir _Cautious_?
_Bred_. Sir _Cautious_--Sir, in Bed.
Sir _Feeb_. Call him, call him--quickly, good _Edward_.
_Bred_. Sure my Lady's Frolick is betray'd, and he comes to make Mischief. However, I'll go and secure Mr. _Gayman_.
[_Exit_ Bredwel.
_Enter Sir_ Cautious _and_ Dick _his Boy with Light_.
_Dick_. Pray, Sir, go to Bed, here's no Thieves; all's still and well.
Sir _Cau_. This last Night's misfortune of mine, _Dick_, has kept me waking, and methought all night, I heard a kind of a silent Noise. I am still afraid of Thieves; mercy upon me, to lose five hundred Guineas at one clap, _Dick_.--Hah--bless me! what's yonder? Blow the great Horn, _Dick_--Thieves--Murder, Murder!
Sir _Feeb_. Why, what a Pox, are you mad? 'Tis I, 'tis I, man.
Sir _Cau_. I, who am I? Speak--declare--pronounce.
Sir _Feeb_. Your Friend, old _Feeble Fainwou'd_.
Sir _Cau_. How, Sir _Feeble_! At this late hour, and on his Wedding-Night --why, what's the matter, Sir--is it Peace or War with you?
Sir _Feeb_. A Mistake, a Mistake, proceed to the business, good Brother, for time you know is precious.
Sir _Cau_. Some strange Catastrophe has happened between him and his Wife to Night, and makes him disturb me thus-- [_Aside_.
--Come, sit, good Brother, and to the business as you say--
[_They sit one at one end of the Table, the other at the other; _Dick_ sets down the Light and goes out--both sit gaping and staring, and expecting when either should speak_.
Sir _Feeb_. As soon as you please, Sir.
Lord, how wildly he stares! He's much disturb'd in's mind --Well, Sir, let us be brief--
Sir _Cau_. As brief as you please, Sir--Well, Brother-- [_Pausing still_.
Sir _Feeb_. So, Sir.
Sir _Cau_. How strangely he stares and gapes--some deep concern.
Sir _Feeb_. Hum--hum--
Sir _Cau_. I listen to you, advance--
Sir _Feeb_. Sir?
Sir _Cau_. A very distracted Countenance--pray Heaven he be not mad, and a young Wife is able to make an old Fellow mad, that's the Truth on't. [_Aside_.
Sir _Feeb_. Sure 'tis something of his Lady--he's so loth to bring it out --I am sorry you are thus disturb'd, Sir.