31 Mrs. Duc, Let honour spur the flave, Duc. To fight for fighting's fake : Be fatisfy'd my dear, I shall be discreet. My servants here will take care that I be not over-rash, for their wages depend upon me. But before I go to councilcome hither, Polly; I intreat you, wife, to take her into your service, Enter Polly. and use her civily. Indeed, my dear, your fufpicions are very frivolous and unreasonable. Mrs. Duc. I hate to have a handsome wench about me. They are always so saucy! Duc. Women, by their jealoufies, put one in mind of doing that which otherwise we should never think of. Why you are a proof, my dear, that a handsome woman may be honest. 1 Mrs. Duc. I find you can say a civil thing to me ftill. ८ ار Duc. Affairs, you fee, call me hence, And so I leave her under your protection. 15 1 [Exit. Mrs. Duc. Away, into the other room again. When I want you, I'll call you. [Exit Polly.] Well, Dat maris, to be fure you have observed all that has passed. I will know all. I'm fure she's a huffyer wit Dam. Nay, Madam, I can't say so much. But Mrs. Duc. But what? Dam. I hate to make mischief. AIR XVIII. Fig-it-o' Foot All that's doing, Than to find out on ARCTIA What servants hear and fee Should they tattle15107 Marriage all day would be Feuds and battle T A fer A fervant's legs and hands should be under your com. mand, but, for the fake of quiet, you should leave their tongues to their own difcretion. Mrs. Duc. Ivow, Damaris, I will know it. Dam. To be fure, Madam, the door was bolted, and I could only listen. There was a fort of a bustle between them, that's certain. What past I know not. But the noise they made, to my thinking, did not found very honest. Mrs. Duc. Noises that did not found very honest, said you? Dam. Nay, Madam, I am a maid, and have no experience. If you had heard them, you would have been a better judge of the matter. Mrs. Duc. An impudent slut! I'll have her before me. If the be not a thorough profligate, I shall make a discovery by her behaviour. Go call her to me. [Exit Damaris and returns with Polly. In my own house! Before my face! I'll have you fent to the house of correction, strumpet. By that overhonest look, I guess her to be a horrid jade. A mere hypocrite, that is perfectly white-washed with innocence. My blood rises at the fight of all strumpets, for they are smugglers in love, that ruin us fair traders in matrimony. Look upon me, Mrs. Brazen. She has no feeling of shame. She is so used to impudence, that she has not a blush within her. Do you know, Madam, that I am Mr. Ducat's wife? Polly. As your servant, Madam, I think myfelf happy. Mrs. Duc. You know Mr. Ducat, I suppose. She has beauty enough to make any woman alive hate her. [Afide AIR XIX. Trumpet minuet. Abroad after misses most husbands will roam, I vow, I had rather have a thief in my house. For to be sure she is that befides. Polly Polly. If you were acquainted with my misfortunes, Madam, you could not infult me. Mrs. Duc. What does the wench mean? Dam. There's not one of these common creatures, but like common beggars, hath a moving story at her finger's ends, which they tell over, when they are maudlin, to their lovers. I had a sweetheart, Madam, who was a rake, and I know their ways very well, by hearsay. Polly. What villains are hypocrites! for they rob those of relief, who are in real distress. I know what it is to be unhappy in marriage. Mrs. Duc. Married! Polly. Unhappily. Mrs. Duc. When? where? to whom? Polly. If woman can have faith in woman, may my words find belief. Protestations are to be suspected, so I shall use none. If truth can prevail I know you will pity me. Mrs. Duc. Her manner and behaviour are so particular, that is to say, so sincere, that I must hear her story. Unhappily married! That is a misfortune not to be remedied. Polly. A constant woman hath but one chance to be happy; an inconstant woman, tho' she hath no chance to be very happy, can never be very unhappy. Dam. Believe me, Mrs. Polly, as to pleasures of all forts, 'tis a much more agreeable way to be inconstant. AIR XX, Polwarth on the Green, Love now is nought but art, Polly. Polly. My cafe, Madam, may in these times be look'd upon as fingular; for I married a man only because I lov'd him. For this I was look'd upon as a fool by all my acquaintance; I was used inhumanly by my father and mother; and, to compleat my misfortunes, my hufband, by his wild behaviour, incurred the sentence of the law, and was separated from me by banishment. Being informed he was in this country, upon the death of my father and mother, with most of my small fortune, I came here to feek him. Mrs. Duc. But how then fell you into the hands of that confummate bawd, Trapes ? Polly. In my voyage, Madam, I was robb'd of all I had. Upon my landing in a strange country, and in want, I was found out by this inhuman woman, who had been an acquaintance of my father's: she offer'd was inform'd of my neceffities, she proposed to me the service of a lady; of which I readily accepted. 'Twas under that pretence that she treacherously fold me to your husband as a mistress. This, Madam, is in short the whole truth. I fling myself at your feet for protection. By relieving me, you make yourself easy. Mrs. Duc. What is't you propose? Polly. In conniving at my efcape, you fave me from your husband's worrying me with threats and violence, and at the fame time quiet your own fears and jealoufies. If it is ever in my power, Madam, with gratitude I will repay you my ransom. Dam. Befides, Madam, you will effectually revenge yourself upon your husband; for the loss of the money he paid for her will touch him to the quick. Mrs. Duc. But have you confidered what you request? We are invaded by the pirates: the Indians are in arms; the whole country is in commotion, and you will every where be expos'd to danger. Dam. Get rid of her at any rate. For fuch is the vanity of man, that when once he has begun with a woman, out of pride he will infist upon his point. Polly. In staying with you, Madam, I make two people unhappy. And I chuse to bear my own misfortunes, without being the cause of another's. Mrs. Mrs. Duc. If I let her escape before my husband's return, he will imagine she got off by the favour of this bustle and confufion. Polly. May Heaven reward your charity. Mrs. Duc. A woman so young and handsome must be expos'd to continual dangers. I have a fuit of clothes by me of my nephew's, who is dead. In a man's habit you will run fewer risques. I'll affift you too for the present with some money; and, as a traveller, you may with greater safety make enquiries after your husband. Polly. How shall I ever make a return for so much goodness ? Mrs. Duc. May love reward your constancy. As for that perfidious monster, Trapes, I will deliver her into the hands of the magistrate. Come, Damaris, let: us this instant equip her for her adventures. Dam. When she is out of the house, without doubt, Madam, you will be more easy. And I wish she may be fo too. Polly. May virtue be my protection; for I feel within me hope, chearfulness, and resolution. AIR XXI. St. Martin's Lane. As pilgrims thro' devotion They every danger bear. Thus equal zeal poffeffing, O love, my honest vow regard! My truth protect, My steps direct, His flight detect, A faithful wife reward. END of the FIRST ACT. [Exeunt. ACT |