HIPPOLITA, ASCANIO, _meeting_ LAURA _and_ VIOLETTA.
_Hip._ I hear some walking this way.--Who goes there?
_Lau._ We are the two new pensioners, Laura and Violetta.
_Hip._ Go in, to your devotion: These undue hours of walking savour
too much of worldly thoughts.
_Lau._ Let us retire to the arbour, where, by this time, I believe,
our friends are.--Good-night, sister.
_Hip._ Good angels guard you. [_Exeunt_ LAU. _and_ VIO.] Now, brother,
the coast is clear, and we have the garden to ourselves. Do you
remember how you threatened me? But that's all one, how good soever
the opportunity may be, so long as we two resolve to be virtuous.
_Asca._ Speak for yourself, sister, for I am wickedly inclined. Yet, I
confess, I have some remorse when I consider you are in religion.
_Hip._ We should do very well to consider that, both of us; for,
indeed, what should young people do, but think of goodness and
religion; especially when they love one another, and are alone too,
brother?
_Asca._ A curse on't! here comes my lord, and Lucretia. We might have
accomplished all, and been repenting by this time; yet who the devil
would have thought they should have come so soon--Ah!
[_Sets his teeth._
_Hip._ Who the devil would have put it to the venture? This is always
the fault of you raw pages: You, that are too young, never use an
opportunity; and we, that are elder, can seldom get one.--Ah!
[_Sets her teeth._
_Enter_ FREDERICK _and_ LUCRETIA.
_Luc._ I believe, indeed, it troubled you to lose that letter.
_Fred._ So much, madam, that I can never forgive myself that
negligence.
_Luc._ Call it not so, 'twas but a casuality, though, I confess, the
consequence is dangerous; and therefore have not both of us reason to
defy love, when we see a little gallantry is able to produce so much
mischief?
_Fred._ [_Aside._] Now cannot I, for my heart, bring out one word
against this love.
_Luc._ Come, you are mute upon a subject, that is both easy and
pleasant. A man in love is so ridiculous a creature--
_Fred._ Especially to those that are not.
_Luc._ True; for to those that are, he cannot be so: They are like the
citizens of Bethlehem, who never find out one another's madness,
because they are all tainted. But for such ancient fops, as, with
reverence, your father is, what reason can they have to be in love?
_Fred._ Nay, your old fop's unpardonable, that's certain. But--
_Luc._ But what? Come, laugh at him.
_Fred._ But I consider he is my father, I can't laugh at him.
_Luc._ But, if it were another, we should see how you would insult
over him.
_Fred._ Ay, if it were another--And yet I don't know neither, 'tis no
part of good nature to insult: A man may be overtaken with a passion,
or so; I know it by myself.
_Luc._ How, by yourself! You are not in love, I hope?--Oh that he
would confess first now! [_Aside._
_Fred._ But, if I were, I should be loth to be laughed at.
_Luc._ Since you are not in love, you may the better counsel me: What
shall we do with this same troublesome father of yours?
_Fred._ Any thing, but love him.
_Luc._ But you know he has me at a bay; my letter is in his
possession, and he may produce it to my ruin: Therefore, if I did
allow him some little favour, to mollify him--
_Fred._ How, madam? Would you allow him favours? I can never consent
to it: Not the least look or smile; they are all too precious, though
they were to save his life.
_Luc._ What, not your father? Oh that he would confess he loved me
first! [_Aside._
_Fred._ What have I done? I shall betray myself, and confess my love
to be laughed at, by this hard-hearted woman. [_Aside._] 'Tis true,
madam, I had forgot; he is, indeed, my father, and therefore you may
use him as kindly as you please.
_Luc._ He's insensible: Now he enrages me. [_Aside._] What if he
proposes to marry me? I am not yet professed, and 'twould be much to
my advantage.
_Fred._ Marry you! I had rather die a thousand deaths, than suffer it.
_Luc._ This begins to please me. [_Aside._
But why should you be so much my enemy?
_Fred._ Your enemy, madam! Why, do you desire it?
_Luc._ Perhaps I do.
_Fred._ Do it, madam, since it pleases you so well.
_Luc._ But you had rather die, than suffer it.
_Fred._ No, I have changed my mind: I'll live, and not be concerned at
it.
_Luc._ Do you contradict yourself so soon? Then know, sir, I did
intend to do it; and I am glad you have given me advice so agreeable
to my inclinations.
_Fred._ Heaven! that you should not find it out! I delivered your
letter on purpose to my father, and 'twas my business, now, to come
and mediate for him.
_Luc._ Pray, then, carry him the news of his good success. Adieu,
sweet prince!
_Fred._ Adieu, dear madam.
_Asca._ Hey day! what will this come to? They have cozened one another
into a quarrel; just like friends in fencing, a chance thrust comes,
and then they fall to it in earnest.
_Hip._ You and I, brother, shall never meet upon even terms, if this
be not pieced.--Face about, madam; turn quickly to your man, or, by
all that's virtuous, I'll call the abbess.
_Asca._ I must not be so bold with you, sir; but, if you please, you
may turn towards the lady: and, I suppose, you would be glad I durst
speak to you with more authority, to save the credit of your
willingness.
_Fred._ Well, I'll shew her I dare stay, if it be but to confront her
malice.
_Luc._ I am sure I have done nothing to be ashamed of, that I should
need to run away.
_Asca._ Pray give me leave, sir, to ask you but one question; Why were
you so unwilling that she should be married to your father?
_Fred._ Because then her friendship must wholly cease.
_Asca._ But you may have her friendship, when she is married to him.
_Fred._ What! when another has enjoyed her?
Asca. _Victoria, Victoria_! he loves you, madam; let him deny it, if
he can.
_Luc._ Fye, fye, loves me, Ascanio! I hope he would not forswear
himself, when he has railed so much against it.
_Fred._ I hope I may love your mind, madam; I may love spiritually.
_Hip._ That's enough, that's enough: Let him love the mind without the
body, if he can.
_Asca._ Ay, ay, when the love is once come so far, that spiritual mind
will never leave pulling, and pulling, till it has drawn the beastly
body after it.
_Fred._ Well, madam, since I must confess it,--though I expect to be
laughed at, after my railing against love,--I do love you all over,
both soul and body.
_Asca._ Lord, sir, what a tigress have you provoked! you may see she
takes it to the death, that you have made this declaration.
_Hip._ I thought where all her anger was: Why do you not rail, madam?
Why do you not banish him? the prince expects it; he has dealt
honestly, he has told you his mind, and you may make your worst on't.
_Luc._ Because he does expect it, I am resolved, I'll neither satisfy
him nor you: I will neither rail nor laugh: Let him make his worst of
that, now.
_Fred._ If I understand you right, madam, I am happy beyond either my
deserts or expectation.
_Luc._ You may give my words what interpretation you please, sir; I
shall not envy you their meaning in the kindest sense. But we are near
the jessamine walk, there we may talk with greater freedom, because
'tis farther from the house.
_Fred._ I wait you, madam. [_Exeunt._