_Enter_ VINCENT _and_ VALENTINE.
_Vin._ I am glad I have found you, for now I am prepared to lead you
out of the dark and all your trouble: I have good news.
_Val._ You are as unmerciful as the physician who with new arts keeps
his miserable patient alive and in hopes, when he knows the disease is
incurable.
_Vin._ And you, like the melancholy patient, mistrust and hate your
physician, because he will not comply with your despair: but I'll cure
your jealousy now.
_Val._ You know, all diseases grow worse by relapses.
_Vin._ Trust me once more.
_Val._ Well, you may try your experiments upon me.
_Vin._ Just as I shut the door upon you, the woman Ranger expected came
up stairs; but finding another woman in discourse with him, went down
again; I suppose, as jealous of him, as you of Christina.
_Val._ How does it appear she came to Ranger?
_Vin._ Thus: Dapperwit came up after he had brought her, just then, in
a chair from St. James's by Ranger's appointment; and it is certain
your Christina came to you.
_Val._ How can that be? for she knew not I was in the kingdom.
_Vin._ My man confesses, when I sent him to inquire of her woman about
her lady's being here in the Park last night, he told her you were
come; and she, it seems, told her mistress.
_Val._ [_Aside._] That might be.--[_Aloud._] But did not Christina
confess, Ranger was in her lodging last night?
_Vin._ By intrusion, which she had more particularly informed me of, if
her apprehensions of your danger had not posted me after you; she not
having yet (as I suppose) heard of Clerimont's recovery. I left her,
poor creature! at home, distracted with a thousand fears for your life
and love.
_Val._ Her love, I'm sure, has cost me more fears than my life; yet
that little danger is not past (as you think) till the great one be
over.
_Vin._ Open but your eyes, and the fantastic goblin's vanished, and
all your idle fears will turn to shame; for jealousy is the basest
cowardice.
_Val._ I had rather, indeed, blush for myself than her.
_Vin._ I'm sure you will have more reason. But is not that Ranger there?
_Enter_ RANGER, _followed by_ CHRISTINA _and_ ISABEL;
_after them_ LYDIA _and_ LEONORE.
_Val._ I think it is.
_Vin._ I suppose his friend Dapperwit is not far off; I will examine
them both before you, and not leave you so much as the shadow of doubt:
Ranger's astonishment at my lodging confessed his mistake.
_Val._ His astonishment might proceed from Christina's unexpected
strangeness to him.
_Vin._ He shall satisfy you now himself to the contrary, I warrant you;
have but patience.
_Val._ I had rather, indeed, he should satisfy my doubts than my
revenge; therefore I can have patience.
_Vin._ But what women are those that follow him?
_Val._ Stay a little--
_Ran._ Lydia, Lydia--poor Lydia!
_Lyd._ If she be my rival, 'tis some comfort yet to see her follow him,
rather than he her. [_To_ LEONORE.
_Leo._ But if you follow them a little longer, for your comfort you
shall see them go hand in hand.
_Chris._ Sir! sir!--[_To_ RANGER.
_Leo._ She calls to him already.
_Lyd._ But he does not hear, you see; let us go a little nearer.
_Vin._ Sure it is Ranger!
_Val._ As sure as the woman that follows him closest is Christina.
_Vin._ For shame! talk not of Christina; I left her just now at home,
surrounded with so many fears and griefs she could not stir.
_Val._ She is come, it may be, to divert them here in the Park; I'm
sure 'tis she.
_Vin._ When the moon, at this instant, scarce affords light enough to
distinguish a man from a tree, how can you know her?
_Val._ How can you know Ranger, then?
_Vin._ I heard him speak.
_Val._ So you may her too, I'll secure you, if you will draw but a
little nearer; she came, doubtless, to no other end but to speak with
him: observe--
_Chris._ [_To_ RANGER.] Sir, I have followed you hitherto; but now, I
must desire you to follow me out of the company; for I would not be
overheard nor disturbed.
_Ran._ Ha! is not this Christina's voice? it is, I am sure; I cannot be
deceived now.--Dear madam--
_Vin._ It is she indeed. [_Apart to_ VALENTINE.
_Val._ Is it so?
_Chris._ Come, sir--[_To_ RANGER.
_Val._ Nay, I'll follow you too, though not invited. [_Aside._
_Lyd._ I must not, cannot stay behind. [_Aside._ [_They all go off
together hastily._
_Re-enter_ CHRISTINA, ISABEL, _and_ VALENTINE
_on the other side._
_Chris._ Come along, sir.
_Val._ So! I must stick to her when all is done; her new servant
has lost her in the crowd, she has gone too fast for him; so much
my revenge is swifter than his love. Now shall I not only have the
deserted lover's revenge, of disappointing her of her new man, but an
opportunity infallibly at once to discover her falseness, and confront
her impudence. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Pray come along, sir, I am in haste.
_Val._ So eager, indeed!--I wish that cloud may yet withhold the moon,
that this false woman may not discover me before I do her. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Here no one can hear us, and I'm sure we cannot see one
another.
_Val._ 'Sdeath! what have I giddily run myself upon? 'Tis rather a
trial of myself than her;--I cannot undergo it. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Come nearer, sir.
_Val._ Hell and vengeance! I cannot suffer it--I cannot. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Come, come; yet nearer,--pray come nearer.
_Val._ It is impossible! I cannot hold! I must discover myself, rather
than her infamy. [_Aside._
_Chris._ You are conscious, it seems, of the wrong you have done me,
and are ashamed, though in the dark. [_Speaks, walking slowly._
_Val._ How's this! [_Aside._
_Chris._ I'm glad to find it so; for all my business with you is, to
show you your late mistakes, and force a confession from you of those
unmannerly injuries you have done me.
_Val._ What! I think she's honest; or does she know me?--sure she
cannot. [_Aside._
_Chris._ First, your intrusion, last night, into my lodging; which, I
suppose, has begot your other gross mistakes.
_Val._ No, she takes me for Ranger, I see again. [_Aside._
_Chris._ You are to know, then, (since needs you must,) it was not me
you followed last night to my lodging from the Park, but some kinswoman
of yours, it seems, whose fear of being discovered by you prevailed
with me to personate her, while she withdrew, our habits and our
statures being much alike; which I did with as much difficulty, as she
used importunity to make me; and all this my Lady Flippant can witness,
who was then with your cousin.
_Val._ I am glad to hear this. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Now, what your claim to me, at Mr. Vincent's lodging, meant;
the letter and promises you unworthily, or erroneously, laid to my
charge, you must explain to me and others, or--
_Val._ How's this! I hope I shall discover no guilt but my own:--she
would not speak in threats to a lover. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Was it because you found me in Mr. Vincent's lodgings you took
a liberty to use me like one of your common visitants? but know, I came
no more to Mr. Vincent than you. Yet, I confess, my visit was intended
to a man--a brave man, till you made him use a woman ill; worthy the
love of a princess, till you made him censure mine; good as angels,
till you made him unjust:--why, in the name of honour, would you do't?
_Val._ How happily am I disappointed!--poor injured Christina! [_Aside._
_Chris._ He would have sought me out first, if you had not made him
fly from me. Our mutual love, confirmed by a contract, made our hearts
inseparable, till you rudely, if not maliciously, thrust in upon us,
and broke the close and happy knot: I had lost him before for a month,
now for ever. [_Weeps._
_Val._ My joy and pity makes me as mute as my shame; yet I must
discover myself. [_Aside._
_Chris._ Your silence is a confession of your guilt.
_Val._ I own it. [_Aside._
_Chris._ But that will not serve my turn; for straight you must go
clear yourself and me to him you have injured in me! if he has not made
too much haste from me to be found again. You must, I say; for he is a
man that will have satisfaction; and in satisfying him, you do me.
_Val._ Then he is satisfied.
_Chris._ How! is it you? then I am not satisfied.
_Val._ Will you be worse than your word?
_Chris._ I gave it not to you.
_Val._ Come, dear Christina, the jealous, like the drunkard, has his
punishment with his offence.
_Re-enter_ VINCENT.
_Vin._ Valentine! Mr. Valentine!
_Val._ Vincent!--
_Vin._ Where have you been all this while? [VALENTINE _holds_ CHRISTINA
_by the hand; who seems to struggle to get from him._
_Val._ Here with my injured Christina.
_Vin._ She's behind with Ranger, who is forced to speak all the tender
things himself; for she affords him not a word.
_Val._ Pish! pish! Vincent; who is blind now? who deceived now?
_Vin._ You are; for I'm sure Christina is with him. Come back and see.
[_They go out on one side, and return on the other._
_Re-enter_ LYDIA _and_ LEONORE, _followed by_ RANGER.
_Ran._ [_To_ LYDIA.] Still mocked! still abused! did you not bid me
follow you where we might not be disturbed or overheard?--and now not
allow me a word!
_Vin._ Did you hear him? [_Apart to_ VALENTINE.
_Val._ Yes, yes, peace. [_Apart to_ VINCENT.
_Ran._ Disowning your letter and me at Mr. Vincent's lodging, declaring
you came to meet another there, and not me, with a great deal of such
affronting unkindness, might be reasonable enough, because you would
not entrust Vincent with our love; but now, when nobody sees us nor
hears us, why this unseasonable shyness?
_Lyd._ It seems she did not expect him there, but had appointed to meet
another:--I wish it were so. [_Aside._
_Ran._ I have not patience!--do you design thus to revenge my intrusion
into your lodging last night? sure if you had then been displeased with
my company, you would not have invited yourself to't again by a letter?
or is this a punishment for bringing you to a house so near your own,
where, it seems, you were known too? I do confess it was a fault; but
make me suffer any penance but your silence, because it is the certain
mark of a mistress's lasting displeasure.
_Lyd._ My--is not yet come. [_Aside._
_Ran._ Not yet a word! you did not use me so unkindly last night, when
you chid me out of your house, and with indignation bid me begone. Now,
you bid me follow you, and yet will have nothing to say to me; and I am
more deceived this day and night than I was last night;--when, I must
confess, I followed you for another--
_Lyd._ I'm glad to hear that. [_Aside._
_Ran._ One that would have used me better; whose love I have
ungratefully abused for yours; yet from no other reason but my natural
inconstancy.--[_Aside._] Poor Lydia! Lydia!
_Lyd._ He muttered my name sure; and with a sigh. [_Aside._
_Ran._ But as last night by following (as I thought) her, I found you,
so this night, by following you in vain, I do resolve, if I can find
her again, to keep her for ever.
_Lyd._ Now I am obliged, and brought into debt, by his
inconstancy:--faith, now cannot I hold out any longer; I must discover
myself. [_Aside._
_Ran._ But, madam, because I intend to see you no more, I'll take my
leave of you for good and all; since you will not speak, I'll try if
you will squeak. [_Goes to throw her down, she squeaks._
_Lyd._ Mr. Ranger! Mr. Ranger!
_Vin._ Fy! Fy! you need not ravish Christina sure, that loves you so.
_Ran._ Is it she! Lydia all this while!--how am I gulled! and Vincent
in the plot too! [_Aside._
_Lyd._ Now, false Ranger!
_Ran._ Now, false Christina too!--you thought I did not know you now,
because I offered you such an unusual civility.
_Lyd._ You knew me!--I warrant you knew, too, that I was the Christina
you followed out of the Park last night! that I was the Christina that
writ the letter too!
_Ran._ Certainly, therefore I would have taken my revenge, you see, for
your tricks.
_Val._ Is not this the same woman that took refuge in your house last
night, madam? [_To_ CHRISTINA.
_Chris._ The very same.
_Val._ What, Mr. Ranger, we have chopped, and changed, and hid our
Christinas so long and often, that at last we have drawn each of us our
own?
_Ran._ Mr. Valentine in England!--the truth on't is, you have juggled
together, and drawn without my knowledge; but since she will have it
so, she shall wear me for good and all now. [_Goes to take her by the
hand._
_Lyd._ Come not near me.
_Ran._ Nay, you need not be afraid I would ravish you, now I know you.
_Lyd._ And yet, Leonore, I think 'tis but justice to pardon the fault I
made him commit? [_Apart to_ LEONORE, RANGER _listens._
_Ran._ You consider it right, cousin; for indeed you are but merciful
to yourself in it.
_Lyd._ Yet, if I would be rigorous, though I made a blot, your
oversight has lost the game.
_Ran._ But 'twas rash woman's play, cousin, and ought not to be played
again, let me tell you.
_Enter_ DAPPERWIT.
_Dap._ Who's there? who's there?
_Ran._ Dapperwit.
_Dap._ Mr. Ranger, I am glad I have met with you, for I have left my
bride just now in the house at Mulberry-garden, to come and pick up
some of my friends in the Park here to sup with us.
_Ran._ Your bride! are you married then? where is your bride?
_Dap._ Here at Mulberry-garden, I say, where you, these ladies and
gentlemen, shall all be welcome, if you will afford me the honour of
your company.
_Ran._ With all our hearts:--but who have you married? Lucy?
_Dap._ What! do you think I would marry a wench? I have married an
heiress worth thirty thousand pounds, let me perish!
_Vin._ An heiress worth thirty thousand pounds!
_Dap._ Mr. Vincent, your servant; you here too?
_Ran._ Nay, we are more of your acquaintance here, I think.--Go, we'll
follow you, for if you have not dismissed your parson, perhaps we may
make him more work. [_Exeunt._