would have you to know, I understand better things, than to ruin my son without a valuable consideration. If I can't have you, I can keep my money. Your sister sha'n't have the catch of him she expected: I won't part with a shilling to 'em.

Well. You made the match yourself, you know: you can't blame me.

Wid. Yes, yes, I can, and do blame you: you might have told me before, you were married.

Well. I would not have told you now; but you followed me so close, I was forced to it: indeed I am married in England; but 'tis as if I were not; for I have been parted from my wife a great while, and, to do reason on both sides, we hate one another heartily. Now I did design, and will marry you still, if you'll have a little patience.

Wid. A likely business truly.

Well. I have a friend in England that I will write to, to poison my wife, and then I can marry you with a good conscience; if you love me, as you say you do, you'll consent to that, I'm sure. Wid. And will he do it,

Well. At the first word,

him to be.

do you think?

or he is not the man I take

Wid. Well, you are a dear devil, Mr. Welldon : and would you poison your wife for me?

Well. I would do any thing for you.

Wid. Well, I am mightily obliged to you. But 'twill be a great while before you can have an answer of your letter.

Well. 'Twill be a great while indeed.

Wid. In the mean time, Mr. Welldon

Well. Why in the mean time-Here's company: We'll settle that within; I'll follow you. [Exit Widow.

Enter STANMORE.

Stan. So, Sir, you carry on your business swimmingly you have stolen a wedding, I hear.

Well. Ay, my sister is married: and I am very near being run away with myself.

Stan. The widow will have you then.

Well. You come very seasonably to my rescue. Jack Stanmore is to be had, I hope. Stan. At half an hour's warning.

Well. I must advise with you.

"SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

"The Country. Enter OROONOKO with ABOAN,

"HOTMAN, and Slaves.

"Oro. Impossible! nothing's impossible: "We know our strength only by being try'd. "If you object the mountains, rivers, woods "Unpassable, that lie before our march: "Woods we can set on fire: we swim by nature: "What can oppose us then but we may tame? "All things submit to virtuous industry :

"That we carry with us, that is ours.

"Slav. Great Sir, we have attended all you said,

"With silent joy and admiration :

"And, were we only men, would follow such, "So great a leader, through the untry'd world. "But, oh, consider we have other names, "Husbands and fathers, and have things more dear "To us than life, our children and our wives, "Unfit for such an expedition:

"What must become of them?

"Oro. We wo'not wrong

"The virtue of our women, to believe
"There is a wife among them would refuse

"To share her husband's fortune. What is hard,
"We must make easy to them in our love: while we
❝ live,

"And have our limbs, we can take care of them; "Therefore I still propose to lead our march "Down to the sea, and plant a colony; "Where, in our native innocence, we shall live "Free, and be able to defend ourselves,

"Till stress of weather, or some accident,

"Provide a ship for us.

"Abo. An accident!

"The luckiest accident presents itself;

"The very ship that brought and made us slaves "Swims in the river still; I see no cause

"But we may seize on that.

"Oro. It shall be so:

"There is a justice in it pleases me.

"Do you agree to it?

Omnes. We follow you.

[To the slaves.

"You'll find it difficult and dangerous.

[To Hotman.

"Abo. Are you the man to find the dangers first? "You should have giv'n example. Dangerous! "I thought you had not understood the word; "You, who would be the head, the hand and heart: "Sir, I remember you; you can talk well; word. "I wo'not doubt but you'll maintain your "Oro. This fellow is not right, I'll try him fur[To Aboan.

❝ther.

"The danger will be certain to us all,
"And death most certain in miscarrying.
"We must expect no mercy, if we fail:
"Therefore our way must be, not to expect:
"We'll put it out of expectation,

"By death upon the place, or liberty.`

"There is no mean, but death, or liberty. "There's no man here, I hope, but comes prepar'd "For all that can befal him.

"Abo. Death is all:

"In most conditions of humanity

"To be desir'd, but to be shunn'd by none : "The remedy of many, wish of some,

"And certain end of all.

"If there be one among us, who can fear
"The face of death, appearing like a friend,
"(As, in this cause of honour, death must be)
"How will he tremble when he sees him dress'd
"In the wild fury of our enemies,

"In all the terrors of their cruelty?
"For now, if we should fall into their hands,
"Could they invent a thousand murd'ring ways,
"By racking torments, we should feel them all.
"Hot. What will become of us?

"Oro. Observe him now. [To Abo. concerning Hot. "I could die, altogether like a man,

"As you, and you, and all of us must do; "But who can answer for his bravery "Upon the rack, where fainting, weary life, "Hunted thro' every limb, is forc'd to feel "An agonizing death of all its parts? "Who can bear this? Resolve to be impal'd, "His skin flea'd off, and roasted yet alive; "The quiv'ring flesh torn from his broken bones "By burning pincers? Who can bear these pains? "Hot. They are not to be borne.

[Discovering all the confusion of fear. "Oro. You see him now, this man of mighty

"" words!

"Abo. How his eyes roll!

"Oro. He cannot hide his fear.

"I try'd him this way, and have found him out.

"Abo. I could not have believ'd it. Such a blaze, "And not a spark of fire!

"Oro. His violence

"Made me suspect; now I'm convinc'd.

"Abo. What shall we do with him?

"Oro. He is not fit

"Abo. Fit! hang him, he is only fit to be