Dug. Ay, madam, and you shall have a swinging equipage, three or four thousand footmen at your heels, at least. Dur. No less becomes her quality. Bis. Faugh! the monster ! Dur. Monster! ay, you're all a little monstrous, let me tell you. Enter YOUNG MIRABEL. Old Mir. Ah, my dear Bob! art thou safe, man? Y. Mir. No, no, sir, I am ruined: the saver of my life is lost! Old Mir. No, he came and brought us the news. Enter ORIANA. Ha! [Runs and embraces her.] My dear preserver! what shall I do to recompense your trust?-Father, friends, gentlemen, behold the youth, that has relieved me from the most ignominious death!-Command me, child; before you all-before my late, so kind, indulgent stars, I swear to grant whate'er you ask. Oriana. To the same stars, indulgent now to me, I will appeal, as to the justice of my claim: I shall demand but what was mine before-the just perform ance of your contract to Oriana. Omnes. Oriana ! [Discovering herself. Oriana. In this disguise I resolved to follow you abroad, counterfeited that letter, that brought me into your service; and so, by this strange turn of fate, I became the instrument of your preservation; few common servants would have had such cunning; my love inspired me with the meaning of your message, because my concern for your safety made me suspect your company. Dur. Mirabel, you're caught. Y. Mir. Caught! I scorn the thought of imposition-Caught! No, 'tis my voluntary act; this was no human stratagem, but by my providential stars, designed to show the dangers wandering youth incurs, by the pursuit of an unlawful love; to plunge me headlong in the snares of vice, and then to free me by the hands of virtue: Here, on my knees, I humbly beg my fair preserver's pardon; my thanks are needless, for myself I owe: And now, for ever, do protest me yours. Old Mir. Tall, all di dall! [Sings.] Kiss me, daughter-no, you shall kiss me first, [To LAMORCE.] for you're the cause on't. Well, Bisarre, what say you to the captain? Bis. I like the beast well enough, but I don't understand his paces so well as to venture him in a strange road. Old Mir. But marriage is so beaten a path, that you can't go wrong. Bis. Ay, 'tis so beaten that the way is spoiled. Dur. There is but one thing should make me thy husband-I could marry thee to-day, for the privilege of beating thee to-morrow. Old Mir. Come, come, you may agree for all this; -Mr. Dugard, are not you pleased with this? Dug. So pleased, that, if I thought it might secure your son's affection to my sister, I would double her fortune. Y. Mir. Fortune! has she not given me mine? my life-estate-my all? and what is more, her virtuous self? Behold the foil [Pointing to LAMORCE.] that sets this brightness off! [To ORIANA.] Here view the pride, [To ORIANA.] and scandal of the sex! What liberty can be so tempting there, [TO LAMORCE. As a soft, virtuous, am'rous bondage here? THE END. [To ORIANA. THE BEAUX STRATAGEM ; A COMEDY, IN FIVE ACTS; BY GEORGE FARQUHAR, Esq. AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, DRURY LANE AND COVENT GARDEN. PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE MANAGERS FROM THE PROMPT BOOK. WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD. LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORME, PATERNOSTER ROW. |