The feign'd curtizans, or, A nights intrigue a comedy : as it is acted at the Dukes Theatre / written by Mrs. A. Behn.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Enter Laura, Lucretia, and Silvio richly drest; Antonio attending, Coming all in in haste.

Silvio.

MAdam, you need not make such haste away, the Stranger that follow'd us from St. Peters Church, pursues us no longer, and we have now lost sight of him: Lord who wou'd have thought the approach of a handsome Cavalier should have possest Dona Laura Lucretia with fear?

Lau.

I do not fear my Silvio, but I wou'd have this new Habitation which I've design'd for love, known to none but him to whom I've de∣stin'd my heatt:—ah wou'd he know the Conquest he has made,

[Aside.]

Nor went I this evening to Church with any other Devotion, but that which warms my heart for my young English Cavalier, whom I hop't to have seen there, and I must finde some way to let him know my passion which is too high for souls like mine to hide.

Silv.

Madam, the Cavalier's in view again, and hot in the pursuit

Lau.

Lets haste away then, and Silvio do you lag behinde, 'twill give him an opportunity of Enquiring, whilst I get out of sight,—be sure you conceal my Name and Quality, and tell him—any thing but truth—tell him I am La Silvianetta the young Roman Curtizan, or what you please to hide me from his knowledge.

[Exeunt Lau.

Enter Julio and Page in Pursuit.

Jul.

Boy fall you into discourse with that Page, and learn his Ladys Name—whilst I pursue her farther.

[Exeunt Jul.

Page salutes Silvio, who returns it, they go out as talking to each other.

Enter Sr Harry Fillamour and Galliard.

Fill.

He follows her close, whoe're they be: I see this trade of Love goes forward still.

Gall.

And will whilst there's difference in Sexes. But Harry the wo∣men, the delicate Women I was speaking of?

Fill.

Prethee tell me no more of thy fine Women, Frank, thou hast not been in Rome above a Month, and thou'ast been a Dozen times in Love as thou call'st it: to me there is no pleasure like Constancie.

Gall.

Constancy! and woudst thou have me one of those dull Lovers who believe it their Duty to Love a Woman till her Hair and Eyes change Colour for fear of the Scandalous Name of an inconstant! No, my Passion like great Victors hates the lazy stay, but having vanquisht, prepares for new Conquests.

Fill.

Which you gain as they do Towns by Fire, lose'em even in the taking, thou wo't grow Penitent and weary of these Dangerous sollys.

Gall.

But I am yet two young for both: Let old Age and infirmity bring Repentance,—there's her f•…•…eble Province, and even then too we finde no Plague like being depriv'd of dear Woman-kinde.

Fill.

I hate Playing about a Flame that will consume me.

Gall.

Away with your Antiquated Notions, and let's once hear sence from thee: Examine but the whole World Harry, and thou wilt sinde a Beautifull woman the desire of the Noblest, and the reward of the Bravest.

Fill.

And the common Prize of Coxcombs: times are alter'd now, Frank, why else shou'd the Virtuous be cornuted, the Coward be carest, the Villain role with Six, and the Fool lye with her Ladyship.

Gall.

Meer Accident Sir: and the kindness of Fortune, but a Pretty witty young Creature, such as this Silvianetta, and Euphemia, is cer∣tainly the greatest blessing this wicked World can afford us.

Fill.

I believe the Lawful enjoyment of such a Woman, and honest too, wou'd be a blessing.

Gall.

Lawful enjoyment! Prethee what's lawful enjoyment, but to enioy'em according to the generous indulgent Law of Nature; en∣joy'em as we do Meat, Drink, Ayr and Light, and all the rest of her common blessings;—therefore prithee dear Knight, let me govern thee but for a day, and I will shew thee such a Signiora, such a Beauty, an∣other manner of piece then your so admired Vitterboan, Dona Marcella, of whom you boast so much.

Fill.

And yet this rare piece is but a Curtizan, in course plain Eng∣lish, a very Whore!—

Who filthily exposes all her Beautys to him can give her most, not Love her best.

Gall.

Whe faith, to thy comfort be it spoken, she does distribute her char•…•…s at that easy rate.

Fill.

O•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…ast distance between an innocent passion, and a poor faithless 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Gall.

Innocent Passion at Rome! Oh 'tis not to be nam'd but in some Northern Climat: to be an Anchoret here, is to be an Epicure in Green∣land; impossibillities Harry!

Gall.

Sure •…•…ou hast been advising with Sir Signal Buffoons Gover∣nor! that formall! piece of nonsense and Hipocrifie.

Fill.

No faith, I brought the Humour along with me to Rome, and for your Governor I have not seen him yet, though he lodge in this same House with us, and you promis'd to bring me acquainted with long since.

Gall.

I'le do't this very minute!

Fill.

No, I'me oblig'd not to engage my self this Evening, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I expect the arrival of Count Julio, whose last Letters assur'd me wou'd be to night.

Gall.

Julio! What the young Itallian Count you made me acquain∣ted with last Summer in England?

Fill.

The same, the Ambasadors Nephew, a good youth and on•…•… I esteem.

Enter Julio.

Jul.

I hope my Page will bring intelligence who this beauty is.

Fill.

Hah, Julio! Welcome dear Friend.

[embraces him.

Jul.

Sir Harry Fillamour! how glad am I to meet you in a Country where I have power to repay you all those Friendships I receiv'd when I was a stranger to yours.

Monsieur Galliard too, nay then I'me sure to want no diversion whilst I stay in Rome.

[Salutes Galliard.

Fill.

But pray, what made you leave England so soon?

Jul.

E'ne the great business of Mankinde, Matrimony, I have an Uncle here who has provided me Fetters which I must put on, he says, they will be easy, I lik't the Character of my Mistress well enough, a brave Masculine Lady, a Roman of Quality, Dona Laura Lucretia, till as luck wou'd have it at my arrival this Evening, stepping into S. Peters Church, I saw a woman there that fir'd my heart, and whom I fol∣low'd to her house; but meeting none that cou'd inform me who she was, I left my Page to make the discovery, whilst I with equal impati∣ence came to look out you; whose sight I prefer even to a new Amour, resolving not to visit home, to which I have been a stranger this seven years, till I had kist your hands, and gain'd your promise to accom∣pany me to Vitterbo.

Fill.

Vitterbo! is that your place of Residence?

Jul.

Yes; 'tis a pretty Town, and many noble Familys inhabit there, stor'd too with Beauties, at least, 'twas wont to be: have you not seen it?

Gall.

Yes! and a Beauty there too lately for his repose, who has made him sigh and look so like an Ass ever since he came to Rome.

Jul.

I'me glad you have so powerfull an argument to invite you back, I know she must be rare, and of quality that cou'd engage your heart.

Fill.

She's both, it most unluckily fell out, that I was recommended by a Person of Quality in England to a Nobleman at Vitterbo, who be∣ing a man of a temper frank and gallant, receiv'd me with less Cere∣mony then is usual in Italy. I had the freedom of the House, one of the finest Villa's belonging to Vitterbo, and the pleasure to see and con∣verse at a distance, with one of the loveliest persons in the World, a Neece of this old Counts.

Jul.

Very well, and cou'd you see her but at distance, Sir?

Fill.

Oh, no, 'twas all I durst desire, or she durst give; I came too late to hope; she being before promis'd in Marriage to a more happy man, the Consummation of which waits only the arival of a Brother of hers, who is now at the Court of France, and every day expected.

Enter Petro like a Barber.

Gall.

Hah! Signior Petro:

Fill.

Come Sir, we'l take a turn in the i'th gallery, for this pimp never appears but Frances desires to be in private.

Gall.

Thou wrong'st an honest ingenious fellow to call him pimp.

Pet.

Ah Signior, what his worship pleases!

Gall.

That thou art I'le be sworn, or what any mans worship pleases, for let me tell ye Harry, he is capacitated to oblige in any quali∣ty; for Sir, he's your brokering Jew, your Fencing, Dancing and Ci∣villity-Master, your Linguist, your Antiquary, your Bravo, your Pa∣thick, your Whore, your Pimp, and a thousand more Excellencies he has to supply the necessities of the wanting stranger.—Well sirrah—What designe now upon Sir Signal and his wise Governor;—What do you represent now?

Pet.

A Barber Sir.

Gall.

And why a Barber, good Signior Petro?

Pet.

Oh Sir, the sooner to take the heights of their judgments, it gives handsome opportunities to commend their faces, for if they are pleased with flattery, the certain sign of a fool's to be most tickled when most commended, I conclude 'em the fitter for my purpose; they al∣ready put great confidence in me, will have no Masters but of my recom∣mending, all which I supply my self, by the help of my several dis∣guises; by which and my industry, I doubt not but to pick up a good honest painfull livelihood, by cheating these two Reverend Coxcombs.

Gall.

How the Devil got'st thou this credit with 'em?

Pet.

Oh easily Sir, as knaves get estates, or fools employments.

Fill.

I hope amongst all your good qualities you forgot not your more natural one of pimping.

Pet.

No, I assure you Sir, I have told Sir Signal Buffoon; that no Man lives here without his Inamorata, which very word has so fir'd him, that he's resolv'd to have an Inamorata, whatever it cost him, and as in all things else I have in that too promis'd my assistance.

Gall.

If you assist him no better then you have done me he may stay long enough for his Inamorato.

Pet.

Why faith Sir, I lye at my young Lady night and day, but she is so loath to part with that same Maiden-head of hers yet—but to morrow night Sir ther's hopes.—

Gall.

To morrow night! Oh 'tis an Age in Love! desire knows no time but the present, 'tis now I wish, and now I wou'd enjoy, a new day ought to bring a new desire.

Pet.

Alas Sir I'me but an humble Bravo.

Gall.

Yes thou'rt a pimp, yet want'st the art to procure a longing lover the woman he adores, tho' but a common Curtizan—Oh con∣found her Maidenhead—She understands her trade too well to have that badge of Innocence.

Pet.

I offered her her price Sir—.

Gall.

Double it, give any thing, for that's the best receipt I ever found to soften womens hearts.

Pet.

Well Sir, she will be this Evening in the Garden of Medices Villa, there you may get an opportunity to advance your interest—I must step and trim Mr. Tickletext, and then am at your service!

[Exit Petro.

Jul.

What is this Knight and his Governor who have the blessed for∣tune to be manag'd by this Squire?

Fill.

Certain fools Galliard makes use on when he has a minde to laugh: and whom I never thought worth a visit since I came to Rome: and he's like to profit much by his Travells, who keeps company with all the English, especially the Fops.

Gall.

Faith Sir, I came not abroad to return with the formallity of a Judge; and these are such anditotes against Melancholy as wou'd make thee fond of fooling.—Our Knights Father is even the first Gentle∣man of his House, a fellow, who having the good Fortune to be much a fool and knave, had the attendant blessing of getting an Estate of some eight thousand a year, with this Coxcomb to inherit it; who (to agrandize the Name and Family of the Buffoons) was made a Knight, but to refine throughout and make a compleat Fop, was sent abroad under the Government of one Mr. Tickletext his zealous Fathers Chap∣lain, as errant a block-head as a man wou'd wish to hear Preach: the Father wisely foreseeing the eminent danger that young Travellers are in of being perverted to Popery.

Jul.

'Twas well consider'd.

Gall.

But for the young Spark there is no description can reach him; 'tis only to be done by himself; let it suffice 'tis a pert, sawcy, con∣ceited 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

Animal, whom you shall just now go see, and admire, for he lodges in the house with us.

Jnl.

With all my heart, I never long'd more for a new acquaintance.

Fill.

And in all probability shall sooner desire to be rid on't. aloone.—

[Exeunt.