Dame Dobson, or, The cunning woman a comedy as it is acted at the Duke's Theatre / by Edward Ravenscroft ...

SCENE I.

Enter Dame Dobson, and Mr. Gerrald.

Dame.

MR. Gerrard, I see you are come to visit me agen.

Gerr.

I am your Convert; finding my Pistols by your means, hath given me an absolute belief in every thing you say or do: Was there not a North-Country Lady with you?

Dame.

Yes, a pretended Heiress. They thought to deceive me with a Story of her being stolen away and Marry'd.

Gerr.

What cou'd be more strange than the Discovery of that? 'Twas the Countess—to whom the Collonel layes such a close Siege! She is absolutely resolv'd never to have any farther Correspondence with him: And for proof of't. I am to call on her some time to Day to wait on her hither.

Dame.

What to do?

Gerr.

To desire a Charm of you to make her forget the Collonel.

Dame.

I am at her Service.

Gerr.

But good Dame Dobson, now you have done me the favour so absolute∣ly to convince me of your profound Knowledge. I have one more favour to beg of you.

Dame.

What is that?

Gerr.

I am a man that love my Pleasure; I hate delays and laying Siege to Women: who sometimes wanting a little Inclination to betray 'em within, will hold out longer than fortify'd Towns. Now I am for a brisk assault, Taking, Sacking and Plundering them all in a Minute: wherefore I would purchace a Secret of you, that might make all Women that I have a mind to, to fall in love with me at first sight.

Dame.

I understand you—

Gerr.

I am by Nature very inconstant, but do not think the worse of me for't, 'tis the only way to be happy; for if we consider the thing right, what can be more miserable than a constant Lover.

Dame.

Most men are of your mind.

Gerr.

Fully to enjoy the sweets of love, we must love all that are Fair and

Beautiful: The tall, the short, the lean, the plump, the fair, the black, the brisk, airy, wild and the sober phlegmatick demure Lady: They have all some different Charm, and something peculiarly pleasant and diverting in their way of loving, which others have not; and therefore a Lover cannot be completely happy that confines himself to any one, or indeed to less than all.

Dame.

You are one of an extraordinary Gusto.

Gerr.

I am experienc'd, and know Women: There is a sort of 'em that are proud, haughty, and imperious, who think it a scorn that any man in the World shou'd say he has had the advantage of 'em. There are others of a cold Con∣stitution by Nature, and insensible: Some that nothing can change, when once they have plac'd their Affections. And as this sort are very pleasant and de∣lightful to a man, whil'st his appetite serves; so are they a most troublesome sort of Cattle, when a Lover begins to retreat: They are Killing, Stabbing, and Poisoning: Others there are that have a natural Aversion both to Love and to Mankind.

Dame.

Those sure are Monsters in Nature!

Gerr.

They are dough-bak'd Women; there wanted heat at their Genera∣tion: And there's as great a difference betwixt them and other Women, as in the Chickens that are hatch'd by the heat of an Oven, and those under a Hen!

Dame.

There is a great difference indeed: But now as to your Business! I won't say 'tis above my Power; but as I cannot absolutely effect it without the utmost severity of Art, and the most rigorous of my Conjurations, to assemble the Spirits that are most stubborn and difficult to obey; so it cannot be done in a day; and you will not in less than six Months perceive that I have compass'd for you what you desire.

Gerr.

But will you assure me that in Six Months or such a time, I shall have power over all Women that please my fancy?

Dame.

There is one little difficulty which incapacitates me absolutely to pro∣mise; but if that obstacle were remov'd—

Gerr.

What is't?

Dame.

I shall need a Composition of Gold, which is a Soveraign Metal, and is essentially necessary to my performance of this Affair.

Gerr.

I understand you: There are 40 Guinneys for the present, I was just going to offer it you.

Dame.

Nay,—I ask not any for my self; I'le freely bestow my pains, but this is for an Ingredient; my Spirits shall go to work upon these, and have time enough to talk before the six Months are expir'd.

Gerr.

I shall live in a great expectation of the good hour.

Dame.

I wou'd willingly have contriv'd to have done you the Kindness with∣out putting you to the Expence, but that it was impossible to be done without an Extract of Gold; which truly prepar'd and rightly administred, will have a strange Dominion over the Spirits of Women. You see what Miracles it works in its simple Native state, with its gross Elements about it; what then will it do when my Spirits have ref•…•…'d it, by the help of my Art?

Gerr.

And how is it to be us'd?

Dame.

I convert it into Powder; which put into a Gold Case, with some

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Ceremonies us'd to it, and mystick Characters engraven upon't; and wor•…•… a∣bout your Neck, will have a secret power to produce a Sympathy in the Breasts of all Ladies, for whom your Heart feels any Inclination: And as your desires increase or abate, so will their loves to you.—

Gerr.

You are an admirable Woman if you effect this.

Dame.

Nothing can hinder't but your want of Faith.

•…•…err.

Which shall be strong, that your Charms may prove so too.

Enter Beatrice, whispers to Dame Dobson.

Dame.

I'le go to her, stay you here; and when he's gone, give us notice.

Exit Beat.

Sir, I must leave you, some urgent▪ Occasions require me within; but rest confident and assur'd that from my Art you shall become a Bean Gorson amongst the Ladies.

Exit Dame.

Gerr.

Having made it my Business so long to decry this Woman, and call'd every body Fool that had any thing to do with her; am I my self after all be∣come her Bubble? her demand of Gold for an Ingredient, looks like a Whea∣dle: And besides the present Sume▪ she has laid her Train to draw more •…•…rom me for the future: But yet her revealing to me my Pistols, and her discovery of the Cheat of the pretended North Country Heiress, are things that perswade me to a Confidence that she can do strange matters: But if she shou'd Cheat me after all—I'le have the wit to hold my tongue, and not let it be known; so I sha'nt be laugh'd at, at least—

Ex:

Re-enter Beatrice.

Beat.

Dame, Mr. Gerrard is gone.