The mulberry-garden a comedy : as it is acted by His Majestie's servants at the Theatre-Royal / written by the Honourable Sir Charles Sidley.

SCENE II.

Enter Victoria and Olivia.

Vict.

Sister, I doubt we are a little too free with Our Servants, this Modish, and his friend Estridge: few Plays gain Audience by being In Print, and ••ewer women get Husbands by Being too much known.

Oliv.

But ours are most accomplish'd Mounsieurs, Must be assaulted on all parts e're they'le yield; Must have their Ears charm'd as well as Eyes: 'Twere ill husbandry in a Mercer to be thirsty In his Patterns, it often disparages a good stuff; And too great reserv'dness in one of us, especially At the first, might give a discouragement to our Further Acquaintance.

Vict.

Now might I have my wish, I wou'd come All new, nay my voice and name shou'd not Be known; where I wou'd be lik'd, I wou'd have The few Charms I am Mistress of, make their Assault at an instant, all at one time: For sure Horatio did their power subdue, By conquering one, e're he another knew.

Oliv.

Fye Sister, think no more of him; but to the Matter in hand, who ever caught any thing With a naked hook? nothing venture, nothing Win, and for my part I am resolv'd to allow All innocent liberty; this Matrimony is a Pill will scarce down with a young man Without guilding; let Estridge believe I am In love with him, and when he leaves me, He'll find I am not.

Enter to them Wildish.

Wild.

So he will, when he marrys you, or I am Deceiv'd, Madam.

Vict.

What, turn'd Eaves••Dropper, Mr. Wildish?

Wild.

No Ladys, but your heads are so taken up with These Heirs Apparent, that you can't see a Younger Brother when he comes into the Room.

Oliv.

Not when our backs are towards him; but Otherwise as an elder, any where, but before A Parson.

Wild.

You are in the right; Jointure, and allowance For Cloaths, have clearly got the better off▪ Dear

Madam, I consider not your Portion, but your Person; give your Estate where you please, So you will but settle your affection upon me, My Fate depends upon your Answer▪ and the like Artillery of unlanded Lovers: But I never Repine at that; for fine Women, like great Tables, though they are maintain'd by men Of Fortunes, are ever open to men of parts.

Oliv.

Why now, Wildish, you talk like your self Again; ever since I saw you last, I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Been in most terrible apprehension•••• Whining Copy of Verses.

Wild.

Expectation you mean, Madam, but 'tis Not come to that yet; though I talk a little Extravagantly when I see you, I am not so Through pac't a Lover, but I can express My self in Prose.

Vict.

But you, being a new Convert, can't give Too many marks of your Devotion: and I shou'd Mistrust I were not as I ought to be in my Servants heart, if I did not run sometimes In his head, and then Verses follow infallibly.

Wild.

Faith, Madam, that's much as the head lyes, There are some you may search every cranny Over, and not find three Rimes; very good Lovers too; and to say truth, 'tis unreasonable A man shou'd be put to seek fresh words To express that to his Mistress, which has Been as well said already by some body else; I think 'tis very fair if he set his hand To't, and that I am ready to do to the most Passionate Copy of Verses you can find.

Oliv.

How much Love and Constancy Will you engage for then?

Wild.

As much as you can find in that Paper there.

He gives a Paper to Olivia, she gives it to Victoria.

Oliv.

Sister here read 'um, I shall put the Accen••

In the wrong place, stop out of time, or One mischief or other, and so put my poor Servant into an Agony.

Vict.

To a very young Lady.

[Reads the Title.

Oliv.

That's I, Wildish: come, you have been Dabling; proceed, Sister, I fear 'um not, I have No more pity on a Rhyming Lover, than on A Beggar that begs in a Tone.

Vict.

Are not these Verses somewhat Too weak to allone?

Wild.

Faith, Madam, I am•••• your mind, put a Tune to 'um, 'tis an easie Stanza.

Victoria singe.

Ah Cloris! that I now could sit As unconcern'd, as when Your Infant Beauty cou'd beget No pleasure, nor no pain.

2.

When I the Dawn us'd to admire, And prais'd the coming day; I little thought the growing fire Must take my Rest away.

3.

Your Charms in harmless Childhood lay, Like metals in the mine, Age from no face took more away, Then Youth conceal'd in thine.

4.

But as your Charms insensibly To their perfection prest, Fond Love as unperceiv'd did flye, And in my Bosom rest.

5.

My passion with your Beauty grew, And Cupid at my heart, Still as his mother favour'd you, Threw a new flaming Dart.

6.

Each glori'd in their manton part To make a Lover ••e Employ'd the utmost of hi•• Art, To make a Beauty she.

7.

Though now I slowly bend to love Vncertain of my Fate, If your fair self my Chains approve, I shall my freedom hate.

8.

Lovers, like dying men, may well At first disorder'd be, Since none alive can truly tell What Fortune they must see.

Enter a Servant.

Serv.

There's an old Gentleman below in a Chair Enquires for Mr. Wildish; as fine as an Emperour, My Master Sir Iohn is no body to him; as he Peep'd through the glass, I thought it was Sir Samuel Forecast.

Vict.

It is 〈…〉〈…〉

Wild.

Yes faith it is Ladies, I am privy to the plot.

Oliv.

Good Mr. Wildish bring him up, I wou'd give any thing to see him.

Wild.

Do you step into that Close•• then•• for I Must swear the Coast is clear: set the door a Little open, and you may see him perfectly, His Bravery on my word is not design'd For this place, and he is so politick, that He will think your seeing him may be A prejudice to his design.

Wildish goes•• out, and brings in Sir Samuel Forecast.

Wild.

Sir Samuel, now you shine, indeed▪ my Cousin will be ravish'd to see you transform

Your self thus for her sake.

Fore.

She is a tender ••iece, and though her discretion Helps her to conceal it, in her heart cannot But love a little Bravery; I have two Laces In a Seam more than my Brother Everyoung, And a Yard more in my Cravat.

Wild.

Nay, you are most exact, and in this dress Methinks not unlike Sir Iohn.

Fore.

I came only to show my self to you, and Am for my Widow present••y; shall I have Your Company?

Wild.

I have a little business here, but I'le Be with you by that time you are ther, I see You came in a Chair.

Fore.

Do you think I had a mind to have the Boys Follow me in the streets? pray be secret, Mr. Wildish, for I wou'd have no body know I am In this Dress, but your self, and your fair Cousin, For a world: and therefore I will make haste From hence, do you follow me according To your promise.

[Exit.

Wild.

I shall, Sir Samuel.

Oliv.

I never saw a City-Bridegroom so friz'd▪ So lac'd, so perfum'd, and so powder'd in my 〈◊〉〈◊〉

Vict.

I think verily he was painted too, I vow I shou'd not have known his Worship, if You had not given us a hint of his Bravery before.

Wild.

Well, I must recover my old Knight. Farewel Ladies.

Oliv.

Pray be here anon, and give us an account Of this Adventure.

Vict.

Certainly it must be very pleasant.

Wild.

I shall obey you, Ladies.

[Exit Wildish.

Enter Everyoung, Victoria, and Olivia laughing.

Ever.

Hey-day ▪ what, are the Girls mad?

Vict.

No, Sir, but I think my Uncle Forecast's 〈◊〉〈◊〉 better.

Ever.

Why, what of him?

Oliv.

He is, Sir, at this time the greatest Spark in London, drest so like you, that if his condition Requir'd it, I shou'd think, Sir, he were going To a Scrivener to personate you for a good Sum.

Ever.

Well, I'le handsel his new Cloaths, and put him As much out of conceit with Bravery as ever He was in his life. Boy, call in the three Prentices were brought before me for breaking Windows last night.

Enter three Prentices.

I suppose, young men, you wou'd not scruple At a small piece of service to the man that Shou'd procure your Liberties.

O••••n.

Free us, and command us any thing.

Ever.

Well then follow me, and when I show You a certain Chair, take the Gentleman Out of it, and cudgel him; I'le be at a little Distance, and if you want help▪ be ready to Assist you: be sure you call him Sir Iohn Everyoung, and tell him of a Lady he af••ronted.

1 Pren.

We shall call him what you please, Sir, And beat him as much as you please.

Exit Victoria and Olivia.