Belphegor, or, The marriage of the Devil a tragi-comedy, lately acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-garden / by Mr. Wilson.

SCENE IV. Of Grimaldi's House.

Enter Grimaldi, Marone.

Mar.

'TIS the most I can gather—Pansa, stands firm, to his first Examination; and Bianca, more and more, clears her Lady.

Gri.

Nor can any thing please me better, but that, my Friend's get∣ting up agen.

Mar.

Would I could say as much, of Roderigo.

Gri.

For why Man?

Mar.

He's broke; and run away.

Gri.

What? he that darkned all our Stars!—Impossible!

Mar.

Too true.—

Gri.

Yet, how you magnify'd him!

Mar.

His great dealings, and punctual Payments, might have cheat∣ed any Man, as well as me.

Gri.

Was the Sum considerable?

Mar.

Two hundred thousand Duckats at least.

Gri.

'Tis a wonder, no more follow him: for it is often with Mer∣chants, as Nine-Pins; Hit but your first, and second right, and 'tis odds but two Parts in three, tumble.

Mar.

That (I'm afraid) shall I, for one—He owes me, ten thousand

Duckats; And when I went to his Lady this Morning, she told me, he had left her, a Beggar.

Gri.

And yet you know, he was Wise, Prudent, Vertuous,—and once, your Glory, he called ye Friend—and shall a little Dirt part ye?—Come—your Credit, will set him up again.

Mar.

If it would to the Gallows, l'd venture as much more.

Gri.

Your Friend—you wou'dn't sure?

Mar.

My Friend—A very Rogue: A meer cheating, beggarly, bankrupt Rascal.

[Enter a Servant to Marone.

Ser.

Roderigo (Sir) attempting to have got home last night, in a dis∣guise, was met by the Bailiffs, who secur'd him; and coming to him this Morning, found him dead.

Mar.

Nay then, farewell my ten thousand Duckats, if yet, that were all.

Ser.

And there were found in his Pocket, some Papers purporting a de∣sign, of betraying this City, wherein you seem concern'd; upon which, the Senate have issu'd Warrants against you, and seiz'd your House, and Goods, for Moneys (as 'tis said) due to the Bank.

[Marone starts, and tears his Hair.

Mar.

Roderigo! my Papers! the Bank!—What shall I do?

Gri.

Consult your Vertue—A Vertuous Man, is ever present to himself; and proof, against the worst, of Fortune.

Mar.

Vertue!—Cold comfort.

[He runs off. Rod. meets him.

Rod.

I was at your House, to have adjusted, some Accounts between us, and they directed me hither.

[Marone embraces him.

Mar.

Roderigo!—I'm o'er-joyed—They've bely'd my Friend—We'll never part.

Rod.

Content.

[Rod. takes him in his Arms, and sinks with him.

Gri.

Defend me Heaven!—What's this?

[He walks. Enter Serv.

—'t has half bereft me of my self.

Ser.

A Gentleman (Sir) they call him, the Devil-Doctor desires to speak with you.

Gri.

I wou'd he had come sooner—Bring him in.—

[Exit Servant.

Sure Hell's broke loose, this year.

[Enter Math. His Head broken.

—The dreadful Object's not yet digested.

Mat.

I was with the Lady according to my promise, but (like a Dog by a Gloyer) the Devil smelt me out from all the Company—Ecce signum.

[He points to his Head.

Gri.

I'm sorry for't—But the Duke, will send ye, a healing Plaister.

Mat.

And I, more sorry, that the Lady, lies under such an ill direction. —Strange Configurations—The Planets in their Detriment, Retrograde, and Malevolent; nor do I remember, to have seen, a worse Aspect of Heaven—Saturn, and Jupiter, Sir.—

Gri.

No Canting I beseech ye—I believe it.

Mat.

And for the Spirit, that possesses her—There has not such an ill∣contriv'd, capricious, hectoring Devil, broke-loose, these three last Cen∣turies; I believe the Fathers are sensible of it.

Gri.

The truth is, they have had a hard tug with him.

Mat.

He is perversus Haereticus,—Bell, Book, and Candle! He danc'd a Jigg to't—And for Holy Water! he made no more of it, than I'd have done, of a Bottle of Montefiasco—upon the whole matter; I judge him some Devil of Quality; and then, I have no Power over him: All mine, are poor Devils.

Gri.

This will not do—If you please to free her, it will be well ac∣cepted, and better rewarded—If not, be sure, the Duke will have ye in the Inquisition, and make ye set forth, by what new way, unkown to the Church, you have delivered the two former.—Or (who knows) Inquire de Vita, & moribus, and hang your self.

Mat.

Will ye then hear me, without canting, and I'll discover all?

Gri.

Hear ye, I will; but promise, nothing.

Mat.

I ask no more—And who d'ye think this Devil is? even Roderigo, our late, great Merchant.

Gri.

Convince me of that, and thou say'st somewhat.

Mat.

The Story is too large, to tell you now; but thus, in short—'t as by compact between us for a prior Service, of which I'll give ye an account anon—and on that score, and no other, was it, that I freed those Ladies of him.

Gri.

Then thou maist the better do this.

Mat.

I once, thought it: But since you spake to me, we met; and I pro∣pos'd to him, the quitting the Lady Julia, as the last kindness I'd demand of him; and he not only refus'd me, but profest himself my mortal Enemy: And if this,

[pointing to his Head]

be the Token of a Friend, I leave it to you.

Gri.

I am inclin'd to believe thee—for 'twas not a Minute before you came, but he was here, and gave me that Evidence of what you say, I'll never desire, to see't agen.—But what shall we do with the Duke?

Mat.

Do not despair—I've yet a trick, shall do the Business—Get me a large Stage, with a full throng of People: Fifes, Flutes, Cornets, Trum∣pets, Sackbuts, Drums, Kettle-drums, Hautboys, and Bagpipes; and let the Lady Julia, be brought on the Stage well attended; and when I throw up my Hat, let 'em all strike up together, and when I cry Advance, let a Lady in a Veil, whom I'll appoint for that purpose, enter with another shout: And this, with some other Ingredients that I have, will (I doubt not) send him packing.

Gri.

Appoint your time, and place, all shall be ready.

Mat.

I leave that, to your pleasure.

Gri.

What think you, of t'Morrow, and the Duke's great hall for th'place

Mat.

None better, and I'll attend ye there.

[Exeunt.