I have onely a fit of Love upon me or so And now my Choice is made fall on ye hungry Rascals They all run in Mar. Ha ha ha Amint. He 's merry Oh my heart now dear Marine remember your Vows Mar. Hush no more of that if you love me we are observ'd Clar. Do but see what a strong Contention there is betwixt my Mothers mirth and anger D. Pier. Nay nay no Coyness Madam Be Mistress of your word For I am resolute and must and will enjoy you Rosel Be advis'd Fool I am old What canst thou e're expect from one that 's fifty D. Pier. Never talk on 't the older the better For your youthful stomachs are still Craving All laugh Ay laugh on laugh on Good Gentlemen do I shall make holyday and sleep When 't is ten to one your Hearts ake Rosel A strange mad fellow this Well Sir I 'le give you hearing And as I like Your wooing and discourse but I must tell you Sir We rich Widows look for great Sums in present Or assurances of Ample Jointures D. Pier. Sums in present with all my heart I 'le present Ye a Jewel worth 500 pieces immediately Rosel Ay if thou can'st but do that now D. Pier. Can do it why what is 't a young brisk able Fellow cannot do Harkee Captain a word with you Mar. What say'st thou D. Pier. Why faith that to wooe a Widow with empty hands Is no good Heraldry therefore let 's to the Gold And share it equally 't will speak for us More than a thousand Complements or Cringes Besides 't will beget us respect And if ever Fortune befriend us with a Ship Largely supply us with provision Mar. Well advis'd Defer it not bring in the Trunks there D. Pier. Are you all contented Omnes All all Trunks brought in Ros. This Fellow talks Mountains Clar. Nay Madam now your grief is unseasonable Indeed I love you as my Sister And you Shall find it I love your Brother two Amint. Oh my Cruel Fortune Aside Mar. See here the Idol of the Lapidary To Clarinda D. Pier. To get these Pearls the slavish Negro Dives to the bottom of the Sea And thus I make good my promise To Roselia Frug. And here 's Gold for which the Industrious Merchant touches at either Pole To Iul. Rosel Hah Oh ye immortal Powers Haz. I 'le give my Mistress this Jewel then draw her into play top false Dice upon her and rook her on 't agen Fran. Here 's the never-failing purchase of Lordships and Honours To Hip. Bolds For which the Sailer Scorns tempestuous winds And spits defiance in the Sea To Menal. D. Pier. Ay she 's surpris'd Boys I knew this would take her strangely What says my reverend illustrious Mistress Look I not lovely now Rosel Uglier than Hell Oh my Stars Be now for ever blest that thus have brought To my revenge these Robbers Take your Javelins all And nail these Monsters to the Earth Surg. What 's that are we Monsters agen already D. Pier. Hey day what a plague's the matter now Rosel Oh Daughter And you Companions with me in all fortunes Look on this Treasure and these Jewels These were my own I know 'em perfectly With these my dear Sebastian put to Sea And doubtless these the Villains these the Pyrates That not alone depriv'd him of this Treasure But took his life Frug. Harkee Lieutenant you see this does take her strangely Fran. Confound your Politiques now we are ten times worse than ever D. Pier. Peace ye Curs you Do I live to be the Subject of your mouldy jests Mar. What Cruel Fate pursues us this Chance is past redressing D. Pier. I am well enough serv'd that must be offering Jointures Jewels and precious things more than I brought with me Rosel Now strike all revenge revenge Clar. Hear me Dear Mother And when the greatest Cruelty is justice Do not shew mercy Death to these starv'd Wretches Is a Reward not a Punishment Let 'em live To know the full weight of your displeasure And that they may have sense to feel the Torments They have deserv'd Allow 'em some small time Rosel 'T is well Counsell'd Be it so Clar. For the Captain here I 'le be his Jaylour I 'le fetter him to purpose Mar. Gracious Madam hear us but speak Rosel Insolent Traytors would you speak Away with them Chain 'em in Prisons Vengeance tho' slow pac'd At last o'retakes the Guilty And the rage Of the incensed Powers still falls most sure On Villains when they think they 're most secure Ex. Omnes ACT V. Scene I. A flat Rock Enter Clarinda Clar. SInce Love the noblest passion of our Souls With sacred influence was ordain'd by Heaven To refine us from the Dross of dull mortality Why is 't a fault in me It is not must not I am sure I was Created to love on And be I hope belov'd Oh this dear Stranger Can he be guilty of such Villanies No 't is Impossible my Mother wrongs him sure Here comes his Sister she must be my Agent I have her in my Power And she must serve me Enter Aminta Amint. Can any misery be compar'd to mine Or any love have so severe a Fortune Oh Marine Where art thou now my life My better part Or what 's this senseless frame without thee Hah the Protectresses Daughter your pardon Madam I fear I am to blame Clar. Not at all Come hither be not frighted And think not you steal this Liberty For I give it you Your tender years and Innocence assure me You had no share in the wrongs these men did us Your Brother was mis-led sure Amint. He mis-led Madam Alas he 's innocent of all he 's tax'd with But I Perhaps know something of your Story Clar. How you know something Amint. Yes Madam there 's something in your late relation So like my own misfortunes that my heart Has ever since bin rack'd with hopes and doubts I think you said Don Sebastian was your Father Clar. Most certainly a noble Portugal undone by Pyrates Amint. Such a Sebastian was my Father too like him A Portugal and like him undone Oh! speak on For my mind gives me I can make some great Discovery Clar. It 's impossible it shou'd relate to us But however Some other time I 'le give you hearing now I Have other Business you say your Brother is entirely innocent Amint. He is I am sure he is For he 's a Man Grounded in so much Virtue and so noble No baseness e're could shelter in his heart Clar. I must believe it and now share my Soul With it its dearest secret I love him Amint. Love him Madam Clar. Yes and never shall have peace till I am His wife Amint. Oh Heavens Aside Clar. Ha! the meaning of that sigh does the news Displease you Amint. No Madam 'T was onely the effects of my surprize Clar. Take care how you abuse me I have trusted you with more than my life my first Love Therefore
down The censuring Spark wou'd fain seem Great and Witty Yet Whispers Politicks with Orange Betty She cracks his Philberds whilst he in her Ear Is Fighting o're again the Western War Bragging what numbers his sole Arm has kill'd Tho' the vain Fop perhaps was ne're i' th' Field Thus Worm that snugs in Shell where it was bred Is nothing to the Maggot in his head For Harmless Insect that those Nuts create Is nothing to the Maggot of the Pate Now such a Fop as this wou'd I be at Another to compleat his daily Task Fluster'd with Claret seizes on a Mask Hisses the Play steals off with Punk i' th' dark He Damns ' the Poet but she Claps the Spark I wonder if the Law cou'd doom one dead That now should lop off such a Fellow's Head It cannot be found Murther And to share This dreadful Fate You Critticks all prepare For besides all my Scythians yet unseen We 've yet a Female Common-wealth within Who strongly Arm'd like Furies venture on And if y'approach their Trenches once y' are gone A Common-Wealth OF WOMEN ACT I. SENE I. Covent-Garden Enter Marine at one Door Aminta mask'd at another Mar. MY Love Amint. I hope I am Putting off her Mask Mar. Most certain so punctual and so fair it must be she Amin. Punctual you have reason to own me for if you knew the Difficulty I have undergone to get out to you Mar. I can guess at it and am too sensible of the Villany of that French-firework thy Damn'd Guardian not to know the Difficulty But 'prithee tell me what pretty Stratagem did Love instruct thee with to make me thus happy Amin. After Dinner 't is always his Custom to call for Tea in which I cunningly infus'd a Dram or two of Opium which made its Operation instantly for after sneezing two or three times and according to his usual manner fetching a Rhumatick Cough from the bottom of his Lungs which I always pray heartily may choak him Mar. And so do I too Faith I hope our prayers will be heard one Day Amin. He fell fast asleep and by that means gave me Opportunity to meet an ungrateful Creature here that is more ready to laugh at me for my Weakness than reward me for my Love Mar. What a barbarous thought is that Deny it and make me amends or I swear I will kiss thee into an Extasie Kisses her Amint. Oh! I am fond and foolish All my Actions shew Woman silly Woman and must confess deserve it Mar. Prithee no more of this it wrongs my Love And since we have leasure to talk an Hour make me so happy to hear the remainder of thy Story the story of thy Father and the manner of thy bringing hither to England under the Tuition of that Villain that Cursed Pirate La Mure You have often begun it but we have bin still interrupted Amint. 'T is a sad Tale but I can deny you nothing If you remember then I told you that Don Sebastian was my Father A generous Portuguise of Noble House and Nature and Governour of several large Plantations in the Happy Islands his Industry and Care made him so rich that he might vie with Princes so stor'd he was with Friends and Gifts of Fortune But many years he had not thus continued when Hell contriving how to blast our Joys drove on our Shore a number of French Pyrates of which La Mure was the most Villainous and being Captain of the rest and well stor'd with Ammunition enter'd upon our Fortress ruin'd our Plantations and chas'd the Peaceful Industrious Portugals like Flocks of Sheep upon the barren Mountains Mar. Inhumane Villains Amin. My Father in this distress willing to save his Treasure with the help of my Brother and a Party of Negro Slaves secretly Convey'd his Plate Money and Jewels into a small Vessel and put to Sea with design-to return when they were gone and comfort us with his Fortune and Policy Mar. The Design was prudent whatever the Event was Amin. Oh it was fatal For this Curst La Mure having Intelligence by his Spies of my Fathers escape and not knowing how to pursue him turn'd his rage upon my poor Mother my Sister and my self And having Laden his Ship with the Spoils and Riches of our Island carried us with him and the put to Sea Mar. Where will this end Amin. You shall know instantly And the greatest Barbarity that ever Villain acted For sailing thence a few Leagues and resolving to be revenged on us for the loss of my Father's Treasure he leaves my sighing Mother and a little Sister alone and comfortless upon a wild and barren Island Mar. Damn'd Hellish Dog Amin. And since that hour I never heard of ' em As to my self tho' an Infant it pleas'd his Devil-ship to like my face And therefore brought me with my Nurse who has since told me this Story with him to London where I have liv'd a melancholly and hated Life ever since And now am hourly plagu'd with the intollerable Harangues of his Nauseous Love and Impertinent Follies Oh Marine Mar. Why sighs my dearest Amin. What shall I do Mar. I 'le tell thee and charge thee by thy Love Nay by thy Soul and its divinest Virtue To perform my Injunction Amin. Can I with Honour do it Mar. Yes else I would nor propose it Amin. Speak then nay quickly for I fear he 'll wake e're I get back agen Mar. This coming night When the Tell-tale Clock has told its midnight story And sleep Charms all but Libertines and Lovers Steal from his House and fall into my Arms I have a Ship lies ready in the Port Laden and fit to sail the wind stands fair too In her I 'le place my Love and free her from The hated bondage of her Cursed Jaylor Amin. Oh! I shall ne're endure the Sea agen Mar. Rather endure a Storm in all its frights and dangers than live to be enslav'd to Villany Amin. But if you shou'd forsake me Oh misery And leave me helpless on some blasted Countrey As he once did my Mother Mar. Yet more doubts by all that 's good you wrong me prithee no more of it Come your Promise Amin. I do I must Mar. At twelve Amin. Exactly Mar. Till then farewell Heaven and its Angels guard thee Amin. Oh Love thou mak'st us do we know not what Leads her to the Door Ex Amint. Enter Du Piere his Sword drawn Bold-Sprite after him Bolds Nay prithee Lieutenant get off further Life I am affraid the Fellow is kill'd D. Pier. Kill'd Hang him no Sword can hurt him His Soul and all his Spirits are shrunk so low into his heels 'T is impossible any wound given him should be Mortal A Slave to abuse our noble Admiral By this Hilt if thou hadst not stood in my way I would have cut the Rogue into Stakes and have eaten him up for my Breakfast Marin How now Lieutenant what 's the matter D. Pier. Captain your Humble
and very Rocky Mar. However let 's attempt it Bolds Then Cheer lustily my Hearts and away with her Exeunt SCENE a Barren Island Enter Sebastian and Nicusa savagely drest Sebast. IT must be a Ship I see it now a tall Ship she has wrought lustily for her Deliverance Heav'ns Mercy what a dismal Day has here been Nicus. To still and quiet Minds that know no Miseries it may seem wretched but with us 't is ordinary Heav'n has no Storm in store nor Earth no Terror that can seem new to us Sebast. 'T is true my Son If Fortune were determin'd to be wanton And wou'd wipe out the story of Mens Miseries Yet we two living still should cross her purpose Canst thou see ' em Do they live still Nicu. Yes and make to Shore Sebast. Most miserable Men I pity ' em Nicu. What Shouts of Joy they make Shout Sebast. Alas poor Wretches Had they but once Experience of this Island They 'd turn their Shouts to Howlings Nicu. Nay to Curses That ever they set Foot on this fad place Sebast. Sad indeed where nothing is but Rocks and Barrenness Hunger and Cold Here 's no Vineyards To cheer the Heart of Man Nor Chrystal Rivers After his Labour to refresh his Body If he be Feeble nothing to restore him But Heav'nly Hopes Nature that made those Remedies Dares not come here nor look on our Distresses For fear she turn Wild like the place and Barren Nicu. Then Sir the memory of what we were When we were seated in our blessed Homes Gives us a double Misery Sebast. Oh Curse on those French Pirates that displanted us And drove me from my Wife and pretty Children To live a wretched Life upon this fatal Island Nicu. They are living yet I hope Sir such Goodness Cannot perish Sebast. They may live but never to me my Son Never to me again Look on 't What bear Their Flagg-staves Nicu. The Arms of England Sebast. They get to Shore apace What 's that which Swims Nicu. A strong young Man with a hansom Woman hanging about his Neck Sebast. A Noble Fellow I warrant him May this brave Charity who e're thou art Be spoken in a place that may renown thee And not dye here Nicu. Their Boat it seems turn'd over And forc'd them to their Shifts yet all are landed They are certainly Pyrates Sebast. Let 'em be what they will they will not Rob us For none will take our Misery for Riches Come Son let us descend and try their Pities If we get off we have a little hopes If not we shall but load this wretched Island With the same Shaddows still that must grow shorter Exeunt Enter Marine Aminta Du Pier Boldsprite Franvil Frugal Hazard Boatswain Surgeon and Sailers D. Pier. Wet come a Shore my Hearts we are safe arriv'd tho' Mar. Thanks to Heavens Goodness and no Man lost neither but the poor Chaplain D. Pier. Ay the poor Soul-Broker's gone he was wash'd with a Wave off the Quarter-Deck I saw his Cassock and he fluttering between Wind and Water a great while Well Peace be with him he was too good for us Mar. The Weather 's turn'd more Courteous and the Ship rides fair too and her Leaks in good plight How does my Dear Alas poor Heart How weak she is and wet Amint. I am glad I escap'd with Life For which Dear Captain I am oblig'd to you Oh let the Heav'ns but bless me with a means How to reward such Love and I am happy Mar. This Rosy kiss rewards me ten times o're And this ten thousand Amint. I cannot speak for Joy Embrace Mar. My Dearest Life Well what cheer my Lads D. Pier. Faith no great Cheer Captain a piece of Sous'd Bisket and half a hard Egg For the Sea has taken order being young and strong we shall not surfeit For my own part the Water has made a mear Toste of me I am sopt rarely However I 'le Dance till I am dry Come Surgeon out with your Glister-pipe Sirrah and strike a Galliard Mar. Why what a brave day is here And what fair Weather after so foul a Storm Frug. Ay if the Master had not been bewitch'd he might have foreseen this Weather and have sav'd our Goods Oh my dear Plate and Jewels Oh my dear Money Vengeance on the Master Franv Ay and twenty small Curses beside I have lost my fine Wardrobe oh insupportable the Ladies will hate me Mar. Oh never think on 'em VVe have our Lives and Healths Haz. For my part I 've lost nothing but my Pray'r Book I sav'd my other Cargo my bale of Dice therefore I am happy Frug. Not think of 'em Sir I must and will think of 'em And that 't was most maliciously done to undo me Fran. And me too I lost all I had fifteen fair Suits the worst of 'em Embroider'd and now I ha'n't so much as a Shirt left D. Pier. Ha ha ha hast not Faith Fran. No by this Light nor ragg of Cloaths neither but these poor things D. Pier. Give me thy hand I am glad on 't with all my Heart Is thy Skin whole Fran. Sir you may spare your Raillery D. Pier. Faith I shannot Harkee wilt thou see a Dog fish now rise in one of thy brave Doublets And tumble like a Tub to make thee merry Or an Old Haddock rise with thy Beaver Hat on A Mermaid in a Wastcoat of your Worships or a Dolphin with your Point Crevat Fran. You are merry Sir but if I take it thus if I be foisted and jeer'd out of my VVardrobe Frug. Nor I neither Haz. Nor will I leave my Friends Frug. Neither Master nor Mate nor none of you shall abuse me I say our Goods might ha' been sav'd and I 'le have satisfaction Mar. Nay be not angry Gentlemen Fran. Sir we have reason And some Friends I can make Bolds Why you Scoundrels was not what I did for the general Safety if you aim at me I am not so tame Haz. No nor we neither Offer to draw D. Pier. Pray take my Counsel Gallants Fight not till the Surgeon be well d' ee hear He 's damnable Sea-sick yonder and may spoil all Besides he has lost his Fiddle-stick And the best Box of Boars-grease Nay do not draw your Swords for if you do Mar. Who would you fight with Gentlemen Who has done you wrong For shame be better temper'd no sooner come to give thanks for our safeties but we must raise new Civil Broils among us Put up put up for shame Fran. We have been wrong'd Sir and damnably too D. Pier. Nay lookee if you will needs fight and think to raise new Riches by your Valours come have at you I have little else to do now I have said my Prayers You say you have lost and make your Loss your Quarrel and grumble at my Captain here and the Master two worthy Persons indeed too worthy for such Rescals Come you Wardrobe Gallant come on and you Money Merchant that
that 's sacred Thou art mine indeed For sure as thou art Roselia I am Sebastian Rosel Oh my dear Lord Embrace Sebast. Propitious Stars I thank you And Fortune now thou hast rewarded me For all past miseries Nicusa Kneels Rosel Rise Son And now my Dear Sebastian Look on Clarinda here this is thy Daughter Sebast. Thou beauteous Spring and Fountain of my joys receive my Blessing But Aminta my lost Aminta were she but here too then my joys were perfect Amint. Who calls Aminta here I am and come to make a third in this strange meeting Rosel Miracle on Miracle Mar. This Adventure would make a Theam for an Excellent History Amint. I am Aminta and as I was inform'd by my Nurse am Daughter to Sebastian and Roselia More of the business that French Pyrate there whom Heaven has strangely thrown upon this Island can soon inform you Rosel By all that 's good 'T is he that Villain La Mure I know him Bour. So we are in a hopeful condition Sebast. Suspend your wonder Madam 'T is the same that Execrable Robber that caus'd our separation La Mure. I was saying just now I vud hang him Morbleu now I fear he will hanga me Oh damn'd Whore Zhâ—lt Fortune Sebast. Speak abhor'd Villain And if thou can'st discover any thing to save thy life do it quickly La Mure. The Diable take you all Dat is all I vill discover vor vrom dis moment me vil no open my Lips Rosel Let him be rack'd Slave we 'll make you confess Bourch Hold Madam Ex. La Mure. I as his Companion can inform you In any thing you demand Rosel What is this Lady here Bourc She is youâ— Daughter and her name Aminta The Infant that La Mure carry'd away with him When he left you alone upon this Island She has bin bred in England from whence to avoid his Love she lately fled away with this young Gentleman and afterwards wrackt upon that Island where you found ' em Sebast. The rest I can make out upon that very Island Seeking for shelter from this Insolent Robber I landed with my Son and some Negro-Slaves That set upon me for my treasure and after in The fray ruin'd themselves There for the space of sixteen tedious Years we liv'd oppress'd with all the miseries humanity could suffer till Heaven grown weary of afflicting us by the means of this young man at last reliev'd us Captain look in my face do you not know me Mar. Not I Sir nor can I ever call to mind that I till now have seen you Sebast. I shall refresh your Memory Have you forgot two wretched Portugals That whilst you were mutining for the Gold They shew'd you Cut the Cable got your Ship away and left you Mar. That trick of Fortune Sir I have reason to remember Sebast. Those famish'd Portugals were my self and Son but being at Sea we were afterwards retaken by La Mure and describing your company and this young Virgin who now I 'le call my Daughter whom it seems he came in search of we were brought back where now we live to make you some amends for all past ills But where are all your Comrades Rosel Go set 'em all at liberty and bring 'em hither The Case is clear now how they got that Treasure And dear Aminta let me hold thee fast Here to my heart whilst tears Express my joy For this most strange unlook'd for change of Fortune Amint. Oh Mother what a happy hour is this How blest how full of rapture And as the chief Author of all our present Happiness receive this noble Gentleman No Brother now but my betrothed Husband Rosel Sir for your ill usage happening thro' our Errors let this attone Gives him Aminta's hand Mar. A gift Heaven cannot mend Sebast. Which thus I ratifie Captain she 's thine Amint. Now dearest Sister I can truly call you so Forgive the small offence done to your Love Oh pardon it I conjure you by your Virtue Clar. I do with all my heart And from this moment banish all fond desires Enter Du Pier Franvil Frugal with a rope about their necks Hazard Boldsprite Surgeon Mar. Madam tho' Fortune willing to oblige me And make amends for many days of sorrows Gives me your Sister And in her all happiness Yet in the midst af all this Crowd of joy My grateful heart does still remember you And thankfully acknowledge all your favours Menal. So so I like this very well now sure some of the men will fall to our share agen Clita I hope so I am sure there can be no good Conclusion without ' em Fran. What 's to be done with us now I wonder Haz. There are not many new ways of starving that 's my Comfort Rosel Gentlemen I am to beg your pardon too and inform you that you have suffered by a mistake But now you are free as if in your own Nation Frug. Gad 'T was well you sent as you did For I was just upon the Swing the Devil and I had fully agreed upon the matter you may see by my Bridle here I was just ready for a journey Takes off the rope Rosel And what say you my merry mad Lieutenant Were you in the same humour D. Pier. I in the same humour Ha ha ha Rosel Ay were not you almost ready to Dangle in one of your Garters for the loss of your Widdow and the rest of your mighty Expectations D. Pier. No If I were the Dence take me Rosel Nor you have not bin concern'd about it D. Pier. Perhaps I have had the griping of the Guts A kind of a grumbling humour or so to be at you But no more for my part I gave you over for an obstinate Old Woman and resolv'd to think no more of you Rosel Well Sir with my self I can do you no justice because this Gentleman here takes possession of me by a better Title D. Pier. How a better Title Faith methinks a Widdow and a Woman of your Sense should think my Title better than his by twenty years purchase by your favour Madam Rosel Ay a Widdow indeed might think so But know Gallant that should have bin the Fates have so order'd it that I am now found to be a Wife D. Pier. A Wife Rosel Even so And to this very Gentleman that lays such Claim But to make thee full amends for the loss of my self if this Lady can creep into thy heart Take her she 's thine she 's rich but a little foppish D. Pier. With all my heart by this light she 's rich you say I 'le marry her that I may beat her and make her Loyal Rosel Come let 's retire and make a glad relation of our Fortunes 'T will add to our content Oh my Sebastian I have miracles to tell thee how I came hither to the Womens Common-Wealth How chosen Protectress it is a Tale bears full variety Sebast. And so does mine which we 'll recount at leisure Rosel Convey those Pyrates straight away to Prison Till we consider of their punishment For times are alter'd now so is the Government Whilst my Sebastian lives 'T is he must rule it Prepare a Banquet and let Musick wait us For now we have all the Blessings Fate can give Mar. And I all joys that Crown a happy life Possessing my Aminta for my Wife Ex. Omnes FINIS EPILOGUE HOW silly 't is for one not yet Thirteen To hope her first Essay should please you Men You cannot taste what such a Creature speaks Would she were three years older for your sakes Two handfuls taller a Plump pretty Lass I doubt not then my Epilogue would pass But as I am for your Applause I sue Pray spare me for the Good that I may do Gallants I better shall perform e're long Despise not a poor thing because she 's young Twigs may be bent Trees are too stubborn grown And th' Roses Bud is sweet as Roses blown In China as I often have been told The Women marry at eleven years old Our Play-House is a kind of China too And nothing like the Stage to make me grow For tho' not Power I have the Will to please And Will 's a mighty help in such a Case We on this fruitful Soyl have Women seen That in few Months have grown as big agen Oh Iemminy what is the Cause of that I wonder what they Eat to grow so Fat We young ones know not how that business is But for all that we may be allow'd to guess And I beginning now to chatter Sence Encourag'd may divert a Twelve-month hence And therefore humbly thus I make Address Excuse Faults and accept my Will to please But if you fail me may you nevermore Kiss Woman under at the least fourscore FINIS