Enter Dinant, and Cleremont.
Nur. Why, if you are, I hope here's one will please you,
Look on him with my Eyes, good luck go with you:
Were I young for your sake—
Din. I thank thee, Nurse.
Nur. I would be tractable, and as I am—
Lam. Leave the room,
So old, and so immodest! and be careful,
Since whispers will 'wake sleeping jealousies,
That none disturb my Lord. [Exit Nurse.
Cler. Will you dispatch?
Till you come to the matter be not rapt thus,
Walk in, walk in, I am your scout for once,
You owe me the like service.
Din. And will pay it.
Lam. As you respect our lives, speak not so loud.
Cler. Why, do it in dumb shew then, I am silenc'd.
Lam. Be not so hasty, Sir, the golden Apples
Had a fell Dragon for their Guard, your pleasures
Are to be attempted with Herculean danger,
Or never to be gotten.
Din. Speak the means.
Lam. Thus briefly, my Lord sleeps now, and alas,
Each Night, he only sleeps.
Cler. Go, keep her stirring.
Lam. Now if he 'wake, as sometimes he does,
He only stretches out his hand and feels,
Whether I am a bed, which being assur'd of,
He sleeps again; but should he miss me, Valour
Could not defend our lives.
Din. What's to be done then?
Lam. Servants have servile faiths, nor have I any
That I dare trust; on noble Cleremont
We safely may rely.
Cler. What man can do,
Command and boldly.
Lam. Thus then in my place,
You must lye with my Lord.
Cler. With an old man?
Two Beards together, that's preposterous.
Lam. There is no other way, and though 'tis dangerous,
He having servants within call, and arm'd too,
Slaves fed to act all that his jealousie
And rage commands them, yet a true friend should not
Check at the hazard of a life.
Cler. I thank you,
I love my friend, but know no reason why
To hate my self; to be a kind of pander,
You see I am willing,
But to betray mine own throat you must pardon.
Din. Then I am lost, and all my hopes defeated,
Were I to hazard ten times more for you,
You should find, Cleremont—
Cler. You shall not outdo me,
Fall what may fall, I'll do't.
Din. But for his Beard—
Lam. To cover that you shall have my night Linnen,
And you dispos'd of, my Dinant and I
Will have some private conference.
Enter Champernel, privately.
Cler. Private doing,
Or I'll not venture.
Lam. That's as we agree. [Exeunt.
Enter Nurse, and Charlotte, pass over the Stage with Pillows, Night cloaths, and such things.
Cham. What can this Woman do, preserving her honour?
I have given her all the liberty that may be,
I will not be far off though, nor I will not be jealous,
Nor trust too much, I think she is vertuous,
Yet when I hold her best, she's but a Woman,
As full of frailty as of faith, a poor sleight Woman,
And her best thoughts, but weak fortifications,
There may be a Mine wrought: Well, let 'em work then,
I shall meet with it, till the signs be monstrous,
And stick upon my head, I will not believe it, [Stands private.
She may be, and she may not, now to my observation.
Enter Dinant, and Lamira.
Din. Why do you make me stay so? if you love me—
Lam. You are too hot and violent.
Din. Why do you shift thus
From one Chamber to another?
Lam. A little delay, Sir,
Like fire, a little sprinkled o'r with water
Makes the desires burn clear, and ten times hotter.
Din. Why do you speak so loud? I pray'e go in,
Sweet Mistriss, I am mad, time steals away,
And when we would enjoy—
Lam. Now fie, fie, Servant,
Like sensual Beasts shall we enjoy our pleasures?
Din. 'Pray do not kiss me then.
Lam. Why, that I will, and you shall find anon, servant.
Din. Softly, for heavens sake, you know my friend's engag'd,
A little now, now; will ye go in again?
Lam. Ha, ha, ha, ha.
Din. Why do you laugh so loud, Precious?
Will you betray me; ha' my friends throat cut?
Lam. Come, come, I'll kiss thee again.
Cham. Will you so? you are liberal,
If you do cozen me—
Enter Nurse with Wine.
Din. What's this?
Lam. Wine, Wine, a draught or two.
Din. What does this Woman here?
Lam. She shall not hinder you.
Din. This might have been spar'd,
'Tis but delay and time lost; pray send her softly off.
Lam. Sit down, and mix your spirits with Wine,
I will make you another Hercules.
Din. I dare not drink;
Fie, what delays you make! I dare not,
I shall be drunk presently, and do strange things then.
Lam. Not drink a cup with your Mistriss! O the pleasure.
Din. Lady, why this? [Musick.
Lam. We must have mirth to our Wine, Man.
Din. Pl—— o' the Musick.
Champ. God-a-mercy Wench,
If thou dost cuckold me I shall forgive thee.
Din. The house will all rise now, this will disturb all.
Did you do this?
Lam. Peace, and sit quiet, fool,
You love me, come, sit down and drink.