AURELIA

No Sir, I am the daughter of that Gentleman, No sun I'll assure you. Prithee do not mind him. You shall command the duty of a daughter, But I hope mother, you will give me leave To love before I marry I have yet No argument of his affection, But what you please to bring me it becomes not My modesty to court him, and give up My heart before I hear him say, he means To meet and entertain it. Love, forgive me this excuse, my heart is fixed, I find another written here. You may believe my sister, she n'er speaks But by direction of her heart. You're bountiful in character. Nothing, as much as he hath said to me. I affect worth, not show; and in my choice I hope your judgement Sir will meet. What think you Sir, of Master Gerard? I should then belly My heart when I deny him my best love, He needs not boast his worth, Like those whom Nature And Art have left unfurnished, he's a man For birth, for education, for his fortune, Worthy a nobler wife, than she that now Commends him to you. I know not that man in the world beside, I would call husband, in my soul I am Already his, and if you will not be Held cruel to your daughter— Yes. Is not my fate as cruel? Cannot we love him still, and yet be sisters? I hope we may; the love I bear to him Shall not destroy my piety to you: Nature hath framed us two in person, but we are both one in heart. But do you know the miserable consequence? For if you love him with that truth, and fervour You speak of, (as it were a sin in me Not to believe it,) can you look for less Than death, to see me mistress of his faith, And led in nuptial triumph to the Church? Or if it did not kill you So soon, I know the sorrow would distract you. How can I smile to see my sister weep, Away her eyes, and tell the jarring minutes With hasty sighs to know her self forsaken? Why let me die then, Rather than you, I shall perhaps obtain Some charitable Epitaph, to tell The world, I died to save my sisters life; 'Tis no such thing to die. Nor himself Direct it, as he now appears divided, May be, it would be fortunate for both, Would he be more particular. It's very strange. To interrupt your meditations, we have a suit. We expect not Your hasty answer, though we both desire A swift end to your trouble. Sir, you sh'anot needs to urge it. Now it's out. I'll leave him too. Exit. What needs you distrust? He'll know precisely when we must be married, Is jealous of delays, won't believe I love him, Till the Priest hath sealed me his i'th Church, he says. He means serious. Who would think you could dissemble. What doey' think of this? Faith yet be wise and leave this wooing, I shall maintain this humour to my mother, And find a crotchet to come off with honour, you have not Yet my hate, pray let's be friends, and never meet again, Conceal for your own shame. Can you Sir be constant? Is't possible? You are grown bold of late. I have no great ambition. Pray keep it, and let me tell you Sir my mind. Briefly then. I fear you won't understand me. Then know, I do not love you, Sir. I make no doubt it will appear so, I could be of the humour of some Mistress's, By some slight favours to encourage you, Accept your gifts, extol your wit, invent New ways to melt your gold, beside the Exchange, And petticoat embroideries. Have every day some progress for your Coach, And tire you worse than your fou e Flanders Ma es And then laugh at you too: but I am honest, And will deserve your nobler character: I tell you what you must expect, in troth I cannot love you, pray leave off in time, And let this satisfy you. It is all that I can promise you. By no means. I would advice you rather to be silent, And take your leave Like a good Christian Lover: If you betray my honest meaning so, And move her to impatience, I shall wish you Ith' West India's. Enter Mistress Golds. And the conditions please me infinitely; Mother you never placed your commendation Upon a Gentleman so Noble, such Plenty of honour dwells in him, I must Be happy in his embraces. We understand each other perfectly, He has so sweet a soul, I may have any thing; He has promised me the finest Parrats. Look you Sir, These turns you put me too; do not believe I bear one thought more of goodwill for this If you suspect it otherwise; because I carry it sweet and pleasing to my mother, Who is so zealous in your cause, I'll swear Your worship is the most unwelcomm'st ma I'th world to me. In my opinion Sir, you have not been So kind as she deserves, and for my partly I have so much compassion of her sufferings, Were all the wit of younger brother's in you, And could you make me jointure of a Province, I would rather marry my father's serving man And stand at livery my self than be Wife to a man so ingrateful. Ex. Au. I am ignorant With what words I should meet this noble love. Yes Sir. Mine? excuse me if I suspect. I have herd you Sir. And have considered all that you have said To make me think you are now wholly mine: I must confess you have expressed a Lover, Wanted no Art to flourish your warm passion: But language is no clew to guide us to The knowledge of your heart. It is not; but where circumstances meet, They may be thought on. You loved my Sister. And you declare you can neglect her now, Look on her Like a stranger. She loved you well, most nobly, with as much Fervour as ever I did or can love; Should I think to be more secure than she? Promise that firm to me, which in so fresh A sighed and memory you have violated To her, that placed you in as deer a bosom? Discretion bids me pause, I may be rash, Either you loved her not at all, and so You may play false with both, or loving her With as much levity, I suppose you may Forsake me too. Therefore I bid you first farewell. Exit. 'Tis granted; But his neglect of you afflicted me. Nor make me blessed, while you Seemed discontented. Best? He is mine. 'Tis more than will become you sister. And it must bring your modesty in question, To follow one that cares not for you Not while I may challenge interest; here are company Let us withdraw, I have something more to tell you. How's this? nay then I'll stay a little longer. Such as you see? Noble Sir, I hope you do not scorn us. Has he won this Lady? I suspect her: I hope you have not quite forsaken me; Virgins for custom sake, sometime deny, Believe me Sir, when you did plead for love My heart did not so much as think on't. What did you mean? that Ring was his. Indeed? Then I must tell you Sir, you have not used us civilly, to make our conversation ridiculous, To talk and compliment with a Boy. Doey' not think your wit found out a precious device to make me love you by a president; is this your great Lady? Not now, I know you have art enough to excuse it, Yet I am not merciless, let me entreat Your absence, without ceremony, when You come again, your talk will be more musical. Not so. Alas poor sister, now I fear you not, I see your purpose was to make me kind: I wo'd he were my brother, but let's in And join our heads, some counsel would do well, 'Tis pity we two should lead Apes in hell. Exit. I'll expect a while. I come to ask thy pardon. You're now awake, and I am your Aurelia, That if you can forgive her passed neglect, Will give you proof of her repentance, But these tears— O my Gerard! Thou art too merciful, and dost forgive Too soon the injury I did thy love; But I am come to make thee satisfaction; And this is but a shadow of those joys, We must divide, if you vouchsafe to follow, As I direct. You must walk then. Nay, 'tis hast is now required. Here Mother, I have met a Husband too, let us divide your Prayers—soft Master Caper wit Her. dis covers. we are married Sir already. Say not so, give me a little time and I will try How I can give him you; I will persuade My heart to let him go. Heaven preserve the temper of his brain.