The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 615 pages of information about The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III.
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The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 615 pages of information about The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III.

L. Ful.  I’ll not consider why you play the Fool,
Present me Rings and Bracelets; why pursue me;
Why watch whole Nights before my senseless Door,
And take such Pains to shew your self a Coxcomb.

Gay.  Oh! why all this? 
By all the Powers above, by this dear Hand,
And by this Ring, which on this Hand I place,
On which I’ve sworn Fidelity to Love;
I never had a Wish or soft Desire
To any other Woman,
Since Julia sway’d the Empire of my Soul.

L. Ful.  Hah, my own Ring I gave him last night. [Aside
—­Your Jewel, Sir, is rich: 
Why do you part with things of so much value,
So easily, and so frequently?

Gay.  To strengthen the weak Arguments of Love.

L. Ful.  And leave your self undone?

Gay.  Impossible, if I am blest with Julia.

L. Ful.  Love’s a thin Diet, nor will keep out Cold. 
You cannot satisfy your Dunning Taylor,
To cry—­I am in Love! 
Though possible you may your Seamstress.

Gay.  Does ought about me speak such Poverty?

L. Ful.  I am sorry that it does not, since to maintain
This Gallantry, ’tis said you use base means,
Below a Gentleman.

Gay.  Who dares but to imagine it’s a Rascal, A Slave, below a beating—­what means my Julia?

L. Ful.  No more dissembling, I know your Land is gone
—­I know each Circumstance of all your Wants;
Therefore—­as e’er you hope that I should love you ever—­
Tell me—­where ’twas you got this Jewel, Sir.

Gay.  Hah—­I hope ’tis no stol’n Goods; [Aside.  Why on the sudden all this nice examining?

L. Ful.  You trifle with me, and I’ll plead no more.

Gay.  Stay—­why—­I bought it, Madam—­

L. Ful.  Where had you Money, Sir?  You see I am
No Stranger to your Poverty.

Gay.  This is strange—­perhaps it is a secret.

L. Ful.  So is my Love, which shall be kept from you.
                                              [Offers to go.

Gay.  Stay, Julia—­your Will shall be obey’d, [Sighing
Though I had rather die than be obedient,
Because I know you’ll hate me when ’tis told.

L. Ful.  By all my Vows, let it be what it will,
It ne’er shall alter me from loving you.

Gay.  I have—­of late—­been tempted—­ With Presents, Jewels, and large Sums of Gold.

L. Ful.  Tempted! by whom?

Gay.  The Devil, for ought I know.

L. Ful.  Defend me, Heaven! the Devil? 
I hope you have not made a Contract with him.

Gay.  No, though in the Shape of Woman it appear’d.

L. Ful.  Where met you with it?

Gay.  By Magick Art I was conducted—­I know not how,
To an inchanted Palace in the Clouds,
Where I was so attended—­
Young dancing, singing Fiends innumerable.

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The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume III from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.