Volume Iii Part 31 (2/2)

[Fran. _gets his Wife behind him, and fences her with his Cloke_.

_Guz_. He's here, and with his Wife; how shall I do to deliver my Letter to her;--Sir, by the order of my Master, Don _Carlos_, the Governour, I am commanded to come hither to the end that, going from hence, and returning to my Master, I may be able to inform him--

_Fran_. That I am in health,--very well, I was afraid he wou'd have been harping upon my Wife in the first place--the Devil take her, she looks for't. [_Makes signs to have her gone_.

_Guz_. Farther, Sir, he kisses your hand, with a more than ordinary friends.h.i.+p.

_Fran_. A Pox of his Compliments.-- [_Aside_.

_Guz_. But he charg'd me, Sir, most pa.s.sionately to present his Service to your Lady.

_Fran_. Yes, yes; I thought as much.

_Guz_.--In a more particular manner.

_Fran_. Friend, my Wife, or Lady, has no need of his Service in a more particular manner, and so you may return it.

_Jac_. Indeed, but she has great need of his service in a very particular manner.

_Guz_. Sir, I meant no hurt, but 'tis always the fas.h.i.+on of your true bred Courtier, to be more ceremonious in his Civilities to Ladies than Men;--and he desires to know how she does.

_Fran_. How strong this _Carlos_ smells of the Devil--Friend, tell your Master she's very well, but since she was married, she has forgot her gentile Civility and good Manners, and never returns any Compliments to Men.

_Guz_.--How shall I get it to her?--Sir, the Governor hopes he shall have the honour of entertaining you both at his House. He's impatient of your coming, and waits at home on purpose.

_Fran_. Friend, let your Master know we are here in very good quarters already, and he does us both too much honour; and that if we have notice of the Wedding-day, and I have nothing else to do, we'll certainly wait on him, and the next morning we intend to take our leaves, which I send him word of beforehand to prevent surprize.

_Guz_. But, Sir--

[_Approaching him, he puts his Wife farther_.

_Fran_. Go, Sir, and deliver your Message.

_Guz_. But I have order, Sir--

_Fran_. There's no such thing in this World.

_Guz_. I'm resolv'd to teaze him, if I can do nothing else, in revenge;--But, Sir, he most earnestly desires to entertain your fair Lady in his own house.

_Fran_. Yes, yes; I know he does; but I'll give him to the Devil first.--Troth, Sir, this _Cadiz_ Air does not agree with my fair Lady, she has ventured out but once, and has got an Ague already.

_Guz_. Agues, Sir, are kind Diseases, they allow of Truces and Cessations.

_Fran_. No, no; she has no Cessation, Friend, her Ague takes her night and day, it shakes her most unmercifully, and it shall shake her till the Wedding-day.

_Guz_. Were this Fellow to be tried by a Jury of Women, I would not be in his Coat to lie with his Lady.--What shall I do to deliver this Letter?--Well, Sir, since I see you are so averse to what the Governor desires, I'll return--but, Sir, I must tell you as a Friend, a Secret; that to a man of your temper may concern you;--Sir,--he's resolv'd when he comes next to visit his Mistress, to make another visit to your Apartment, to your Lady too.

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