But couldn't I
contrive
to have a little right of my side?
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
--I'll speak first--Mr.
Absolute.
ABSOLUTE
Ma'am. [Turns round. ]
LYDIA
O heavens! Beverley!
ABSOLUTE
Hush;--hush, my life! softly! be not surprised!
LYDIA
I am so astonished! and so terrified! and so overjoyed! --for Heaven's
sake! how came you here?
ABSOLUTE
Briefly, I have deceived your aunt--I was informed that my new rival
was to visit here this evening, and contriving to have him kept away,
have passed myself on her for Captain Absolute.
LYDIA
O charming! And she really takes you for young Absolute?
ABSOLUTE
Oh, she's convinced of it.
LYDIA
Ha! ha! ha! I can't forbear laughing to think how her sagacity is
overreached!
ABSOLUTE
But we trifle with our precious moments--such another opportunity may
not occur; then let me now conjure my kind, my condescending angel, to
fix the time when I may rescue her from undeserving persecution, and
with a licensed warmth plead for my reward.
LYDIA
Will you then, Beverley, consent to forfeit that portion of my paltry
wealth? --that burden on the wings of love?
ABSOLUTE
Oh, come to me--rich only thus--in loveliness! Bring no portion to me
but thy love--'twill be generous in you, Lydia--for well you know, it
is the only dower your poor Beverley can repay.
LYDIA
[Aside. ] How persuasive are his words! --how charming will poverty be
with him!
ABSOLUTE
Ah! my soul, what a life will we then live! Love shall be our idol and
support! we will worship him with a monastic strictness; abjuring all
worldly toys, to centre every thought and action there. Proud of
calamity, we will enjoy the wreck of wealth; while the surrounding
gloom of adversity shall make the flame of our pure love show doubly
bright. By Heavens! I would fling all goods of fortune from me with a
prodigal hand, to enjoy the scene where I might clasp my Lydia to my
bosom, and say, the world affords no smile to me but here--[Embracing
her. ] [Aside. ] If she holds out now, the devil is in it!
LYDIA
[Aside. ] Now could I fly with him to the antipodes! but my persecution
is not yet come to a crisis.
[Re-enter Mrs. MALAPROP, listening. ]
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] I am impatient to know how the little hussy deports herself.
ABSOLUTE
So pensive, Lydia! --is then your warmth abated?
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Warmth abated! --so! --she has been in a passion, I suppose.
LYDIA
No--nor ever can while I have life.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] An ill tempered little devil! She'll be in a passion all her
life--will she?
LYDIA
Think not the idle threats of my ridiculous aunt can ever have any
weight with me.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Very dutiful, upon my word!
LYDIA
Let her choice be Captain Absolute, but Beverley is mine.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] I am astonished at her assurance! --to his face--this is to
his face!
ABSOLUTE
Thus then let me enforce my suit. [Kneeling. ]
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Ay, poor young man! --down on his knees entreating for
pity! --I can contain no longer. --[Coming forward. ] Why, thou vixen! --I
have overheard you.
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] Oh, confound her vigilance!
Mrs. MALAPROP
Captain Absolute, I know not how to apologize for her shocking
rudeness.
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] So all's safe, I find. --[Aloud. ] I have hopes, madam, that
time will bring the young lady----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Oh, there's nothing to be hoped for from her! she's as headstrong as an
allegory on the banks of Nile.
LYDIA
Nay, madam, what do you charge me with now?
Mrs. MALAPROP
Why, thou unblushing rebel--didn't you tell this gentleman to his face
that you loved another better? --didn't you say you never would be his?
LYDIA
No, madam--I did not.
Mrs. MALAPROP
Good heavens! what assurance! --Lydia, Lydia, you ought to know that
lying don't become a young woman! --Didn't you boast that Beverley, that
stroller Beverley, possessed your heart? --Tell me that, I say.
LYDIA
'Tis true, ma'am, and none but Beverley----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Hold! --hold, Assurance! --you shall not be so rude.
ABSOLUTE
Nay, pray, Mrs. Malaprop, don't stop the young lady's speech: she's
very welcome to talk thus--it does not hurt me in the least, I assure
you.
Mrs. MALAPROP
You are too good, captain--too amiably patient--but come with me,
miss. --Let us see you again soon, captain--remember what we have fixed.
ABSOLUTE
I shall, ma'am.
Mrs. MALAPROP
Come, take a graceful leave of the gentleman.
LYDIA
May every blessing wait on my Beverley, my loved Bev----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Hussy! I'll choke the word in your throat! --come along--come along.
[Exeunt severally; CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE kissing his hand to LYDIA--Mrs.
MALAPROP stopping her from speaking. ]
* * * * * * *
Scene IV--ACRES' Lodgings.
[ACRES, as just dressed, and DAVID. ]
ACRES
Indeed, David--do you think I become it so?
DAVID
You are quite another creature, believe me, master, by the mass! an'
we've any luck we shall see the Devon mon kerony in all the print-shops
in Bath!
ACRES
Dress does make a difference, David.
DAVID
'Tis all in all, I think. --Difference! why, an' you were to go now to
Clod-Hall, I am certain the old lady wouldn't know you: Master Butler
wouldn't believe his own eyes, and Mrs. Pickle would cry, Lard presarve
me! our dairy-maid would come giggling to the door, and I warrant Dolly
Tester, your honour's favourite, would blush like my waistcoat. --Oons!
I'll hold a gallon, there ain't a dog in the house but would bark, and
I question whether Phillis would wag a hair of her tail!
ACRES
Ay, David, there's nothing like polishing.
DAVID
So I says of your honour's boots; but the boy never heeds me!
ACRES
But, David, has Mr. De-la-grace been here? I must rub up my balancing,
and chasing, and boring.
DAVID
I'll call again, sir.
ACRES
Do--and see if there are any letters for me at the post-office.
DAVID
I will. --By the mass, I can't help looking at your head! --if I hadn't
been by at the cooking, I wish I may die if I should have known the
dish again myself! [Exit. ]
ACRES
[Practising a dancing-step. ] Sink, slide--coupee. --Confound the first
inventors of cotillions! say I--they are as bad as algebra to us country
gentlemen--I can walk a minuet easy enough when I am forced! --and I
have been accounted a good stick in a country-dance. --Odds jigs and
tabors! I never valued your cross-over to couple--figure in--right and
left--and I'd foot it with e'er a captain in the county! --but these
outlandish heathen allemandes and cotillions are quite beyond me! --I
shall never prosper at 'em, that's sure--mine are true-born English
legs--they don't understand their curst French lingo! --their _pas_
this, and _pas_ that, and _pas_ t'other! --damn me! my feet don't like
to be called paws! no, 'tis certain I have most Antigallican toes!
[Enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Here is Sir Lucius O'Trigger to wait on you, sir.
ACRES
Show him in.
[Exit SERVANT. ]
[Enter Sir LUCIUS O'TRIGGER. ]
Sir LUCIUS
Mr. Acres, I am delighted to embrace you.
ACRES
My dear Sir Lucius, I kiss your hands.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray, my friend, what has brought you so suddenly to Bath?
ACRES
Faith! I have followed Cupid's Jack-a-lantern, and find myself in a
quagmire at last. --In short, I have been very ill used, Sir Lucius. --I
don't choose to mention names, but look on me as on a very ill-used
gentleman.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray what is the case? --I ask no names.
ACRES
Mark me, Sir Lucius, I fall as deep as need be in love with a young
lady--her friends take my part--I follow her to Bath--send word of my
arrival; and receive answer, that the lady is to be otherwise disposed
of. --This, Sir Lucius, I call being ill-used.
Sir LUCIUS
Very ill, upon my conscience. --Pray, can you divine the cause of it?
ACRES
Why, there's the matter; she has another lover, one Beverley, who, I am
told, is now in Bath. --Odds slanders and lies! he must be at the bottom
of it.
Sir LUCIUS
A rival in the case, is there? --and you think he has supplanted you
unfairly?
ACRES
Unfairly! to be sure he has. He never could have done it fairly.
Sir LUCIUS
Then sure you know what is to be done!
ACRES
Not I, upon my soul!
Sir LUCIUS
We wear no swords here, but you understand me.
ACRES
What! fight him!
Sir LUCIUS
Ay, to be sure: what can I mean else?
ACRES
But he has given me no provocation.
Sir LUCIUS
Now, I think he has given you the greatest provocation in the world.
Can a man commit a more heinous offence against another than to fall in
love with the same woman? Oh, by my soul! it is the most unpardonable
breach of friendship.
ACRES
Breach of friendship! ay, ay; but I have no acquaintance with this man.
I never saw him in my life.
Sir LUCIUS
That's no argument at all--he has the less right then to take such a
liberty.
ACRES
Gad, that's true--I grow full of anger, Sir Lucius! --I fire apace! Odds
hilts and blades! I find a man may have a deal of valour in him, and
not know it!
But couldn't I contrive to have a little right of my side?
Sir LUCIUS
What the devil signifies right, when your honour is concerned? Do you
think Achilles, or my little Alexander the Great, ever inquired where
the right lay? No, by my soul, they drew their broad-swords, and left
the lazy sons of peace to settle the justice of it.
ACRES
Your words are a grenadier's march to my heart! I believe courage must
be catching! I certainly do feel a kind of valour rising as it were--a
kind of courage, as I may say. --Odds flints, pans, and triggers! I'll
challenge him directly.
Sir LUCIUS
Ah, my little friend, if I had Blunderbuss Hall here, I could show you
a range of ancestry, in the O'Trigger line, that would furnish the new
room; every one of whom had killed his man! --For though the
mansion-house and dirty acres have slipped through my fingers, I thank
heaven our honour and the family-pictures are as fresh as ever.
ACRES
O, Sir Lucius! I have had ancestors too! --every man of 'em colonel or
captain in the militia! --Odds balls and barrels! say no more--I'm
braced for it. The thunder of your words has soured the milk of human
kindness in my breast;--Zounds! as the man in the play says, _I could
do such deeds! _
Sir LUCIUS
Come, come, there must be no passion at all in the case--these things
should always be done civilly.
ACRES
I must be in a passion, Sir Lucius--I must be in a rage. --Dear Sir
Lucius, let me be in a rage, if you love me. Come, here's pen and
paper. --[Sits down to write. ] I would the ink were red! --Indite, I say,
indite! --How shall I begin? Odds bullets and blades! I'll write a good
bold hand, however.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray compose yourself.
ACRES
Come--now, shall I begin with an oath? Do, Sir Lucius, let me begin
with a damme.
Sir LUCIUS
Pho! pho! do the thing decently, and like a Christian. Begin now--_Sir
----_
ACRES
That's too civil by half.
Sir LUCIUS
_To prevent the confusion that might arise----_
ACRES
Well----
Sir LUCIUS
_From our both addressing the same lady----_
ACRES
Ay, there's the reason--_same_ lady--well----
Sir LUCIUS
_I shall expect the honour of your company----_
ACRES
Zounds! I'm not asking him to dinner.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray be easy.
ACRES
Well, then, _honour of your company----_
Sir LUCIUS
_To settle our pretensions----_
ACRES
Well.
Sir LUCIUS
Let me see, ay, King's-Mead-Fields will do--_in King's-Mead-Fields. _
ACRES
So, that's done--Well, I'll fold it up presently; my own crest--a hand
and dagger shall be the seal.
Sir LUCIUS
You see now this little explanation will put a stop at once to all
confusion or misunderstanding that might arise between you.
ACRES
Ay, we fight to prevent any misunderstanding.
Sir LUCIUS
Now, I'll leave you to fix your own time. --Take my advice, and you'll
decide it this evening if you can; then let the worst come of it,
'twill be off your mind to-morrow.
ACRES
Very true.
Sir LUCIUS
So I shall see nothing of you, unless it be by letter, till the
evening. --I would do myself the honour to carry your message; but, to
tell you a secret, I believe I shall have just such another affair on
my own hands. There is a gay captain here, who put a jest on me lately,
at the expense of my country, and I only want to fall in with the
gentleman, to call him out.
ACRES
By my valour, I should like to see you fight first! Odds life! I should
like to see you kill him if it was only to get a little lesson.
Sir LUCIUS
I shall be very proud of instructing you. --Well for the present--but
remember now, when you meet your antagonist, do every thing in a mild
and agreeable manner. --Let your courage be as keen, but at the same
time as polished, as your sword.
[Exeunt severally. ]
* * * * * * * * * * *
ACT IV
* * * * * * *
Scene I--ACRES' Lodgings.
[ACRES and DAVID. ]
DAVID
Then, by the mass, sir! I would do no such thing--ne'er a Sir Lucius
O'Trigger in the kingdom should make me fight, when I wasn't so minded.
Oons! what will the old lady say, when she hears o't?
ACRES
Ah! David, if you had heard Sir Lucius! --Odds sparks and flames! he
would have roused your valour.
DAVID
Not he, indeed. I hate such bloodthirsty cormorants. Look'ee, master,
if you wanted a bout at boxing, quarter staff, or short-staff, I should
never be the man to bid you cry off: but for your curst sharps and
snaps, I never knew any good come of 'em.
ACRES
But my honour, David, my honour! I must be very careful of my honour.
DAVID
Ay, by the mass! and I would be very careful of it; and I think in
return my honour couldn't do less than to be very careful of me.
ACRES
Odds blades! David, no gentleman will ever risk the loss of his honour!
DAVID
I say then, it would be but civil in honour never to risk the loss of a
gentleman. --Look'ee, master, this honour seems to me to be a marvellous
false friend: ay, truly, a very courtier-like servant. --Put the case, I
was a gentleman (which, thank God, no one can say of me;) well--my
honour makes me quarrel with another gentleman of my
acquaintance. --So--we fight. (Pleasant enough that! ) Boh! --I kill
him--(the more's my luck! ) now, pray who gets the profit of it? --Why,
my honour. But put the case that he kills me! --by the mass! I go to the
worms, and my honour whips over to my enemy.
ACRES
No, David--in that case! --odds crowns and laurels! your honour follows
you to the grave.
DAVID
Now, that's just the place where I could make a shift to do without it.
ACRES
Zounds! David, you are a coward! --It doesn't become my valour to listen
to you. --What, shall I disgrace my ancestors? --Think of that,
David--think what it would be to disgrace my ancestors!
DAVID
Under favour, the surest way of not disgracing them, is to keep as long
as you can out of their company. Look'ee now, master, to go to them in
such haste--with an ounce of lead in your brains--I should think might
as well be let alone. Our ancestors are very good kind of folks; but
they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting
acquaintance with.
ACRES
But, David, now, you don't think there is such very, very, very great
danger, hey? --Odds life! people often fight without any mischief done!
DAVID
By the mass, I think 'tis ten to one against you! --Oons! here to meet
some lion-headed fellow, I warrant, with his damned double-barrelled
swords, and cut-and-thrust pistols! --Lord bless us! it makes me tremble
to think o't--Those be such desperate bloody-minded weapons! Well, I
never could abide 'em! --from a child I never could fancy 'em! --I
suppose there an't been so merciless a beast in the world as your
loaded pistol!
ACRES
Zounds! I won't be afraid! --Odds fire and fury! you shan't make me
afraid. --Here is the challenge, and I have sent for my dear friend Jack
Absolute to carry it for me.
DAVID
Ay, i' the name of mischief, let him be the messenger. --For my part I
wouldn't lend a hand to it for the best horse in your stable. By the
mass! it don't look like another letter! It is, as I may say, a
designing and malicious-looking letter; and I warrant smells of
gunpowder like a soldier's pouch! --Oons! I wouldn't swear it mayn't go
off!
ACRES
Out, you poltroon! you ha'n't the valour of a grasshopper.
DAVID
Well, I say no more--'twill be sad news, to be sure, at Clod-Hall! but
I ha' done. --How Phillis will howl when she hears of it! --Ay, poor
bitch, she little thinks what shooting her master's going after! And I
warrant old Crop, who has carried your honour, field and road, these
ten years, will curse the hour he was born. [Whimpering. ]
ACRES
It won't do, David--I am determined to fight--so get along you coward,
while I'm in the mind.
[Enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Captain Absolute, sir.
ACRES
Oh! show him up.
[Exit SERVANT. ]
DAVID
Well, Heaven send we be all alive this time to-morrow.
ACRES
What's that? --Don't provoke me, David!
DAVID
Good-bye, master. [Whimpering. ]
ACRES
Get along, you cowardly, dastardly, croaking raven!
[Exit DAVID. ]
[Enter CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE. ]
ABSOLUTE
What's the matter, Bob?
ACRES
A vile, sheep-hearted blockhead! If I hadn't the valour of St. George
and the dragon to boot----
ABSOLUTE
But what did you want with me, Bob?
ACRES
Oh! --There---- [Gives him the challenge. ]
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] To Ensign Beverley. --So, what's going on now? --[Aloud. ] Well,
what's this?
ACRES
A challenge!
ABSOLUTE
Indeed! Why, you won't fight him; will you, Bob?
ACRES
Egad, but I will, Jack. Sir Lucius has wrought me to it. He has left me
full of rage--and I'll fight this evening, that so much good passion
mayn't be wasted.
ABSOLUTE
But what have I to do with this?
ACRES
Why, as I think you know something of this fellow, I want you to find
him out for me, and give him this mortal defiance.
ABSOLUTE
Well, give it to me, and trust me he gets it.
ACRES
Thank you, my dear friend, my dear Jack; but it is giving you a great
deal of trouble.
ABSOLUTE
Not in the least--I beg you won't mention it. --No trouble in the world,
I assure you.
ACRES
You are very kind. --What it is to have a friend! --You couldn't be my
second, could you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
Why no, Bob--not in this affair--it would not be quite so proper.
ACRES
Well, then, I must get my friend Sir Lucius. I shall have your good
wishes, however, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
Whenever he meets you, believe me.
[Re-enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Sir Anthony Absolute is below, inquiring for the captain.
ABSOLUTE
I'll come instantly. ----
[Exit SERVANT. ]
Well, my little hero, success attend you. [Going. ]
ACRES
----Stay--stay, Jack. --If Beverley should ask you what kind of a man
your friend Acres is, do tell him I am a devil of a fellow--will you,
Jack?
ABSOLUTE
To be sure I shall. I'll say you are a determined dog--hey, Bob!
ACRES
Ah, do, do--and if that frightens him, egad, perhaps he mayn't come. So
tell him I generally kill a man a week; will you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
I will, I will; I'll say you are called in the country Fighting Bob.
ACRES
Right--right--'tis all to prevent mischief; for I don't want to take
his life if I clear my honour.
ABSOLUTE
No! --that's very kind of you.
ACRES
Why, you don't wish me to kill him--do you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
No, upon my soul, I do not. But a devil of a fellow, hey? [Going. ]
ACRES
True, true--but stay--stay, Jack--you may add, that you never saw me in
such a rage before--a most devouring rage!
ABSOLUTE
I will, I will.
ACRES
Remember, Jack--a determined dog!
ABSOLUTE
Ay, ay, Fighting Bob!
[Exeunt severally. ]
* * * * * * *
Scene II--Mrs. MALAPROP's Lodgings.
ABSOLUTE
Ma'am. [Turns round. ]
LYDIA
O heavens! Beverley!
ABSOLUTE
Hush;--hush, my life! softly! be not surprised!
LYDIA
I am so astonished! and so terrified! and so overjoyed! --for Heaven's
sake! how came you here?
ABSOLUTE
Briefly, I have deceived your aunt--I was informed that my new rival
was to visit here this evening, and contriving to have him kept away,
have passed myself on her for Captain Absolute.
LYDIA
O charming! And she really takes you for young Absolute?
ABSOLUTE
Oh, she's convinced of it.
LYDIA
Ha! ha! ha! I can't forbear laughing to think how her sagacity is
overreached!
ABSOLUTE
But we trifle with our precious moments--such another opportunity may
not occur; then let me now conjure my kind, my condescending angel, to
fix the time when I may rescue her from undeserving persecution, and
with a licensed warmth plead for my reward.
LYDIA
Will you then, Beverley, consent to forfeit that portion of my paltry
wealth? --that burden on the wings of love?
ABSOLUTE
Oh, come to me--rich only thus--in loveliness! Bring no portion to me
but thy love--'twill be generous in you, Lydia--for well you know, it
is the only dower your poor Beverley can repay.
LYDIA
[Aside. ] How persuasive are his words! --how charming will poverty be
with him!
ABSOLUTE
Ah! my soul, what a life will we then live! Love shall be our idol and
support! we will worship him with a monastic strictness; abjuring all
worldly toys, to centre every thought and action there. Proud of
calamity, we will enjoy the wreck of wealth; while the surrounding
gloom of adversity shall make the flame of our pure love show doubly
bright. By Heavens! I would fling all goods of fortune from me with a
prodigal hand, to enjoy the scene where I might clasp my Lydia to my
bosom, and say, the world affords no smile to me but here--[Embracing
her. ] [Aside. ] If she holds out now, the devil is in it!
LYDIA
[Aside. ] Now could I fly with him to the antipodes! but my persecution
is not yet come to a crisis.
[Re-enter Mrs. MALAPROP, listening. ]
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] I am impatient to know how the little hussy deports herself.
ABSOLUTE
So pensive, Lydia! --is then your warmth abated?
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Warmth abated! --so! --she has been in a passion, I suppose.
LYDIA
No--nor ever can while I have life.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] An ill tempered little devil! She'll be in a passion all her
life--will she?
LYDIA
Think not the idle threats of my ridiculous aunt can ever have any
weight with me.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Very dutiful, upon my word!
LYDIA
Let her choice be Captain Absolute, but Beverley is mine.
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] I am astonished at her assurance! --to his face--this is to
his face!
ABSOLUTE
Thus then let me enforce my suit. [Kneeling. ]
Mrs. MALAPROP
[Aside. ] Ay, poor young man! --down on his knees entreating for
pity! --I can contain no longer. --[Coming forward. ] Why, thou vixen! --I
have overheard you.
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] Oh, confound her vigilance!
Mrs. MALAPROP
Captain Absolute, I know not how to apologize for her shocking
rudeness.
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] So all's safe, I find. --[Aloud. ] I have hopes, madam, that
time will bring the young lady----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Oh, there's nothing to be hoped for from her! she's as headstrong as an
allegory on the banks of Nile.
LYDIA
Nay, madam, what do you charge me with now?
Mrs. MALAPROP
Why, thou unblushing rebel--didn't you tell this gentleman to his face
that you loved another better? --didn't you say you never would be his?
LYDIA
No, madam--I did not.
Mrs. MALAPROP
Good heavens! what assurance! --Lydia, Lydia, you ought to know that
lying don't become a young woman! --Didn't you boast that Beverley, that
stroller Beverley, possessed your heart? --Tell me that, I say.
LYDIA
'Tis true, ma'am, and none but Beverley----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Hold! --hold, Assurance! --you shall not be so rude.
ABSOLUTE
Nay, pray, Mrs. Malaprop, don't stop the young lady's speech: she's
very welcome to talk thus--it does not hurt me in the least, I assure
you.
Mrs. MALAPROP
You are too good, captain--too amiably patient--but come with me,
miss. --Let us see you again soon, captain--remember what we have fixed.
ABSOLUTE
I shall, ma'am.
Mrs. MALAPROP
Come, take a graceful leave of the gentleman.
LYDIA
May every blessing wait on my Beverley, my loved Bev----
Mrs. MALAPROP
Hussy! I'll choke the word in your throat! --come along--come along.
[Exeunt severally; CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE kissing his hand to LYDIA--Mrs.
MALAPROP stopping her from speaking. ]
* * * * * * *
Scene IV--ACRES' Lodgings.
[ACRES, as just dressed, and DAVID. ]
ACRES
Indeed, David--do you think I become it so?
DAVID
You are quite another creature, believe me, master, by the mass! an'
we've any luck we shall see the Devon mon kerony in all the print-shops
in Bath!
ACRES
Dress does make a difference, David.
DAVID
'Tis all in all, I think. --Difference! why, an' you were to go now to
Clod-Hall, I am certain the old lady wouldn't know you: Master Butler
wouldn't believe his own eyes, and Mrs. Pickle would cry, Lard presarve
me! our dairy-maid would come giggling to the door, and I warrant Dolly
Tester, your honour's favourite, would blush like my waistcoat. --Oons!
I'll hold a gallon, there ain't a dog in the house but would bark, and
I question whether Phillis would wag a hair of her tail!
ACRES
Ay, David, there's nothing like polishing.
DAVID
So I says of your honour's boots; but the boy never heeds me!
ACRES
But, David, has Mr. De-la-grace been here? I must rub up my balancing,
and chasing, and boring.
DAVID
I'll call again, sir.
ACRES
Do--and see if there are any letters for me at the post-office.
DAVID
I will. --By the mass, I can't help looking at your head! --if I hadn't
been by at the cooking, I wish I may die if I should have known the
dish again myself! [Exit. ]
ACRES
[Practising a dancing-step. ] Sink, slide--coupee. --Confound the first
inventors of cotillions! say I--they are as bad as algebra to us country
gentlemen--I can walk a minuet easy enough when I am forced! --and I
have been accounted a good stick in a country-dance. --Odds jigs and
tabors! I never valued your cross-over to couple--figure in--right and
left--and I'd foot it with e'er a captain in the county! --but these
outlandish heathen allemandes and cotillions are quite beyond me! --I
shall never prosper at 'em, that's sure--mine are true-born English
legs--they don't understand their curst French lingo! --their _pas_
this, and _pas_ that, and _pas_ t'other! --damn me! my feet don't like
to be called paws! no, 'tis certain I have most Antigallican toes!
[Enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Here is Sir Lucius O'Trigger to wait on you, sir.
ACRES
Show him in.
[Exit SERVANT. ]
[Enter Sir LUCIUS O'TRIGGER. ]
Sir LUCIUS
Mr. Acres, I am delighted to embrace you.
ACRES
My dear Sir Lucius, I kiss your hands.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray, my friend, what has brought you so suddenly to Bath?
ACRES
Faith! I have followed Cupid's Jack-a-lantern, and find myself in a
quagmire at last. --In short, I have been very ill used, Sir Lucius. --I
don't choose to mention names, but look on me as on a very ill-used
gentleman.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray what is the case? --I ask no names.
ACRES
Mark me, Sir Lucius, I fall as deep as need be in love with a young
lady--her friends take my part--I follow her to Bath--send word of my
arrival; and receive answer, that the lady is to be otherwise disposed
of. --This, Sir Lucius, I call being ill-used.
Sir LUCIUS
Very ill, upon my conscience. --Pray, can you divine the cause of it?
ACRES
Why, there's the matter; she has another lover, one Beverley, who, I am
told, is now in Bath. --Odds slanders and lies! he must be at the bottom
of it.
Sir LUCIUS
A rival in the case, is there? --and you think he has supplanted you
unfairly?
ACRES
Unfairly! to be sure he has. He never could have done it fairly.
Sir LUCIUS
Then sure you know what is to be done!
ACRES
Not I, upon my soul!
Sir LUCIUS
We wear no swords here, but you understand me.
ACRES
What! fight him!
Sir LUCIUS
Ay, to be sure: what can I mean else?
ACRES
But he has given me no provocation.
Sir LUCIUS
Now, I think he has given you the greatest provocation in the world.
Can a man commit a more heinous offence against another than to fall in
love with the same woman? Oh, by my soul! it is the most unpardonable
breach of friendship.
ACRES
Breach of friendship! ay, ay; but I have no acquaintance with this man.
I never saw him in my life.
Sir LUCIUS
That's no argument at all--he has the less right then to take such a
liberty.
ACRES
Gad, that's true--I grow full of anger, Sir Lucius! --I fire apace! Odds
hilts and blades! I find a man may have a deal of valour in him, and
not know it!
But couldn't I contrive to have a little right of my side?
Sir LUCIUS
What the devil signifies right, when your honour is concerned? Do you
think Achilles, or my little Alexander the Great, ever inquired where
the right lay? No, by my soul, they drew their broad-swords, and left
the lazy sons of peace to settle the justice of it.
ACRES
Your words are a grenadier's march to my heart! I believe courage must
be catching! I certainly do feel a kind of valour rising as it were--a
kind of courage, as I may say. --Odds flints, pans, and triggers! I'll
challenge him directly.
Sir LUCIUS
Ah, my little friend, if I had Blunderbuss Hall here, I could show you
a range of ancestry, in the O'Trigger line, that would furnish the new
room; every one of whom had killed his man! --For though the
mansion-house and dirty acres have slipped through my fingers, I thank
heaven our honour and the family-pictures are as fresh as ever.
ACRES
O, Sir Lucius! I have had ancestors too! --every man of 'em colonel or
captain in the militia! --Odds balls and barrels! say no more--I'm
braced for it. The thunder of your words has soured the milk of human
kindness in my breast;--Zounds! as the man in the play says, _I could
do such deeds! _
Sir LUCIUS
Come, come, there must be no passion at all in the case--these things
should always be done civilly.
ACRES
I must be in a passion, Sir Lucius--I must be in a rage. --Dear Sir
Lucius, let me be in a rage, if you love me. Come, here's pen and
paper. --[Sits down to write. ] I would the ink were red! --Indite, I say,
indite! --How shall I begin? Odds bullets and blades! I'll write a good
bold hand, however.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray compose yourself.
ACRES
Come--now, shall I begin with an oath? Do, Sir Lucius, let me begin
with a damme.
Sir LUCIUS
Pho! pho! do the thing decently, and like a Christian. Begin now--_Sir
----_
ACRES
That's too civil by half.
Sir LUCIUS
_To prevent the confusion that might arise----_
ACRES
Well----
Sir LUCIUS
_From our both addressing the same lady----_
ACRES
Ay, there's the reason--_same_ lady--well----
Sir LUCIUS
_I shall expect the honour of your company----_
ACRES
Zounds! I'm not asking him to dinner.
Sir LUCIUS
Pray be easy.
ACRES
Well, then, _honour of your company----_
Sir LUCIUS
_To settle our pretensions----_
ACRES
Well.
Sir LUCIUS
Let me see, ay, King's-Mead-Fields will do--_in King's-Mead-Fields. _
ACRES
So, that's done--Well, I'll fold it up presently; my own crest--a hand
and dagger shall be the seal.
Sir LUCIUS
You see now this little explanation will put a stop at once to all
confusion or misunderstanding that might arise between you.
ACRES
Ay, we fight to prevent any misunderstanding.
Sir LUCIUS
Now, I'll leave you to fix your own time. --Take my advice, and you'll
decide it this evening if you can; then let the worst come of it,
'twill be off your mind to-morrow.
ACRES
Very true.
Sir LUCIUS
So I shall see nothing of you, unless it be by letter, till the
evening. --I would do myself the honour to carry your message; but, to
tell you a secret, I believe I shall have just such another affair on
my own hands. There is a gay captain here, who put a jest on me lately,
at the expense of my country, and I only want to fall in with the
gentleman, to call him out.
ACRES
By my valour, I should like to see you fight first! Odds life! I should
like to see you kill him if it was only to get a little lesson.
Sir LUCIUS
I shall be very proud of instructing you. --Well for the present--but
remember now, when you meet your antagonist, do every thing in a mild
and agreeable manner. --Let your courage be as keen, but at the same
time as polished, as your sword.
[Exeunt severally. ]
* * * * * * * * * * *
ACT IV
* * * * * * *
Scene I--ACRES' Lodgings.
[ACRES and DAVID. ]
DAVID
Then, by the mass, sir! I would do no such thing--ne'er a Sir Lucius
O'Trigger in the kingdom should make me fight, when I wasn't so minded.
Oons! what will the old lady say, when she hears o't?
ACRES
Ah! David, if you had heard Sir Lucius! --Odds sparks and flames! he
would have roused your valour.
DAVID
Not he, indeed. I hate such bloodthirsty cormorants. Look'ee, master,
if you wanted a bout at boxing, quarter staff, or short-staff, I should
never be the man to bid you cry off: but for your curst sharps and
snaps, I never knew any good come of 'em.
ACRES
But my honour, David, my honour! I must be very careful of my honour.
DAVID
Ay, by the mass! and I would be very careful of it; and I think in
return my honour couldn't do less than to be very careful of me.
ACRES
Odds blades! David, no gentleman will ever risk the loss of his honour!
DAVID
I say then, it would be but civil in honour never to risk the loss of a
gentleman. --Look'ee, master, this honour seems to me to be a marvellous
false friend: ay, truly, a very courtier-like servant. --Put the case, I
was a gentleman (which, thank God, no one can say of me;) well--my
honour makes me quarrel with another gentleman of my
acquaintance. --So--we fight. (Pleasant enough that! ) Boh! --I kill
him--(the more's my luck! ) now, pray who gets the profit of it? --Why,
my honour. But put the case that he kills me! --by the mass! I go to the
worms, and my honour whips over to my enemy.
ACRES
No, David--in that case! --odds crowns and laurels! your honour follows
you to the grave.
DAVID
Now, that's just the place where I could make a shift to do without it.
ACRES
Zounds! David, you are a coward! --It doesn't become my valour to listen
to you. --What, shall I disgrace my ancestors? --Think of that,
David--think what it would be to disgrace my ancestors!
DAVID
Under favour, the surest way of not disgracing them, is to keep as long
as you can out of their company. Look'ee now, master, to go to them in
such haste--with an ounce of lead in your brains--I should think might
as well be let alone. Our ancestors are very good kind of folks; but
they are the last people I should choose to have a visiting
acquaintance with.
ACRES
But, David, now, you don't think there is such very, very, very great
danger, hey? --Odds life! people often fight without any mischief done!
DAVID
By the mass, I think 'tis ten to one against you! --Oons! here to meet
some lion-headed fellow, I warrant, with his damned double-barrelled
swords, and cut-and-thrust pistols! --Lord bless us! it makes me tremble
to think o't--Those be such desperate bloody-minded weapons! Well, I
never could abide 'em! --from a child I never could fancy 'em! --I
suppose there an't been so merciless a beast in the world as your
loaded pistol!
ACRES
Zounds! I won't be afraid! --Odds fire and fury! you shan't make me
afraid. --Here is the challenge, and I have sent for my dear friend Jack
Absolute to carry it for me.
DAVID
Ay, i' the name of mischief, let him be the messenger. --For my part I
wouldn't lend a hand to it for the best horse in your stable. By the
mass! it don't look like another letter! It is, as I may say, a
designing and malicious-looking letter; and I warrant smells of
gunpowder like a soldier's pouch! --Oons! I wouldn't swear it mayn't go
off!
ACRES
Out, you poltroon! you ha'n't the valour of a grasshopper.
DAVID
Well, I say no more--'twill be sad news, to be sure, at Clod-Hall! but
I ha' done. --How Phillis will howl when she hears of it! --Ay, poor
bitch, she little thinks what shooting her master's going after! And I
warrant old Crop, who has carried your honour, field and road, these
ten years, will curse the hour he was born. [Whimpering. ]
ACRES
It won't do, David--I am determined to fight--so get along you coward,
while I'm in the mind.
[Enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Captain Absolute, sir.
ACRES
Oh! show him up.
[Exit SERVANT. ]
DAVID
Well, Heaven send we be all alive this time to-morrow.
ACRES
What's that? --Don't provoke me, David!
DAVID
Good-bye, master. [Whimpering. ]
ACRES
Get along, you cowardly, dastardly, croaking raven!
[Exit DAVID. ]
[Enter CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE. ]
ABSOLUTE
What's the matter, Bob?
ACRES
A vile, sheep-hearted blockhead! If I hadn't the valour of St. George
and the dragon to boot----
ABSOLUTE
But what did you want with me, Bob?
ACRES
Oh! --There---- [Gives him the challenge. ]
ABSOLUTE
[Aside. ] To Ensign Beverley. --So, what's going on now? --[Aloud. ] Well,
what's this?
ACRES
A challenge!
ABSOLUTE
Indeed! Why, you won't fight him; will you, Bob?
ACRES
Egad, but I will, Jack. Sir Lucius has wrought me to it. He has left me
full of rage--and I'll fight this evening, that so much good passion
mayn't be wasted.
ABSOLUTE
But what have I to do with this?
ACRES
Why, as I think you know something of this fellow, I want you to find
him out for me, and give him this mortal defiance.
ABSOLUTE
Well, give it to me, and trust me he gets it.
ACRES
Thank you, my dear friend, my dear Jack; but it is giving you a great
deal of trouble.
ABSOLUTE
Not in the least--I beg you won't mention it. --No trouble in the world,
I assure you.
ACRES
You are very kind. --What it is to have a friend! --You couldn't be my
second, could you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
Why no, Bob--not in this affair--it would not be quite so proper.
ACRES
Well, then, I must get my friend Sir Lucius. I shall have your good
wishes, however, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
Whenever he meets you, believe me.
[Re-enter SERVANT. ]
SERVANT
Sir Anthony Absolute is below, inquiring for the captain.
ABSOLUTE
I'll come instantly. ----
[Exit SERVANT. ]
Well, my little hero, success attend you. [Going. ]
ACRES
----Stay--stay, Jack. --If Beverley should ask you what kind of a man
your friend Acres is, do tell him I am a devil of a fellow--will you,
Jack?
ABSOLUTE
To be sure I shall. I'll say you are a determined dog--hey, Bob!
ACRES
Ah, do, do--and if that frightens him, egad, perhaps he mayn't come. So
tell him I generally kill a man a week; will you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
I will, I will; I'll say you are called in the country Fighting Bob.
ACRES
Right--right--'tis all to prevent mischief; for I don't want to take
his life if I clear my honour.
ABSOLUTE
No! --that's very kind of you.
ACRES
Why, you don't wish me to kill him--do you, Jack?
ABSOLUTE
No, upon my soul, I do not. But a devil of a fellow, hey? [Going. ]
ACRES
True, true--but stay--stay, Jack--you may add, that you never saw me in
such a rage before--a most devouring rage!
ABSOLUTE
I will, I will.
ACRES
Remember, Jack--a determined dog!
ABSOLUTE
Ay, ay, Fighting Bob!
[Exeunt severally. ]
* * * * * * *
Scene II--Mrs. MALAPROP's Lodgings.
