the old bachelor-第2章
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t？ When Dryden dying shall the world deceive； Whom we immortal； as his works； believe； Thou shalt succeed； the glory of the stage； Adorn and entertain the coming age。
BEVIL。 HIGGONS。
PROLOGUE INTENDED FOR THE OLD BACHELOR。 Written by the Lord Falkland。
Most authors on the stage at first appear Like widows' bridegrooms； full of doubt and fear： They judge； from the experience of the dame； How hard a task it is to quench her flame； And who falls short of furnishing a course Up to his brawny predecessor's force； With utmost rage from her embraces thrown； Remains convicted as an empty drone。 Thus often； to his shame； a pert beginner Proves in the end a miserable sinner。 As for our youngster； I am apt to doubt him； With all the vigour of his youth about him； But he； more sanguine； trusts in one and twenty； And impudently hopes he shall content you： For though his bachelor be worn and cold； He thinks the young may club to help the old； And what alone can be achieved by neither； Is often brought about by both together。 The briskest of you all have felt alarms； Finding the fair one prostitute her charms With broken sighs； in her old fumbler's arms： But for our spark； he swears he'll ne'er be jealous Of any rivals； but young lusty fellows。 Faith； let him try his chance； and if the slave； After his bragging； prove a washy knave； May he be banished to some lonely den And never more have leave to dip his pen。 But if he be the champion he pretends； Both sexes sure will join to be his friends； For all agree； where all can have their ends。 And you must own him for a man of might； If he holds out to please you the third night。
PROLOGUE。 Spoken by Mrs。 Bracegirdle。
How this vile world is changed！ In former days Prologues were serious speeches before plays； Grave； solemn things； as graces are to feasts； Where poets begged a blessing from their guests。 But now no more like suppliants we come； A play makes war； and prologue is the drum。 Armed with keen satire and with pointed wit； We threaten you who do for judges sit； To save our plays； or else we'll damn your pit。 But for your comfort； it falls out to…day； We've a young author and his first…born play； So； standing only on his good behaviour； He's very civil； and entreats your favour。 Not but the man has malice； would he show it； But on my conscience he's a bashful poet； You think that strangeno matter； he'll outgrow it。 Well； I'm his advocate： by me he prays you （I don't know whether I shall speak to please you）； He praysO bless me！ what shall I do now？ Hang me if I know what he prays； or how！ And 'twas the prettiest prologue as he wrote it！ Well； the deuce take me； if I han't forgot it。 O Lord； for heav'n's sake excuse the play； Because； you know； if it be damned to…day； I shall be hanged for wanting what to say。 For my sake thenbut I'm in such confusion； I cannot stay to hear your resolution。 ＇Runs off＇
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
MEN。
HEARTWELL； a surly old bachelor； pretending to slight women； secretly in love with SilviaMr。 Betterton。 BELLMOUR； in love with BelindaMr。 Powell VAINLOVE； capricious in his love； in love with AramintaMr。 Williams SHARPERMr。 Verbruggen SIR JOSEPH WITTOLMr。 Bowen CAPTAIN BLUFFEMr。 Haines。 FONDLEWIFE； a bankerMr。 Dogget SETTER； a pimpMr Underhill SERVANT to Fondlewife。
WOMEN。
ARAMINTA； in love with VainloveMrs。 Bracegirdle BELINDA； her cousin； an affected lady； in love with BellmourMrs。 Mountfort LAETITIA； wife to FondlewifeMrs。 Barry SYLVIA； Vainlove's forsaken mistressMrs。 Bowman LUCY； her maidMrs。 Leigh BETTY BOY and FOOTMEN。
SCENE： London。
THE OLD BACHELOR： ACT I。SCENE I。
SCENE： The Street。
BELLMOUR and VAINLOVE meeting。
BELL。 Vainlove； and abroad so early！ Good…morrow； I thought a contemplative lover could no more have parted with his bed in a morning than he could have slept in't。
VAIN。 Bellmour； good…morrow。 Why； truth on't is； these early sallies are not usual to me； but business； as you see； sir ＇Showing Letters。＇ And business must be followed； or be lost。
BELL。 Business！ And so must time； my friend； be close pursued； or lost。 Business is the rub of life； perverts our aim； casts off the bias； and leaves us wide and short of the intended mark。
VAIN。 Pleasure； I guess you mean。
BELL。 Ay； what else has meaning？
VAIN。 Oh； the wise will tell you …
BELL。 More than they believeor understand。
VAIN。 How； how； Ned！ A wise man say more than he understands？
BELL。 Ay； ay！ Wisdom's nothing but a pretending to know and believe more than we really do。 You read of but one wise man； and all that he knew was； that he knew nothing。 Come； come； leave business to idlers and wisdom to fools； they have need of 'em。 Wit be my faculty； and pleasure my occupation； and let Father Time shake his glass。 Let low and earthly souls grovel till they have worked themselves six foot deep into a grave。 Business is not my elementI roll in a higher orb； and dwell …
VAIN。 In castles i' th' air of thy own building。 That's thy element； Ned。 Well； as high a flier as you are； I have a lure may make you stoop。 ＇Flings a Letter。＇
BELL。 I； marry； sir； I have a hawk's eye at a woman's hand。 There's more elegancy in the false spelling of this superscription ＇takes up the Letter＇ than in all Cicero。 Let me see。How now！ Dear PERFIDIOUS VAINLOVE。 ＇Reads。＇
VAIN。 Hold； hold； 'slife； that's the wrong。
BELL。 Nay； let's see the nameSylvia！how canst thou be ungrateful to that creature？ She's extremely pretty； and loves thee entirelyI have heard her breathe such raptures about thee …
VAIN。 Ay； or anybody that she's about …
BELL。 No； faith； Frank； you wrong her； she has been just to you。
VAIN。 That's pleasant； by my troth； from thee； who hast had her。
BELL。 Neverher affections。 'Tis true； by heaven： she owned it to my face； and； blushing like the virgin morn when it disclosed the cheat which that trusty bawd of nature； night； had hid； confessed her soul was true to you； though I by treachery had stolen the bliss。
VAIN。 So was true as turtlein imaginationNed； ha？ Preach this doctrine to husbands； and the married women will adore thee。
BELL。 Why； faith； I think it will do well enough； if the husband be out of the way； for the wife to show her fondness and impatience of his absence by choosing a lover as like him as she can； and what is unlike； she may help out with her own fancy。
VAIN。 But is it not an abuse to the lover to be made a blind of？
BELL。 As you say； the abuse is to the lover； not the husband。 For 'tis an argument of her great zeal towards him； that she will enjoy him in effigy。
VAIN。 It must be a very superstitious country where such zeal passes for true devotion。 I doubt it will be damned by all our Protestant husbands for flat idolatry。 But； if you can make Alderman Fondlewife of your persuasion； this letter will be needless。
BELL。 What！ The old banker with the handsome wife？
VAIN。 Ay。
BELL。 Let me seeLAETITIA！ Oh； 'tis a delicious morsel。 Dear Frank； thou art the truest friend in the world。
VAIN。 Ay； am I not？ To be continually starting of hares for you to course。 We were certainly cut out for one another； for my temper quits an amour just where thine takes it up。 But read that； it is an appointment for me； this eveningwhen Fondlewife will be gone out of town； to meet the master of a ship； about the return of a venture which he's in danger of losing。 Read； read。
BELL。 ＇reads。＇ Hum； HumOut of town this evening； and talks of sending for Mr。 Spintext to keep me company； but I'll take care he shall not be at home。 Good！ Spintext！ Oh； the fanatic one…eyed parson！
VAIN。 Ay。
BELL。 ＇reads。＇ Hum； HumThat your conversation will be much more agreeable； if you can counterfeit his habit to blind the servants。 Very good！ Then I must be disguised？With all my heart！It adds a gusto to an amour； gives it the greater resemblance of theft； and； among us lewd mortals； the deeper the sin the sweeter。 Frank； I'm amazed at thy good nature …
VAIN。 Faith； I hate love when 'tis forced upon a man； as I do wine。 And this business is none of my seeking； I only happened to be； once or twice； where Laetitia was the h
