Love at a Venture

By Susanna Centlivre

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Love at a Venture" by Susanna Centlivre. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DigiCat
• Release date: Aug 16, 2022
• ISBN: 8596547186762

Book preview

Susanna Centlivre

Love at a Venture

EAN 8596547186762

DigiCat, 2022

Contact: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

THE PROLOGUE .

THE EPILOGUE

Dramatis Personæ.

ACT I.

ACT II.

ACT III.

ACT IV.

ACT V.

THE EPILOGUE.

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THE PROLOGUE.

Table of Contents

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THE EPILOGUE

Table of Contents

Spoken by Miss Jacobella Power.

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Dramatis Personæ.

Table of Contents

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Love at a Venture.

Table of Contents

ACT I.

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SCENE Sir Paul Cautious's House. Sir William Freelove's Apartment.

Enter Belair and Robin, meeting Sir William.

Belair. Oh Sir William, I am so transported, I cannot speak in the common Strain of Mankind.

Sir Will. And pry'thee, Belair, What occasions this Transport?

Bel. Had'st thou been my profest Enemy all thy Life, and done me as much Mischief as the Turk in Hungary, or the French in Flanders; if thou'lt but help me now, thou woud'st make Amends for all—such a Creature! such an Angel!

Sir Will. What Visions! Apparitions?

Bel. Cou'd I but hope to see her once more, I'd change the happiest half of my Life for that one Moment.

Sir Will. If you please to descend from your high-flown Raptures, and walk Hand in Hand with my Understanding.

Bel. You'l lead me to her. [Hastily.]

Sir Will. Ha, ha, ha, what, before I know where she is——you wou'd be landed at your Port before you have taken Shipping, or told the Place you design for.

Bel. Pho; you know all my Designs.

Robin. When a Woman's concern'd. [Aside.]

Sir Will. Are extravagant——you have more Intrigues upon your Hands, than a handsome young Poet on the Success of his first Play——like a Dog in a Herd, you run at all, and catch none, because you run with such ungovern'd Heat, you spring the Quarry before you can draw your Net.

Bel. But if I miss Sitting, I commonly hit 'em Flying—but this is nothing to the Purpose; the Lady, Man, the Lady——

Sir Wil. Ay, the Lady; what of her?

Bel. Which I saw last Night——Oh, such a Creature!

Sir Will. At what Window?

Bel. Such a charming Air.——

Sir Wil. What House was it at?

Bel. As much Youth as wou'd serve to recover half the decay'd Faces in the Town.

Sir Will. What Street?

Bel. Wanton as a Nun, yet look'd demure as a Quaker——

Sir Will. Z'death, where, where, is this rare Creature to be seen?

Bel. Then her Features, Sir William! Oh, such Features: she is the most perfect Piece in the World——her Shape clean and easy——a profuse Quantity of dark brown Hair—and such a Complexion, as the Gods form when they design a Miracle of Beauty.

Sir Will. Nay, since you will have your own Way, I'll strike in with you——a charming high Forehead.

Bel. Ay, and such a Mouth——

Sir Will. Sparkling black Eyes——

Bel. And such a Cast——

Sir Will. Such Dimples in her Cheeks——

Bel. Ay, ay,