The Rover E-Book

Aphra Behn

• Herausgeber: Renard Press
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 185

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

The Rover, or, The Banished Cavaliers is the most popular play by the Restoration playwright (and spy) Aphra Behn, first performed in 1677. Although Behn's work as a spy for Charles II came to a sudden end with a spell in debtor's prison, she was a stout Royalist, and the title refers to Charles' supporters, who were living in exile on the Continent. In the tradition of Restoration comedy, the play follows the wild exploits of a group of English gentlemen in Naples at Carnival time, although many of the tropes of the genre are subverted to an extent which sent shockwaves through the theatre world. Behn's infamous libertine Willmore was an instant hit, and The Rover catapulted her to overnight fame, and brought her an income from the box office, making her one of the first women to earn a living by their pen.

Leseprobe

The Rover or, The Banished Cavaliers

aphra behn

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The Rover, or, The Banished Cavaliers first published in 1677

This edition first published by Renard Press Ltd in 2021

Notes and edited text © Renard Press Ltd, 2024

Cover design by Will Dady

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contents

Preface

Prologue

The Rover, or, The Banished Cavaliers

act i

act ii

act iii

act iv

act v

epilogue

postscript

Notes

Extra Material

preface

from Plays Written By the Late Ingenious Mrs Behn, Volume i

The following collection of plays needs no other recommendation than that they were writ by the incomparable Mrs A. Behn, a person whose character is so universally known, and whose performances have met with such a general applause, that ’tis needless to bespeak the reader’s favour on her behalf. Her poems, novels, translations and several other composures, both in prose and verse, have gained her a lasting esteem among the masters of wit and sense, but above all her theatrical performances have entitled her to such a distinguishing character in that way as exceeds that of any of the poets of this age, Sir William Davenant and Mr Dryden excepted.* Most of ’em had the good fortune to please upon the stage, and all of ’em loudly proclaim the fancy and excellent abilities of our authoress. Those who had the happiness to be personally acquainted with her were so charmed with her wit, freedom of temper and agreeable conversation that they in a manner adored her. And indeed, we need no greater proof of her excellency in all the endowments both of body and mind than her acquaintance and intimacy with the more sensible part of mankind, and the love she drew from men of all ranks.

In fine, her character among the wits of the age is fully and happily expressed by Sir Charles Cotton in the following lines:*

Some hands write some things well and elsewhere lame,

But on all themes your power is the same;

Of buskin1 and of sock you know the pace,

And tread in both with equal skill and grace;

But when you write of love, Astrea, then

Love dips his arrows where you wet your pen:

Such charming lines did never paper grace,

Soft as your sex, as smooth as beauty’s face.

1724

1buskin: A leather knee-high boot.

PROLOGUE

Written by a person of quality

Wits, like physicians, never can agree,

When of a different society;

And Rabel’s drops2 were never more cried down

By all the learned doctors of the town

Than a new play whose author is unknown;

Nor can those doctors with more malice sue

(And powerful purses) the dissenting few,

Than those with an insulting pride do rail

At all who are not of their own cabal.3

If a young poet hit your humour right,10

You judge him then out of revenge and spite;

So amongst men there are ridiculous elves,

Who monkeys hate for being too like themselves:

So that the reason of the grand debate,

Why wit so oft is damned when good plays take,

Is that you censure as you love or hate.

Thus, like a learned conclave poets sit,

Catholic4 judges both of sense and wit,

And damn or save, as they themselves think fit.

Yet those who to others’ faults are so severe20

Are not so perfect, but themselves may err.

Some write correct, indeed, but then the whole

(Bating5 their own dull stuff i’ th’ play) is stole:

As bees do suck from flowers their honeydew,

So they rob others, striving to please you.

Some write their characters genteel and fine,

But then they do so toil for every line

That what to you does easy seem, and plain,

Is the hard issue of their labouring brain.

And some th’effects of all their pains we see30

Is but to mimic good extempore.6

Others by long converse about the town

Have wit enough to write a lewd lampoon,

But their chief skill lies in a bawdy song.

In short, the only wit that’s now in fashion

Is but the gleanings of good conversation.

As for the author of this coming play,

I asked him what he thought fit I should say

In thanks for your good company today;

He called me fool, and said it was well known,40

You came not here for our sakes, but your own.

New plays are stuffed with wits, and with debauches,

That crowd and sweat like cits7 in May Day coaches.

2Rabel’s drops: A famous brand of medicine at the time.

3cabal: Clique.

4Catholic: Having wide tastes.

5Bating: Except for.

6extempore: A performance given without preparation.

7cits: Citizens.

the rover, or, the banished cavaliers*

dramatis personae

don antonio, the Viceroy’s son

don pedro, a noble Spaniard, his friend

belvile, an English colonel in love with florinda

willmore, the Rover

frederick (fred), an English gentleman, and friend to belvile and blunt

blunt, an English country gentleman

stephano, servant to don pedro

phillipo, lucetta’s gallant8

sancho, pimp to lucetta

biskey and sebastian, two bravos9 to angellica

officer and soldiers

diego, page to don antonio

page to hellena

boy, page to belvile

blunt’s man

florinda, sister to don pedro

hellena, a gay young woman designed for a nun, and sister to florinda

valeria, a kinswoman to florinda

angellica bianca, a famous courtesan

moretta, her woman

callis, governess to florinda and hellena

lucetta, a jilting wench

servants, other masqueraders, men and women.

scene

Naples, in Carnival time.

8gallant: An admirer, a lover.

9bravos: Thugs; adventurers.

ACT I

scene i

A chamber. Enter florinda and hellena.

florinda:What an impertinent thing is a young girl bred in a nunnery! How full of questions! Prithee10 no more, Hellena, I have told thee more than thou understand’st already.

hellena:The more’s my grief – I would fain11 know as much as you, which makes me so inquisitive; nor is’t enough to know you’re a lover, unless you tell me too who ’tis you sigh for.

florinda:When you are a lover I’ll think you fit for a secret of that nature.

hellena:’Tis true, I was never a lover yet – but I begin to have a shrewd guess what ’tis to be so, and fancy it very pretty to sigh, and sing, and blush and wish, and dream and wish, and long and wish to see the man; and, when I do, look pale and tremble, just as you did when my brother brought home the fine English colonel to see you – what do you call him? Don Belvile.

florinda: Fie, Hellena.

hellena: That blush betrays you – I am sure ’tis so. Or is it Don Antonio, the Viceroy’s son? Or perhaps the rich old Don Vincentio, whom my father designs for your husband? Why do you blush again?

florinda: With indignation! And how near soever my father thinks I am to marrying that hated object, I shall let him see I understand better what’s due to my beauty, birth and fortune – and more to my soul – than to obey those unjust commands.

hellena: Now hang me if I don’t love thee for that dear disobedience! I love mischief strangely, as most of our sex do who are come to love nothing else. But tell me, dear Florinda, don’t you love that fine Anglese?12 For I vow, next to loving him myself, ’twill please me most that you do so, for he is so gay and so handsome.

florinda: Hellena, a maid designed for a nun ought not to be so curious in a discourse of love.

hellena: And dost thou think that ever I’ll be a nun? Or at least, till I’m so old, I’m fit for nothing else? Faith, no, sister; and that which makes me long to know whether you love Belvile is because I hope he has some mad companion or other that will spoil my devotion; nay, I’m resolved to provide myself this Carnival, if there be e’er a handsome fellow of my humour above ground, though I ask first.

florinda: Prithee, be not so wild.

hellena: Now you have provided yourself with a man, you take no care for poor me! Prithee, tell me, what dost thou see about me that is unfit for love – have not I a world of youth? A humour gay? A beauty passable? A vigour desirable? Well shaped? Clean limbed? Sweet breathed? And sense enough to know how all these ought to be employed to the best advantage? Yes, I do and will. Therefore lay aside your hopes of my fortune by my being a devote,13 and tell me how you came acquainted with this Belvile, for I perceive you knew him before he came to Naples.

florinda: Yes, I knew him at the Siege of Pamplona* – he was then a colonel of French horse, who, when the town was ransacked, nobly treated my brother and myself, preserving us from all insolences; and I must own, besides great obligations I have, I know not what that pleads kindly for him about my heart, and will suffer no other to enter. But see – my brother.

(Enter don pedro, stephano, with a masking habit,14 and callis.)

pedro: Good morrow, sister. Pray, when saw you your lover Don Vincentio?

florinda: I know not, sir – Callis, when was he here? For I consider it so little, I know not when it was.

pedro: I have a command from my father here to tell you you ought not to despise him – a man of so vast a fortune and such a passion for you! Stephano, my things. (Puts on his masking habit.)

florinda: A passion for me! ’Tis more than e’er I saw or he had a desire should be known – I hate Vincentio, and I would not have a man so dear to me as my brother follow the ill customs of our country and make a slave of his sister. And, sir, my father’s will, I’m sure, you may divert.

pedro: I know not how dear I am to you, but I wish only to be ranked in your esteem equal with the English colonel Belvile. Why do you frown and blush? Is there any guilt belongs to the name of that Cavalier?

florinda: I’ll not deny I value Belvile – when I was exposed to such dangers as the licensed lust of common soldiers threatened, when rage and conquest flew through the city, then Belvile, this criminal for my sake, threw himself into all dangers to save my honour; and will you not allow him my esteem?

pedro: Yes, pay him what you will in honour – but you must consider Don Vincentio’s fortune and the jointure15 he’ll make you.

florinda:Let him consider my youth, beauty and fortune, which ought not to be thrown away on his age and jointure.

pedro: ’Tis true, he’s not so young and fine a gentleman as that Belvile – but what jewels will that Cavalier present you with? Those of his eyes and heart?

hellena: And are not those better than any Don Vincentio has brought from the Indies?

pedro: Why, how now! Has your nunnery breeding taught you to understand the value of hearts and eyes?

hellena: Better than to believe Vincentio deserves value from any woman! He may, perhaps, increase her bags,16 but not her family.

pedro: This is fine! Go!Up to your devotion – you are not designed for the conversation of lovers.

hellena (aside): Nor saints yet awhile, I hope. —Is’t not enough you make a nun of me, but you must cast my sister away, too, exposing her to a worse confinement than a religious life?

pedro:The girl’s mad! Is it a confinement to be carried into the country to an ancient villa belonging to the family of the Vincentios these five hundred years, and have no other prospect than that pleasing one of seeing all her own that meets her eyes – a fine air, large fields and gardens where she may walk and gather flowers?

hellena: When? By moonlight? For I’m sure she dares not encounter with the heat of the sun; that were a task only for Don Vincentio and his Indian breeding, who loves it in the dog days.17 And if these be her daily divertissements,18 what are those of the night? To lie in a wide moth-eaten bedchamber with furniture in fashion in the reign of King Sancho the First;* the bed that which his forefathers lived and died in.

pedro: Very well.

hellena: This apartment – new-furbished and fitted out for the young wife – he out of freedom makes his dressing room; and, being a frugal and a jealous coxcomb,19 instead of a valet to uncase20 his feeble carcass, he desires you to do that office – signs of favour, I’ll assure you, and such as you must not hope for unless your woman be out of the way.

pedro: Have you done yet?

hellena: That honour being past, the giant stretches itself, yawns and sighs a belch or two as loud as a musket, throws himself into bed and expects you in his foul sheets and, ere you can get yourself undressed, calls you with a snore or two. And are not these fine blessings to a young lady?

pedro: Have you done yet?

hellena: And this man you must kiss – nay, you must kiss none but him, too – and nuzzle through his beard to find his lips; and this you must submit to for threescore years, and all for a jointure.

pedro: For all your character of Don Vincentio, she is as like to marry him as she was before.

hellena: Marry Don Vincentio! Hang me, such a wedlock would be worse than adultery with another man! I had rather see her in the Hostel de Dieu,21 to waste her youth there in vows and be a handmaid to lazars22 and cripples, than to lose it in such a marriage.

pedro: You have considered, sister, that Belvile has no fortune to bring you to, is banished from his country, despised at home and pitied abroad?

hellena: What, then? The Viceroy’s son is better than that Old Sir Fifty. Don Vincentio! Don Indian! He thinks he’s trading to Gambo23 still, and would barter himself, that bell and bauble,24 for your youth and fortune.

pedro: Callis, take her hence, and lock her up all this Carnival, and at Lent she shall begin her everlasting penance in a monastery.

hellena: I care not – I had rather be a nun than be obliged to marry as you would have me, if I were designed for’t.

pedro: Do not fear the blessing of that choice – you shall be a nun.

hellena(aside): Shall I so? You may chance to be mistaken in my way of devotion – a nun! Yes, I am like to make a fine nun! I have an excellent humour for a grate.25 No, I’ll have a saint of my own to pray to shortly, if I like any that dares venture on me.

pedro: Callis, make it your business to watch this wildcat. As for you, Florinda, I’ve only tried you all this while and urged my father’s will, but mine is that you would love Antonio – he is brave and young, and all that can complete the happiness of a gallant maid. This absence of my father will give us opportunity to free you from Vincentio by marrying here, which you must do tomorrow.

florinda: Tomorrow!

pedro: Tomorrow, or ’twill be too late. ’Tis not my friendship to Antonio which makes me urge this, but love to thee and hatred to Vincentio – therefore resolve upon tomorrow.

florinda: Sir, I shall strive to do as shall become your sister.

pedro: I’ll both believe and trust you – adieu.

(Exeunt pedro and stephano.)

hellena: As become his sister! That is, to be as resolved your way as he is his! (hellena goes to callis.)

florinda:

I ne’er till now perceived my ruin near.

I’ve no defence against Antonio’s love,

For he has all the advantages of nature,

The moving arguments of youth and fortune.

hellena: But hark you, Callis, you will not be so cruel to lock me up, indeed, will you?

callis: I must obey the commands I hate – besides, do you consider what a life you are going to lead?

hellena: Yes, Callis – that of a nun; and till then I’ll be indebted a world of prayers to you if you let me now see what I never did: the divertissements of a Carnival.

callis: What, go in masquerade? ’Twill be a fine farewell to the world, I take it – pray, what would you do there?

hellena: That which all the world does, as I am told – be as mad as the rest and take all innocent freedom. Sister, you’ll go too, will you not? Come, prithee be not sad – we’ll outwit twenty brothers if you’ll be ruled by me. Come, put off this dull humour with your clothes, and assume one as gay and as fantastic as the dress my cousin Valeria and I have provided, and let’s ramble.

florinda: Callis, will you give us leave to go?

callis (aside): I have a youthful itch of going myself. —Madam, if I thought your brother might not know it, and I might wait on you, for by my troth26 I’ll not trust young girls alone.

florinda: Thou seest my brother’s gone already, and thou shalt attend and watch us.

(Enter stephano.)

stephano: Madam, the habits are come, and your cousin Valeria is dressed, and stays for you.

florinda(aside): ’Tis well – I’ll write a note, and if I chance to see Belvile and want an opportunity to speak to him, that shall let him know what I’ve resolved in favour of him.

hellena: Come – let’s in and dress us.

(Exeunt.)

10Prithee: Please.

11fain: Like to.

12Anglese: Englishman (Italian).

13devote: A nun (a variant spelling of both ‘devout’ and ‘devotee’).

14masking habit: Part of a disguise donned during Carnival.

15jointure: The property or money given to a wife.

16bags: riches.

17dog days: The hottest part of the year.

18divertissements: Minor entertainments.

19coxcomb: Fool.

20uncase: Undress.

21Hostel de Dieu: Hotel of God (French). A hospital for the poor run by a religious order.

22lazars: Poor, diseased people, especially lepers.

23Gambo: Gambia.

24bell and bauble: Evocative of a jester’s outfit.

25grate: A nun would only speak to those from the outside world through a grating over the doors and windows.

26by my troth: ‘by my truth’. Equivalent to ‘on my oath’.

scene ii

A long street. Enter belvile, melancholy, blunt and frederick.

frederick: Why, what the devil ails the Colonel, in a time when all the world is gay, to look like mere Lent thus? Hadst thou been long enough in Naples to have been in love, I should have sworn some such judgement had befallen thee.

belvile: No, I have made no new amours since I came to Naples.

frederick: You have left none behind you in Paris?

belvile: Neither.

frederick: I can’t divine the cause, then – unless the old cause, the want of money?

blunt: And another old cause – the want of a wench. Would not that revive you?

belvile: You’re mistaken, Ned.

blunt: Nay, ’adsheartlikins,27 then thou art past cure.

frederick: I have found it out! Thou hast renewed thy acquaintance with the lady that cost thee so many sighs at the Siege of Pamplona – pox on’t, what d’ye call her – her brother’s a noble Spaniard… nephew to the dead general… Florinda – aye, Florinda – and will nothing serve thy turn but that damned virtuous woman, whom on my conscience thou lov’st in spite, too, because thou seest little or no possibility of gaining her.

belvile: Thou art mistaken – I have interest enough in that lovely virgin’s heart to make me proud and vain, were it not abated by the severity of a brother who, perceiving my happiness—

frederick: Has civilly forbid thee the house?

belvile: ’Tis so – to make way for a powerful rival, the Viceroy’s son, who has the advantage of me in being a man of fortune, a Spaniard and her brother’s friend, which gives him liberty to make his court whilst I have recourse only to letters and distant looks from her window, which are as soft and kind as those which Heaven sends down on penitents.

blunt: