The Works of John Dryden | Page 5

the grain, because 'tis so notoriously known in Christendom, that they have preserved ours from being cut by the Spaniards.
Har. Hang them, base English starts, let them e'en take their part of their own old proverb--Save a thief from the gallows; they would needs protect us rebels, and see what comes to themselves.
Fisc. You're i'the right on't, noble Harman; their assistance, which was a mercy and a providence to us, shall be a judgment upon them.
Van Her. A little favour would do well; though not that I would stop the current of your wit, or any other plot, to do them mischief; but they were first discoverers of this isle, first traded hither, and showed us the way.
Fisc. I grant you that; nay more, that, by composition made after many long and tedious quarrels, they were to have a third part of the traffic, we to build forts, and they to contribute to the charge.
Har. Which we have so increased each year upon them, we being in power, and therefore judges of the cost, that we exact whatever we please, still more than half the charge; and on pretence of their non-payment, or the least delay, do often stop their ships, detain their goods, and drag them into prisons, while our commodities go on before, and still forestall their markets.
Fisc. These, I confess, are pretty tricks, but will not do our business; we must ourselves be ruined at long run, if they have any trade here; I know our charge at length will eat us out: I would not let these English from this isle have cloves enough to stick an orange with, not one to throw into their bottle-ale.
Har. But to bring this about now, there's the cunning.
Fisc. Let me alone awhile; I have it, as I told you, here; mean time we must put on a seeming kindness, call them our benefactors and dear brethren, pipe them within the danger of our net, and then we'll draw it o'er them: When they're in, no mercy, that's my maxim.
Van Her. Nay, brother, I am not too obstinate for saving Englishmen, 'twas but a qualm of conscience, which profit will dispel: I have as true a Dutch antipathy to England, as the proudest he in Amsterdam; that's a bold word now.
Har. We are secure of our superiors there. Well, they may give the king of Great Britain a verbal satisfaction, and with submissive fawning promises, make shew to punish us; but interest is their god as well as ours. To that almighty, they will sacrifice a thousand English lives, and break a hundred thousand oaths, ere they will punish those that make them rich, and pull their rivals down.
[Guns go off within.
Van Her. Heard you those guns?
Har. Most plainly.
Fisc. The sound comes from the port; some ship arrived salutes the castle, and I hope brings more good news from Holland. [Guns again.
Har. Now they answer them from the fortress.
Enter_ BEAMONT _and COLLINS.
Van Her. Beamont and Collins, English merchants both; perhaps they'll certify us.
Beam. Captain Harman van Spelt, good day to you.
Har. Dear, kind Mr Beamont, a thousand and a thousand good days to you, and all our friends the English.
Fisc. Came you from the port, gentlemen?
Col. We did; and saw arrive, our honest, and our gallant countryman, brave captain Gabriel Towerson.
Beam. Sent to these parts from our employers of the East India company in England, as general of the voyage.
Fisc. Is the brave Towerson returned?
Col. The same, sir.
Har. He shall be nobly welcome. He has already spent twelve years upon, or near, these rich Molucca isles, and home returned with honour and great wealth.
Fisc. The devil give him joy of both, or I will for him. [Aside.
Beam. He's my particular friend; I lived with him, both at Tencrate, Tydore, and at Seran.
Van Her. Did he not leave a mistress in these parts, a native of this island of Amboyna?
Col. He did; I think they call her Isabinda, who received baptism for his sake, before he hence departed.
Har. 'Tis much against the will of all her friends, she loves your countryman, but they are not disposers of her person; she's beauteous, rich, and young, and Towerson well deserves her.
Beam. I think, without flattery to my friend, he does. Were I to chuse, of all mankind, a man, on whom I would rely for faith and counsel, or more, whose personal aid I would invite, in any worthy cause, to second me, it should be only Gabriel Towerson; daring he is, and thereto fortunate; yet soft, and apt to pity the distressed, and liberal to relieve them: I have seen him not alone to pardon foes, but by his bounty win them to his love: If he has any fault, 'tis only that to which great minds can only subject be--he thinks