The Works of John Dryden | Page 9

shall be yet in your free choice, to
call me one or other; for, Towerson, I do not decline your friendship,
but then yield Isabinda to me.
Tow. Yield Isabinda to you?
Har. Jun. Yes, and preserve the blessing of my friendship; I'll make my
father yours; your factories shall be no more oppressed, but thrive in all
advantages with ours; your gain shall be beyond what you could hope
for from the treaty: In all the traffic of these eastern parts, ye shall--
Tow. Hold! you mistake me, Harman, I never gave you just occasion to
think I would make merchandize of love; Isabinda, you know, is mine,
contracted to me ere I went for England, and must be so till death.
Har. Jun. She must not, Towerson; you know you are not strongest in
these parts, and it will be ill contesting with your masters.
Tow. Our masters? Harman, you durst not once have named that word,
in any part of Europe.
Har. Jun. Here I both dare and will; you have no castles in Amboyna.
Tow. Though we have not, we yet have English hearts, and courages
not to endure affronts.
Har. Jun. They may be tried.

Tow. Your father sure will not maintain you in this insolence; I know
he is too honest.
Har. Jun. Assure yourself he will espouse my quarrel.
Tow. We would complain to England.
Har. Jun. Your countrymen have tried that course so often, methinks
they should grow wiser, and desist: But now there is no need of
troubling any others but ourselves; the sum of all is this, you either
must resign me Isabinda, or instantly resolve to clear your title to her
by your sword.
Tow. I will do neither now.
Har. Jun. Then I'll believe you dare not fight me fairly.
Tow. You know I durst have fought, though I am not vain enough to
boast it, nor would upbraid you with remembrance of it.
Har. Jun. You destroy your benefit with rehearsal of it; but that was in
a ship, backed by your men; single duel is a fairer trial of your courage.
Tow. I'm not to be provoked out of my temper: Here I am a public
person, entrusted by my king and my employers, and should I kill you,
Harman--
Har. Jun. Oh never think you can, sir.
Tow. I should betray my countrymen to suffer, not only worse
indignities than those they have already borne, but, for aught I know,
might give them up to general imprisonment, perhaps betray them to a
massacre.
Har. Jun. These are but pitiful and weak excuses; I'll force you to
confess you dare not fight; you shall have provocations.
Tow. I will not stay to take them. Only this before I go; if you are truly
gallant, insult not where you have power, but keep your quarrel secret;

we may have time and place out of this island: Meanwhile, I go to
marry Isabinda, that you shall see I dare.--No more, follow me not an
inch beyond this place, no not an inch. Adieu. [Exit TOWERSON.
Har. Jun. Thou goest to thy grave, or I to mine.
[Is going after him.
Enter FISCAL.
Fisc. Whither so fast, mynheer?
Har. Jun. After that English dog, whom I believe you saw.
Fisc. Whom, Towerson?
Har. Jun. Yes, let me go, I'll have his blood.
Fisc. Let me advise you first; you young men are so violently hot.
Har. Jun. I say I'll have his blood.
Fisc. To have his blood is not amiss, so far I go with you; but take me
with you further for the means: First, what's the injury?
Har. Jun. Not to detain you with a tedious story, I love his mistress,
courted her, was slighted; into the heat of this he came; I offered him
the best advantages he could or to himself propose, or to his nation,
would he quit her love.
Fisc. So far you are prudent, for she is exceeding rich.
Har. Jun. He refused all; then I threatened him with my father's power.
Fisc. That was unwisely done; your father, underhand, may do a
mischief, but it is too gross aboveboard.
Har. Jun. At last, nought else prevailing, I defied him to single duel;
this he refused, and I believe it was fear.

Fisc. No, no, mistake him not, it is a stout whoreson. You did ill to
press him, it will not sound well in Europe; he being here a public
minister, having no means of 'scaping should he kill you, besides
exposing all his countrymen to a revenge.
Har. Jun. That's all one; I'm resolved I will pursue my course, and fight
him.
Fisc. Pursue your end, that's to enjoy the woman and her wealth; I
would, like you, have Towerson despatched,--for, as