Volume I Part 52 (1/2)

_La Nu._ I must not lose this lavish loving Fool-- [Aside.

_Will._ So, I hope he will be civil and withdraw, and leave me in possession--

_Beau._ No, tho my Fortune should depend on thee; nay, all my hope of future happiness-- by Heaven, I scorn to marry thee, unless thou couldst convince me thou wer't honest-- a Wh.o.r.e!-- Death, how it cools my Blood--

_Will._ And fires mine extremely--

_La Nu._ Nay, then I am provok'd tho I spoil all-- [Aside.

And is a Wh.o.r.e a thing so much despis'd?

Turn back, thou false forsworn-- turn back, and blush at thy mistaken folly.

[He stands amaz'd.

_Beau._ _La Nuche!_

Enter _Aria._ peeping, advancing cautiously undrest, _Luc._ following.

_Aria._ Oh, he is here-- _Lucia_, attend me in the Orange-grove-- [Ex. _Lucia_.

Hah, a Woman with him!

_Will._ Hum-- what have we here? another Damsel?-- she's gay too, and seems young and handsom-- sure one of these will fall to my share; no matter which, so I am sure of one.

_La Nu._ Who's silent now? are you struck dumb with Guilt? thou shame to n.o.ble Love; thou scandal to all brave Debauchery, thou Fop of Fortune; thou slavish Heir to Estate and Wife, born rich and d.a.m.n'd to Matrimony.

_Will._ Egad, a n.o.ble Wench-- I am divided yet.

_La Nu._ Thou formal a.s.s disguis'd in generous Leudness, see-- when the Vizor's off, how sneakingly that empty form appears-- Nay 'tis thy own-- Make much on't, marry with it, and be d.a.m.n'd.

[Offers to go.

_Will._ I hope she'll beat him for suspecting her.

[He holds her, she turns.

_Aria._ Hah-- who the Devil can these be?

_La Nu._ What silly honest Fool did you mistake me for? what senseless modest thing? Death, am I grown so despicable? have I deserv'd no better from thy Love than to be taken for a virtuous Changeling?

_Will._ Egad, 'twas an Affront. [Aside.

_La Nu._ I'm glad I've found thee out to be an errant c.o.xcomb, one that esteems a Woman for being chaste forsooth! 'Sheart, I shall have thee call me pious shortly, a most-- religious Matron!

_Will._ Egad, she has reason-- [Aside.

_Beau._ Forgive me-- for I took ye-- for another. [Sighing.

_La Nu._ Oh did you so? it seems you keep fine Company the while-- Death, that I should e'er be seen with such a vile Dissembler, with one so vain, so dull and so impertinent, as can be entertain'd by honest Women!

_Will._ A Heavenly Soul, and to my Wish, were I but sure of her.

_Beau._ Oh you do wondrous well t'accuse me first! yes, I am a c.o.xcomb-- a confounded one, to doat upon so false a Prost.i.tute; nay to love seriously, and tell it too: yet such an amorous c.o.xcomb I was born, to hate the Enjoyment of the loveliest Woman, without I have the Heart: the fond soft Prattle, and the lolling Dalliance, the Frowns, the little Quarrels, and the kind Degrees of making Peace again, are Joys which I prefer to all the sensual, whilst I endeavour to forget the Wh.o.r.e, and pay my Vows to Wit, to Youth and Beauty.