Volume I Part 121 (2/2)

_L. Des._ And I, in consideration of such Debt, do freely give unto the abovesaid _John Freeman_, the Heart and Body of the abovesaid _Maria Desbro_, with all Appurtenances thereto belonging, whenever it shall please Heaven to bring my Husband fairly to the Gallows.

[In a Tone.

_Free._ Amen-- kiss the Book-- [Kisses her.

[Ana. hums without.

_L. Des._ Hah! that's _Ananias_; sure some Danger's near, the necessary Rascal gives us notice of.

_Free._ 'Tis so, what wouldst thou have me do?

_L. Des._ Thou art undone if seen-- here, step within this Curtain.

[He goes.

Enter _Ananias_, humming, and spreading his Cloak wide; _Desbro_ behind him, puffing in a Chafe.

_Des._ Ads nigs, what a Change is here like to be?-- puff, puff-- we have manag'd Matters sweetly-- to let the _Scotch_ General undermine us; puff, puff.

_L. Des._ What's the Matter?

_Des._ Nothing, c.o.c.key, nothing, but that we are like to return to our first nothing.

_Ana._ Yea, verily, when our time's come; but ah, the great Work of Reformation is not yet fully accomplish'd, which must be wrought by the Saints, and we cannot spare one of them until the Work be finish'd.

_Des._ Yea, yea, it is finish'd I doubt, puff, puff: fie, fie, what a Change is here!

_Ana._ Patience, ah, 'tis a precious Virtue!--

_Des._ Patience, Sir! what, when I shall lose so many fine Estates which did appertain to the Wicked; and which, I trusted, had been establish'd ours, and tell'st thou me of Patience? puff, puff.

[Walking fast.

_Ana._ How! lose 'em, Sir? handle the matter with Patience; I hope the Committee of Safety, or the Rump, will not do an illegal thing to one of the Brethren.

_Des._ No, no, I have been a trusty Knave to them, and so I have found them all to me: but _Monk! Monk!_ O that ever we should be such blind Fools to trust an honest General!

_Ana._ Patience, Sir! what of him?

_Des._ I just now receiv'd private Intelligence, he's coming out of _Scotland_ with his Forces-- puff, puff.

_Ana._ Why, let him come a Gad's Name, we have those will give him a civil Salute, if he mean not honourably to the Commonwealth. Patience, Sir.

_Des._ But if he proves the stronger, and shou'd chance to be so great a Traitor to us, to bring in the Man-- the King.

_L. Des._ How, the King, Husband! the great Heroick!

_Free._ Death, this Woman is a Sybil: ah, n.o.ble _Monk_!

_Ana._ Hum-- the King!--

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