Volume I Part 129 (1/2)

_L. Fleet._ A very charitable Work, and ought to be encourag'd.

[_Loveless_ gives in a Pet.i.tion to _Gilliflower_.

_Gill._ The humble Pet.i.tion of the Lady _Make-s.h.i.+ft._ [Reads.

--Heav'ns, Madam, here are many thousand Hands to't of the distressed s.e.x.

_All._ Read it.

_Gill. Reads._] Whereas there pa.s.s'd an Act, _June_ 24th, against Fornication and Adultery, to the great detriment of most of the young Ladies, Gentlewomen, and Commonalty of _England_, and to the utter decay of many whole Families, especially when married to old Men; your Pet.i.tioners most humbly beg your Honours will take this great Grievance into mature Consideration, and the said Act may be repealed.

--A Blessing on 'em, they shall have my Hand too.

_L. Lam._ We acknowledge, there are many Grievances in that Act; but there are many Conveniences too, for it ties up the villanous Tongues of Men from boasting our Favours.

_Crom._ But as it lays a Scandal on Society-- tis troublesome, Society being the very Life of a Republick-- _Peters_ the first, and _Martin_ the second.

_Lov._ But in a Free-State, why shou'd we not be free?

_L. Des._ Why not? we stand for the Liberty and Property of our s.e.x, and will present it to the Committee of Safety.

_Lov._ Secondly, we desire the Heroicks, vulgarly call'd the Malignant, may not be look'd on as Monsters, for a.s.suredly they are Men; and that it may not be charg'd to us as a Crime to keep 'em company, for they are honest Men.

_2 Lady._ And some of 'em Men that will stand to their Principles.

_L. Lam._ Is there no other honest Men that will do as well?

_3 Lady._ Good Men are scarce.

_L. Lam._ They're all for Heroicks, sure 'tis the mode to love 'em-- I cannot blame 'em.

[Aside.

_Lov._ And that when we go to Morning and Evening Lectures, to _Tantlings_, or elsewhere, and either before or after visit a private Friend, it may be actionable for the wicked to scandalize us, by terming of it, abusing the Creature, when 'tis harmless recreating the Creature.

_All._ Reason, Reason.

_Lov._ Nor that any Husband shou'd interrupt his Wife, when at her private Devotion.

Enter _Page_.

_L. Lam._ I have been too late sensible of that Grievance.

_Gill._ And, Madam, I wou'd humbly pray a Patent for Scolding, to ease my Spleen.

_Page._ An please your Highness, here's a Messenger arriv'd Post with Letters from my Lord the General.

[Ex. _Page_.

_L. Lam._ Greater Affairs-- oblige us to break up the Council.

[Rises, the Women retire.

Enter _Page_ with Messenger, or Letters.