Volume Ii Part 72 (2/2)

Sir _Anth_. Ay, ay, let me alone to teach her her Duty.

[_Pushes her out, and goes out_.

L. _Gal_. Stay, Closet, I command ye.

--What have you seen in me shou'd move you to this rudeness?

[_To Sir_ Char.

Sir _Char_. No frowning; for by this dear Night, 'tis Charity, care of your Reputation, Widow; and therefore I am resolv'd no body shall lie with you but my self. You have dangerous Wasps buzzing about your Hive, Widow--mark that--[_She flings from him_.] Nay, no parting but upon terms, which, in short, d'ye see, are these: Down on your Knees, and swear me heartily, as Gad shall judge your Soul, d'ye see, to marry me to morrow.

L. _Gal_. To morrow! Oh, I have urgent business then.

Sir _Char_. So have I. Nay, Gad, an you be for the nearest way to the Wood, the sober discreet way of loving, I am sorry for ye, look ye.

[_He begins to undress_.

L. _Gal_. Hold, Sir, what mean you?

Sir _Char_. Only to go to Bed, that's all.

[_Still undressing_.

L. _Gal_. Hold, hold, or I'll call out.

Sir _Char_. Ay, do, call up a Jury of your Female Neighbours, they'll be for me, d'ye see, bring in the Bill Ignoramus, though I am no very true blue Protestant neither; therefore dispatch, or--

L. _Gal_. Hold, are you mad? I cannot promise you to night.

Sir _Char_. Well, well, I'll be content with Performance then to night, and trust you for your Promise till to morrow.

Sir _Anth_. [_peeping_.] Ah, Rogue! by George, he out-does my Expectations of him.

L. _Gal_. What Imposition's this! I'll call for help.

_Sir. Char_. You need not, you'll do my business better alone.

[_Pulls her_.

L. _Gal_. What shall I do? how shall I send him hence? [_Aside_.

Sir _Anth_. He shall ne'er drink small Beer more, that's positive; I'll burn all's Books too, they have help'd to spoil him; and sick or well, sound or unsound, Drinking shall be his Diet, and Whoring his Study.

[_Aside, peeping unseen_.

Sir _Char_. Come, come, no pausing; your Promise, or I'll to Bed.

[_Offers to pull off his Breeches, having pulled off almost all the rest of his Clothes_.

L. _Gal_. What shall I do? here is no Witness near: And to be rid of him I'll promise him; he'll have forgot it in his sober Pa.s.sion. [_Aside_.

Hold, I do swear I will-- [_He fumbling to undo his Breeches_.

Sir _Char_. What?

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