Volume Iv Part 49 (1/2)

Oh Impertinency, thou art justly rewarded!

_Cur._ _Lorenzo_, may I believe you love me?

_Lor._ Now what shall I say, Ay or no? [Aside.

The Devil take me if I know.

_Cur._ Will you do me a favour?

_Lor._ There 'tis again. [Aside.

_Cur._ I know I may trust thee with a secret.

_Lor._ Truly, _Curtius_, I cannot tell.

In some cases I am not very retentive.

_Cur._ I am going about a business, that perhaps May take up all the time I have to live, And I may never see thy Sister more; Will you oblige me in a Message to her?

_Lor._ You know you may command me; --I'm glad 'tis no worse. [Aside.

_Cur._ Come, go with me into my Cabinet, And there I'll write to _Laura_; And prithee if thou hear'st that I am dead, Tell her I fell a Sacrifice to her, And that's enough, she understands the rest.

_Lor._ But harkye, _Curtius_, by your favour, this is but a Scurvy Tale to carry to your Mistress; I hope you are not in earnest.

_Cur._ Yes.

_Lor._ Yes! why, what a foolish idle humour's this in you? I vow 'twill go near to break the poor Girl's Heart;-- Come, be advis'd, Man.

_Cur._ Perhaps I may consider on't for that reason.

_Lor._ There are few that go about such businesses, But have one thing or other to consider in favour of Life; I find that even in the most magnanimous:-- Prithee who is't with?

_Cur._ That's counsel: and pray let this too which I have Told you be a Secret, for 'twill concern your Life.

_Lor._ Good _Curtius_, take it back again then; For a hundred to one but my over-care of keeping it Will betray it.

_Cur._ Thou lovest thy self better.

_Lor._ Well, that's a comfort yet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. A Wood.

Enter _Cloris_ dressed like a Country-Boy, follow'd by _Guilliam_ a Clown; _Cloris_ comes reading a Letter.

_Clo._ [Reads.] Cloris, _beware of Men; for though I my self be one,_ _Yet I have the Frailties of my s.e.x, and can dissemble too;_ _Trust none of us, for if thou dost, thou art undone;_ _We make Vows to all alike we see,_ _And even the best of Men, the Prince,_ _Is not to be credited in an affair of Love._ --Oh _Curtius_, thy advice was very kind; Had it arriv'd before I'ad been undone!

--Can _Frederick_ too be false!

A Prince, and be unjust to her that loves him too?

--Surely it is impossible-- Perhaps thou lov'st me too, and this may be [Pointing to the Letter.

Some Plot of thine to try my Constancy: --Howe'er it be, since he could fail last night Of seeing me, I have at least a cause to justify This shameful change; and sure in this Disguise, I shall not soon be known, dost think I shall? [Looks on herself.