OCR Text |
Show 54 The Inconfiant : Or, The cunning Gamefters never gain too faft, But lofe at firft, to win the more at laft. (Exit, Ori. His coming puts me into fome Ambiguity, I don't know how; I don't fear hi,m, but I miftruft m y felf; wou'd be were not come, yet I wou'd not have him gone neither; I'm afraid to talk with him, but I love to fee him thoJ. What a ftrange Power has this fantafiici Fire, That makes us dread even what we moft defire I Enter Mirabel in Fryers Habit. Aiir. Save you, Sifter Your Brother, young Lady, ha: ving a regard to your Soul's Health, has fent m e to prepare you for that iacred Habit by Confeffion. Ori. That's falfe, the cloven Foot ahead/. (Afide.") M y Brother's Care I o w n ; and to you, facred Sir, I confels, that the great crying Sin which I have long indulg'd, and n o w prepare to expiate, was Love. M y Morning Thoughts, m y Evening Prayers, m y Daily Mufings, Nightly Cares, was Love! M y prefent Peace, m y future Blifs, fhe Joy of Earth, and Hopes of Heaven, I all contemn'd for Love ! Aiir. She's downright ftark m a d in earneft; Death and Confufion, I have loft her! (Afide.~) You confefs your fault, Madam, in fuch moving Terms, that I could almoft be in love with the Sin. Ori. Take care, Sir; Crimes, like Virtues, are their own Rewards; m y chief Delight became m y only Grief; he in whofe Breaft I thought m y Heart fecure turn'd Robber, and dcfpoil'd the Treafure that he kept. Aiir. Perhaps that Treafure he efteems fo much, that like a Mifcrj tho' afraid to ufe it, he referves it fafe. Ori. N o , holy Father; who can be Mifer in another's Wealth that's Prodigal of his own, his Heart was open, fhar'd to all he knew, and what, alas! muft then become of mine? But the fame Eyes that drew the Paffion in, fhall fend it out in Tears, to which n o w hear m y V o w. Mir. (Difcovering himfelf.") N o , m y fair Angel, but let me repent; here on his Knees behold the Criminal, that vows Repentance his. Ha! N o concern upon her! Ori. This Turn is odd, and the time has been, that fuch a fudden Change wou'd have furpriz'd m e into iome Confufion. Mir. |