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Show The Way to win him. 55 Mir. Reftore that happy Time, for I a m now return'd to m y felf, I want but Pardon to deferve your Favour, and here I'll fix till you relent, and give it. Ori. Groveling, fordid M a n ; why wou'd you act a thing to make you kneel, Monarch in Pleafure to be Slave to your Faults ? Are all the Conquefts of your wandring Sway, your Wit, your Humour, Fortune, all reduc'd to the bale cringing of a bended Knee ? Servile and Poor! I Love it (Afide. Mir. I come not here to juftifie m y Fault but m y Submif-fion, for tho' there be a meannefs in this humble Pofture, 'tis nobler ftill to bend when Juftice calls, than to refift Conviction. Ori. N o more thy oft repeated violated Words reproach m y weak Belief, 'tis the fevereft Calumny to hear thee fpeak; that humble Pofture which once cou'd raife, n ow mortifies m y Pride; how can'ft thou hope for Pardon from one that you affront by asking it ? Mir. (Rifes.) In m y own Caufe no more, but give me leave to intercede for you againft the hard Injunctions of that Habit, which for m y fault you wear. Ori. Surprizing Infolence! M y greateft Foe pretends to give m e Counfel; but I a m too w a r m upon fo cool a Subject. M y Refolutions, Sir, are fix'd; but as our Hearts were united with the Ceremony of our Eyes, fo I fhall fpare fome Tears to the Separation, (\yeeps.) That's all; farewel. Mir. A n d inuft I lofe her ? N o . (Runs, and catches her.) Since all m y Prayers are vain, I'll ufe the nobler Argument of M a n , and force you to the Juftice you refufe; you're mine by Pre-contract: And where's the V o w fo facred to difanul another? I'll urge m y Love, your Oath, and plead m y Caufe 'gainft all Monaftick Shifts upon the Earth. Ori. Unhand me, Ravifher! Would you profane thefe holy Walls with Violence ? Revenge for all m v naft Difgrace now offers, thy Life fhnuld anfwer this, wou'd I provoke the L a w : Urge m e no farther, but be gone. Aiir. Unexorable W o m a n , let m e kneel again. (Kneels. Enter Old Mirabel. OldM. Where, where's this Counterfeit N u n ? Ori. Madnefs! Confufion! I'm ruin'd ! Mir. What do I hear ? (Puts on his Hood.) W h a t did you lay, Sir ? Old AI. |