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Show . ^T7>'M[ 544- Wbe Afignntion: Or, For as the World goes, we know not how little we may have when we are * (ridLof1es of Opportunity are fatal in War, you know, and Love's a kind ° Vio I (hall keep vou yet a while from clofe fighting. Cam C o know what an hour in Love is worth ? T * more precious" Aan an Age of ordinary Life, 'tis the very Quinteflence and Extra* of it. Vio \ lo not like your Chymical Preparation of Love , yours is all Spirit, and wil fly too foon: I muft tee it fix'd, before I truft you But we are near the Arbour : N o w our Out-guards are fet, let us retire a little, if you pleafe j there we may talk more freely. r ,,L hxfunt- Aur to Lau. M y Ladies W o m a n , methinks you are very referv d to night: Pray advance into the Lifts, though I have feen your Countenance by day, I can endure to hear you talk by night. Be cunning, and fet your W i t to fhow which is your beft Commodity, it will help the bitter to put off that Drug your Face. Lau. The courfeft Ware will ferve fuch Cuftomers as you are: Let it fuffice, Mr. Serving-man, that I have feen you too. Your Face is the Original of the ugl'ieft Vizors about Town , and for Wit, I would advife you to fpeak reverently of it, as a thing you are never like to underftand. Aur. Sure, Beatrix, you came lately from looking in your Glafs, and that has given you a bad Opinion of all Faces. But fince when am I become fo notorious a Fool ? Laur. Since yefterday, for t'other night you tilk'd like a M a n of Senfe: I think your Wit comes to you, as the Sight of Owls does, only m the dark. Aur. W h y , when did you difcourfe by day with m e ? Lau. You have a fhort Memory. This Afternoon, in the great Street. you not remember when you talk'd with Laura * Aur. But what was that to Beatrix * Lau. afide. 'Slife, I had forgot that I am Beatrix. But, pray, when did you find me out to be fo ugly ? Aur. This Afternoon, in the Chappel. Lau. That cannot be, for I well remenlber you were not there, Benito: I faw flone but Camillo, and his Friend the handfome Stranger. Aur. afide. Curfe on't, I have betray'd m y felf. Lau. I find you are an Impoftor: You are not the fame Benito, your Language has nothing of the Serving-man. Aur. And yours, methinks, has not much ofthe Waiting- woman. Lau. M y Lady is abus'd and betray'd by you: But I am refolv'd I'll difcover Lau. N o w the queftion is, Which of us two is the greateft Cheat ? Aur. That's hardly to be try'd at fo fhort warning: Let's marry one another, and then, twenty to one, in a Twelve-month v, * fhall know. Lau. Marry! Are you at that fo foon, Signior? Benito and Beatrix, I confefs, had fome Acquaintance, but Aurelian and Laura are mere Strangers. Aur. That ground I have gotten as Benito, I am refolv'd 1*11 keep as Aurelian. It you will take State upon you, I have treated you with Ceremony already, for I have woo'd you by Proxy. Lau. But you would not be content to bed me fo , or give m e leave to put the Sword betwixt us. r Aur. Yes, upon condition you'll remove it. Arthur ^^ kt °Ur FriCndS ^ )UdgC°f k' 'f y°U Pleafe' WCl1 find 'em in ** Aur. Commit, I am than fure of the Vesdict, Becaufe the Jury is brib'd al- SCENE VI. lExmnt Benito, meeting Frederick, Afcanio, Lucretia and Hippolita Aaito W ? ^ ,°Wn Uakk •_? d°' * n0t i mP°f f i b , e but fo™ of thefe Sus? int£o ci*vilK terSms, ] f^oaI s tZo a\sk ^K s^ le^ave^, a!nd1 n^ot ^dif.ple afe h-iriod-butput Afe: I hear one talking, Sir, juft by lis Bien . Be»f.A a m ftol'n from m y .Poft, Sir, but for one minute only, to demand Perjrrn^m of you, fince it is not in our Articles, that if any of thefe Nuns fhoitld-e&ft an eye, or fo Fred. 'Sllfe, we're betray'd, but I'll fecure this Rafcal. [ Draws, and runs at him. Ben. Help, Murder, Murder. [Runsoff. Enter Aurelian and Camillo, Laura and Violetta after them. Aur. That was Benito's Voice: W e are ruin'd. Cam. Oh, here they are, we muft make our way. • [ Aur. and thc Prince makg a Pafs or two confufedly, and fight oft the Stage. Tbe Women flmck- Afca. Never fear, Ladies. Come on, Sir, I am your Man. Cam.ftepping back, This is the Prince's Page , I know his Voice. Afcanio * Afca. Signior Camillo * Cam. If'the Prince be here, 'tis Aurelian is engag'd with him. Let us run in quickly, and prevent the Mifchief. [Exeunt omnes. [ A little Clafhing within. After which, they aU re-enter. Fred to Aur. I hope you are not wounded. Aur. No, Sir, but infinitely griev'd that Fred. N o more, 'twas a miftake: But which way can w e efcape? The Abbefs is coming , I fee the Lights. Luc. You cannot go by the Gate then. Ah me, unfortunate! Cam. But over thc Wall you m a y , W Q have a Ladder ready. Adieu, Ladies. Curfe on this ill Luck, when we had juft perfwaded them to go with us! Fred. Farewell, fweet Lucretia. Lau. Goodnight, Aurelian. iur. I, it might have prov'd a good one: Faith, fhall I ftay, yet, and make Ihe, in fpite of the Abbefs and all her Works ? Lau. The Abbefs is juft here, you will be caught In the Spiritual Trap, if you fhould tarry. Aur. That will be time enough when we two marry. [Exeunt fever ally. • ACT V. SG._p.NE I. Enter Sophronia, Lucretia, Laura, Violetta. Soph. 11Ythis, then, it appears you all<are guilty, f j Only your ignorance of each others Crimes Caus'd firft that Tumult, and this Difcovery. Good Heavens, that I fhould iive to fee this day ! Methinks thefe holy Walls, the Cells, the Cloyfters, Should all have ftruck a fecret Horror on you : And when, with unchaft Thoughts, You trod thefe lonely Walks, yon fhould have lookd The venerable Ghoft of our firft Foundrcfs Should, with fpread Arms, have met you in her Shroud, And frighted you from Sin. Luc Alas, you need not aggravate our Crimes, W e know them to be great beyond Excufe, And have no hope, but only from your Mercy Lau. Love is, indeed, no Plea within thete Walls, But fince w e brought it hither, and were fore d, Not led by our o w n Choice, to this ftncT L i f e - - Vio. Too hard for our foft Youth, and Bands ot Love, Which we before had knit. r -Pity your Blood, Which runs within our Veins, and fince Heav'n puts it In your fole Power to ruine or to lave, Proteft us from the fordid Avarice Of our domeftick Tyrant, w h o deferves not Tha? we mould call him Uncle, or you Brother. S o p Z i as I might, with Juftice I fhould puniOi, N o Penance could be rigorous enough : n . T om willing to be more indulgent. But 1 am wining iu JP . r None of you arc profefs d. And fince H e , ^ ^ y^ |