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Show 384 The SPARTAN DAME. Diffembled to betray m y Faith, and m e : Love never is repented, 'till enjoyV-And he, perhaps, this Night, nay, now, refolves--^ H e may be here already. Hark ! who's there ? I dare not ftay alone : Byzanthe, where, Where are you ? Byzanthe enters. Byz. You're diforder'd much. Thel. There's ifomething in m y Clofet. [Byzanthe takes a Light, and goes ft Byz. Nothing here. Thel. Pray, look again. Byz. Only your Fancy, Madam. Thel. I thought I heard a Noife. Byz. Nothing has ftirr'd, Within your Hearing, fince I left you laft. Thel. Where is your Husband ? Byz. Gone in fome Affair relating to Eurytion. Thel. O ! he's a faithful, honeft Friend, wou'd he were here: All our good Fortune does depend on him. Byz. I think I hear him, M a d a m - - Crites enters. Thel. Welcome, welcome. Crit. What, Madam, you have Leifure for a Eook.- Thel. O , Crites, I have met the faddeft Tale, The Rape of Lucrece there. Crit. 'Tis famous in The Roman Story: Tarquin ravifh'd her. Thel. T h e Circumftanccs are fo near m y Cafe Crit. So near your Cafe ! Thel. In all but the fad End, Crit. What can fhe mean ? [Afide. Thel. Her Husband was from Home, As mine is now, the wretched Caufe of all Crit. Sure fhe fufpecls m y Purpofe. [Afide* Thel. Whefc I thii k Upon thar midnight Ravifher, Ireflecl: Upon our Sexe's Weaknefs, thus expos'd, H o w e a % w e are betray'd, or fold, The SPARTAN DAME. 38c By any one in Truft. Crit. I'm glad you think you are Byz. Have you no N e w s for us ? Crit. Faith, I have been ID fuch a Convention, fcarce will pleafe k Repetition : Marriage was the Theme, nd m y Companions its worft Enemies, hey fore d m e to m y Heels. Thel. What cou'd they fay? Byz. N o Matter what they fay. Crit. By your good Leave, hefe M e n will be our Judges: W e muft ftand e Inquintion of their Raillery our Condition : As, to fpeak the Truth, thing can 'fcape their Jeft: The Gods, and Kings; oners, and Men, Laws human, and divine, ft ftand, or fall, juft as they relifh 'em: e muft not think it hard* Thel. What do they fay ? B;*. W e need not doubt but Marriage has its Load f Scandal, in the Lewdnefs of their Mirth. Crit. W h y , firft they fwear the Inftitution as never made in Heav'n M. That ftrikes H o m e . Crit. That the malicious Roguery of Age, rapos'd it firft a Penance on the Pride f lufty Youth, to keep their Bodies low, 1, conftant Slaves to one tir'd, fulfome Bed, $ fyi. A Penance do they call it ? Thel. Pray, Sir, on. Crit. That Love was ne'er confulted in this L a w r tthat it ftaads enacted, and ordain'd 0 thefe our Days, that only Intereft f Fortune, or of Friends, fhou'd join our Hands,1 «Matter for our Hearts. * U Wicked, and Bafe! °L'II * Criu |