_Mrs. Sul_. Sir, I 'll wake the dead before I bear this!-- What! approach me with the freedom of a keeper! I 'm glad on't, your impudence has cured me. _Arch_. If this be impudence--[_Kneels_.] I leave to your partial self; no panting pilgrim, after a tedious, painful voyage, e'er bowed before his saint with more devotion. {58} _Mrs. Sul_. [_Aside_.] Now, now, I 'm ruined if he kneels! --[_Aloud_.] Rise, thou prostrate engineer, not all thy undermining skill shall reach my heart.--Rise, and know I am a woman without my sex; I can love to all the tenderness of wishes, sighs, and tears --but go no farther.--Still, to convince you-that I'm more than woman, I can speak my frailty, confess my weakness even for you, but-- _Arch_. For me! [_Going to lay hold on her_. _Mrs. Sul_. Hold, sir! build not upon that; for my most mortal hatred follows if you disobey what I command you now.--Leave me this minute.--[_Aside_.] If he denies I 'm lost. {71} _Arch_. Then you 'll promise-- _Mrs. Sul_. Anything another time. _Arch_. When shall I come? _Mrs. Sul_. To-morrow--when you will. _Arch_. Your lips must seal the promise. _Mrs. Sul_. Psha! _Arch_. They must! they must! [_Kisses her_.] --Raptures and paradise!--And why not now, my angel? the time, the place, silence, and secrecy, all conspire. And the now conscious stars have preordained this moment for my happiness. [_Takes her in his arms_. _Mrs. Sul_. You will not! cannot, sure! {83} _Arch_. If the sun rides fast, and disappoints not mortals of to-morrow's dawn, this night shall crown my joys. _Mrs. Sul_. My sex's pride assist me! _Arch_. My sex's strength help me! _Mrs. Sul_. You shall kill me first! _Arch_. I 'll die with you. [_Carrying her off_. _Mrs. Sul_. Thieves! thieves! murder! {91} _Enter Scrub in his breeches, and one shoe_. _Scrub_. Thieves! thieves! murder! popery! _Arch_. Ha! the very timorous stag will kill in rutting time. [_Draws, and offers to stab Scrub_. _Scrub_. [_Kneeling_.] O pray, sir, spare all I have, and take my life! _Mrs. Sul_. [_Holding Archer's hand_.] What does the fellow mean? _Scrub_. O madam, down upon your knees, your marrow-bones! --he 's one of 'em. {100} _Arch_. Of whom? _Scrub_. One of the rogues--I beg your pardon, one of the honest gentlemen that just now are broke into the house. _Arch_. How! _Mrs. Sul_. I hope you did not come to rob me? _Arch_. Indeed I did, madam, but I would have taken nothing but what you might ha' spared; but your crying 'Thieves' has waked this dreaming fool, and so he takes 'em for granted. {110} _Scrub_. Granted! 'tis granted, sir; take all we have. _Mrs. Sul_. The fellow looks as if he were broke out of Bedlam. _Scrub_. 'Oons, madam, they 're broke into the house with fire and sword! I saw them, heard them; they 'll be here this minute. _Arch_. What, thieves!