Lookye, my dear counterfeiting nun, take my advice, be a nun in good
earnest; women make the best nuns always, when they can't do otherwise.
_Oriana._ O, sir! how unhappily have you destroyed what was so near
perfection! He is the counterfeit, that has deceived you.
_Old Mir._ Ha! Lookye, sir, I recant; she is a nun.
_Y. Mir._ Sir, your humble servant; then I'm a friar this moment.
_Old Mir._ Was ever an old fool so bantered by a brace o' young ones!
Hang you both! you're both counterfeits, and my plot's spoiled, that's
all.
_Oriana._ Shame and confusion, love, anger, and disappointment, will
work my brain to madness! [_Takes off her Habit--Exit._
_Y. Mir._ Ay, ay, throw by the rags; they have served a turn for us
both, and they shall e'en go off together. [_Takes off his Habit._
[_Exit, throwing away the Habit._
SCENE III.
OLD MIRABEL'S _House_.
_Enter_ DURETETE, _with a Letter_.
_Dur._ [Reads.] _My rudeness was only a proof of your humour, which I
have found so agreeable, that I own myself penitent, and willing to make
any reparation upon your first appearance to_ BISARRE.
Mirabel swears she loves me, and this confirms it; then farewell
gallantry, and welcome revenge! 'Tis my turn now to be upon the sublime;
I'll take her off; I warrant her!
_Enter_ BISARRE.
Well, mistress, do you love me?
_Bis._ I hope, sir, you will pardon the modesty of----
_Dur._ Of what? of a dancing devil!--Do you love me, I say?
_Bis._ Perhaps I----
_Dur._ What?
_Bis._ Perhaps I do not.
_Dur._ Ha! abused again! Death, woman, I'll----
_Bis._ Hold, hold, sir! I do, do!
_Dur._ Confirm it, then, by your obedience; stand there, and ogle me
now, as if your heart, blood, and soul, were like to fly out at your
eyes--First, the direct surprise. [_She looks full upon him._] Right;
next, the _deux yeux par oblique_. [_She gives him the side Glance._]
Right; now depart, and languish. [_She turns from him, and looks over
her Shoulder._] Very well; now sigh. [_She sighs._] Now drop your fan on
purpose. [_She drops her Fan._] Now take it up again. Come now, confess
your faults; are not you a proud--say after me.
_Bis._ Proud.
_Dur._ Impertinent.
_Bis._ Impertinent.
_Dur._ Ridiculous.
_Bis._ Ridiculous.
_Dur._ Flirt.
_Bis._ Puppy.
_Dur._ Zoons! Woman, don't provoke me; we are alone, and you don't know
but the devil may tempt me to do you a mischief; ask my pardon
immediately.
_Bis._ I do, sir; I only mistook the word.
_Dur._ Cry, then. Have you got e'er a handkerchief?
_Bis._ Yes, sir.
_Dur._ Cry, then, handsomely; cry like a queen in a tragedy.
[_She pretending to cry, bursts out a laughing._
_Enter Two_ LADIES, _laughing_.
_Bis._ Ha! ha! ha!
_Both Ladies._ Ha! ha! ha!
_Dur._ Hell broke loose upon me, and all the furies fluttered about my
ears! Betrayed again?
_Bis._ That you are, upon my word, my dear Captain; ha! ha! ha!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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