La Nu. Faith, Madam, you mistake my Constitution, my Beauty and my Business is only to be belov’d not to love; I leave that Slavery for you Women of Quality, who must invite, or die without the Blessing; for likely the Fool you make choice of wants Wit or Confidence to ask first; you are fain to whistle before the Dogs will fetch and carry, and then too they approach by stealth: and having done the Drudgery, the submissive Curs are turn’d out for fear of dirtying your Apartment, or that the Mungrils should scandalize ye; whilst all my Lovers of the noble kind throng to adore and fill my Presence daily, gay as if each were triumphing for Victory. Aria. Ay this is something; what a poor sneaking thing an honest Woman is! La Nu. And if we chance to love still, there’s a difference, your Hours of Love are like the Deeds of Darkness, and mine like cheerful Birds in open Day. Aria. You may, you have no Honour to lose. La Nu. Or if I had, why should I double the Sin by Hypocrisy? [_Lucia_ squeaks within, crying, help, help. Aria. Heavens, that’s _Lucia’s_ Voice. Beau. Hah, more caterwauling? 178 Enter _Lucia_ in haste. Luc. Oh, Madam, we’re undone; and, Sir, for Heaven’s sake do you retire. Beau. What’s the matter? Luc. Oh you have brought the most villainous mad Friend with you—he found me sitting on a Bank—and did so ruffle me. Aria. Death, she takes _Beaumond_ for the Stranger, and will ruin me. Luc. Nay, made love so loud, that my Lord your Father-in-law, who was in his Cabinet, heard us from the Orange-Grove, and has sent to search the Garden—and should he find a Stranger with you—do but you retire, Sir, and all’s well yet. [To _Beaumond_. Aria. The Devil’s in her Tongue. [Aside. Luc. For if Mr. _Beaumond_ be in the House, we shall have the Devil to do with his Jealousy. Aria. So, there ’tis out. Beau. She takes me for another—I am jilted every where—what Friend?—I brought none with me.—Madam, do you retire— [To _La Nuche_. La Nu. Glad of my Freedom too— [Goes out. [A clashing of Swords within. Enter _Willm._ fighting, prest back by three or four Men, and _Abevile_, _Aria._ and _Luc._ run out. Beau. Hah, set on by odds; hold, tho thou be’st my Rival, I will free thee, on condition thou wilt meet me to morrow morning in the Piazza by day break. [Puts himself between their Swords, and speaks to _Will._ Aside. Will. By Heaven I’ll do it. Beau. Retire in safety then, you have your pass. Abev. Fall on, fall on, the number is increas’d. [Fall on Beau. Beau. Rascals, do you not know me? [Falls in with ’em and beats them back, and goes out with them. 179 Will. Nay, and you be so well acquainted, I’ll leave you—unfortunate still I am; my own well meaning, but ill Management, is my eternal Foe: Plague on ’em, they have wounded me—yet not one drop of Blood’s departed from me that warm’d my Heart for Woman, and I’m not willing to quit this Fairy-ground till some kind Devil have been civil to me. Enter _Ariadne_ and _Lucia_.