_Gal_. Why, faith, as you say, _Harry_, that Lady is beautiful--and, make
us thankful--kind: why, ‘tis _Euphemia_, Sir, the very Curtezan I wou’d
have shew’d you.--
_Fil_. Forbear, I am not fit for Mirth.
_Gal_. Nor I in Humour to make you merry;
I tell ye--yonder Woman--is a Curtezan.
_Fil_. Do not profane, nor rob Heaven of a Saint.
_Gal_. Nor you rob Mankind of such a Blessing, by giving it to Heaven
before its time.--I tell thee ‘tis a Whore, a fine desirable expensive
Whore.
_Fil_. By Heaven, it cannot be! I’ll speak to her, and call her my
_Marcella_, and undeceive thy leud Opinion.
[_Offers to go, he holds him_.
_Gal_. Do, salute her in good Company for an honest Woman--do, and spoil
her Markets:--’twill be a pretty civil spiteful Compliment, and no doubt
well taken;--come, I’ll convince ye, Sir.
[_Goes and pulls_ Philippa.
--Harkye, thou kind Help meet for Man--thou gentle Child of Night--what
is the Price of a Night or two ot Pleasure with yonder Lady--_Euphemia_,
I mean, that Roman Curtezan--
_Fil_. Oh, Heavens! a Curtezan!
_Phil_. Sure you’re a great Stranger in _Rome_, that cannot tell her
Price.
_Gal_. I am so; name it, prithee, here’s a young _English_ Purchaser--
Come forward, Man, and cheapen for your self--
[_Pulls him_.
_Phil_. Oh, spare your pains, she wants no Customers.--
[_Flings away_.
_Fil_. No, no, it cannot, must not be _Marcella_;
She has too much Divinity about her,
Not to defend her from all Imputation,
Scandal wou’d die to hear her Name pronounc’d.
_Phil_. Believe me, Madam, he knows you not; I over-heard all he said to
that Cavalier, and find he’s much in love.
_Mar_. Not know me, and in love! punish him, Heaven, for his Falshood:
but I’ll contribute to deceive him on, and ruin him with Perjury.
_Fil_. I am not yet convinc’d, I’ll try her farther.
[_Goes to her bowing_.]--But, Madam, is that heavenly Beauty
purchasable? I’ll pay a Heart, rich with such Wounds and Flames--
_Gal_. Not forgetting the Money too, good Lad, or your Wounds and Flames
will be of little Use.
[Gal. _goes to_ Cornelia.
_Mar_. He tells you Truth, Sir, we are not like the Ladies of your
Country, who tire out their Men with loving upon the square, Heart for
Heart, till it becomes as dull as Matrimony: to Women of our Profession
there’s no Rhetorick like ready Money, nor Billet-deux like Bills of
Exchange.
_Fil_. Oh! that Heaven shou’d make two Persons so resembling, and yet
such different Souls. [_Looks on her_.--’Sdeath, how she darts me
through with every Look! But if she speak, she heals the Wound again.
_Enter_ Octavio, _with Followers_.
_Oct_. Hah, my Rival _Fillamour_ here! fall on--draw, Sir,--and say, I
gave you one Advantage more, and fought thee fairly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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