_Fan._ When I am big enough I shall do my Endeavour, for I have heard
you say, Women were born to no other end than to love: And ‘tis fit I
should learn to live and die in my calling.--Come, open the Gate, or
you’ll repent it, we shall have my Father marry you within a day or two
to that ugly Man that speaks hard Words,--avads, I can’t abide him.
_Isab._ What Noise is that?
_Fan._ Why, ‘tis Mr. _Lodwick_ at the Garden-Door;--let him in whilst
I’ll to my flowry Bank, and stand Centinel.--
[Runs off. _Isabella_ opens the Gate.
Enter _Wittmore_.
_Wit._ Who’s there?
_Isab._ Speak low, who shou’d it be but the kind Fool her self, who can
deny you nothing but what you dare not take?
_Wit._ Not take! what’s that? hast thou reserves in store?
--Oh, come and let me lead thee to thy Bed,
Or seat thee on some Bank of softer Flowers,
Where I may rifle all thy unknown Store.
_Isab._ How! surely you’re not in earnest?--Do you love me?
_Wit._ Love thee! by thy dear self, all that my Soul adores,
I’m all impatient Flame! all over Love!
--You do not use to doubt, but since you do,
Come, and I’ll satisfy thy obliging Fears,
And give thee Proofs how much my Soul is thine,
I’ll breathe it all anew into thy Bosom.--
Oh, thou art fit for the transporting Play,
All loose and wanton, like the Queen of Love
When she descends to meet the Youth in Shades.
_Isab._ And are you, Sir, in earnest? can it be?
_Wit._ That question was severe, what means my Love?
What pretty Art is this to blow my Flame?
Are you not mine? did we not meet t’enjoy?
I came not with more vigorous eager Haste,
When our first Sacrifice to Love we paid,
Than to perform that Ceremony now.
Come do not let the Sacred Fire burn out,
Which only was prepar’d for Love’s rich Altar,
And this is the divine, dark, silent Minute--
[Goes to lead her off.
_Isab._ Hold, Ravisher, and know this saucy Passion
Has render’d back your Interest. Now I hate ye,
And my Obedience to my Father’s Will
Shall marry me to _Fainlove_, and I’ll despise ye.
[Flings from him.
_Wit._ Hah! _Isabella!_ Death, I have made sweet work,--stay, gentle
Maid,--she’ll ruin all if she go:--stay--she knew me, and cunningly drew
me to this Discovery; I’ll after her and undeceive her.
[Runs after her.
_A confused Noise of the Serenade, the_
SCENE VI draws off to Lady _Fancy’s_ Anti-chamber.
Enter _Isabella_ groping as in the dark.
_Isab._ Pray Heaven I get undiscover’d to my Chamber, where I’ll make
Vows against this perjured Man; hah, sure he follows still; no
Wood-Nymph ever fled before a Satyr, with half that trembling haste I
flew from _Lodwick_.--Oh, he has lost his Virtue, and undone me.
[Goes out groping, and the noise of Serenade again.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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