SCENE VII. _Changes to Lady _Fancy’s_ Bed-chamber, discovers her as
before; _Lodwick_ as just risen in Disorder from the Bed, buttoning
himself, and setting himself in order; and Noise at the Door of
unlatching it._
Enter _Isabella_ groping, Sir _Patient_ without.
L. _Fan._ It is this Door that open’d, and which I thought I had
secur’d.
Sir _Pat._ [Within.] Oh, insupportable, abominable, and not to be
indur’d!
_Isab._ Hah, my Father! I’m discover’d and pursu’d,--grant me to find
the Bed.
L. _Fan._ Heavens! ‘twas my Husband’s Voice, sure we’re betray’d. It
must be so, for what Devil but that of Jealousy cou’d raise him at this
late hour?
_Isab._ Hah, where am I, and who is’t that speaks-- [To her self.
_Lod._ So, he must know that I have made a Cuckold of him. [Aside.
Sir _Pat._ [Within.] Call up my Men, the Coachman, Groom, and Butler,
the Footmen, Cook, and Gardiner; bid ‘em all rise and arm, with long
Staff, Spade and Pitchfork, and sally out upon the Wicked.
_Lod._ S’heart! what a Death shall I die:--is there no place of safety
hereabouts--for there is no resisting these unmerciful Weapons.
_Isab._ A Man’s Voice!
L. _Fan._ I know of none, nor how to prevent your Discovery.
Sir _Pat._ [Within.] Oh, oh, lead me forward, I’ll lie here on the
Garden-side, out of the hearing of this Hellish Noise.
L. _Fan._ Hah, Noise!--what means he?
_Lod._ Nay, I know not, is there no escaping?--
_Isab._ Who can they be that talk thus? sure I have mistook my Chamber.
L. _Fan._ Oh, he’s coming in--I’m ruin’d; what shall we do? here--get
into the Bed--and cover your self with the Clothes--quickly--oh, my
Confusion will betray me.
[_Lodwick_ gets into the Bed, _Isabella_ hides behind the Curtain
very near to him.
Enter Sir _Patient_, led by _Nurse_ and _Maundy_, with Lights.
_Maun._ Pray go back, Sir, my poor Lady will be frighted out of her Wits
at this danger you put your self into, the Noise shall be still’d.
L. _Fan._ Oh, what’s the matter with my Love? what, do you mean to
murder him? oh, lead him instantly back to his Bed.
Sir _Pat._ Oh, oh, no, I’ll lie here,--put me to bed, oh, I faint,--my
Chamber’s possest with twenty thousand Evil Spirits.
L. _Fan._ Possest! what sickly Fancy’s this?
Sir _Pat._ Ah, the House is beset, surrounded and confounded with
profane tinkling, with Popish Horn-Pipes, and Jesuitical Cymbals, more
Antichristian and Abominable than Organs, or Anthems.
_Nurse._ Yea verily, and surely it is the spawn of Cathedral Instruments
plaid on by Babylonish Minstrels, only to disturb the Brethren.
Sir _Pat._ Ay, ‘tis so, call up my Servants, and let them be first
chastiz’d and then hang’d; accuse ‘em for _French_ Papishes, that had a
design to fire the City, or any thing:--oh, I shall die--lead me gently
to this Bed.
L. _Fan._ To hinder him will discover all:--stay, Sir.--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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