only in a Coach, as I pass’d along, nor ever was in any House, except
this and another, where my Brother lodg’d: And to your other Question I
must Answer, that I Love all Men. That’s generous, indeed, Madam!
(cry’d he) there is then some hope that I am one of the Number. No
doubt, Sir, (she return’d) that I Love you as well as any, except Sir
_William_. Is he the happy Man then, Madam? (said _Gracelove_.) If to be
loved best by me, may make any Man happy, doubtless it must be he, for
he is my own Brother. I fancy, Madam, (return’d he) that you may make me
as dear a Relation to you, as Sir _William_. How is that possible, Sir?
she ask’d. Thus, Madam, (replied he, drawing closer to her) by our
nearer Approaches to one another. O, Heaven defend me! (cried she aloud)
what do you mean? Take away your Hand; you uncivil Man! Help! Madam! my
Lady! O, (said _Gracelove_) she’s gone purposely out of hearing. Am I
betray’d then? She cried. Betray’d! as if your pretty innocent Ladyship
did not know where you were lodged. Ah, Lady, (said he) this Faint will
never do. Come, Child, (pursued he) here are an hundred Guineas for you;
and I promise you Yearly as much, and Two Hundred with every Child that
I shall get on thy sweet Body: Faith I love thee, thou pretty Creature.
Come! let’s be better acquainted! you know my Meaning. Hell does, no
doubt of (she return’d!) O Monster a Man! I hate the Sight of you. With
that she flung from him, and ran into the Bed-chamber, where she thought
to have locked herself in; but the Key was conveyed into his Pocket.
Thither, therefore, he pursued her, crying, Ah, Madam, this is the
proper Field for our Dispute. Perceiving her Error, and animated by
Despair, she rushed between him and the Door, into the outward Room
again, he still following, and dodging her from Chair to Chair, she
still Shrieking. At last (cried he) a Parley, Madam, with you. Let me
ask you one Question, and will you Answer me directly and truly to it?
Indeed, I will, (said she) if it be Civil. Don’t you know then, that you
are in a naughty House, and that old _Beldam_ is a rank Procuress, to
whom I am to give Two hundred Guineas for your Maidenhead? O Heaven
(cried she, kneeling with Tears gushing out from her dear Eyes) thou
Asserter and Guardian of Innocence! protect me from the impious
Practices intended against me! Then looking steadfastly on him, Sir,
(pursued she) I can but Difficultly guess what you mean: But I find,
that unless you prove what at first you seemed to me, I would say, an
honest worthy Gentleman, I shall be in danger of eternal Ruin. You, Sir,
are the only Person that may yet Preserve me. Therefore I beseech you,
Sir, hear my Story, with the Injuries and Afflictions that so dreadfully
torment me; of which, I am sure, none of those _Barbarians_, of which
you had Occasion to speak but now, would have been guilty! O hear, and
help me! for Heaven’s Sake, hear and help me! I will, poor Creature,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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