_Lau._ I have heard of him; he has a mighty stroke at matrimonies, and mumbles them over as fast, as if he were teaching us to forget them all the while. _Enter_ BENITO, _and overhears the last speech._ _Ben._ _Cappari_; that is the voice of madam Laura. Now, Benito, is the time to repair the lost honour of thy wit, and to blot out the last adventure of the nunnery. _Vio._ That way I hear company; let us go about by this other street, and shun them. _Ben._ That voice I know too; 'tis the younger sister's, Violetta's, Now have these two most treacherously conveyed themselves out of the nunnery, for my master and Camillo, and given up their persons to those lewd rascals in masquerade; but I'll prevent them. Help there! thieves and ravishers! villainous maskers! stop, robbers! stop, ravishers! _Cam._ We are pursued that way, let's take this street. _Lau._ Save yourselves, and leave us. _Cam._ We'll rather die, than leave you. _Enter, at several doors, Duke of_ MANTUA _and Guards, and Don_ MARIO _and Servants, with Torches._ _Aur._ So, now the way is shut up on both sides. We'll die merrily, however:--have at the fairest. [AURELIAN _and_ CAMILLO _fall upon the Duke's Guards, and are seized behind by_ MARIO'S _Servants. At the drawing of Swords,_ BENITO _runs off._ _Duke._ Are these insolencies usually committed in Rome by night? It has the fame of a well-governed city; and methinks, Don Mario, it does somewhat reflect on you to suffer these disorders. _Mar._ They are not to be hindered in the Carnival: You see, sir, they have assumed the privilege of maskers. _Lau._ [_To_ AUR.] If my uncle know us, we are ruined; therefore be sure you do not speak. _Duke._ How then can we be satisfied this was not a device of masking, rather than a design of ravishing? _Mar._ Their accuser is fled, I saw him run at the beginning of the scuffle; but I'll examine the ladies. _Vio._ Now we are lost. [_Duke coming near_ LAURA, _takes notice of her habit._ _Duke._ [_Aside._] 'Tis the same, 'tis the same; I know Lucretia by her habit: I'm sure I am not mistaken.--Now, sir, you may cease your examination, I know the ladies. _Aur._ [_To_ CAM.] How the devil does he know them? _Cam._ 'Tis alike to us; they are lost both ways. _Duke._ [_Taking_ LAURA _aside._] Madam, you may confess yourself to me. Whatever your design was in leaving the nunnery, your reputation shall be safe. I'll not discover you, provided you grant me the happiness I last requested. _Lau._ I know not, sir, how you could possibly come to know me, or of my design in quitting the nunnery; but this I know, that my sister and myself are both unfortunate, except your highness be pleased to protect us from our uncle; at least, not to discover us.