_Lor._ Stay, good _Isabella_, stay, And thou shalt hear not one word of that more, Though I am soundly urg"d to"t.
_Isab._ Yes, yes, pray count them, do; I know you long to be at it, And I am sure you will find you are in Arrears to us.
_Lor._ Say you so, I am not of that opinion: but well, --Let me see--here "tis, here "tis-- My Bill of Charge for courting _Clarina_.
[Draws out his Table Book, and reads.
_Isab._ And here"s mine for the returns that have been Made you; begin, begin. [Pulls out her Book.
_Lor._ _Item_, two hundred Crowns to _Isabella_ for undertaking.
_Isab_. _Item_, I have promis"d _Lorenzo_ to serve him In his Amour with all Fidelity.
_Lor._ Well, I own that Debt paid, if you keep Your word--out with it then-- [He crosses that out.
_Item_, two thousand Crowns in a Bracelet for _Clarina_; What say you to that now, _Isabella_?
_Isab._ _Item_, the day after they were presented, She saluted you with a smile at the Chappel.
_Lor._ And dost thou think it was not dearly bought?
_Isab._ No Man in _Florence_ should have had it A Souce cheaper.
_Lor._ Say you so, _Isabella_? out with it then. [Crosses it out.
_Item_, one hundred more to thee for presenting them.
_Isab._ Which I did with six lyes in your Commendation, Worth ten Pistoles a piece for the exactness of a Lye; Write there indebted to me--
_Lor._ Nay then thou dost deserve it: Rest due to _Isabella_. [Writes.
_Item_, Innumerable Serenades, Night-walks, Affronts And Fears; and lastly, to the Poets for Songs, and the like.
_Isab._ All which was recompensed in the excessive Laughing on you that Day you praunc"d under our Window on Horse-back, when you made such a Deal of Capriol and Curvet.
_Lor._ Yes, where I ventur"d my Neck to shew my Activity, and therefore may be well accompted Amongst my Losses.
_Isab._ Then she receiv"d your Presents, Suffer"d your Serenades, without sending her Foot-men To break your Pate with the Fiddles.
_Lor._ Indeed that was one of the best Signs; For I have been a great Sufferer in that kind Upon the like occasions: but dost thou think In Conscience that this should satisfy?
_Isab._ Yes, any reasonable Man in the World, for the First Month at least; and yet you are still up With your Expences, as if a Lady of her Quality Were to be gain"d without them.
--Let me hear of your Expences more, and I"ll--
_Lor._ Oh sweet _Isabella_! upon my Knees I beg thou wilt take no fatal Resolution; For I protest, as I am a Man of Honour, And adore thy s.e.x, thou shalt only see, Not hear of my Expences more; And for a small testimony of it, here take this; There"s twenty Pistoles upon Reputation. [Gives her Money.
_Isab._ Fy, fy, "tis not brave, nor generous to name The Sum, you should have slid it into my Coat, Without saying what you had done.
_Lor._ What signifies that, mun, as long as "tis current, And you have it sure?
_Isab._ Well, leave the management of your Affairs to me-- What shall we do? here"s _Alberto_.
Enter _Alberto_.
_Lor._ Well, who can help it? I cannot walk invisible.
_Alb._ _Lorenzo_, what, making Love to _Isabella_?
_Lor._ She"l serve, my Lord, for want of a better.
_Isab._ That"s but a coa.r.s.e Complement.
_Lor._ "Twill serve to disguise a Truth however. [Aside to her.
[Ex. _Isab._ Faith, I"ll tell you, Sir, "twas such another Damsel As this, that sav"d me five hundred Pound once upon a time; And I have lov"d the whole Tribe of Waiting-women The better ever since.
_Alb._ You have reason; how was it?
_Lor._ Why, look you, Sir, I had made Love a long time to a Lady; But she shall be nameless, Since she was of a quality not to be gain"d under The aforesaid Sum: well, I brought it, Came pouder"d and perfum"d, and high in expectation.
_Alb._ Well, Sir.
_Lor._ And she had a very pretty Wench, who was to Conduct me, and in the dark too; And, on my Conscience, I e"en fell aboard of her, And was as well accommodated for my five, As five Hundred Pounds, and so return"d.
_Alb._ A great defeat to the Lady the while, a my word.
_Lor._ Ay, she smelt the Plot, and made a Vow to follow The _Italian_ mode for the future; And be serv"d in Affairs of that kind by none But an old Woman.
_Alb._ "Twas wittily resolv"d.
_Lor._ Are you for the Presence this Morning?
_Alb._ No, I have business here with _Antonio_.
_Lor._ Your Servant, my Lord. [Exit.
_Alb._ I do not like this Fellow"s being here, The most notorious Pimp and Rascal in _Italy_; "Tis a vile shame that such as he should live, Who have the form and sense of Man about them, And in their Action Beast; And that he thrives by too.
Enter _Isabella_.
--_Isabella_, is _Antonio_ stirring?
_Isab._ He is, please your Lordship to walk in.
_Alb._ You may tell him I wait here: For I would avoid all opportunity of seeing _Clarina_. [Aside.
_Isab._ My Lord, you need not stand upon Ceremonies. [Exit _Alberto_.
Enter _Clarina_ and _Ismena_, dress"d like one another in every thing, laughing and beholding one another.
--Dress"d already! now on my conscience I know not which is which: Pray G.o.d _Antonio_ be not mistaken at night, For I"ll be sworn I am by day-light.
_Ism._ Dost think I may pa.s.s thus for _Clarina_?