_Will._ Prithee-- prithee, Child-- not so many hard Questions-- let it suffice I am here, Child-- Come, come kiss me.
_Flor._ Good G.o.ds! what luck is mine?
_Will._ Only good luck, Child, parlous good luck-- Come hither,-- "tis a delicate shining Wench,-- by this Hand she"s perfum"d, and smells like any Nosegay.-- Prithee, dear Soul, let"s not play the Fool, and lose time,-- precious time-- for as Gad shall save me, I"m as honest a Fellow as breathes, tho I am a little disguis"d at present.-- Come, I say,-- why, thou may"st be free with me, I"ll be very secret. I"ll not boast who "twas oblig"d me, not I-- for hang me if I know thy Name.
_Flor._ Heavens! what a filthy beast is this!
_Will._ I am so, and thou oughtst the sooner to lie with me for that reason,-- for look you, Child, there will be no Sin in"t, because "twas neither design"d nor premeditated; "tis pure Accident on both sides-- that"s a certain thing now-- Indeed should I make love to you, and you vow Fidelity-- and swear and lye till you believ"d and yielded-- Thou art therefore (as thou art a good Christian) oblig"d in Conscience to deny me nothing. Now-- come, be kind, without any more idle prating.
_Flor._ Oh, I am ruin"d-- wicked Man, unhand me.
_Will._ Wicked! Egad, Child, a Judge, were he young and vigorous, and saw those Eyes of thine, would know "twas they gave the first blow-- the first provocation.-- Come, prithee let"s lose no time, I say-- this is a fine convenient place.
_Flor._ Sir, let me go, I conjure you, or I"ll call out.
_Will._ Ay, ay, you were best to call Witness to see how finely you treat me-- do.--
_Flor._ I"ll cry Murder, Rape, or any thing, if you do not instantly let me go.
_Will._ A Rape! Come, come, you lye, you Baggage, you lye: What, I"ll warrant you would fain have the World believe now that you are not so forward as I. No, not you,-- why at this time of Night was your Cobweb-door set open, dear Spider-- but to catch Flies?-- Hah come-- or I shall be d.a.m.nably angry.-- Why what a Coil is here.--
_Flor._ Sir, can you think--
_Will._ That you"d do it for nothing? oh, oh, I find what you"d be at-- look here, here"s a Pistole for you-- here"s a work indeed-- here-- take it, I say.--
_Flor._ For Heaven"s sake, Sir, as you"re a Gentleman--
_Will._ So-- now-- she would be wheedling me for more-- what, you will not take it then-- you"re resolv"d you will not.-- Come, come, take it, or I"ll put it up again; for, look ye, I never give more.-- Why, how now, Mistress, are you so high i"th" Mouth, a Pistole won"t down with you?-- hah-- why, what a work"s here-- in good time-- come, no struggling, be gone-- But an y"are good at a dumb Wrestle, I"m for ye,-- look ye,-- I"m for ye.-- [She struggles with him.
Enter _Belvile_ and _Frederick_.
_Bel._ The Door is open, a Pox of this mad Fellow, I"m angry that we"ve lost him, I durst have sworn he had follow"d us.
_Fred._ But you were so hasty, Colonel, to be gone.
_Flor._ Help, help,-- Murder!-- help-- oh, I"m ruin"d.
_Belv._ Ha, sure that"s _Florinda"s_ Voice. [Comes up to them.] --A Man!
Villain, let go that Lady.
[A noise.
[_Will._ turns and draws, _Fred._ interposes.
_Flor._ _Belvile!_ Heavens! my Brother too is coming, and "twill be impossible to escape.-- _Belvile_, I conjure you to walk under my Chamber-window, from whence I"ll give you some instructions what to do-- This rude Man has undone us.
[Exit.
_Will._ _Belvile!_
Enter _Pedro_, _Stephano_, and other Servants with Lights.
_Ped._ I"m betray"d; run, _Stephano_, and see if _Florinda_ be safe.
[Exit _Steph._
So whoe"er they be, all is not well, I"ll to _Florinda"s_ Chamber.
[They fight, and _Pedro"s_ Party beats "em out; going out, meets _Stephano_.
_Steph._ You need not, Sir, the poor Lady"s fast asleep, and thinks no harm: I wou"d not wake her, Sir, for fear of frightning her with your danger.
_Ped._ I"m glad she"s there-- Rascals, how came the Garden-Door open?
_Steph._ That Question comes too late, Sir: some of my Fellow-Servants Masquerading I"ll warrant.
_Ped._ Masquerading! a leud Custom to debauch our Youth-- there"s something more in this than I imagine.
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV. _Changes to the Street._
Enter _Belvile_ in Rage, _Fred._ holding him, and _Willmore_ melancholy.
_Will._ Why, how the Devil shou"d I know _Florinda_?
_Belv._ Ah plague of your ignorance! if it had not been _Florinda_, must you be a Beast?-- a Brute, a senseless Swine?
_Will._ Well, Sir, you see I am endu"d with Patience-- I can bear-- tho egad y"re very free with me methinks,-- I was in good hopes the Quarrel wou"d have been on my side, for so uncivilly interrupting me.
_Belv._ Peace, Brute, whilst thou"rt safe-- oh, I"m distracted.
_Will._ Nay, nay, I"m an unlucky Dog, that"s certain.
_Belv._ Ah curse upon the Star that rul"d my Birth! or whatsoever other Influence that makes me still so wretched.
_Will._ Thou break"st my Heart with these Complaints; there is no Star in fault, no Influence but Sack, the cursed Sack I drank.
_Fred._ Why, how the Devil came you so drunk?
_Will._ Why, how the Devil came you so sober?
_Belv._ A curse upon his thin Skull, he was always before-hand that way.
_Fred._ Prithee, dear Colonel, forgive him, he"s sorry for his fault.
_Belv._ He"s always so after he has done a mischief-- a plague on all such Brutes.
_Will._ By this Light I took her for an errant Harlot.
_Belv._ d.a.m.n your debaucht Opinion: tell me, Sot, hadst thou so much sense and light about thee to distinguish her to be a Woman, and could"st not see something about her Face and Person, to strike an awful Reverence into thy Soul?
_Will._ Faith no, I consider"d her as mere a Woman as I could wish.