hand I 'll wait his coming Draws And as he enters pierce thy haughty Breast I know he loves Thee and therefore 't is brave Revenge to let him see thy dying Paugs Thy parting Sighs will rack him worse than Hell Aur. His Wife Oh! Insolence In vain you waste your breath it moves not me So much I love him so much I 'm belov'd That should an Angel from yond Heaven descend To tell me he 's marry'd I 'd not credit him Kill me if you dare He will revenge my death That pleasing thought gives Courage to my Soul To live without him would be Death indeed No he 'll ne're leave me for a common thing For such I 'm sure Thou art Plac. Common Proud wretch by Heaven that word gives wings To my Revenge Vile Creature dye Stabs her Aur. Help Murder murder Enter Bassino Bass. Ha That to thy heart kills Plac. Wer 't thou a Demi-god And durst attempt this Shrine thus shouldst thoufall Plac. falling Oh! Bassino Oh! Aur. Oh! hold my Lord what has your rashness done I only should have dy'd I 'll not upbraid Your Treachery No 't is the hand of heaven That guides the stroke that takes my guilty Life For being Faithless to Alonzo Bass. Talk not of Death my fair my Dear Aurelia That very Sound does harrow up my Soul But who art thou whose sacrilegious hand Durst to profane the Temple of my Love Plac. I am your Wife Your loving Wife Placentiae Oh! Pardon this rash Deed blame jealous Love And grace me with a sigh that I may die contented Bass. My VVife And Kill'd by me Under what load of Miseries I stand Oh! horror horror Infinite of Guilt Hurl now your vengeful Bolts Almighty Powers On my devoted Head Oh! I have wrong'd you both Deceiv'd you basely Thus prostrate on the Ground let me beg Pardon Threws himself on the ground I do not ask it with Design to live Aur. Oh! Dear Bassino live And try to save her for she 's innocent We only are in fault I urg'd my wretched Fate with impious Language For which I beg forgiveness Generous Lady Let not my Soul depart with Guilt opprest Plac. As I forgive you so may Heaven me Bass. Oh! Placentia oh my Wife Aur. One thing more and I 'm happy Were but Alonzo here that I might ask Forgiveness for my Falshood But alas My Spirits faint within my frozen Veins And every Thing seems double to my sight Oh! How I dread th' uncertain future State Bass. Unhappy Maid Oh! my once dear Aurelia Curst Curst Bassino Oh! my Wife How dare I stand the View of both these injar'd Women Oh! Heaven Why name I Heaven Heaven will not hear A wretch like me No even Hell wants Torment Proportion'd to my Guilt Oh! my Placentia oh Plac. Oh! My dear Lord I cannot see you thus Live live my Lord be happy when I 'm dead Nay for your sake I wish Aurelia too May live to make you happy Bass. Oh! hold Heap not more Curses on me by your kindness I wish that she might live but not for me Only to clear me from her guilty blood Oh! Placentia Plac. Rise my Lord rise Do not indulge your Woe Your Sighs atone for all and make e'en Death a Pleasure I see him coming he will soon be here Bass. No I will never rise ne're see the Day The Sun would blush to shine on such an impious wretch Here let me lye and tear with these curst hands Tears the ground in a distracted manner A passage thro the Earth and hide my Face for ever Alon. within Where where 's this Villain Where 's Bassino Aur. 'T is Alonzo's Voice Oh! fly my Lord fly from his just Revenge Enter Alonzo hastily Bass. Fly Where shall I fly from Justice No Heaven is kind In sending him to help my Journey forward Alon. Where 's Bassino Bass. rising Here Sir I stand Alon. Then there stands a Villain Ha what Do I see Aurelia murder'd Oh! treacherous Maid thy Love hast cost thee dear Think on thy broken Vows and call to Heaven for Mercy Thy death I will revenge because I lov'd thee once Aur. Oh! Alonzo pardon me Alon. to Bassino Now Villain now what story what pretence Canst thou invent to avoid my just Revenge Oh! That I ne're had listned to thy Tongue Thy base perfidious Tongue Then all these Murders Had been prevented and thou curst in Hell Thou Monstrous Fiend Bass. You talk too much Let 's see what you can do Thus I return your Villain Alon. Take thy reward They fight Bassino falls Enter Armando Arm. Hold hold Oh! Gods I 'm come too late What has my fatal Friendship done Ha Placentia too curst Letter Bass. My Friend Armando Oh! I blush to see thee But let me have your Pardon now I need it Arm. Oh! first pardon me For I have been the cause of all this mischief Whilest my officious Friendship strives to save you I bring you all to this unhappy end Say can you pardon me Bass. I do And oh my Friend had Vertue been my Guide As it was thine I still were truly happy Aur. Where am I Why do I hover thus 'twixt Rest and Misery Oh! good Alonzo say you pardon me And let me die in Peace else full of Horror My Guilty Soul must wander in the Shades Of gloomy night and never never rest Alon. Thou hast my Pardon and with it this Promise Never to love again Aur. Oh! you 're too kind And I want Breath to thank you Farewel Dies Bass. Oh! Placentia Embraces her Thus in thy Arms my Thread of Life shall break Plac. My Lord my Husband Oh! come nearer yet That I may take a parting kiss to smooth My Passage to the Realms of endless night Kisses him So Now I dye much happier than I lived Farewel Dies Bass. Farewel Fair Excellence Thou best of Wives But I shall quickly follow Yet before I go I beg Alonzo let my Death atone For all the Injuries my Life has done you Oh! spare my Memory when I 'm no more Alon. By Heaven I see such Vertue struggling in thy Breast As makes me wish I could prevent the Flight Of thy departing Soul Bass. No no I would not live Hadst thou not come my Hand had set me free But now I fell more nobly and less guilty My Friend my Dear Armando Haste to inform my Prince Bassino rests But hide if possible my shame And let One Grave hold both this wretched Corps and mine Oh! my Placentia Dies Alon. Unhappy Pair But far more wretched me For I must live and live without Aurelia Tho I 'm convinc'd she lov'd me not I can't Banish her Image from my Love-sick mind Oh! that I ne're had seen the Charmiug Fair Arm. The Gods are just in all their Punishments And by this single Act we plainly see That Vengeance always treads on Perjury And tho sometimes no Bolts be at us hurl'd Whilst we enjoy the Pleasures of this World Yet a day waits a Day ' of general Doom When guilty Souls must to an Audit come Then that we may not tremble blush or fear Let our Desires be Just our Lives unsullied here Exeunt Omnes FINIS
can shake it Arm. If not her Beauty fear her Syren Tongue Fear her endearing Prayers her fond Reproaches Her tender Sighs her Vows her trickling Tears Nay if all these prove vain fear her Despair A Woman an abandon'd Womans Rage Bas. Were there more Dangers yet I 'll stand 'em all My Honour bids me pay this parting Visit My Heart shall have no share in what I 'll speak Trust me this once and be your self a witness Bassino can controul unlawful love Arm. My Lord 't is with Regret I see you go May Heaven assist you in this dangerous strife Exeunt SCENE III. Aurelia's Chamber She in an Undress with Florella Aur. No more of that Cease thy ungrateful suit Alonzo is a man I cannot love I own he 's witty generous and brave Has all the Charms that Nature can bestow To fire a womans heart Yet I 'm insensible His very sight chills all my trembling Spirits Therefore name him no more I charge thee do not Flor. Madam I 've done Yet shall I be permitted To ask a question Are you then resolv'd Ne're to admit a Passion in your breast Aur. Oh! Dear Florella press not a Confession Which but too well my Eyes themselves disclose Alas I love I love to such excess That tho I know I 'm lov'd again my mind Is still perplex'd with doubts and jealous Fears Flor. You love and are belov'd Then sure you reach The height of humane bliss and bounteous Heaven Can scarce give more But who 's the happy man Is it not Count Bassino Aur. Oh! Charming Name there 's Musick in that sound Yes Count Bassino is the man I love Canst thou now blame my coldness to Alonzo Flor. Forgive me Madam if I dare presume To speak my sentiments I must confess Bassino is a man of excellent Vertue His Education at the Court of Savoy Has still refin'd what he receiv'd from Nature His Person too is Charming And what most women court he has a Title But then consider you are unacquainted With his Estate and tho his Equipage Denotes an ample Fortune yet we see Many a stranger here during the Carnival Who makes a Figure by industrious Gaming As for Alonzo he was born at Venice Of Noble Parents his Estate a large one Even from his youth you had his amorous wishes And as he grew in years his Love encreas'd You lov'd him too Nay which is more your Father Approv'd your mutual Loves and at his Death Bequeath'd you to Alonzo Aur. Oh! my Florella thou hast rouz'd a thought Which will for ever break Aurelia's rest I know my Father's tenderness to me Made him confirm Alonzo's Suit for then I lov'd Alonzo But were my gentle Father still alive I 'm sure he would not cross my inclinations But Oh! name not my Father I cannot bear The sad remembrance of so great a loss Weeps Flor. But fear you not t' offend his peaceful Ghost By breaking with the man he destin'd yours Aur. 'T is not my fault and just Heaven must forgive What Heaven decrees Yes 't is my cruel Stars That made my heart inconstant to Alonzo 'T is with regret I break my plighted Faith In vain I strive to check my new born Love I cannot cannot live without Bassino Flor. Madam I wish your Passion ne're prove fatal But much I fear this inauspicious match Enter Bassino Armanda Aur. May Heaven avert th' unlucky Combination Of our presaging Thoughts For know I tremble too But here 's the man that will dispell my fears Arm. to Bass. My Lord remember To keep your Resolution Bas. to Arm. Yes I will keep it To Aur. Madam you will pardon A morning Visit when you know what Reasons Prest me to fix it on this early hour By Letters from the Court I was last night Commanded to return with speed to Turin And thence set out for France to represent My Soveraign Leige in solemn Embassy This day I must prepare to take my Journey Tho 't is with killing Grief I leave my dear My fair Aurelia To Arm Now my Armando Arm. My Lord 't is well But still be on your Guard The dreadful shock comes on Aur. This day be gone What means my Lord Oh! Heaven My boding Fears are come to pass I see A cloud of woes just ready to o rewhelm me Is 't possible how can that form divine Harbour such Treachery Is then Bassino false Say perjur'd man how often did you swear This happy day should make you mine for ever How can you now forget your solemn Vows Why have I met with this inhumane usage Bas. Madam my Prince's orders Are absolute My Honour is concern'd Aur. Must a vain Title be preferr'd to Love But no You never lov'd 't was base deceit Curst curst dissembling men Their flattering tongues Can feign a Passion that will look like Love Till by degrees they get us in their power Then with bold impudence they draw the Vizor And shew the Cheat that mockt our credulous hopes Faithless Bassino How oft you swore your Love cou'd ne're expire How oft you swore one smile of mine had charms Even above the Glories of a Crown Those were the Oaths I fondly did believe Those words convey'd a Poyson to my Heart And even now I feel its mighty force My Head turns giddy and my trembling Knees Betray their sinking Burden Alas I faint I die She faints Bassino runs and embraces her Bass. Oh! stay my Love my Life my Soul my all The conflict's past and I am thine again But she is breathless Oh! ye rigorous Gods Give back her Soul or let my own be plung'd To dark Elysium Oh! my dear Aurelia Hugs her Arm. Is this your Resolution By Heaven I blush To call you Friend Your Wife my Lord remember Your Wife Bass. Curse on that name Urge me no more to follow your Chimaera's Lest you oblige me to break off that Friendship You blush to own Oh! my Aurelia Arm. aside How sweet is treacherous Vice how eagerly Fond man pursues his Ruine All Arguments were vain yet still one way remains Which cannot fail to stop the progress of this impious love His Wife by my Direction comes to Venice Her sight will soon awake his slumbering virtue At least it will retrieve Aurelia's senses Exit Armando Aur. recovering Where am I where 's my Lord my falle Bassino Bass. Here here my Soul my chaming Dear Aur. thrusts him off Hold off Approach me not urge not my Rage Or with this Dagger I 'll revenge my wrongs On thy perfidious Heart But Oh! his Heart 's too hard Even for temper'd Steel Therefore I 'll sheath it here Offers at her breast Bassino snatches the Dagger and throws himself at her feet in a distracted manner Bass. Oh! hold forbid it Gods I am the cursed Cause and I must dye Oh! who could bear my Load of mortel Woe Ye heavenly Powers bestow the stroke of Grace And rack Bassino Let your vengeful Thunder Now crush my guilty head Or
waiting on your Mistress in her Bed-chamber Ha Lud. Egad I 'm afraid I shall make but an awkward Chamber-maid I 'm undisciplin'd in Dressing a Lady's head Lucy Oh! Sir your Commission won't reach so high as the head I believe my Lady will excuse little matters You can undress I suppose Lud. Oh! The best and the quickest of any man in Venice Buta Pox on 't Canst find no other way I I I I like Petticoats in their proper Places but I don't care to have my Legs in ' em Luc. And so you resolve against it Ha Lud. No not absolutely resolve Child But a Lucy But what Sir Lud. Nothing I will follow thy Directions what ever comes on 't Now lead the way for nothing sutes better with my Humour than a Friend a Bottle a new Mistress and a Convenient Place Ex. Lucy Ludovico SCENE IV. Pizalto's Lodgings Enter Pizalto with a Bond in his Hana Piz. Well My Wife 's a fine Woman a very fine Woman But a Pox she 's a Wife still and this young Jade runs in my head plaguly Well here 't is under my hand a Thousand Pistoles A great samm for a Maidenhead as Maidenheads go now a-days Ah had I been young now A Fiddle and a Treat had bore the Prize away But when we old Fools dote they make us pay Enter Lucy Oh! are you come Here here Lucy Here 's a Fortune for thee worth twenty Maidenheads adod I have not so much money by me at present but there 's security Gives her the Rond Luc. Your Lordships Bond 's sufficient Well but that I am satisfied my Reputation is safe with your Lordship or twice the summ should not have prevailed Go to my Chamber my Lord I 'll but step and see if my Lady wants any thing and I 'll be with you instantly Piz. You won't stay Lucy Ah Girl buss thy Ladys Chucky now do now Lucy Oh! Lord not here we shall be discovered Piz. Will thou art a cunning sinner make hast Lucy dost hear Ex. Piz. Luc. You 're in mighty haste old Gentleman but I shall deceive you My end is gain'd I have my Fortune made Man has not me but I have man betray'd ACT IV. SCENE I. SCENE I. Armando's Lodgings Enter Armando Placentia Plac. OH Armando Thou more than Friend to the distress'd Placentia Say how shall I regain my lost Bassino My false perfidious Husband Weeps Arm. Dear Madam moderate your sorrow Reserve those Tears to move Bassino's heart Mine is all Pity You may rest secure Of all the Arguments a Friend can use To bring him back to your endearing Arms. Vertue 's not quite extinguish'd in his Breast Therefore I hope the sight of bright Placentia Will rouze his slumbring Reason Plac. Oh! Bassino Bassino Oh! wretched woman Oh! that I had dy'd E're I had known him false Then I were happy And tho contented with his second choice He with a pitying sigh perhaps had grac'd My memory Oh! all ye Powers that Vertuous Love inspire Assist me now inform my vocal Organs With Angel Eloquence such as can melt His heart of Flint and move his former kindness Aside But if that fail I will remove the cause Of both our woes Yes that happy Charmer That Rival of my Love shall surely die Arm. Doubt not of the success What Heart of Steel Could e're resist such Beauty drest in Tears Enter a Servant Serv. Sir Count Bassino enquires if you are within Plac. Oh! Heavens how I tremble Arm. Lucky opportunity shew him up Madam be pleas'd to step into that Closer Till I can sound the utmost of his Thoughts And shew him naked to your secret view Then when he 's in the height of impious Passion You like a Bolt from Heav'n shall rush on him And strike his Folly dumb Plac. Almighty Powers whose Providential Care Is ever kind to vertuous innocence Oh! help me now in this Extremity Exit Placentia Enter Bassino Bass. How does my Friend Armando Arm. My Lord Armando's well And wishes you were so Bass. Dost thou discover ought that gives thee cause To doubt I am not well indeed I think I am in perfect health Arm. My Lord I should be glad To find that Fever of your mind abated In which I left you last Bass. aside I must dissemble now Else I 'll ne're gain my ends My dear Armando That Fever thou speakest of is now succeeded By a cold Ague fit The bare Remembrance Of my unlawful Passion shakes my soul. Arm. such sudden Cures have often prov'd pernicious And we have reason to suspect a wound Too quickly heal'd Bass. Not when thou knowest what Balsom I applied Arm. There 's scarce a Balm for the deep wounds of love Besides Possession and I cannot think You have enjoy'd Aurelia Bass. I swear I have not But I enjoy my Reason my free Reason And who possesses that can never cherish A thought against himself For such I call Whatsoever keeps me from my lawful Wife My dear Placentia to whose Arms I 'll fly With all the eager haste of a fond Bridegroom There I shall revel in the virtuous Pleasures Of a chaste Bed Oh! my Friend Armando My dear Placentia's Friend Canst Thou forgive Indeed I 'm penitent and will offend no more Arm. My Lord these are the words you spoke before What greater Reason have I now to think You 'll keep your promise Bass. Pride Honour Justice are come to my Aid And Love too feeble to withstand 'em all Has left the Field to my victorious Reason Pride with the prospect of my future greatness Allures me to return with speed to Turin T' obey my Princes Orders Honour and Justice tell me I 'm Placentia's And that Aurelia is Alonzo's Bride To him she gave her Virgin Vows Nay more To him her dying Father did bequeath her He loves her too and shall not be depriv'd My Passion is subdu'd and I 'm resolv'd My self to give Aurelia to Alonzo Arm. If this be true then you are my Friend again But how came you to learn Aurelia's Engagement to Alonzo Bass. I have it from him self who an hour since With eager Fury sought to ' venge on me His injur'd Love and ohallenged me to fight I chose with Justice to defend my Life And quit Aurelia rather than to vanquish in such a Cause Alonzo strait embrac'd me Call'd me his Friend and vow'd I should not go Till I had seen him joyn'd in solemn Marriage With bright Aurelia This I readily granted Canst thou believe me true Arm. My Lord I do believe you And am o're joy'd to hear your Resolution By Heaven There 's more Glory in subduing Our wild desires than an embattled Foe Now do I wish his Wife had never come Aside Bass. Armando Thou' rt my Friend and on that score I must desire you to repair to Turin With all the speed you can to bear these Letters To our great Prince and beg he will excuse My stay for three days more And here this
Letter Bear to Placentia speak to her the kindest The softest things thy fancy can suggest I shall make good thy promise My dear Placentia Oh! that she were here Panting and warm within these longing Arms 'T is a long Age since I did see her last But come my Friend you must this hour set forward Arm. With all my Heart But 't will not be amiss Before I go to fix the Victory Which conquering Virtue in your Breast has gain'd And if what you pretend be real Truth I have a welcome present for Bassino Madam come forth Enter Placentia Bass. What do I see My Wife This was a lucky Plot Aside Hypocrisy did ne're befriend me more H This was not like a Friend why should Armando Disturb her soft Tranquility of mind And give her ocular Proofs of my Dissoyalty Oh! my Placentia my beloved Wife Embraces her Oh! That I should e're think to wrong my Dear Pla. My Lord waste not a sigh on my account My Joys are infinite since you are mine And what is past I easily forget Nay let me beg for Pardon for I know I have offended you in coming hither I should have waited this Return of Virtue Or if abandon'd silently have mourn'd My loss without upbraiding my lov'd Lord. All this I should have done but mighty Love Too powerful for Duty to withstand Guided my steps to Venice In hopes my presence would retrieve your Heart Bass. Gods That this Woman were Aurelia Aside Thou wonder of thy Sex Thou best of Women I blush to think that thou hast heard my Folly Yet since your love cancels your just camplaints You make me doubly blest and I 'll reward This excellent Goodness with eternal Fondness Oh! that thou hadst been here Not all the Beauties That Venice holds could have dive ted me No not one moment from my dear Placentia Long absence is the Bane of new born Love But Fate shall ne're have power to part us more Plac. Oh! My dear Lord your Goodness is too great And I 'm o're-paid for all my sorrows past Armando say is not he wondrous kind Arm. Madam I told you Virtue Was struggling in his Breast and that it might O'recome his Vicious Love I thought your presence Was requisite And now My Lord I hope You will forgive me since all the Endeavours I us'd before had been in vain I once Design'd to let Aurelia know you Marriage But then perhaps she would not have believ'd me Let this plead my Excuse in sending for Placentia Without your knowledge Bass I must not let him see I am concern'd Aside I know 't was Friendship all well meaning Friendship Fonly am to blame But I 'll retrieve My Credit in your Heart and still deserve The Name of Friend And thou the best of Wives Shalt ne're have cause to doubt my constant Love Plac. Oh! My Bassino This Excess of kindness Exalts me o're all mortals if you 're true There 's not a blast within the Power of Fortune Can shock my Happiness Bass. Thou shalt ne're find me False I swear Thou shalt not Oh! that I could engage She would return to Turin with Armando Aside For if she stays I never can enjoy My bright Aurelia and by Heaven I will Altho ten thousand lives should pay the Purchase Pla. My Lord you seem disturb'd Bass. It troubles me You can't appear in Venice with a Train That may bespeak the Rank you hold in Savoy Plac. to Armando Oh! Armando He is so kind I wish I ne're had come What if I offer to return with you Arm. Madma you will do well For I my self cannot suspect him now Plac. My Lord let not my Presence here disturb you I doubt your Love no more and to convince you I will go back before 't is known I 'm here Besides 't is fit I should prepare all things To welcom you at home Bass. aside Blest opportunity Fortune I thank thee Would my Dear then leave me So very soon Alas 't will be an Age E're I return to Turin Three long days No my Dear no I will not part from thee At least this night my Love Plac. Will then Armando stay Bass. No my best Hopes he instantly departs With Letters to my Prince Plac. Then suffer me to go this very moment Three days will soon be o're and you 're return Shall make me fully blest if I should stay 'T would look like base distrust and I can't think Bassino would be false Bass. aside Oh! Heaven that I were not Arm. Indeed my Lord I think your truly happy Scarce does an Age produce so good a Wife Bass. Oh! that I could reward this wondrous Goodness Plac. My Lord what makes you sigh Bass. To part from thee But since 't is your desire It shall be so Armando to thy charge I here commit the Treasure of my Soul Takecare of her and think that on her safety My Life depends Arm. My Lord I hope you do not doubt my care Bass. Dear Friend I do not May Heavens Blessings still attend my Love Embraces goes to lead her off My dear Placentia Plac. As many more guard my Bassino Bass. aside A sudden horror seizes all my Limbs I tremble at the thought of this base Deed Pulls out his Hankerchief and drops a Letter which Armando takes up Ha Tears uncall'd for bath my guilty Eyes Gods either give me virtue to withstand This impious Love or dourage to pursue it Without Remorse for I 'm but half a Villain Exeunt Bassino Placent Arm. Opens the Letter A Letter And to Aurelia Now curiosity prompts me to know the subject What 's here Reads I have dispatch'd Armando to the Court of Savoy and found pretence to stay behind False treacherous Man This night I give a Mask at my Lodgings which I hope will divert Alonzo till the Priest has joyned our hands and while all the Company are engaged in mirth I 'll steal to the dear Arms of my Divine Aurelia Oh! Villain Villain Monstrous Villain Oh! Poor Placentia But I will prevent His Policy and break his wicked Measures Exit Armando SCENE II. Pizalta's Lodgings Enter Pizalto solus Piz. Why what makes this young Jade stay so long Adod This is to pay before-hand Ha Methinks I hear a laughing and giggling in my Wife's Apartment I must know whence their Mirth proceeds Ho! Here 's Lucy coming Harkee you pray why did you make me wait so long Nay I 'm resolved you than't scape me now Goes to the door and pulls in Ludovico in Lucy's Cloatbs whose Commode falls off in the streggie and discovers his bald head Oh! Benedicite What have we here A man dilguis'd in my Wife's Chamber And I unarm'd Oh! Curst Minute Speak Thou wicked Prophet Thou Son of Iniquity what can est Thou here for Ha Thou Priest of Baal to offer Sacrifices on the Altar of my Wife Oh! My head My Hores weigh it down to the ground already Within there bring me my Sword and Pisto's
Lud. A Pox on all Petticoats What a Devil shall I say now Oh! for a Sword That would be of more use to me now than my Tengue Enter Lady Pizilta Piz. Oh! Thou wicked Salacious Woman L. Piz. What ails my dear Chucky Why dost Thou call for Arms Dealy Piz. To cut down that vile Creeper which over-runs thy Garden of Virtue L. Piz. aside Now Impudence assist me Ah! Heavens What 's here A man in disguise A Thief it must be Raise the Servants Oh Heaven we might have had all our Throats cut in our Beds Now for Lucy for I am at a loss to come off aside Piz. No no I warrant you know he is more gentle in Bed Lud. aside Oh! the Devil what does she mean Death Hell and Furies if I come off now catch me at this sport again and hang me Enter Lucy L. Piz. Oh! are you there Mistress how came this man here in your Cloaths ha Gentlewoman Lucy aside How confidently she asks the question poor Lady as if she knew nothing of it Now must I bring her off For Reasons you must not know Madam Piz. Ah! Thou wicked pair of Bellows to blow the Fire of Iniquity Why thou art the very Casement thro which thy Mistress sucks the Air of Abomination Tell me I say how he came here and for what and be sure it be a substantial Lie or 't will not pass Lud. aside All my hopes are in her impudence Luc. to Pizal Harkee Sir one word with you Do you remember our agreement to night Piz. Why what of that ha Lucy Then imagine what I design'd that Gentleman for I 'm honest Sir that 's all Piz. I 'm honest Sir that 's all Mimicking her tone Piz. Honest with a Pox What! and so you honestly provided a Companion for my Wife in my absence ha Lucy No Sir I design'd him for your Companion in my absence This is the business he was drest for Therefore no more words but believe my Lady honest or all shall out Piz. Oh! The Devil This shan't pass Hussy Do you think I 'll be Cuckol'd jilted bubbled and let it pass for a Christmas Gambol Adod give me my Bond again or or Holds up his Gane Lucy No hold there Sir Women and Lawyers ne're refund a Fee But 't is your best way to be patient now I 'll not take Blows L. Piz. Why all this whispering why mayn't I know the business Piz. I am mistaken if you have not known too much Business already But I am tight enough serv'd I had more ground before than I could manage I had no need of my Neighbour's Lucy Right my Lord Ground that lies fallow will breed Weeds in time but yours is clear yer Piz. Dâ—mn your Jests I shall expect a better account do you hear I 'll find a Servant to see you out of doors to Ludovico Exeunt Pizalta and Lady Lud. Well this was an admirable Lift at a pinch She has brought me off now And if e're they catch me at this Musick again I 'll give 'em leave to make an Italian Singer of me No more intrigues in Disguise if it had not been for the Waiting-woman now I might have been hang'd for a thief Lucy What all amort Signior No courage lest Lud. Faith not much I think I have lost my Manhood with my Breeches This transformation may suit with Gods but not with Mortals of my Humour Come prithee good Mistress Lucy help me to my proper shape again for tho I have a natural inclination to Petticoats I hate 'em upon my own Back A Flourish of Musick within Lucy Hark! I hear Count Bassino's Musick He gives a Mask to night you are already drest for Masquerade won't you stay and take a Dance Lud. Egad I 'd rather dance a jig with Thee elsewhere Faith Thou' rt a pretty Girl And hast a good deal of wit too But then pox on 't Thou' rt honest Thou sayest thou cannot swallow a Pill except 't is gilded o're with Matrimony Lucy Hum And that turns your Stomach I warrant Lud. Why Ay Faith my Stomach is damn'd squeamish in these Matters Yet Egad if I could find one with half as much Money as Thou hast Wit and Beauty I 'd Marry and live honest Lucy That is you 'd marry her Money Lud. One with the other Child There 's no living upon Love thou knowest Tho Faith I could Love well enough too Lucy Well suppose I help you to a Lady with a round summ you 'd keep your word and marry her Lud. I am a Gentleman I scorn to break my word Lucy Well Sir come to the Mask and I 'll engage you a Mistress if you are not over-curious Lud. With all my Heart I 'm now resolv'd to leave this Wenching-Trade For no Man's safe upon a Hackney Jade Th' Allay of danger makes the Pleasure Pain A Virtuous Wise will always be the same Exeunt ACT V. SCENE I. A Mask in Bassino Lodging Bassino Alonzo Armando in a disguise Placentia in Man's Cloaths Signior Pizalto Lady Pizalta Lucy c. An Entry of three Men and three Women of several Nations Bass. I Can't imagine where I dropt my Letter Pray Heaven it be where none can ever find it Gods Let me once enjoy her then call on me Your store of Plagues and I will meet 'em all Enter Ludovico singing Lud. Ah! Mistress Lucy I 'm come thou seest I expect thou shalt be as good as thy word Child is the Lady here Luc. The Lady is forth coming if you are still in the same mind L. Piz. My Lover here Harkee Lucy Lucy By and by Madam I am catering for my self now Well Sir will two thousand Pistoles do Lud. I must humour her Aside Ay Child Lucy Why then I take you at your word Sir and can produce the aforesaid summ To Piz. With a little of your assistance my Lord. Lud. aside Hum A pretty Wife I am like to have Catch me there if you can Piz. Ha How 's that Lud. How Mistress Lucy worth two thousand Pistoles Lucy Ay And I have a very good Pay-master for one half of it too Do you know this hand my Lord To Pizalta shows the Bond Piz. aside Confound your jilting snear Lud. Ha ha ha What a thousand Pistoles a Dish my Lord I hope you don't change often ha ha Piz. Hussy I 'll be reveng'd 'T is all false 't is counterfeit Lucy Ha ha But it had been current Coyn if I had suffer'd you to put your stamp upon 't in my Bed chamber my Lord L. Piz. How Mistress have you trick'd my Husband out of a thousand Pistoles and never told me of it Lucy Nay Madam don't frown Remember you have trick'd him out of something too which I never told him of Don't urge me to more Discoveries Lud. aside So Here 's Trick upon Trick But faith you shall never trick me out of my Liberty I 'm not so fond of a Wife to marry a Chamber-maid tho with ten