of honour ought Sister when he is challeng'd and now according to the Laws of Duel the next thing is to strip and in stead of seconds to search one another Hip. We 'll strip our hands if you please Brother for they are the only weapons we must use Asca. That were to invite me to my loss Sister I could have made a full meal in the World and you would have me take up with hungry commons in the Cloyster Pray mend my fare or I am gone Hip. O Brother a hand in a Cloyster is fare like flesh in Spain 't is delicate because 't is scarce You may be satisfy'd with a hand as well as I am pleas'd with the Courtship of a Boy Asca. You may begin with me Sister as Milo did by carrying a Calfe first you may learn to carry an Oxe hereafter In the mean time produce your hand I understand Nuns-flesh better than you imagine give it me you shall see how I will worry it She gives her hand Now Could not we thrust out our lips and contrive a Kiss too Hip. Yes we may but I have had the experience of it it will be but half flesh half Iron Asca. Let 's try however Hip. Hold Lucretia is here Asca. Nay if you come with odds upon me 't is time to call Seconds Ascanio Hems. The Prince and Lucretia appear Luc. Sir though your Song was pleasant yet there was one thing amiss in it that was your Rallying of Religion Fred. Do you speak well of my Friend Love and I 'll try to speak well of your friend Devotion Luc. I can never speak well of Love 't was to avoid it that I entred here Fred. Then Madam you have met your Man for to confess the truth to you I have but counterfeited Love to try you for I never yet could love any Woman and since I have seen you and do not I am certain now I shall scape for ever Luc. You are the best man in the World if you continue this resolution Pray then let us vow solemnly these two things the first to esteem each other better than we do all the world besides the next never to change our amity to love Fre. Agreed Madam shall I kiss your hand on 't Luc. That 's too like a Lover or if it were not the narrowness of the Grate will excuse the ceremony Hip. No but it will not to my knowledge I have try'd every bar many a fair time over and at last have found out one where a hand may get through and be gallanted Luc. giving her hand There Sir 't is a true one Fre. kissing it This then is a Seal to our perpetual friendship and a defyance to all Love Luc. That seducer of virtue Fre. That disturber of quiet Luc. That madness of youth Fre. That dotage of old age Luc. That enemy to good humour Fre. And to conclude all that reason of all unreasonable actions Asca. This Doctrine is abominable do not believe it Sister Hip. No if I do Brother may I never have comfort from sweet youth at my extremity Luc. But remember one article of our friendship that though we banish Love we do not Mirth nor Gallantry for I declare I am for all extravagancies but just loving Fre. Just my own humour for I hate gravity and melancholy next to love Asca. Now it comes into my head the Duke of Mantoua makes an entertainment to night in Masquerade if you love extravagancy so well Madam I 'll put you into the head of one lay by your Nun-ship for an hour or two and come amongst us in disguise Fre. My Boy is in the right Madam Will you venture I 'll furnish you with Masking-habits Hip. O my dear Sister never refuse it I keep the Keyes you know I 'll warrant you well ' return before we are miss'd I do so long to have one fling into the sweet World again before I die Hang 't at worst 't is but one sin more and then we 'll repent for all together Asca. But if I catch you in the World Sister I 'll make you have a better opinion of the Flesh and the Devil for ever after Luc. If it were known I were lost for ever Fre. How should it be known you have her on your side there that keeps the Keyes and put the worst that you are taken in the World the World 's a good World to stay in and there are certain occasions of waking in a morning that may be more pleasant to you than your Matins Luc. Fie Friend these extravagancies are a breach of Articles in our Friendship but well for once I 'll venture to go out Dancing and Singing are but petty transgressions Asca. My Lord here 's company approaching we shall be discover'd Fred. Adieu then jusqu'a revoir Ascanio shall be with you immediately to conduct you Asca. How Will you disguise Sister Will you be a Man or a Woman Hip. A Woman Brother Page for life I should have the strangest thoughts if I once wore Breeches Asca. A Woman say you Here 's my hand if I meet you in place convenient I 'll do my best to make you one Exeunt Enter Aurelian and Camillo Cam. But Why thus melancholy with Hat pull'd down and the hand on the Region of the Heart just the reverse of my Friend Aurelian of happy memory Aur. Faith Camillo I am asham'd on 't but cannot help it Cam. But to be in Love with a Waiting-woman with an eater of Fragments a Simperer at lower end of a Table with mighty Golls rough-grain'd and red with Starching those discouragers and abettors of elevated love Aur. I could Love Deformity it self with that good humour She who is arm'd with Gayety and Wit needs no other Weapon to conquer me Cam. We Lovers are the great Creators of wit in our Mistrisses For Beatrix she a meer utterer of Yes and No and has no more Sence than what will just dignifie her to be an arrant waiting-woman that is to lye for her Lady and take your Money Aur. It may be then I found her in the exaltation of her wit for certainly women have their good and ill dayes of talking as they have of looking Cam. But however she has done you the courtisy to drive out Laura and so one Poyson has expell'd the other Aur. Troth not absolutely neither for I dote on Laura's beauty and on Beatrix's wit I am wounded with a forked Arrow which will not easily be got out Cam. Not to lose time in fruitless complaints let us pursue our new contrivance that you may see your two Mistresses and I my one Aur. That will not now be difficult this plot 's so laid that I defy the Devil to make it miss The Woman of the house by which they are to pass to Church is brib'd the Ladies are by her acquainted with the design and we need only to be there before them and expect the prey which will undoubtedly fall into the net
discourse with her and see if I can satisfie your Highness Duke Stay there 's a Dance beginning and she seems as if she wou'd make one SONG and DANCE Long betwixt Love and fear Phillis tormented Shun'd her own wish yet at last she consented But loath that day shou'd her blushes discover Come gentle Night She said Come quickly to my aid And a poor Shamefac'd Maid Hide from her Lover Now cold as Ice I am now hot as Fire I dare not tell my self my own desire But let Day fly away and let Night hast her Grant yee kind Powers above Slow houres to parting Love But when to Bliss we move Bid 'em fly faster How sweet it is to Love when I discover That Fire which burns my Heart warming my Lover 'T is pitty Love so true should be mistaken But if this Night he be False or unkinde to me Let me dye ere I see That I 'me forsaken After the Dance My curiosity redoubles I must needs hale that unknown Vessel and enquire whither she 's bound and what fraight she carries Fred. She 's not worth your trouble Sir she 'll either prove some common Courtizan in disguise or at best some homely person of Honour that only dances well enough to invite a sight of her self and would look ill enough to fright you Duke That 's maliciously said all I see of her is charming and I have reason to think her face is of the same piece at least I 'll try my fortune Fred. What an unlucky accident is this If my father should discover her she 's ruin'd if he does not yet I have lost her conversation to night Duke approaches Lucretia Asca. 'T is the Duke himself who comes to court you Luc. Peace I 'll fit him for I have been inform'd to the least title of his actions since he came to Town Duke to Lucretia Madam the Duke of Mantoua whom you must needs imagine to be in this company has sent me to you to know what kind of face there is belonging to that excellent shape and to those charming motions which he observ'd so lately in your Dancing Luc. Tell his Highness if you please that there is a Face within the Masque so very deform'd that if it were discover'd it would prove the worst Vizor of the two and that of all Men he ought not to desire it should be expos'd because then something would be found amiss in an entertainment which he has made so splendid and magnificent Duke The Duke I am sure would be very proud of your complement but it would leave him more unsatisfy'd than before for he will find in it so much of Gallantry as being added to your other graces will move him to a strange temptation of knowing you Luc. I should still have the more reason to refuse him for 't were a madness when I had charm'd him by my motion and converse to hazard the loss of that conquest by my eyes Duke aside I am on fire till I discover her At least Madam tell me of what Family you are Luc. Will you be satisfy'd if I tell you I am of the Colonne you have seen Iulia of that House Duke Then you are she Luc. Have I not her Stature most exactly Duke As near as I remember Luc. But by your favour I have nothing of her shape for if I may be so vain to praise my self she 's a little thicker in the shoulders and besides she moves ungracefully Duke Then you are not she again Luc. No not she but you have forgotten Emilia of the Ursini whom the Duke saluted yesterday at her Balcone when he enter'd Her Ayre and Motion Duke Are the very same with yours Now I am sure I know you Luc. But there 's too little of her to make a Beauty my stature is much more advantagious Duke You have cozen'd me again Luc. Well I find at last I must confess my self What think you of Eugenia Beata the Duke seem'd to be infinitely pleas'd last night when my Brother presented me to him at the Belvedere Duke Now I am certain you are she for you have both her stature and her motion Luc. But if you remember your self a little better there 's some small difference in our wit for she has indeed the Ayre and Beauty of a Roman Lady but all the dulness of a Dutch-woman Duke I see Madam you are resolv'd to conceal your self and I am as fully resolv'd to know you Luc. See which of our resolutions will take place Duke I come from the Duke and can assure you he is of an humour to be obey'd Luc. And I am of an humour not to obey him But Why should he be so curious Duke If you would have my opinion I believe he is in love with you Luc. Without seeing me Duke Without seeing all of you Love is love let it wound us from what part it please and if he have enough from your shape and conversation his business is done the more compendiously without the face Luc. But the Duke cannot be taken with my conversation for he never heard me speak Duke aside ' Slife I shall discover my self Yes Madam he stood by incognito and heard me speak with you but Luc. I wish he had trusted to his own courtship and spoke himself for it gives us a bad impression of a Princes wit when we see fools in favour about his person Duke What ever I am I have it in Commission from him to tell you He 's in Love with you Luc. The good old Gentleman may dote if he so pleases but love and fifty years old are stark non-sense Duke But some men you know are green at fifty Luc. Yes in their understandings Duke You speak with great contempt of a Prince who has some reputation in the world Luc. No 't is you that speak with contempt of him by saying he is in love at such an Age. Duke Then Madam 't is necessary you should know him better for his reputation and that shall be though he violate the Laws of Masquerade and force you Fred. I suspected this from his violent temper Aside Sir the Emperour's Ambassador is here in Masquerade and I believe this to be his Lady it were well if you inquir'd of him before you forc'd her to discover Duke Which is the Ambassador Fred. That farthermost Duke retires farther Fred. to Luc. Take your opportunity to escape while his back is turn'd or you are ruin'd Ascanio wait on her Luc. I am so frighted I cannot stay to thank you Exeunt Luc. Asca. and Hippolita Duke to Fred. 'T is a mistake the Ambassador knows nothing of her I 'm resolv'd I 'll know it of her self ere she shall depart Ha! Where is she I left her here Fred. aside Out of your reach Father mine I hope Duke She has either shifted places or else slipt out of the Assembly Fred. I have look'd round she must be gone Sir Duke She must not be gone Sir Search for
her every where I will have her Fred. Has she offended your Highness Duke Peace with your impertinent questions Come hither Valerio Valerio Sir Duke O Valerio I am desperately in love that Lady with whom you saw me talking has But I lose time she 's gone haste after her find her bring her back to me Val. If it be possible Duke It must be possible the quiet of my life depends upon it Val. Which way took she Duke Go any way every way ask no questions I know no more but that she must must be had Exit Valerio Fred. Sir the assembly will observe that Duke Damn the assembly 't is a dull insignificant crowd now she is not here break it up I 'll stay no longer Fred. aside I hope she 's safe and then this fantastick love of my Fathers will make us sport too morrow Exeunt SCENE III. Lucretia Ascanio Hippolita Luc. Now that we are safe at the gate of our Covent methinks the adventure was not unpleasant Hip. And now that I am out of danger Brother I may tell you what a Novice you are in love to tempt a young Sister into the wide World and not to show her the difference betwixt that and her Cloyster I find I may venture safely with you another time Asca. O Sister you play the Brazen-head with me you give me warning when Time's past but that was no fit opportunâ—â—y I hate to snatch a morsel of Love and so away I am for a set-meal where I may enjoy my full gust but when I once fall on you shall find me a brave man upon occasion Luc. 'T is time we were in our Cells Quick Hippolita where 's the Key Hip. Here in my pocket No 't is in my other Pocket Ha 't is not there neither I am sure I put it in one of them Luc. What should we do if it should be lost now Hip. I have search'd my self all over and cannot find it Asca. A woman can never search her self all over let me search you Sister Luc. Is this a time for Raillery Oh sweet heaven speak comfort quickly Have you found it Here Ascanio slips away Exit Hip. Speak you comfort Madam and tell me you have it for I am too sure that I have none on 't Luc. O unfortunate that we are day 's breaking the handy-crafts shops begin to open Clock strikes Hip. The Clock strikes two within this half hour we shall be call'd up to our Devotions Now good Ascanio Alass he 's gone too we are left miserable and forlorn Luc. We have not so much as one place in the Town for a Retreat Hip. O for a Miracle in our time of need that some kind good-natur'd Saint would take us up and heave us over the Wall into our Cells Luc. Dear Sister Pray for I cannot I have been so sinful in leaving my Cloyster for the World that I am asham'd to trouble my Friends above to help me Hip. Alass Sister with what face can I Pray then Yours were but little vanities but I have sin'd swingingly against my Vow yes indeed Sister I have been very wicked for I wish'd the Ball might be kept perpetually in our Cloyster and that half the handsome Nuns in it might be turn'd to Men for the sake of the other Luc. Well if I were free from this disgrace I would never more set foot beyond the Cloyster for the sake of any Man Hip. And here I Vow if I get safe within my Cell I will not think of Man again these seven years Ascanio Re-enters Asca. Hold Hippolita and make no more rash Vows if you do as I live you shall not have the Key Hip. The Key why Have it you Brother Luc. He does but mock us I know you have it not Ascanio Asca. Ecce signum Here it is for you Hip. O sweet Brother let me kiss you Asca. Hands off sweet Sister you must not be forsworn you vow'd you would not think of a man these seven years Hip. Ay Brother but I was not so hasty but I had wit enough to cozen the Saint to whom I vow'd for you are but a Boy Brother and will not be a Man these seven years Luc. But Where did you find the Key Ascanio Asca. To confess the truth Madam I stole it out of Hippolita's Pocket to take the Print of it in Wax for I 'll suppose you 'll give my Master leave to wait on you in the Nunnery-garden after your Abbess has walk'd the Rounds Luc. Well well good morrow when you have slept come to the Grate for a Letter to your Lord. Now will I have the head-ach or the Meagrim or some excuse for I am resolv'd I 'll not rise to Prayers Hip. Pray Brother take care of our Masking-habits that they may be forth-coming another time Asca. Sleep sleep and dream of me Sister I 'll make it good if you dream not too unreasonably Luc. Thus dangers in our Love make joyes more dear And Pleasure 's sweetest when 't is mixt with fear Exeunt ACT. IV. SCENE I. A Dressing-Chamber The Masking-habits of Lucretia and Hippolita laid in a Chair Fred. and Ascanio Fred. I Never thought I should have lov'd her Is 't come to this after all my boastings and declarations against it Sure I lov'd her before and did not know it till I fear'd to lose her there 's the reason I had never desir'd her if my Father had not This is just the longing of a Woman she never finds the appetite in her self till she sees the Meat on anothers Plate I 'm glad however you took the impression of the Key but 't was not well to fright them Asca. Sir I could not help it but here 's the effect on 't the Workman sate up all night to make it Gives a Key Fred. This Key will admit me into the Seraglio of the Godly The Monastery has begun the War in Sallying out upon the World and therefore 't is but just that the World should make Reprizals on the Monastery Asca. Alass Sir you and Lucretia do but skirmish 't is I and Hippolita that make the War 't is true opportunity has been wanting for a Battel but the forces have been stoutly drawn up on both sides As for your concernment I come just now from the Monastery and have Orders from you Platonick Mistriss to tell you she expects you this evening in the Garden of the Nunnery withall she deliver'd me this Letter for you Fred. Give it me Asca. O Sir the Duke your Father The prince takes the Letter and thinking to put it up bastily drops it Enter Duke Duke Now Frederick not abroad yet Fred. Your last nights entertainment left me so weary Sir that I over-slept my self this morning Duke I rather envy you than blame you our sleep is certainly the most pleasant portion of our lives For my own part I spent the night waking and restless Fred. Has any thing of moment happen'd to discompose your Highness Duke
Ascanio I hope he would not forswear himself when he has rail'd so much against it Fred. I hope I may love your mind Madam I may Love Spiritually Hip. That 's enough that 's enough let him love the mind without the body if he can Asca. Ay ay when the love is once come so far that Spiritual Mind will never leave pulling and pulling till it has drawn the beastly body after it Fred. VVell Madam since I must confess it though I expect to be laugh'd at after my railing against Love I do love you all over both Soul and Body Asca. Lord Sir VVhat a Tygress have you provok'd you may see she takes it to the death that you have made this declaration Hip. I thought where all her anger was VVhy do you not raile Madam Why do you not banish him the Prince expects it he has dealt honestly he has told you his Mind and you make your worst on 't Luc. Because he does expect it I am resolv'd I 'll neither satisfie him nor you I will neither raile nor laugh let him make his worst of that now Fred. If I understand you right Madam I am happy beyond either my deserts or expectation Luc. You may give my words what interpretation you please Sir I shall not envy you their meaning in the kindest sence But we are near the Jessamine-walk there we may talk with greater freedom because 't is farther from the House Fred. I wait you Madam Exeunt SCENE V. Aurelian with a dark Lanthorn Camillo and Benito Cam. So we are safe got over into the Nunnery-Garden for what 's to come trust Love and Fortune Aur. This must needs be the walk she mention'd yet to be sure I 'll hold the Lanthorn while you read the Ticket Cam. reads I prepar'd this Ticket hoping to see you in the Chappel come this evening over the Garden-wall on the right hand next the Tiber. Aur. We are right I see Cam. Bring only your discreet Benito with you and I will meet you attended by my faithful Beatrix Violetta Ben. Discreet Benito Did you hear that Sir Aur. Mortifie thy self for that vain thought and without enquiring into the mystery of these words which I assure thee were not meant to thee plant thy self by that Ladder without motion to secure our retreat and be sure to make no noise Ben. But Sir in case that Aur. Honest Benito no more questions Basta is the word Remember thou art only taken with us because thou hast a certain evil Daemon who conducts thy actions and would have been sure by some damn'd accident or other to have brought thee hither to disturb us Cam. I hear whispering not far from us and I think 't is Violetta's voice Aur. to Benito Retire to your Post avoid good Sathan Exit Benito Enter Laura with a dark Lanthorn hid and Violetta Cam. Ours is the honour of the Field Madam we are here before you Vio. Softly dear friend I think I hear some walking in the Garden Cam. Rather let us take this opportunity for your escape from hence all things are here in readiness Vio. This is the second time we e're have met let us discourse and know each other better first that 's the way to make sure of some love before-hand for as the world goes we know not how little we may have when we are Marry'd Cam. Losses of opportunity are fatal in war you know and Love 's a kind of warfare Vio. I shall keep you yet a while from close fighting Cam. But Do you know what an hour in Love is worth 'T is more precious than an Age of ordinary life 't is the very Quintesence and Extract of it Vio. I do not like your Chymical preparation of love yours is all Spirit and will fly too soon I must see it fix'd before I trust you But we are near the Arbor now our out guards are set let us retire a little if you please there we may talk more freely Exeunt Aur. to Laura My Ladies Woman methinks you are very reserv'd to night pray advance into the Lists though I have seen your countenance by day I can endure to hear you talk by night Be cunning and set your wit to show which is your best commodity it will help the better to put off that drug your Face Lau. The coursest ware will serve such customers as you are let it suffice Mr. Servingman that I have seen you too Your face is the original of the ugliest Vizors about Town and for wit I would advise you to speak reverently of it as a thing you are never like to understand Aur. Sure Beatrix you came lately from looking in your Glass and that has given you a bad opinion of all faces But since when am I become so notorious a fool Lau. Since yesterday for t'other night you talk'd like a man of sence I think your wit comes to you as the sight of Owles does only in the dark Aur. Why When did you discourse by day with me Lau. You have a short memory This afternoon in the great street Do you not remember when you talk'd with Laura Aur. But what was that to Beatrix Lau. aside ' Slife I had forgot that I am Beatrix But pray When did you find me out to be so ugly Aur. This afternoon in the Chappel Lau. That cannot be for I well remember you were not there Benito I saw none but Camillo and his friend the handsome stranger Aur. aside Curse on 't I have betray'd my self Lau. I find you are an Impostor you are not the same Benito your language has nothing of the Serving-man Aur. And yours methinks has not much of the Waiting-woman Lau. My Lady is abus'd and betray'd by you but I am resolv'd I 'll discover who you are Holds out a Lanthorn to him How the Stranger Aur. Nay Madam if you are good at that I 'll match you there too Holds out his Lanthorn O prodigy Is Beatrix turn'd to Laura Lau. Now the question is which of us two is the greatest cheat Aur. That 's hardly to be try'd at so short warning Let 's Marry one another and then twenty to one in a Twelve Moneth we shall know Lau. Marry Are you at that so soon Signior Benito and Beatrix I confess had some acquaintance but Aurelian and Laura are meer strangers Aur. That ground I have gotten as Benito I am resolv'd I 'll keep as Aurelian If you will take State upon you I have treated you with Ceremony already for I have woo'd you by Proxy Lau. But you would not be contented to bed me so or give me leave to put the Sword betwixt us Aur. Yes upon condition you 'll remove it Lau. Pray let our Friends be judge of it if you please we 'll find 'em in the Arbor Aur. Content I am then sure of the Verdict because the Jury is brib'd already Exeunt SCENE VI. Benito meeting Frederick Ascanio Lucreria and Hippolita Ben. Knowing my own merits