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Mrs. Sul. No; I'm condemned to be alone till towards four, and then, perhaps, I may be executed with his company.

Dor. Well, my dear, I'll leave you'll go directly to bed, I suppose.

you to your Mrs. Sul. I don't know what to do; heigho! Dor. That's a desiring sigh, sister.

Mrs. Sul. This is a languishing hour, sister.

rest;

Dor. And might prove a critical minute, if the pretty fellow were here.

Mrs. Sul. Here? what, in my bedchamber, at two o'clock i'th' morning, I undressed, the family asleep, my hated husband abroad, and my lovely fellow at my feet?O, gad, sister!

Dor. Thoughts are free, sister, and them I allow you-So, my dear, good night.

[Exit. Mrs. Sul. A good rest to my dear DorindaThoughts free! are they so? why, then, suppose him here, dressed like a youthful, gay, and burning bridegroom, [ARCHER steals out of the Closet.] with tongue enchanting, eyes bewitching, knees imploring [Turns a little on one Side, and sees ARCHER in the Posture she describes.]-Ah! [Shrieks, and runs to the other Side of the Stage.] Have my thoughts raised a spirit? What are you, sir? a man, or a devil?

Arch. A man, a man, madam.

Mrs. Sul. How shall I be sure of it?

[Rising.

Arch. Madam, I'll give you demonstration this minute. [Takes her Hand. Mrs. Sul. What, sir! do you intend to be rude? Arch. Yes, madam, if you please.

Mrs. Sul. In the name of wonder, whence came ye?

Arch. From the skies, madam-I'm a Jupiter in love, and you shall be my Alcmena.

Mrs. Sul. How came you in?

Arch. I flew in at the window, madam; your cou

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sin Cupid lent me his wings, and your sister Venus opened the casement.

Mrs. Sul. I'm struck dumb with admiration.

Arch. And I with wonder.

[Looks passionately at her.

Mrs. Sul. What will become of me?

Arch. How beautiful she looks! -the teeming jolly spring smiles in her blooming face, and when she was conceived, her mother smelt to roses, looked on lilies

Lilies unfold their white, their fragrant charms,
When the warm sun thus darts into their arms.
[Runs to her.

Mrs. Sul. Ah! [Shrieks. Arch. Oons, madam, what do you mean? you'll raise the house.

Mrs. Sul. Sir, I'll wake the dead, before I bear this. What approach me with the freedoms of a keeper! I'm glad on't; your impudence has cured

me.

Arch. If this be impudence, [Kneels.] I leave to your partial self; no panting pilgrim, after a tedious, painful, voyage, e'er bow'd before his saint with more devotion.

Mrs.Sul. Now, now, I'm ruin'difhe kneels. [4side.] Rise, thou prostrate engineer; not all thy undermining skill shall reach my heart. huse, and know that I am a woman, without my sex; I can love to all the tenderness of wishes, sighs, and tears--But go no farther-Still, to convince you that I'm more than woman, I can speak my frailty, confess my weakness even for-But

Arch. For me!

[Going to lay hold on her. Mrs. Sul. Hold, sir ; build not upon that-for my most mortal hatred follows, if you disobey what I

command you now-leave me this minute-If he de

nies, I'm lost.

Arch. Then you'll promise

Mrs. Sul. Any thing another time.
Arch. When shall I come?

Mrs. Sul. To-morrow-when you will.
Arch. Your lips must seal the promise.

Mrs. Sul. Pshaw!

[Aside.

Arch. They must, they must. [Kisses her.] Raptures and paradise! and why not now, my angel? The time, the place, silence, and secrecy, all con spire--And the now conscious stars have pre-ordained this moment for my happiness.

[Takes her in his Arms. Mrs. Sul. You will not, cannot, sure.

Arch. If the sun rides fast, and disappoints not mortals of to-morrow's dawn, this night shall crown my joys.

Mrs. Sul. My sex's pride assist me.
Arch. My sex's strength help me.
Mrs. Sul. You shall kill me first.

Arch. I'll die with you.

[Carrying her off.

Mrs. Sul. Thieves! thieves! murder!

Enter SCRUB, in his Breeches, and one Shoe. Scrub.. Thieves! thieves! murder! popery!

Arch. Ha!

[Draws, and offers to stab SCRUB. Scrub. [Kneeling.] O pray, sir, spare all I have, and take my

life.

Mrs. Sul. [Holding ARCHER'S Hand.] What does the fellow mean?

Scrub. O, madam, down upon your knees, your marrowbones--he's one of them.

Arch. Of whom?

Scrub. One of the rogues- I beg your pardon, one of the honest gentlemen, that just now are broke into the house.

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Arch. How!

Mrs. Sul. I hope you did not come to rob me? Arch. Indeed I did, madam, but I would have taken nothing but what you might very well have spared; but your crying, Thieves, has waked this dreaming fool, and so he takes them for granted.

Scrub. Granted! 'tis granted, sir; take all we' have.

Mrs. Sul. The fellow looks as if he were broke out of Bedlam.

Scrub. Oons, madam, they're broke into the house with fire and sword; I saw them, heard them, they'll be here this minute.

Arch. What! thieves!

Scrub. Under favour, sir, I think so.
Mrs. Sul. What shall we do, sir?

Arch. Madam, I wish your ladyship a good night.
Mrs. Sul. Will you leave me ?

Arch. Leave you! lord, madam, did not you command me to begone just now, upon pain of your immortal hatred.

Mrs. Sul. Nay, but pray, sir

[Takes hold of him. Arch. Ha! ha! ha! now comes my turn to be ravished-You see now, madam, you must use men' one way or other; but take this by the way, good madam, that none but a fool will give you the benefit of his courage, unless you'll take his love along with it-How are they arm'd, friend?

Scrub. With sword and pistol, sir.

[He gets under the Table. Arch Hush!- -I see a dark lanthorn coming through the gallery-Madam, be assured I will protect you, or lose my life.

Mrs. Sul. Your life! no, sir, they can rob me of nothing that I value half so much; therefore now, sir, let me entreat you to begone.

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Arch. No, madam, I'll consult my own safety, for the sake of yours; I'll work by stratagem: have you courage enough to stand the appearance of them?

Mrs. Sul. Yes, yes; since I have escaped your hands, I can face any thing.

Arch. Come hither, brother Scrub; don't you know me?

Scrub. Eh! my dear brother, let me kiss thee!

[Kisses ARCHER.

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Enter GIBBET, with a dark Lanthorn in one Hand, and a Pistol in the other.

Gib. Ay, ay, this is the chamber, and the lady alone.

Mrs. Sul. Who are you, sir? What would you have? D'ye come to rob me?

Gib. Rob you! alack a day, madam, I'm only a younger brother, madam; and so, madam, if you make a noise, I'll shoot you through the head: but don't be afraid, madam. [Laying his Lanthorn and Pistol upon the Table.] These rings, madam; don't be concerned, madam; I have profound respect for you, madam; your keys, madam; don't be frighted, madam; I'm the most of a gentleman. [Searching her Pockets. This necklace, madam; I never was rude to any lady! I have a veneration-for this necklace.

[Here ARCHER, having come round, and seized the Pistol, takes GIBBET by the Collar, trips up his Heels, and claps the Pistol to his Breast.

Arch. Hold, profane villain, and take the reward of thy sacrilege.

Gib. Oh! pray, sir, don't kill me; I an't prepared.
Arch. How many is there of them, Scrub?
Scrub. Five and forty, sir.

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