SCENE II.

_A Bedchamber in_ LADY BOUNTIFUL'S _House_.

MRS. SULLEN _and_ DORINDA _discovered; a Table and Lights_.

_Dor._ 'Tis very late, sister; no news of your spouse yet?

_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 to your rest; you'll go directly to bed, I suppose.

_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.

_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 Dorinda----Thoughts 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. [_Rising._

_Mrs. Sul._ How shall I be sure of it?

_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 cousin 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 bowed before his saint with more devotion.

_Mrs. Sul._ Now, now, I'm ruined if he kneels. [_Aside._] Rise, thou prostrate engineer; not all thy undermining skill shall reach my heart. Rise, 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 denies, I'm lost. [_Aside._

_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!

_Arch._ They must, they must. [_Kisses her._] Raptures and paradise! and why not now, my angel? The time, the place, silence, and secrecy, all conspire--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.