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BELIN。 O frightful！ cousin； what shall we do？ These things come towards us。
ARAM。 No matter。 I see Vainlove coming this wayand； to confess my failing； I am willing to give him an opportunity of making his peace with meand to rid me of these coxcombs； when I seem opprest with 'em； will be a fair one。
BLUFF。 Ladies； by these hilts you are well met。
ARAM。 We are afraid not。
BLUFF。 What says my pretty little knapsack carrier。 ＇To BELINDA。＇
BELIN。 O monstrous filthy fellow！ good slovenly Captain Huffe； Bluffe （what is your hideous name？） be gone： you stink of brandy and tobacco； most soldier…like。 Foh。 ＇Spits。＇
SIR JO。 Now am I slap…dash down in the mouth； and have not one word to say！ ＇Aside。＇
ARAM。 I hope my fool has not confidence enough to be troublesome。 ＇Aside。＇
SIR JO。 Hem！ Pray； madam； which way is the wind？
ARAM。 A pithy question。 Have you sent your wits for a venture； sir； that you enquire？
SIR JO。 Nay； now I'm in； I can prattle like a magpie。 ＇Aside。＇
SCENE X。
＇To them＇ SHARPER and VAINLOVE at some distance。
BELIN。 Dear Araminta； I'm tired。
ARAM。 'Tis but pulling off our masks； and obliging Vainlove to know us。 I'll be rid of my fool by fair means。Well； Sir Joseph； you shall see my face； but； be gone immediately。 I see one that will be jealous； to find me in discourse with you。 Be discreet。 No reply； but away。 ＇Unmasks。＇
SIR JO。 The great fortune； that dined at my Lady Freelove's！ Sir Joseph； thou art a made man。 Agad； I'm in love up to the ears。 But I'll be discreet； and hushed。 ＇Aside。＇
BLUFF。 Nay； by the world； I'll see your face。
BELIN。 You shall。 ＇Unmasks。＇
SHARP。 Ladies； your humble servant。 We were afraid you would not have given us leave to know you。
ARAM。 We thought to have been private。 But we find fools have the same advantage over a face in a mask that a coward has while the sword is in the scabbard； so were forced to draw in our own defence。
BLUFF。 My blood rises at that fellow： I can't stay where he is； and I must not draw in the park。 ＇To SIR JOSEPH。＇
SIR JO。 I wish I durst stay to let her know my lodging。
SCENE XI。
ARAMINTA； BELINDA； VAINLOVE； SHARPER。
SHARP。 There is in true beauty； as in courage； somewhat which narrow souls cannot dare to admire。 And see； the owls are fled； as at the break of day。
BELIN。 Very courtly。 I believe Mr。 Vainlove has not rubbed his eyes since break of day neither； he looks as if he durst not approach。 Nay； come； cousin； be friends with him。 I swear he looks so very simplyha； ha； ha。 Well； a lover in the state of separation from his mistress is like a body without a soul。 Mr。 Vainlove； shall I be bound for your good behaviour for the future？
VAIN。 Now must I pretend ignorance equal to hers； of what she knows as well as I。 ＇Aside。＇ Men are apt to offend （'tis true） where they find most goodness to forgive。 But； madam； I hope I shall prove of a temper not to abuse mercy by committing new offences。
ARAM。 So cold！ ＇Aside。＇
BELIN。 I have broke the ice for you； Mr。 Vainlove； and so I leave you。 Come； Mr。 Sharper； you and I will take a turn； and laugh at the vulgarboth the great vulgar and the small。 O Gad！ I have a great passion for Cowley。 Don't you admire him？
SHARP。 Oh； madam！ he was our English Horace。
BELIN。 Ah so fine！ so extremely fine！ So everything in the world that I likeO Lord； walk this wayI see a couple； I'll give you their history。
SCENE XII。
ARAMINTA； VAINLOVE。
VAIN。 I find； madam； the formality of the law must be observed； though the penalty of it be dispensed with； and an offender must plead to his arraignment； though he has his pardon in his pocket。
ARAM。 I'm amazed！ This insolence exceeds t'other； whoever has encouraged you to this assurance； presuming upon the easiness of my temper； has much deceived you； and so you shall find。
VAIN。 Hey day！ Which way now？ Here's fine doubling。 ＇Aside。＇
ARAM。 Base man！ Was it not enough to affront me with your saucy passion？
VAIN。 You have given that passion a much kinder epithet than saucy； in another place。
ARAM。 Another place！ Some villainous design to blast my honour。 But though thou hadst all the treachery and malice of thy sex； thou canst not lay a blemish on my fame。 No； I have not erred in one favourable thought of mankind。 How time might have deceived me in you； I know not； my opinion was but young； and your early baseness has prevented its growing to a wrong belief。 Unworthy and ungrateful！ be gone； and never see me more。
VAIN。 Did I dream？ or do I dream？ Shall I believe my eyes； or ears？ The vision is here still。 Your passion； madam； will admit of no farther reasoning； but here's a silent witness of your acquaintance。 ＇Takes our the letter； and offers it： she snatches it； and throws it away。＇
ARAM。 There's poison in everything you touch。 Blisters will follow …
VAIN。 That tongue； which denies what the hands have done。
ARAM。 Still mystically senseless and impudent； I find I must leave the place。
VAIN。 No； madam； I'm gone。 She knows her name's to it； which she will be unwilling to expose to the censure of the first finder。
ARAM。 Woman's obstinacy made me blind to what woman's curiosity now tempts me to see。 ＇Takes up the letter。＇
SCENE XIII。
BELINDA； SHARPER。
BELIN。 Nay； we have spared nobody； I swear。 Mr。 Sharper； you're a pure man； where did you get this excellent talent of railing？
SHARP。 Faith； madam； the talent was born with me：I confess I have taken care to improve it； to qualify me for the society of ladies。
BELIN。 Nay； sure； railing is the best qualification in a woman's man。
SCENE XIV。
＇To them＇ FOOTMAN。
SHARP。 The second best； indeed； I think。
BELIN。 How now； Pace？ Where's my cousin？
FOOT。 She's not very well； madam； and has sent to know if your ladyship would have the coach come again for you？
BELIN。 O Lord； no； I'll go along with her。 Come； Mr。 Sharper。
SCENE XV。
SCENE： A chamber in Fondlewife's house。
LAETITIA and BELLMOUR； his cloak； hat； etc。； lying loose about the chamber。
BELL。 Here's nobody； nor no noise'twas nothing but your fears。
LAET。 I durst have sworn I had heard my monster's voice。 I swear I was heartily frightened； feel how my heart beats。
BELL。 'Tis an alarm to lovecome in again； and let us …
FOND。 ＇Without。＇ Cocky； Cocky； where are you； Cocky？ I'm come home。
LAET。 Ah！ There he is。 Make haste； gather up your things。
FOND。 Cocky； Cocky； open the door。
BELL。 Pox choke him； would his horns were in his throat。 My patch； my patch。 ＇Looking about； and gathering up his things。＇
LAET。 My jewel； art thou there？No matter for your patch。You s'an't tum in； Nykinrun into my chamber； quickly； quicklyYou s'an't tum in。
FOND。 Nay； prithee； dear； i'feck I'm in haste。
LAET。 Then I'll let you in。 ＇Opens the door。＇
SCENE XVI。
LAETITIA； FONDLEWIFE； SIR JOSEPH。
FOND。 Kiss； dearI met the master of the ship by the way； and I must have my papers of accounts out of your cabinet。
LAET。 Oh； I'm undone！ ＇Aside。＇
SIR JO。 Pray； first let me have fifty pound； go