The Little French Lawyer Part 24

_Ana._ O _Cleremont_!

_Lam._ O _Dinant_!

_Din._ I can but add your sorrows to my sorrows, Your fears to my fears.

_Cler._ To your wishes mine, This slave may prove unable to perform, Till I perform the task that I was born for.

_Ana._ Amen, amen.

_1 Gent._ Drag the slaves hence, for you A while I'le lock you up here, study all ways You can to please me, or the deed being done, You are but dead.

_2 Gen._ This strong Vault shall contain you, There think how many for your maidenhead Have pin'd away, and be prepar'd to lose it With penitence.

_1 Gent._ No humane help can save you.

_Ladyes._ Help, help!

_2 Gent._ You cry in vain, rocks cannot hear you.

_Actus Quintus. Scena Prima._

A Horrid noise of Musique within, _Enter one and opens the door, in which_ Lamira _and_ Anabel _were shut, they in all fear_.

_Lam._ O Cousin how I shake all this long night!

What frights and noises we have heard, still they encrease, The villains put on shapes to torture us, And to their Devils form such preparations As if they were a hatching new dishonours, And fatal ruine, past dull mans invention.

Goe not too far, and pray good Cousin _Anabel_, Hark a new noise. [_A strange Musick. Sackbut & Troop Musick._

_Ana._ They are exquisite in mischief, I will goe on, this room gives no protection, More than the next, what's that? how sad and hollow, The sound comes to us. [_Thieves peeping. Louder._

_Lam._ Groaning? or singing is it?

_Ana._ The wind I think, murmuring amongst old rooms.

_Lam._ Now it grows lowder, sure some sad presage Of our foul loss--look now they peep.

_Ana._ Pox peep 'em.

_Lam._ O give them gentle language.

_Ana._ Give 'em rats-bane. [_Peep above._

_Lam._ Now they are above.

_Ana._ I would they were i'th' Center.

_Lam._ Thou art so foolish desperate.

_Ana._ Since we must lose.

_Lam._ Call 'em brave fellows, Gentlemen.

_Ana._ Call 'em rogues, Rogues as they are, rude rogues, uncivil villains.

_Lam._ Look an thou woo't beware, dost thou feel the danger?

_Ana._ Till the danger feel me, thus will I talk still, And worse when that comes too; they cannot eat me.

This is a punishment, upon our own prides Most justly laid; we must abuse brave Gentlemen, Make 'em tame fools, and hobby-horses, laugh and jear at Such men too, and so handsom and so n.o.ble, That howsoe're we seem'd to carry it-- Wou'd 'twere to do again.

_Lam._ I do confess cousin, I was too harsh, too foolish.

_Ana._ Do you feel it?

Do you find it now? take heed o'th' punishment, We might have had two gallant Gentlemen, Proper, young, O how it tortures me!

Two Devils now, two rascals, two and twenty--

_Lam._ O think not so.

_Ana._ Nay an we 'scape so modestly--

_Lam._ May we be worthy any eyes, or knowledge, When we are used thus?

_Ana._ Why not? why do you cry?

Are we not women still? what were we made for?

_Lam._ But thus, thus basely--

_Ana._ 'Tis against our [w]ills, And if there come a thousand so,--

_Lam._ Out on thee.

_Ana._ You are a fool, what we cannot resist, Why should we grieve and blush for? there be women, And they that bear the name of excellent women Would give their whole estates to meet this fortune.

_Lam._ Hark, a new noise. [_New sound within._

_Ana._ Let 'em goe on, I fear not, If wrangling, fighting and scratching cannot preserve me, Why so be it Cousin; if I be ordain'd To breed a race of rogues.--

_Enter four over the stage with_ Beaupre, _and_ Verdone, _bound and halters about their necks_.

_Lam._ They come.

_Ana._ Be firm, They are welcom.

_Lam._ What mask of death is this? O my dear Brother.

_Ana._ My Couz too; why now y'are glorious villains.