is not only Blind but Invisible for let me die if I can see any thing like a Cupid about you You have the same Face the same Eyes the same Nose abating a little alteration that you ever had and which I often told you that I never lik'd Nay on my Conscience thou hast the same Hat the same Sword and the same Breeches I fancy thou hast changed nothing for these three Years but thy Religion and a few Bâ—ass Half-Crowns and crack'd Nine-pences Turn My Cupid Madam is never the weaker for being Invisible All Philosophers agree that there are occult Qualities in Love as well as in Nature that can attract Hearts of Steel or Iron by an Invisible Chain It is enough for me that I know you love me by the care you have taken for my Re-conversion Leu. You build a greater Superstructure upon that than the Foundation is able to bear I wonder how you can think a Woman should love a Man the better for his being altered for the worse Your Complexion seems to me to be pale and sickly I fancy you frequent Coffee-Houses to assist the Fathers in the laborious propagation of Non-sense But let me advise you to forbear Coffee 't will destroy much of the Lustre that is borrowed from the beneficial influence of Claret Turn How the Devil came she to hear that Aside Madam if I am pale as you say I am pale with Love and though you often upbraid me with changing yet I am sure you can't say that ever I chang'd that Pray Madam for once make trial of my Constancy in a Matrimonial way So you shall see how patiently I will wear that Chain without one thought of changing Leu. The Experiment is too costly for me to make I am not like those Vertuoso's that expend ready Mony in hopes of extracting Gold out of Pewter-Dishes Besides you pretend to me to be in Love yet I have one infallible Demonstration that you are not so for if you were you could not chuse but obtain your Desires you that are so intimate with the famous Politico that has a thousand Plots and Intrigues in his Head great and small of all sorts and sizes for Men and for Women and as some say for Children too Methinks he might easily teach you a way to circumvent such a weak Woman as I am He could instruct you how to put on such Disguises that you and Father Bigot and Father Cautious might gain half the Women in the Nation especially if the ingenious Mackdonnel have an hand in the Plot. Turn Good Madam tell me no more of Plotting I hate Plotting above all things and that makes me to frequent Plays My Business is plain Love I have nothing to do with Plotting Leu. And I must tell you for your further encouragement that I can never love a Man of your Persuasion Turn Alas Madam if that be all I am of no Persuasion at all but your Ladyships for you persuade me to any thing Cannot a Man frequent Mass or cokes the Fathers for a little Mony to enable him to keep his Coach and Six but presently you must think that he is of their Persuasion I vow Madam you are too credulous in all things but in believing that I love you Leu. I shall avoid that Imputation for the future but never give credit to any thing you say hereafter For since you tell me you dissemble in other Things how shall I believe you in that Turn O you may know that by a kind of natural Instinct and by this general Rule That I never dissemble but when it is for my Interest Leu. And therefore if it be your Interest to love me it will be your Interest to dissemble with me But to wave that I wonder what expectation you can have from that designing Gang that make it their Business to deceive you and all Mankind Turn I must confess at first whilst they thought me a Man of a good Estate and over-run with the simplicity of Superstition I could get nothing from them but Exhortations to settle my Land upon the Church to turn Mendicant or undertake expensive Employments for the good of the Catholick Cause But after your Ladyship did give Politico an account of my Designs and Endowments they treated me with all the Kindness Imaginable They promise Mountains of Gold and tell me it shall not be long before I ride in my Coach and Six Leu. But suppoâ—â— you should find your Coach and Six to be suddenly transform'd to a Cart and four by a certain unlucky Spell of Queen B. would it not amaze you Turn Pshaw pshaw never fear that if I can escape dying by Love I fear no other Death Enter Boy Boy Madam here is a Gentlewoman with a Patch on her Nose and a great Beadrol in her Hand that would gladly have admittance Leu. I warrant 't is that Beast of a Woman Mrs. Counterfeit that ambitious Animal 'twixt Bawd and Whore That Spiritual Caterer for the Flesh that provides the Necessaries of Nature for the Fathers with great Zeal and Devotion 'T is a Load of Scandal I will not see her Turn If you do not I fancy she manages some private Intrigue with you Come Madam you must see her I would fain know her Business Leu. Then you must stay here to take off the Scandal of the Company She is the only Person in the World that I know more scandalous than your self Turn I dare not stay for she lately serv'd me a damn'd Jade's Trick and I fear my Passion should make me transgress the Rules of Decency in a Lady's Chamber Leu. Then retire into the Closet and there you may over-hear our Discourse and be a Witness that I hold no correspondence with you or yours Turn With all my Heart But pray place Mrs. Counterfeit's Chair very near the Closet Door Exit Leu. Well it shall Bid her come up Boy Exit Boy Betty Now we shall have an Intrigue Enter Mrs. Counterfeit Mrs. Count. O Neighbour Dear Neighbour sweet innocent Neighbour why art thou so unkind as to live so near and never come to see me Leu. You have so many Ladies fitter for Conversation in your House that I believe one of the other Sex would be more acceptable if it were only for Variety's sake Count. I protest Madam you are mistaken not but that an abundance of the most religious Ladies in the City do pride themselves in my Acquaintance but none to compare with your self for Wit and Beauty I protest Dearest I was in some Company that talk'd so well of thee to day But there was one Story did a little vex me Leu. Nay if you have a Story to tell you had best sit down Chairs there one next that Closet-door Betty to Count. Please you to sit there Madam Count. Then I will tell thee Dearest they say thou art in love with Mr. Turnabout a Man of no Parts Address or Fortune I protest I wonder that a Lady of your excellent
old Sir Geo. Subtleman Jon. Yes I am very sure As Sir George is pâ—ring on the Letter Cau. Then will I discover his Son's Intentions to kill him and so compleat my Revenge on young Subtleman for cheating me of my Money and perhaps get no small Sum from the old Man for this seasonable Information Jon. But did you not promise Subtleman that you would not directly or indirectly do him an Injury Cau. Pshaw pshaw 't is for grave old Men and not such young Striplings as your self to understand the Obligation of Promises Let me alone for that Advancing to Sir George Sir tho' a Stranger I make bold to ask you if this Paper be subscribed R. C Sir Geo. Yes Sir it is so Cau. If so I must acknowledg my self to be the Author of it and upon good terms can give you farther information Sir Geo. Your Information I shall hear most gladly But before you begin I will tell you my Character and that perhaps may save you the labour of proceeding further I am old but not infected with the usual Humours of Old Age. I am not credulous for I believe none especially Priests upon their bare word If you bring no further proof than that you will lose your Cause in my Court of Justice I am not timerous and therefore you may spare all flourishing Aggravations of Danger for there is no Danger that I dare not meet or that can seem greater to me than it really is I am neither stupid or forgetful therefore if you have sent this Paper or come your self to impose upon me you shall find that I have not forgot the faculty of remembring Injuries I am neither immoderately Covetous nor dotingly Prodigal I requite Courtesies moderately in my Life-time but shall never like some old Children leave an Estate to them that feed me with Sugar-Plums or buy me Play-things But I have one Imperfection of old Age I am very peevish when I hear Impertinencies which praying you to avoid I hope you will begin your Story Cau. Well then Being mov'd by meer Love and Compassion Sir Geo. Nay then you must give me leave to interrupt you Do'nt pretend Love or Compassion to me For how a De'l shouldst thou love an old Man and a meer Stranger Besides if thou art mov'd to do me good what a Pox do I care what mov'd thee 'T is all one to me whether 't is meer Friendship or thine own Interest I hate Flattery that is another of my Qualities Cau. My own Interest Why all the World knows I am not Covetous But Sir Geo. Nay now I must interrupt you again and tell you plainly that all the World does not know that thou art not Covetous for I my self do believe thou art what else should engage thee to turn Informer And now I must tell thee of another of my Qualities I hate lying above all things in the World pray avoid that Cau. Well Seeing that you are not willing that I should clear my self from the vile Aspersion of Covetousness I shall desist Sir Geo. From what Do you not now appear in the Person of an Informer and are you ignorant that the more you are aspersed the better you are qualified for that Office Cau. I perceive Sir you are very well qualified to lose all you have rather than receive a little seasonable Information And so Adieu Going out Sir Geo. pulls him back Sir Geo. Nay remember Sir since I perceive you begin to avoid the Superfluities and Excressencies of Speech I must hear what you have to say Cau. Then you must give me Money in the first Place and an Oath of Secrecy not to discover your Author in the Second Sir Geo. This is short pithy and to the purpose Here is Mony in the first place And my Promise not to discover you in the Second Cau. Then the Business in short is this Your Son has propos'd a Question to be resolv'd by the Fathers Whether he may not lawfully knock you on the Head 1. As a useless Person 2. A peevish and cross-grain'd And 3. an obstinate Heretick And now I can tell you more Tho' I hate Covetousness if you would give me more Money Sir Geo. What give thee Money for a notorious and impudent Forgery My Son knows me to be so far from being useless that I do all Business for him and Eat Drink Dance Wench for my self into the bargain I am so far from beeing peevish that I can forbear breaking your Head notwithstanding this intolerable Provocation And as for being an obstinate Heretick 't is most notoriously false for I never did trouble my Head so much about Religion as to be one And now Sir I shall tell my Son of your Information for which he will undoubtedly reward you Cau. But did you not promise Secresy Sir Geo. Yes if you spoke Truth but I cannot conceal a Lie for that is another of my Qualities which I forgot to mention Cau. To confute you follow me and I will carry you to the very Place where you shall hear your Son propose that Question to my self and others your Resolution of it Sir Geo. Gramercy old Father now thou speakest to the purpose Do that and I shall be grateful Cau. That is you 'l give me a Gratification Sir Geo. Yes and a good One too Cau. That 's well For tho' I hate Covetousness yet I love a Gratification it shews Honesty Come follow me Sir Geo. I will Exeunt Scene 's Leucasia's Lodgings Leucasia and Betty Leu. Art sure the Story of the Coffee-House Encounter is true Betty 'T is the whole Discourse and Laughter of the Town Mr. Turnabout was one of the Managers Leu. Ha! ha ha Then I hope the poor Creature will be tir'd at last with their Folly if not with their Wickedness Enter Boy Boy Madam Mr. Turnabout is upon the Stairs and is very earnest for Admittance Leu. Let him come up He 's no dangerous Man Besides I want Diversion Exit Boy Betty Now good Madam Tease him Enter Turnabout Turn Lady your Servant You see now the force of Love and good Nature I am come to visit you notwithstanding the ill Character you gave of me to Father Politico Leu. I vow Sir you â—ondescend too much and make your Visits with too great an Equipage My Lodgings here are small and cannot receive your numerous Train of Pages Footmen and other Attendance The Street I live in is too narrow and will be encumbred with your Coach and Six so that you must not in prudence let your Visits be long for which I 'm exceeding sorry Turn Don't let that Madam grieve or concern you I come attended with one only Page his Name is Cupid he keeps close to me Day and Night and is extreamly watchful I hope your Ladyship will not turn him down among the Servants in the Hall but admit him a little nearer to your Bosom Leu. If you have a Cupid 't is certainly the oddest that ever was known He
Perfections should think of throwing away your self upon a Person that is never likely to make any Figure in the World Turn What 's that Ha! what 's that Turnabout comes out and stands listening behind her Chair Leu. I thought he had been the most likely of any He boasts much of his Friendship with Politico Bigot Cautious and others I thought he might have been one of the greatest Men in the Nation Count. Aye he may boast as long as he pleases but I can assure you he has little reason I know the Minds of the Fathers better than he does and I heard them say this very Morning that they never intended to do any thing for him Turn How 's that how damn'd Whore Aside Leu. What nothing at all Count. I beg your Pardon Madam something they may do perhaps get him to be a Serjeant in a Foot Regiment which they foresee will shortly be disbanded and then you may see him sent home with one Shoe on his Foot and a piece of another in his Snapsack Or if he had rather chuse Civil than Military they may make him Alderman of some Corporation where they fetch Straw and the Mayor thatches Leu. Ha ha ha is that all Turnabout takes hold of her Chair and pulls her backwards and giving her a box o' th Ear runs back into the Closet Turn O damn'd Whore come hither to spoil my Fortune Count. O Murther Murther I am come here to a Friend's House to be murthered Leu. No good Mrs. Counterfeit I hope there 's no hurt yet here Betty help her up Lifts her up Count. Was ever an Indignity of this gross nature put upon a Lady in her Friend's House Betty You must not Madam impute this to my Lady we have a Servant in the House the Fathers have caus'd to run mad by puzling his Head with Controversy and promising to make him Mayor of a regulated Corporation and whenever he hears talk of Mayor or Aldermen he is always ready to do Mischief Count. Well I protest he has disorder'd He ought to be punish'd severely for it Leu. Mad Men and Fools have Priviledges of farther extent than the greatest Princes we cannot be angry at them without becoming like unto them but I hope you 'l pass it by since you have not much harm Count. Well since it is so I must bear it But as I was saying before my dear Neighbour there is a Person of Quality lately fallen in love with you Well I 'le say no more but for Riches Beauty Wit Bravery and every thing that is charming perhaps all England has not his Fellow only he has one one fault for which I needs must hate him Leu. And perhaps that one fault will out-ballance all his other Vertues if you would recommend a Man to me let me know his Faults first and I will soon find out his Vertues after Men expose their Excellencies like rich Furniture to the Eyes of all Beholders when their Defects like Lumber is thrown into dark Corners where it is hard to find them Count. O but this is a fault exposed to the Eyes of the World and I am forbid by the Principles of my Religion to intercede for him Leu. It must needs then be some Filthiness that ought not to be named you had best let it alone and pass to some other Subject Count. No I protest I will not but I 'le tell you plainly what it is He is such an obstinate Heretick and such a Slave to his pretended Honour that rather than comply with some reasonable Demands he has quitted one of the most considerable Military Employments in the Army Leu. That is hard indeed Count. And the truth is he has brought that Mischief upon his own Head by affronting the famous Politico and Bigot he was always satyrical against them but they at length resolv'd to chastise him And does not your Ladiship now abhor him for this Leu. So far from that that I assure you I honour all those worthy Patriots that fall by the hands of those insatiable Canibals and I wish it lay in my Power to redress any part of his Lordship's Sufferings I perceive you mistake me for a Catholick I am of a contrary Perswasion Count. I protest I did not know it well then you are the only Person in the World that can relieve his Melancholy one glance of yours would turn his Night into Day He is in Town Incognito sighing always for you and repeating the sweet Name of Leucasia O dear Madam that you would but afford him the Consolation of a Visit Leu. I am always a Friend to the Resolute and Brave as far as it consists with the Rules of my Honour Pray what is his Name Count. Let his Name be conceal'd for the present when you come to know it you will be amaz'd Leu. That 's strange Then I presume he is asham'd of the Amour below him Count. Not so but there are particular Reasons for it but I protest Madam he is a Man of unbounded Wealth and Generosity here are some Jewels of his meer trifles in respect of his Riches which he desires you to accept of Leu. Sure his Lordship thinks me very Mercenary I am not used to receive such Offers Angry Betty Pray Madam accept of them I will give you a good Reason for it by the by Aside to Leu. Leu. Thou art very impertinent But for once I 'le take thy Counsel Aside to Betty Count. Nay dearest prethee be not angry he thought them Curiosities your Ladyship might affect Prethee be so kind as to accept of them Leu. Tho I am not ignorant that hereby I shall transgress the Rules of Decency yet because his Lordship is a Sufferer for the Cause I love and persecuted by the Persons I hate I can deny him nothing Pray let me see ' em Count. And you will permit him to tell you his Sufferings Leu. 'T is a thing too small to deny a Person of his worth She and Betty looking on the Jewels Count. This Plot of Politico's does take to Admiration Whispers Leu. the hour 5. Leu. Yes Count. Then my dearest Neighbour adieu She rises Now I shall move nimbly tho my Bones are sore bruised Aside But pray Neighbour let me see you sometimes at my House I have there a Set of as civil devout Gentlewomen as ever Europe bred But pray don't come at our hours of Prayer we have Prayers five times a day After that we take all Liberty imaginable Leu. I believe you Count. Your Servant sweet Lady Exit curtesying Leucasia calls Turnabout out of the Closet Leu. Laughing Here Mr. Turnabout Serjeant Mayor Alderman What are you why don't you slip out of your Hole for Joy to hear such good News from Mrs. Counterfeit Enter Turnabout Turn And methinks Madam you might run into yours for shame to receive Gifts from and promise Assignations to cashiered Lords and Barons Leu. Then I warrant you pretend to be jealous and with a design too of
Act of killing and 2. the Intention Now it is plain that the Immorality of Murther does not consist in meer killing for then every Executioner or Soldier would be guilty of Murther but it is the evil malicious intention of the mind that is all in all Now if Mr. Subtleman bear no malice to his Father but does that Work in a spirit of Love and Charity for the good of the Catholick Cause there can be no evil in it provided he gives all the Estate that accrues thereby to the Church to shew that therein he was not acted by a spirit of Covetousness Subt. What an unconscionable Fellow is this Could not one half serve his turn Aside 2 Cas My Brother speaks well but I must add this That as to kill a man yea a Parent with a charitable intention is certainly lawful so to kill an Heretick an inveterate obstinate Heretick is more than lawful it is highly meritorious They are condemn'd by the Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil and any man may be their Executioner 3 Cas What my Reverend Brethren have said in this Case is undoubtedly true but for the Gentleman's satisfaction I will prove the lawfulness of the Fact by an infallible Demonstration Suppose it thus Young Mr. Subtleman takes up an Hammer and knocks out the Brains of his aged Parent Quaere If this Action be in it self unlawful I answer No For if there be no unlawfulness in any part of this Action then there is none in the whole But there is no unlawfulness either in taking up the Hammer or lifting the Hammer or lâ—tting down the Hammer Ergo There is none in knocking out the old man's Brains Subt. This fellow is more Dunce than Villain Aside Big But what say you to the point Brother Cautious Cau. Why look ye Brethren ye have lefâ— me little to say but only this If there be any evil in such a Murther it consists in the Injury that is done to the murdered person and an Injury is some part of Injustice done to man against his will Volenti non fit injuria If therefore there could be a way found to send the Gentleman into another world with his own consent there could be no scruple in it 1 Cas Then the best way is to knock out 's Brains with 100 l. Bag. If he be a truly covetous man he can never think that money can do him any harm 2 Cas Or pour down his Throat a spoonful of melted Gold when he sleeps with his mouth open 3 Cas Or dispatch him with a good Dose of Quicksilver he must needs have a veneration for That it is the Mother of Gold and all other Metals Subt. What a pleasant Story this will be to tell the old man Aside Enter Sir George from the Closet with two Papers in his hand They all start and are amaz'd Sir Geo. Gentlemen I understand that I am a dying man and therefore I beseech ye all to be witnesses to my last Will and Testament Subt. My Father what cursed luck brought him hither If he o'r-heard our discourse he will think that I was in earnest Aside Sir Geo. Come pray Gentlemen be Witnesses to my Will 't is soon done and human life is uncertain Subt. My honoured Father what good Genius brought you hither Sir Geo. O thou best of Sons I am glad to see thee in so good company Goes to salute them they are sneaking away Nay pray Gentlemen stay I have strange presages of my Death and fear it will be sudden I have given 40 s. to my only Son So much Vertue should not go unrewarded The rest of my Estate shall be given to my virtuous Niece Leucasia Pray stay and seal presently for I have a great many Money-bags and do often sleep with my mouth open 1 Cas Sir we cannot stay 2 Cas Sir you must excuse us we have business 3 Cas Here are witnesses enough beside us Farewell Exeunt Bigot is going out but is stopt by Sir Geo. Sir Geo. Nay Sir you shall stay and be witness with my Son to a Bond. A Candle here A Candle brought the Bond seal'd and given to Cautious Subt. But pray Sir hear me Sir Geo. Good Son avoid impertinenciâ—s What needst thou speak when the thing is done Subt. But one word Sir Geo. There is never a word in the world that can make to thy purpose I heard enough Subt. But Sir you are mistaken in me Sir Geo. But Son you are mistaken in me I know how to keep out of your Clutches Subt. But by all that 's good and sacred Sir Geo. That is by just nothing How canst thou think any thing good or sacred that couldst design and contrive the Death of a Parent Subt. You cannot think so Sir Geo. Yes Son I can must and will think so Big But pray Sir consider his motive was Zeal pure flaming Zeal I say you should excuse it Cau. Mr. Subtleman I am sorry for your misfortune but cannot relieve you Sir Geo. I wish you much joy of living by your Wits Exeunt all but young Subt. Cau. drops a Paper Subt. Hell Death and Confusion What a damn'd Praemunire have these Rogues Priests and Casuists brought me into I am betray'd else it is impossible my Father should be in Leucasia's Closet But the Traytor I know not But stay here 's a Paper I 'll read it Takes up the Paper and reads The Condition of this Obligation is such That if the above-bounden Sir George Subtleman Knight and Baronet do pay or cause to be paid to Robert Cautious c. the Sum of 1000 l. in consideration of the discovery of his Son's Villany c. Then this Obligation c. So then 't is out The revengeful covetous Dog Cautious has done me this Injury tho contrary to his Oath But by heavens I shall make him and his Punk in man's Cloaths pay dearly for it And yet it is no wonder for He that a Secret to a Priest does trust Or is so foolish as to hoâ—e him Just May he become Partaker of my Fate And see his Error when it is too late Exit ACT. IV. SCEN. I. Enter Cautious Jon. Simper crying and Servant to Leucasia Cau. to Serv. IF your Lady be at leisure present her with this Paper from her Unkle Sir George Subtleman and tell her I have a farther message by word of mouth Serv. My Lady will wait upon you presently Exit Cau. Nay it is vain to cry for part we must Young Subtleman knows your Sex and will divulge that secret as confidently as Grubstreet-News and as speedily as a false Alarm Jon. And can you be so cruel as to thrust me from you who have been so faithful Did you not often tell me That simple Fornication was no Sin and sometimes a Duty Did not you cite many of your most famous Authors to prove that it was an Act of Charity pure and flaming Charity to relieve the natural Necessities of a languishing Brother excluded from the
Turn No by heavens I would not Good Madam tell me When where and how I shall serve you you shall see with what zeal I 'll do it Leu. You must retire immediately into this Closet and not stir till the Signal be given This is the least Penance I can impose for your Jealousie and other high misdemeanors and I suppose herein I am not so rigid as the Fathers Turn Fy Fy Good Madam tell me no more of the Fathers they are meer Babies and Children I care no more for the Fathers than I do for the Indian Bramines or Tuâ—kish Mufâ—â— unless it be for my own ends for tho that Beldame Counterfeit was pleas'd to give your Ladiship an account that they inâ—â—nded to fool me yet I can assure you I find as great encouragement as any New Convert of 'em all Leu. I will tell thy true Character Thy Love makes thee greedy of Estate and Honour and the greediness of Estate and Honour make thee love so much the more eagerly now to cure this vicious circulation of humours I will first make thee weary of poaching after the Fathers by rendring thee odious to them and then as for Love you know the last remedy for that Turn Phu phu Politico is so much my Friend thou canst never render me odious to him Leu. Yes I will in the space of half an hour Turn 'T is not an Age and a half can do it Will you venture your Maidenhead upon that Bett Leu. Yes I wou'd if you had one to stake against it Turn Prethee what dost talk of one I have had an hundred in my time Leu. Ay but they are now all vanish'd and become as invisible as your 20 Mannors Turn That 's true indeed But to be serious if you have a mind to convert me you may find a nearer way it is but taking me to your self for ever and then I will soon bid adieu to all the Gang of pedantical Fathers Leu. But my resolution is to make thee weary of that Society without making use of that dangerous Matrimonial Remedy And if I do it not then say my wit has fail'd me Turn And if you do redeem me from that Gang without paying your self for my Ransom then say that I am not Master of Wit Resolution Common Sense or Reason Enter Betty Betty Madam here 's a Person of Quality at the door in a Coach Leu. That 's the man bid him come up Now Mr. Turnabout if you mean ever to purchase my Love by using him very scurvily retire into the next Room and stir not unless he offer force or I give the signal Turn Let me alone for that Goes into the Closet Leu. Now this fool Politico will think that I don't know him in his disguise but heaven be prais'd I am ready for his reception Enter Politico in a very rich Commander's Habit. Pol. Madam I 'm come to throw my self at your feet for pardon I presume Mrs. Counterfeit has acquainted you with my Person and Character Leu. My Lord if your intentions are not criminal it is superfluous to ask a Pardon Besides the Character I received of your Person and the account of your Sufferings in so good a Cause place you above all formalities of that nature I have rather reason to admire at your Lordship's condescension to one so much your Inferior in Quality and Honour Pol. I must confess none ever served the Protestant Cause with greater Zeal and Integrity and this drew upon me the envy of Politico Bigot and others which occasion'd my removal from Court but still my very Ruins are above the pity of the very best of them and it lies in your Ladiships Power to build up the highest degree of human felicity Leu. My Lord I can never enough reflect upon the baseness and ingratitude of those Priests towards your Lordship and other worthy Patriots but I am fill'd with horror and amazement that a Person of your Worth Courage Conduct and Fidelity should be undermin'd by such a raskally Crew of fantastical Priests as Politico Bigot Cautious and Mackdonnel a Gang of whimsical nonsensical Blockheads that look as odly in the Court as a Skull in the Presence-Chamber whose whole skill lies in Books and that too no farther than Title-pages and perhaps if some special Roguery does require it they may proceed to the Index and so begin that as they do all other things at the wrong end And Pol. Nay good Lady proceed no farther I forgive my Enemies and you know my business here is Love and not Revenge Now must I hear my-self rail'd at and say nothing Aside Leu. My Lord I cannot but admire your Generosity in forgiving your Enemies but I will take the liberty to tell you that They and especially Politico are of all things my aversion Pol. But yet I hope you will grant that Politico is the very best the top and flower of them all Leu. I vow my Lord I am of a quite contrary Opinion for first as to his person Pol. Nay good Lady let his Person alone it will never hurt you Leu. I will assure you the remembrance of his Person does hurt me this very moment it was such a filthy spectacle Spits His Meen and Air so affectedly odd and boyish his Eyes Lustful and if I may say it Goatish his Hands clumsie his Head lumpish nothing good but his Voice which did a little resemble with your Lordships and make an attonement for his other Enormities Sure this will sting him Aside Pol. Come Madam be not so Satyrical upon the famous Politico tho my Enemy the Habit of an Order does oftentimes disfigure a most excellent Shape and Meen but be that what it will you must needs grant Politico to be the greatest States-man in the World and a man of the finest Contrivance in Europe All his Enemies confess him to be a wise man Leu. I know he esteems himself so but the world has a different Opinion of him Would a wise man throw off such a worthy gallant Gentleman as your self that are steddy by a Principle of Duty to make room for mercenary Slaves that know no higher Equity than Interest Would a wise man encourage Lying Dissimulation and Hypocrisy in others when he knows not how soon they may make use of the same Arts to his own Distruction Would a wise Man punish or deride others for their Constancy Loyalty and Fidelity to secure a Government which needs must perish without them Do you think I say my Lord all this to be the part of a wise Man Pol. Good Lady talk no more of Politico my business is Love Leu. And how can I more effectually express my Love to your Person and Merits than by railing at those Enemies of yours that have â—ast such a Cloud upon them Good my Lord join with me in a few innocent Curses against Father Politico and all his Gang that have done you this insupportable Injury Pol. Pray Madam excuse me from Cursing I