Sebast.Sure you are
Turn’d Coward, or you ne’re wou’d glory in
Revenge so base, this doubles all your sin.
Gerardo’s brave, and sure all Honour bleeds,
When such are Wounded by Ignoble deeds.
It is the Curse of Man, that he must be
Subject to shame by Womens Levity;
But hold, I wrong Eugenia, if I blame
Her, and not you alone, for all her shame.
You Rob’d her of her Chastity by force,
Though fear of shame still kept her from Remorse.
Fran. Pish! Force! That was her policy to you,
She did no more then what all Women do,
Seem to resist what they do most desire,
To raise the flame, yet seem to cool the fire;
Believe this Truth, Sebastian, Women can
Resist it, and perform it more then Man.
Sebast. Thus like the Devils we at first betray
Their Innocence, then blame on them we lay;
As if their guilt cou’d have another cause
Then that which it from our Temptation draws.
Fran. Let it be so, I’le not dispute it now;
It grows too near the time that I should go,
And though my Actions do so much offend,
I will not doubt to find another Friend.
Sebast. Do you so little prize Eugenia’s Fame,
That you can suffer more to know her shame?
Fran. Sebastian, you mistake, I do not go
This Night on the same terms I us’d to do.
No, ’tis to take my leave, for she does vow
In spight of fear she is turn’d vertuous now.
Sebast. Nay, then I’le go my self, happen what will,
For it is only dang’rous to do ill;
My Company her Vertue may protect,
And I should sin, if that I did neglect.
Fran. That shall not need, for I’m resolv’d to speak
Nothing that may her Resolution break.
Sebast. Go boldly then, for in a cause so good
He’s more then Coward fears to shed his Blood;
And though I think Antonio would be glad
That he our Lives at such advantage had;
Yet I this Night durst boldly meet him there,
Since in my Breast such Innocence I wear;
By this security I plainly feel
’Tis guilt that wounds us deeper far then steel.
[Exeunt.