Gill. Reads.] Whereas there pass’d [an Act, June 24th], against Fornication and Adultery, to the great detriment of most of the young Ladies, Gentlewomen, and Commonalty of England, and to the utter decay of many whole Families, especially when married to old Men; your Petitioners most humbly beg your Honours will take this great Grievance into mature Consideration, and the said Act may be repealed.
—A Blessing on ’em, they shall have my Hand too.
L. Lam. We acknowledge, there are many Grievances in that Act; but there are many Conveniences too, for it ties up the villanous Tongues of Men from boasting our Favours.
Crom. But as it lays a Scandal on Society—tis troublesome, Society being the very Life of a Republick—[Peters the first, and Martin the second].
Lov. But in a Free-State, why shou’d we not be free?
L. Des. Why not? we stand for the Liberty and Property of our Sex, and will present it to the Committee of Safety.
Lov. Secondly, we desire the Heroicks, vulgarly call’d the Malignant, may not be look’d on as Monsters, for assuredly they are Men; and that it may not be charg’d to us as a Crime to keep ’em company, for they are honest Men.
2 Lady. And some of ’em Men that will stand to their Principles.
L. Lam. Is there no other honest Men that will do as well?
3 Lady. Good Men are scarce.
L. Lam. They’re all for Heroicks, sure ’tis the mode to love ’em—I cannot blame ’em. [Aside.