Wild. Cease, lovely Charmer, cease to wound me more.
L. Gal. Shall I survive this Shame? No, if I do,
Eternal Blushes dwell upon my Cheeks,
To tell the World my Crime.
—Mischief and Hell, what Devil did possess me?
Wild. It was no Devil, but a Deity;
A little gay wing’d God, harmless and innocent,
Young as Desire, wanton as Summer-breezes,
Soft as thy Smiles, resistless as thy Eyes.
L. Gal. Ah, what malicious God,
Sworn Enemy to feeble Womankind,
Taught thee the Art of Conquest with thy Tongue?
Thy false deluding Eyes were surely made
Of Stars that rule our Sex’s Destiny:
And all thy Charms were by Inchantment wrought,
That first undo the heedless Gazers on,
Then shew their natural Deformity.
Wild. Ah, my Galliard, am I grown ugly then? Has my increase of Passion lessen’d yours? [In a soft Tone.
L. Gal. Peace, Tempter, Peace, who artfully betrayest me,
And then upbraidest the Wretchedness thou’st made.
—Ah, Fool, eternal Fool! to know my Danger,
Yet venture on so evident a Ruin.
Wild. Say,—what one Grace is faded?
Is not thy Face as fair, thy Eyes as killing?
By Heaven, much more! This charming change of Looks
Raises my Flame, and makes me wish t’invoke
The harmless God again.
[Embraces her.
L. Gal. By Heaven, not all thy Art
Shall draw me to the tempting Sin again.
Wild. Oh, I must, or die.
L. Gal. By all the Powers, by—