Mar. A too forward Maid, Cornelia, hurts her own Fame, and that of all her Sex.
Cor. Her Sex! a pretty consideration, by my Youth; an Oath I shall not violate this dozen years: my Sex shou’d excuse me, if to preserve their Fame they expected I should ruin my own Quiet; in chasing an ill-favour’d Husband, such as Octavio, before a young handsome Lover, such as you say Fillamour is.
Mar. I wou’d fain persuade my self to be of thy mind,—but the World, Cornelia—
Cor. Hang the malicious World—
Mar. And there’s such Charms in Wealth and Honour too.
Cor. None half so powerful as Love, in my opinion; ‘slife, Sister, thou art beautiful, and hast a Fortune too, which before I wou’d lay out upon so shameful a purchase as such a Bedfellow for life as Octavio, I wou’d turn errant keeping Curtezan, and buy my better Fortune.
Mar. That Word too startles me.
Cor. What, Curtezan! why, ‘tis a noble Title, and has more Votaries than Religion; there’s no Merchandize like ours, that of Love, my Sister:—and can you be frighted with the Vizor, which you your self put on?
Mar. ‘Twas the only Disguise that cou’d secure us from the search of my Uncle and Octavio. Our Brother Julio is by this too arriv’d, and I know they’ll all be diligent,—and some Honour I was content to sacrifice to my eternal Repose.
Cor. Spoke like my Sister! a little impertinent Honour, we may chance to lose, ‘tis true; but our down-right Honesty I perceive you are resolv’d we shall maintain through all the dangers of Love and Gallantry; though to say truth, I find enough to do, to defend my Heart against some of those Members that nightly serenade us, and daily show themselves before our Window, gay as young Bridegrooms, and as full of expectation.