Sir Sig. Hah, a door open! I care not who it belongs to, ‘tis better dying within Doors like a Man, than in the Street like a Dog. [Going in, Tick. in great fear comes up and pulls him.
Tick. Signior, gentle Signior, whoe’er you are that owns this Mansion, I beseech you to give Protection to a wretched Man half dead with Fear and Injury.
Sir Sig. Nay, I defy the Devil to be more dead with Fear than I— Signior, you may enter, perhaps ‘tis some body that will make an Excuse for us both,—but hark, they return. [Both go in, just after Lau. and Sab. and Silvio enter.
Lau. He’s gone! he’s gone! perhaps for ever gone.—
Tell me, thou silly Manager of Love,
How got this Ruffian in? how was it possible
Without thy Knowledge he cou’d get Admittance?
Sab. Now as I hope to live and learn, I know not, Madam, unless he follow’d you when you let in the Cavalier, which being by dark he easily conceal’d himself; no doubt some Lover of Silvianetta’s, who mistaking you for her, took him too for a Rival.
Lau. ‘Tis likely, and my Fortune is to blame, my cursed Fortune,
Who like Misers deals her scanty Bounties with so slow a hand,
That or we die before the Blessing falls,
Or have it snatcht e’er we can call it ours.
[Raving.]
To have him in my House, to have him kind,
Kind as young Lovers when they meet by stealth;
As fond as Age to Beauty, and as soft
As Love and Wit cou’d make impatient Youth,
Preventing even my Wishes and Desires,
—Oh Gods! and then, even then to be defeated,
Then from my o’erjoy’d Arms to have him snatcht;
Then when our Vows had made our Freedom lawful;
What Maid cou’d suffer a Surprize so cruel?
—The Day begins to break,—go search the Streets,
And bring me news he’s safe, or I am lost.
Enter Gal. Fil. and Jul.
Fil. Galliard, where art thou?
Gal. Here safe, and by thy side.—
Lau. ‘Tis he!