Prince. No more;—Thou hast increas’d my Value for thee.—Oh! take my Heart, and see how’t has been us’d by a fair Charmer, since I saw thee last—That sullen day we parted, you for England, you may remember I design’d for Flanders.
Geo. I do, with Melancholy, Sir, remember it.
Prince. Arriv’d at Ghent, I went to see an English Nun initiated, where I beheld the pretty Innocent, deliver’d up a Victim to foolish Chastity; but among the Relations, then attending the Sacrifice, was a fair Sister of the young Votress, but so surpassing all I’ad seen before, that I neglecting the dull holy Business, paid my Devotion to that kneeling Saint.
Geo. That was the nearest way to Heaven, my Lord.
Prince. Her Face, that had a thousand Charms of Youth, was heighten’d with an Air of Languishment; a lovely Sorrow dwelt upon her Eyes, that taught my new-born-Passion Awe and Reverence.
Geo. This Description of her fires me.— Aside.
Prince. Her dimpl’d Mouth, her Neck, her Hand, her Hair, a Majesty and Grace in every Motion, compleated my Undoing; I rav’d, I burnt, I languish’d with Desire, the holy Place cou’d scarce contain my Madness: with Pain, with Torture, I restrain’d my Passion when she retir’d, led sadly from the Altar. I, mixing with the Croud, enquir’d her Name and Country; her Servant told me, that she was of Quality, and liv’d in England, nay, in this very Town: this gave me Anguish not to be conceiv’d, till I resolv’d to follow her, which is the cause you find me here so soon. Thy Aid, thy Aid, Lejere, or I am lost.
Geo. I wish to live no longer than to serve your Highness: if she be, Sir, a Maid of Quality, I shall soon find her out, and then you’ll easily conquer. You’ve all the Youth, and Beauty, that can charm; and what gains most upon a Woman’s Heart, you’ve a powerful Title, Sir,[ a ]sort of Philter, that ne’er fails to win. But you’ve not told me yet the Lady’s Name.
Prince. I had forgot that;—’Tis in these [Tablets written]: Gives him the Tablets.
I’m now in haste, going to receive some Bills: I lodge at Welborn’s, who came over with me, being sent for to be marry’d.