Upon my soul, madam, said the young gentleman, persons of his condition often do worse.
I don't deny it, sir, said Arabella; and the design he meditated of carrying me away was infinitely worse.
Really, madam, returned the gentleman, if you are such a person as I apprehend, I don't see how he durst make such an attempt.
It is very possible, sir, said she, that I might be carried away, though I was of greater quality than I am: were not Mandana, Candace, Clelia, and many other ladies who underwent the same fate, of a quality more illustrious than mine?
Really, madam, said he, I know none of these ladies.
No, sir! said Arabella, extremely mortified.
Let me entreat you, cousin, interrupted Glanville (who feared this conversation would be very tedious), to expose yourself no longer to the air at this time of night: suffer me to conduct you home.
It concerns my honour, said she, that this generous stranger should not think I am the only one that was ever exposed to these insolent attempts. You say, sir, pursued she, that you don't know any of these ladies I mentioned before: let me ask you, then, if you are acquainted with Parthenissa, or Cleopatra, who were both for some months in the hands of their ravishers?
As for Parthenissa, madam, said he, neither have I heard of her: nor do I remember to have heard of any more than one Cleopatra: but she was never ravished, I am certain; for she was too willing.
How! sir, said Arabella: was Cleopatra ever willing to run away with her ravisher?