MRS ART. I understand you, and I thank the heavens,
That sent you to revive me from this fear,
And I embrace my safety with good-will.
Enter AMINADAB with two or three BOYS.
AMIN. Mane citus lectum fuge, mollem discute somnum,
Templa petas supplex, et venerate deum.
Shake off thy sleep, get up betimes,
Go to the church and pray,
And, never fear, God will thee hear,
And keep thee all the day.
Good counsel, boys; observe it, mark it well;
This early rising, this diluculo
Is good both for your bodies and your minds:
'Tis not yet day; give me my tinder-box;
Meantime, unloose your satchels and your books:
Draw, draw, and take you to your lessons, boys.
1ST BOY. O Lord, master, what's that in the white sheet?
AMIN. In the white sheet, my boy? Dic ubi, where?
1ST BOY. Vide, master, vide illic, there.
AMIN. O, Domine, Domine, keep us from evil,
A charm from flesh, the world, and the devil!
[Exeunt.
MRS ART. O, tell me not my husband was ingrate,
Or that he did attempt to poison me,
Or that he laid me here, and I was dead;
These are no means at all to win my love.
ANS. Sweet mistress, he bequeath'd you to the earth;
You promis'd him to be his wife till death,
And you have kept your promise: but now, since
The world, your husband, and your friends suppose
That you are dead, grant me but one request,
And I will swear never to solicit more
Your sacred thoughts to my dishonest love.