4
Cutter of Coleman-street.
Enter Servant.
Serv.'Tis well the old man's just gone. There's a Gentlewoman without, Sir, desires to speak one word with you.
Trum. Jun.With me? who is't?
Serv.It should be Mrs. Lucia by her voice, Sir, but she's veil'd all over. Will you please to see her, Sir?
Trum.Will I see her, Blockhead? yes; go out and kneel to her(Exit Serv.)And pray her to come in.
Scene 3.
Lucia (veil'd) Truman.
Trum.This is a favour, Madam!That I as little hop'd, as I am ableTo thank you for it——— But why all this muffling?Why a disguise, my Dearest, between us?Unless to increase, my desire first, and then my joy to see theeThou cast this subtil night before thy beauty.And now like one scorch'd with some raging Feaver,Upon whose flames no dew of sleep has faln,I do begin to quarrel with the Darkness,And blame the sloathful rising of the Morn,And with more joy shall welcome it, than theyWhose Icy dwellings the cold Bear o're-looks,When after half the years Winter and Night,Day and the Spring at once salutes their sight!Thus it appears, thus like thy matchless beauty, offers to pull off the Veil. When this black Clowd is vanish'd.Why d'e you shrink back, my Dearest?I prethee let me look a little on thee:'Tis all the pleasure Love has yet allow'd me,And more than Nature does in all things else.At least speak to me; well may I call it NightWhen Silence too thus joyns it self with Darkness.Ha! I had quite forgot the cursed Oath I made———Pish! what's an Oath forc'd from a Lovers Tongue?'Tis not recorded in Heaven's dreadful book,
But
