LUCILLA

To a whore? The strumpet Fa rina? Her father: yes: A rotten Magistrate, who may thank warm clothes, Caudels and physic for each rising Sun, Which he poor man is made partaker of, His daughter must be married to the King: So, I, degraded must acknowledge one Above us in our female properties, Be boundless my exclaims, and terrible; (Curses) assemble your offensive rage, And help a woman's fury to disgorge The poison of her stomach, in the face Of a most spiteful brother, whose design Is unto me a purge so laxative, As my unable body will be spent With bitter execrations; o I feel The storm of vengeance wrestle in my blood, Tempting my soul to be more great then good. Oh may the horror of some fatal knife, Finish the blessings of my brother's wife. May she live loathed, or never may she live, Till heavens unto my happiness shall give A freedom, to insult and tyrannise, Upon that impious whore, that Cockatrize. Oh may new mischief tread upon the heals Of terror, to affront the joy she feels. Let some infernal Necromantic charm, Change their expected happiness to harm. Let many clouds salute their nuptial morn, With omenons affrights in way of scorn. The height of mischief makes my sorrow found, As Open -balsum does a bleeding wound. What of women? Rail at our sex? why husband, though perhaps Such women do survive, what will you hence Conclude within their gilded, my innocence? Virtue (although the others opposite) Is painted with the Like habiliment, Therefore conclude, if tender womanhood Take any full impression of deceit, Virtue, or vice, of either strong belief. Or colourable incredulity; To change her mind will ask another age. You may convert belief, you may revoke Errors of wisemen, by a deep dispute, But women settled, nothing will confute. For painters do imply this consequent By emblem; that our sex is permanent. What magic may this motion ocular Of lips, without all utterance portend? Just. The Madam Favorina does usurp My endue respect. Oh man assist our weakness, we'll enforce The potent succour of religious fate; Conjure by solemn oath, deep secrecy So crown the vigor of conspiracy. I am inflamed already: Oh ambition Be but auspicious; mount my nimble breath And win the Gods good liking to command Of earth and heaven a hopeful furtherance: Swell heart, and with it swell my bravest blood, Suggest new motives deer necessity, Resolve now for a lucky plot betimes. Yes, and the new Queen perish. The banquet shall obey my providence. Then presuppose your project well do thrive, What recompense may expect, Chie e captain of the guard; whose instant blow Gives and advantage so peculiar? Resolve the manner, be emphatical. My husband, my deer husband is betrayed, Another's death makes guilty men afraid. O-then or never And honest, loving wife is jealous ever. Jealous at home, least husbands ouer-vex A painful heart with meditation, Of matters which concern his family. Jealous when husbands be enforced to travel; Danger exceeds the objects they do me , Whither by sea, or in the public street. I (peevish fool) perceiving you were gone, Thus in my choler did expostulate Does he for some dislike abhor my sheets? Neglect what others love? the maiden sweets Of mutual embracement? may men's taste Lose their accustomed relish and refuse The mellow joys of ripe virginity? Will he contemn the sportive dallia ce That married couples may engross with leave? Will he this midnight show himself no man? The first night of our meeting be disgraced? Or will he by disaster end all strife? Perish? and so prevent a formal tax That may impeach his manhood? Thus, even thus Poor foolish I did thus prevaricate; Thus (for indeed we women struggle much Until delivered of opinion) thus Did loving zeal prejudicate amiss. You are offended (love) I do suspect See how his colour's changed, astonishment! Prithee what pensive thoughts oppress thy soul? I read the humour of a malcontent Written between your eyebrows; recollect The common sparks of scattered Majesty. Speak gentle sir. Ah husband, husband, what excessive care Invaded me with violence? shot far Into my shaking bosom, when I saw Your sudden absence? heavy sleep alas No sooner left mine eyelids, gave me leave To ask, how does the comfort of my soul? How does my silent love? my deer Phe dip? But with familiar lip, and flexile arm, I seized upon the pillow instead of thee. Think how intruding jealously began To blur whatever I could wisdom call, Within me, or without me; which alas, All know's extremely dwa ffish in out sex.