and Beauty were ordain'd to do:--this Place is private,
a sacred Silence reigns here, and no one dares to pry into the Secrets
of this Holy Place: We are as secure from Fears and Interruption, as in
Desarts uninhabited, or Caves forsaken by wild Beasts. The Tapers too
shall veil their Lights, and only that glimmering Lamp shall be Witness
of our dear Stealths of Love--Come to my Arms, my trembling, longing
Arms; and curse the Folly of thy Bigotry, that has made thee so long
lose a Blessing, for which so many Princes sigh in vain.'

At these Words she rose from his Feet, and snatching him in her Arms, he
could not defend himself from receiving a thousand Kisses from the
lovely Mouth of the charming Wanton; after which, she ran herself, and
in an Instant put out the Candles. But he cry'd to her, 'In vain, O too
indiscreet Fair One, in vain you put out the Light; for Heaven still has
Eyes, and will look down upon my broken Vows. I own your Power, I own I
have all the Sense in the World of your charming Touches; I am frail
Flesh and Blood, but--yet--yet I can resist; and I prefer my Vows to all
your powerful Temptations.--I will be deaf and blind, and guard my Heart
with Walls of Ice, and make you know, that when the Flames of true
Devotion are kindled in a Heart, it puts out all other Fires; which are
as ineffectual, as Candles lighted in the Face of the Sun.--Go, vain
Wanton, and repent, and mortify that Blood which has so shamefully
betray'd thee, and which will one Day ruin both thy Soul and Body.'--

At these Words _Miranda_, more enrag'd, the nearer she imagin'd her self
to Happiness, made no Reply; but throwing her self, in that Instant,
into the Confessing-Chair, and violently pulling the young Friar into
her Lap, she elevated her Voice to such a Degree, in crying out, _Help,
Help! A Rape! Help, Help!_ that she was heard all over the Church, which
was full of People at the Evening's Devotion; who flock'd about the Door
of the _Sacristy_, which was shut with a Spring-Lock on the Inside, but
they durst not open the Door.

'Tis easily to be imagin'd, in what Condition our young Friar was, at
this last devilish Stratagem of his wicked Mistress. He strove to break
from those Arms that held him so fast; and his Bustling to get away, and
her's to retain him, disorder'd her Hair and Habit to such a Degree, as
gave the more Credit to her false Accusation.

The Fathers had a Door on the other Side, by which they usually en