your religion: go back to your chamber; go back, I say, and
consider of it for this night, as I will do on my part: I will be true
to you, and invent all the arguments I can to comply with you; and who
knows but at our next meeting the sweet devil may have more power over
me? I am true flesh and blood, I can tell you that for your comfort.

_Joh._ Flesh without blood, I think thou art; or, if any, it is as
cold as that of fishes. But I'll teach thee, to thy cost, what
vengeance is in store for refusing a lady who has offered thee her
love.--Help, help, there! will nobody come to my assistance?

_Ant._ What do you mean, madam? for heaven's sake, peace; your husband
will hear you; think of your own danger, if you will not think of
mine.

_Joh._ Ungrateful wretch, thou deservest no pity!--Help, help,
husband, or I shall be ravished! the villain will be too strong for
me! Help, help, for pity of a poor distressed creature!

_Ant._ Then I have nothing but impudence to assist me: I must drown
her clamour, whatever comes on't. [_He takes out his Flute, and plays
as loud as he can possibly, and
she continues crying out._

_Enter the_ MUFTI, _in his Night-gown, and two Servants._

_Muf._ O thou villain, what horrible impiety art thou committing!
what, ravishing the wife of my bosom!--Take him away; ganch him[5],
impale him, rid the world of such a monster! [_Servants seize him._

_Ant._ Mercy, dear master, mercy! hear me first, and after, if I have
deserved hanging, spare me not. What have you seen to provoke you to
this cruelty?

_Muf._ I have heard the outcries of my wife; the bleatings of the poor
innocent lamb.--Seen nothing, sayst thou? If I see the lamb lie
bleeding, and the butcher by her with his knife drawn, and bloody, is
not that evidence sufficient of the murder? I come too late, and the
execution is already done.

_Ant._ Pray think in reason, sir; is a man to be put to death for a
similitude? No violence has been committed; none intended; the lamb's
alive: and, if I durst tell you so, no more a lamb than I am a
butcher.

_Joh._ How's that, villain, dar'st thou accuse me?

_Ant._ Be patient, madam, and speak but truth, and I'll do any thing
to serve you: I say again, and swear it too, I'll do any thing to
serve you. [_Aside._

_Joh._ [_Aside._] I understand him; but I fear it