as little a wife, and as much a
mistress to you, as is possible: I'll be sure to be always pleasant,
and never suffer you to be cloyed.

_Aur._ You are certainly in the right: Pleasantness of humour makes a
wife last in the sweetmeat, when it will no longer in the fruit. But,
pray, let's make haste to the next honest priest that can say grace to
us, and take our appetites while they are coming.

_Cam._ That way leads to the Austin-Friars; there lives a father of my
acquaintance.

_Lau._ I have heard of him; he has a mighty stroke at matrimonies, and
mumbles them over as fast, as if he were teaching us to forget them
all the while.

_Enter_ BENITO, _and overhears the last speech._

_Ben._ _Cappari_; that is the voice of madam Laura. Now, Benito, is
the time to repair the lost honour of thy wit, and to blot out the
last adventure of the nunnery.

_Vio._ That way I hear company; let us go about by this other street,
and shun them.

_Ben._ That voice I know too; 'tis the younger sister's, Violetta's,
Now have these two most treacherously conveyed themselves out of the
nunnery, for my master and Camillo, and given up their persons to
those lewd rascals in masquerade; but I'll prevent them. Help there!
thieves and ravishers! villainous maskers! stop, robbers! stop,
ravishers!

_Cam._ We are pursued that way, let's take this street.

_Lau._ Save yourselves, and leave us.

_Cam._ We'll rather die, than leave you.

_Enter, at several doors, Duke of_ MANTUA _and Guards, and Don_
MARIO _and Servants, with Torches._

_Aur._ So, now the way is shut up on both sides. We'll die merrily,
however:--have at the fairest.
[AURELIAN _and_ CAMILLO _fall upon the Duke's
Guards, and are seized behind by_ MARIO'S
_Servants. At the drawing of Swords,_ BENITO
_runs off._

_Duke._ Are these insolencies usually committed in Rome by night? It
has the fame of a well-governed city; and methinks, Don Mario, it does
somewhat reflect on you to suffer these disorders.

_Mar._ They are not to be hindered in the Carnival: You see, sir, they
have assumed the privilege of maskers.

_Lau._ [_To_ AUR.] If my uncle know us, we are ruined; therefore be
sure you do not speak.

_Duke._ How then can we be satisfied this was not a device of masking,
rather than a design of ravishing?

_Mar._ Their accuser is fled, I saw him run at the