against Sempronius, (Richardo having formerly offer’d his Service to her, and Revenge being the common Consequence of a Disappointment with a Spaniard) lock’d him into a private Closet, which was no sooner done, but Richardo enter’d the Room with his Sword drawn, Amaryllis having but just Time to secure her Lover. Richardo demanded of Amaryllis the gay Sempronius as a Criminal, telling her he had committed a Rape on the Body of the virtuous Maria a Lady celebrated for Beauty, and to whom all Italy could not produce an Equal, the Officer ran about the Room, crying, “Justice, Justice, where is the Villain Sempronius." They search’d the Room very diligently, and not finding Sempronius at last Richardo address’d himself to Amaryllis in these Words:  “Madam, I hope you have more Virtue and Honour than to shelter a Criminal, especially where one of your most beautiful Sex is concern’d, and the greatest Innocence has been violated:  If you allow your House to to be a Sanctuary for Offenders of this Nature, Justice will require Satisfaction at your Door; you may your self expect the same Injury to your Person, and I am now prepar’d to shew a Resentment that will not be pleasing to Amaryllis, either comply with my Desires in producing the Criminal, or expect to fall my Victim.”  This Speech very much confounded Amaryllis; the Designs of Richardo she could not easily penetrate, whether against her self or Sempronius the Plot was laid, or whether it extended to both, she could not determine:  But at last she summon’d her Courage and her Reason, and with a look of Indignation peculiar to her Sex, she answer’d thus the malicious and designing Richardo:  “What Crimes Sempronius has been guilty of, is to me a Secret, but that Richardo deserves the Character now given of Sempronius is very obvious, and needs no Difficulty for me to affirm; your brutal Inclinations are not easily satisfied:  When you made your Addresses to me, your Designs were base and dishonourable; you more than once attempted with force to violate my Chastity, and for ought I know you are now come upon the same Errand:  What could make you approach me in this hostile manner, but to Ravish Amaryllis, or to Murder Sempronius, under a pretence of Justice?  But let the Event be what it will, I’ll not deliver up him who is dearer to me than Life, but dare a Villain to his worst.”  This heroick Speech made by Amaryllis dash’d Richardo for the present; but he being resolv’d to prosecute his Intentions (which indeed were both to Murder Sempronius and ravish Amaryllis, as she had guess’d) he advanc’d nearer to Amaryllis, and took her in his Arms, upon which she cry’d out with violence, whereupon Sempronius, who had heard every thing that had pass’d, open’d the Closet Door, and sallying out Sword in Hand to