The Poor Dejected Wretch, that look’d each moment to be stuck to th’ Floor, resolving now to venture on the Goldsmith’s Clemency, came trembling out from underneath the Bed, & begg’d of him to save his Life, and he wou’d tell him all that e’er he knew. Don’t tell me, says the Goldsmith of what you know, but tell me what Satisfaction shall I have for the wrong you’ve done me, to come thus to defile my Bed? Indeed, said he, I did it never but once before. How! says the Goldsmith, have you lain with my Wife before? Yes, if it please you, once, and never but once.  With that his Wife with open mouth came to him, O Villain, said she, art not thou asham’d thus falsly to accuse me to my Husband, because thy own base wicked inclinations are now brought to light?  Hast thou not been soliciting of me to act Uncleanness with thee, a long time, and I refus’d it always?  Nay, didst thou not intice me to it Yesterday, and I appointed thee to come to Night, because I knew my Husband wou’d be at home to give thee thy Reward?  Let the Maid speak, I won’t be my own Judge—­Yes, Sir, reply’d the Maid, I know that what my Mistress says is true—­

The Goldsmith then seeming to look more wistly at him, What, Mr. Bramble__ says he, as if he’d been surpriz’d:  Is’t you that did intend to claw me off thus?  And then to mend the matter, go to accuse my Wife too, as if she had been Dishonest with you; when I am satisfied there e’nt an honester Woman in the Kingdom.  Why to be plain with ye, ’tis she that has discover’d all your Roguery:  As soon as he heard that, lifting up his Hands and Eyes, O the Deceit, said he, that is in Women! Pray give me leave to put my Cloaths on, and then hear me what I have to say—­No, says the Goldsmith, I’ll not part with these Cloaths; but yet I’ll lend you something to cover your Nakedness with all; and then bid the Maid to reach him an old Suit of his.  Which having put on, Now, says he, give me but leave to speak, and I will tell you how false that Woman is:  Come, said the Goldsmith, let’s hear what you have to say.  Upon which Bramble thus began.

I must confess my Fault; I do acknowledge I did oft-times solicite your Wife to let me lie with her, and I must do her that Justice to tell you that she still refus’d it; until at last I borrow’d fifty Guineas of you on a Ring, and that I gave her, and she thereupon permitted me to lie with her.  And I ne’er thought of Lying with her more, until she sent for me yesterday morning; and told me how much she lov’d me, and that you were to come home on Friday-night, and she wou’d have me Lie with her on Thursday night; and that to let me know how well she lik’d me, she wou’d return me back again the fifty Guineas that I gave her, and also give me back the Ring I pawn’d to you for fifty Guineas.  And that was the Occasion of my coming here to Night.