Joh. [Aside.] I understand him; but I fear it is now too late to save him:—­Pray, hear him speak, husband; perhaps he may say something for himself; I know not.

Muf. Speak thou, has he not violated my bed, and thy honour?

Joh. I forgive him freely, for he has done nothing.  What he will do hereafter to make me satisfaction, himself best knows.

Ant. Any thing, any thing, sweet madam:  I shall refuse no drudgery.

Muf. But did he mean no mischief? was he endeavouring nothing?

Joh. In my conscience, I begin to doubt he did not.

Muf. It’s impossible:—­then what meant all those outcries?

Joh. I heard music in the garden, and at an unseasonable time of night; and I stole softly out of my bed, as imagining it might be he.

Muf. How’s that, Johayma? imagining it was he, and yet you went?

Joh. Why not, my lord? am not I the mistress of the family? and is it not my place to see good order kept in it?  I thought he might have allured some of the she-slaves to him, and was resolved to prevent what might have been betwixt him and them; when, on the sudden, he rushed out upon me, caught me in his arms with such a fury—­

Muf. I have heard enough.—­Away with him!

Joh. Mistaking me, no doubt, for one of his fellow-slaves:  with that, affrighted as I was, I discovered myself, and cried aloud; but as soon as ever he knew me, the villain let me go; and I must needs say, he started back as if I were some serpent; and was more afraid of me than I of him.

Muf. O thou corrupter of my family, that’s cause enough of death!—­once again, away with him.

Joh. What, for an intended trespass?  No harm has been done, whatever may be.  He cost you five hundred crowns, I take it.

Muf. Thou say’st true, a very considerable sum:  he shall not die, though he had committed folly with a slave; it is too much to lose by him.

Ant. My only fault has ever been to love playing in the dark; and the more she cried, the more I played, that it might be seen I intended nothing to her.

Muf. To your kennel, sirrah; mortify your flesh, and consider in whose family you are.

Joh. And one thing more,—­remember from henceforth to obey better.

Muf. [Aside.] For all her smoothness, I am not quite cured of my jealousy; but I have thought of a way that will clear my doubts.
                              [Exit MUF. with JOH. and Servants.

Ant. I am mortified sufficiently already, without the help of his ghostly counsel.  Fear of death has gone farther with me in two minutes, than my conscience would have gone in two months.  I find myself in a very dejected condition, all over me; poor sin lies dormant; concupiscence is retired to his winter-quarters; and if Morayma should now appear,—­I say no more; but, alas for her and me!
[MORAYMA comes out of the Arbour,
she steals behind him, and claps
him on the Back.