And can discreetly love her! the whole world
Yields not a jewel like her, ransack rocks
And caves beneath the deep: O thou fair spring
Of honest and religious desires,

Fountain of weeping honour, I will kiss thee
After death's marble lip! thou'rt cold enough
To lie entomb'd now by my father's side,
Without offence in kindred; there I'll place thee
With one I lov'd the dearest next to thee;

Help me to mourn, all that love chastity.

[exit.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Enter VOTARIUS, with ANSELMUS's Lady.

Vot. Pray, forgive me, madam; come, thou shalt !
Wife. I'faith 'twas strangely done, sir.

Vot. I confess it.

Wife. Is that enough to help it, sir? 'tis easy

To draw a lady's honour in suspicion,

But not so soon recover'd and confirm'd

To the first faith again from whence you brought it:
Your wit was fetch'd out about other business,

Or such forgetfulness had never seiz❜d you.
Vot. 'Twas but an overflowing, a spring tide

In my affection, rais'd by too much love,

And that's the worst words you can give it, madam.
Wife. Jealous of me?

Vot. You'd 've sworn yourself, madam,

Had you been in my body, and chang'd cases,
To see a fellow with a guilty pace,

Glide through the room, his face three-quarters nighted,
As if a deed of darkness had hung on him.

Wife. I tell you twice, 'twas my bold woman's friend : Hell take her impudence.

Vot. Why, I have done, madam.

Wife. You've done too late, sir, who shall do the rest

now?

Confest me yielding ! was thy way too free?

Why, didst thou long to be restrain'd? pray speak, sir!
Vot. A man cannot cozen you of the sin of weakness,
Or borrow it of a woman for one hour,

But how he's wonder'd at! when search your lives,
We shall neʼer find it from you; we can suffer you
To play away your days in idleness,

And hide your imperfections with our loves,

Or the most part of you would appear strange creatures; And now tis but our chance to make an offer,

And snatch at folly running; yet to see,

How earnest you're against us, as if we'd robb'd you
Of the best gift your natural mother left

you.

Wife. 'Tis worth a kiss, i'faith, and thou shalt hav't, Were there not one more left for my lord's supper :

And now, sir, I've bethought myself.

Vot. That's happy!

Wife. You say we're weak, but the best wits of you all Are glad of our advice, for ought I see,

And hardly thrive without us.

Vot. I'll say so too,

To give you encouragement, and advance your virtues. 'Tis not good always to keep down a woman.

Wife. Well, sir, since you've begun to make my lord A doubtful man of me, keep on that course, And ply his faith still with that poor belief That I'm inclining unto wantonness; Take heed you pass no further now.

Vot. Why, do'st think

I'll be twice mad together in one moon?
That were too much for any freeman's son,
After his father's funeral.

Wife. Well then thus, sir.

Upholding still the same, as being embolden'd
By some loose glance of mine, you shall attempt,
After you've plac'd my lord in some near closet,
To thrust yourself into my chamber rudely,
As if the game went forward to your thinking,
Then leave the rest to me: I'll so reward thee
With bitterness of words, but, pr'ythee, pardon me,
My lord shall swear me into honesty

Enough to serve his mind all his life after;

Nay, for a need, I'll draw some rapier forth,

That shall come near my hand as 'twere by chance,

And set a lively face upon my rage;

But fear thou nothing, I too dearly love thee
To let harm touch thee.

Vot. O, it likes me rarely,

I'll chuse a precious time for it.

[exit Votarius.

Wife. Go thy ways, I'm glad I had it for thee.

Enter LEONELLA.

Leo. Madam, my lord entreats your company.

Wife. Psha, ye!

Leo. Psha, ye! My lord entreats your company.

Wife. What now?

Are ye so short heel'd.

Leo. I am as my betters are, then.

Wife. How came you by such impudence alate, minion? You're not content to entertain your play fellow

In your own chamber closely, which I think

Is large allowance for a lady's woman;

There's many a good man's daughter is in service,
And cannot get such favour of her mistress,

But what she has by stealth; she and the chamber maid

Are glad of one between them, and must you

Give such bold freedom to your long nos'd fellow,

That every room must take a taste of him?

Leo. Does that offend your ladyship?

Wife. How think you, forsooth?

Leo. Then he shall do't again.

Wife. What?

Leo. And again, madam,

So often till it please your ladyship;

And when you like it, he shall do't no more.

Wife. What's this?

Leo. I know no difference, virtuous madam,

But, in love, all have privilege alike.

Wife. You're a bold quean.

Leo. And are not you, my mistress?

Wife. This is well, i'faith.

Leo. You spare not your own flesh no more than I; Hell take me, an' I spare you.

Wife. O the wrongs

That ladies do their honors, when they make
Their slaves familiar with their weaknesses;
They're ever thus rewarded for that deed,

They stand in fear e'en of the grooms they feed.
I must be forc'd to speak my woman fair now,
And be first friends with her, nay, all too little,
She may undo me at her pleasure else;

She knows the way so well, myself not better,
My wanton folly made a key for her

To all the private treasure of my heart;

She may do what she list [aside]; come, Leonella!
I am not angry with thee.

Leo. Pish!

Wife. 'Faith, I am not.

Leo. Why, what care I, an' you be?

Wife. Pr'ythee, forgive me?

Leo. I have nothing to say to you.

Wife. Come, thou shalt wear this jewel for my sake,

A kiss and friends, we'll never quarrel more.

Leo. Nay, chuse you, 'faith; the best is an' you do, You know who'll have the worst on't.

Wife. True, myself.

Leo. Little thinks she, I have set her forth already;

I please my lord, yet keep her in awe too.
Wife. One thing I had forgot; I pr'ythee, wench,
Steal to Votarius closely, and remember him

[aside.