Liv. What gentlewoman? pish!
Wid. Wife to my son, indeed.

Liv. Now I beshrew you;

Could you be so unkind to her and me,

To come and not bring her? faith, 'tis not friendly. Wid. I fear'd to be too bold.

Liv. Too bold! O, what's become

Of the true hearty love was wont to be 'Mongst neighbours in old time!

Wid. And she's a stranger, madam.

Liv. The more should be her welcome: when is courtesy

In better practice than when 'tis employ'd

In entertaining strangers? I could chide, i' faith : Leave her behind, poor gentlewoman! alone too! Make some amends, and send for her betimes-go. Wid. Please you, command one of your servants, madam.

Liv. Within there!

Attend the gentlewoman.1

BRANCHA resists the Duke's attempt.

Bran. O, treachery to honour!

Duke. Prithee, tremble not;

I feel thy breast shake like a turtle panting
Under a loving hand that makes much on 't:
Why art so fearful?

Bran. O my extremity !

My lord, what seek you?

Duke. Love.

Bran. 'Tis gone already ;

I have a husband.

Duke. That's a single comfort:

1 This is one of those scenes which has the air of being an immediate transcript from life. Livia the "good neighbour" is as real a creature as one of Chaucer's characters. another jolly housewife as the Wife of Bath.

She is such

Take a friend to him.

Bran. That's a double mischief,

Or else there's no religion. Duke. Do not tremble

At fears of thy own making.

Bran. Nor, great lord,

Make me not bold with death and deeds of ruin,
Because they fear not you; me they must fright-
Then am I best in health: should thunder speak,
And none regard it, it had lost the name,
And were as good be still. I'm not like those
That take their soundest sleeps in greatest tempests;
Then wake I most, the weather fearfullest,
And call for strength to virtue.-

Winding Sheet.

to have a being, and to live 'mongst men,
Which is a fearful living, and a poor one;
Let a man truly think on 't:

To have the toil and griefs of fourscore years
Put up in a white sheet, tied with two knots:
Methinks it should strike earthquakes in adulterers,
When even the very sheets they commit sin in
May prove, for aught they know, all their last
garments.

Great Men's Looks.

Did not the duke look up? methought he saw

us.

That 's every one's conceit that sees a duke;
If he look steadfastly, he looks straight at them,
When he, perhaps, good, careful gentleman,
Never minds any, but the look he casts

Is at his own intentions, and his object
Only the public good.-

Weeping in Love.

Why should those tears be fetch'd forth? cannot love

Be even as well express'd in a good look,

But it must see her face still in a fountain?
It shows like a country maid dressing her head
By a dish of water: come, 'tis an old custom
weep for love.

Το

Lover's Chidings.

prithee, forgive me,

I did but chide in jest; the best loves use it Sometimes, it sets an edge upon affection : When we invite our best friends to a feast, 'Tis not all sweetmeats that we set before them; There's something sharp and salt, both to whet appetite,

And make 'em taste their wine well; so, methinks, After a friendly, sharp, and savoury chiding,

A kiss tastes wondrous well, and full o' the grape.

Wedlock.

O thou, the ripe time of man's misery, wedlock,
When all his thoughts, like over-laden trees,
Crack with the fruits they bear, in cares, in
jealousies!

O, that's a fruit that ripens hastily,

After 'tis knit to marriage! it begins,

As soon as the sun shines upon the bride,
A little to show colour.-

Marrying the Adulteress, the Husband dead.

Is not sin sure enough to wretched man,
But he must bind himself in chains to 't? worse;
Must marriage, that immaculate robe of honour,
That renders virtue glorious, fair, and fruitful

To her great master, be now made the garment
Of leprosy and foulness? is this penitence
To sanctify hot lust? what is it otherwise
Than worship done to devils? is this the best
Amends that sin can make after her riots?
As if a drunkard, to appease Heaven's wrath,
Should offer up his surfeit for a sacrifice :
If that be comely, then lust's offerings are
On wedlock's sacred altar.

MORE DISSEMBLERS BESIDES WOMEN, A COMEDY:

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

Death.

when the heart's above, the body walks here But like an idle-serving-man below,

Gaping and waiting for his master's coming.
He that lives fourscore years is but like one
That stays here for a friend; when death comes,
then

Away he goes, and is ne'er seen again.

Loving a Woman.

of all the frenzies

That follow flesh and blood,

The most ridiculous is to fawn on women;
There's no excuse for that; 'tis such a madness,
There is no cure set down for 't; no physician
Ever spent hour about it, for they guess'd
'Twas all in vain when they first lov'd themselves,
And never since durst practise; cry heu mihi,
That's all the help they 've for 't. I had rather

meet

A witch far north, than a fine fool in love,
The sight would less afflict me: but for modesty,
I should fall foul in words upon fond man,
That can forget his excellence and honour,
His serious meditations, being the end
Of his creation to learn well to die,

And live a prisoner to a woman's eye.

Widow's Vow.

Lord Cardinal. Increase of health and a redoubled

courage

To chastity's great soldier! what, so sad, madam ?
The memory of her seven years deceas'd lord
Springs yet into her eyes, as fresh and full
As at the seventh hour after his departure:
What a perpetual fountain is her virtue!
Too much t' afflict yourself with ancient sorrow
Is not so strictly for your strength requir'd :
Your vow is charge enough, believe me 'tis, madam,
You need no weightier task.

Duch. Religious sir,

You heard the last words of my dying lord. Lord Card. Which I shall ne'er forget.

Duch. May I entreat

Your goodness but to speak 'em over to me,
As near as memory can befriend your utterance,
That I may think awhile I stand in presence
Of my departing husband.

Lord Card. What's your meaning

In this, most virtuous madam?
Duch. 'Tis a courtesy

I stand in need of, sir, at this time especially;
Urge it no farther yet; as it proves to me,
You shall hear from me; only I desire it
Effectually from you, sir; that 's my request.

Lord Card. I wonder, yet I'll spare to question farther.