The Scornful Lady

Chapter 22

_Young Lo._ I am glad of your conversion Master _Morecraft_: Y"are in a fair course, pray pursue it still.

_Mor._ Come, we are all gallants now, I"le keep thee company; Here honest fellow, for this Gentlemans sake, there"s two Angels more for thee.

_Savil._ G.o.d quite you Sir, and keep you long in this mind.

_Young Lo._ Wilt thou persevere?

_Mor._ Till I have a penny. I have brave cloathes a making, and two horses; canst thou not help me to a match Knight, I"le lay a thousand pound upon my crop-ear.



_Yo. Lo._ Foot, this is stranger than an _Africk_ monster, There will be no more talk of the _Cleve_ wars Whilst this lasts, come, I"le put thee into blood.

_Sav._ Would all his d.a.m.n"d tribe were as tender hearted. I beseech you let this Gentleman join with you in the recovery of my Keyes; I like his good beginning Sir, the whilst I"le pray for both your worships.

_Young Lo._ He shall Sir.

_Mor._ Shall we goe n.o.ble Knight? I would fain be acquainted.

_Young Lo._ I"le be your Servant Sir. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ Elder Loveless, _and_ Lady.

_Elder Lo._ Faith my sweet Lady, I have caught you now, maugre your subtilties, and fine devices, be coy again now.

_Lady._ Prethee sweet-heart tell true.

_Elder Lo._ By this light, by all the pleasures I have had this night, by your lost maidenhead, you are cozened meerly. I have cast beyond your wit.

That Gentleman is your retainer _Welford_.

_Lady._ It cannot be so.

_Elder Lo._ Your Sister has found it so, or I mistake, mark how she blushes when you see her next. Ha, ha, ha, I shall not travel now, ha, ha, ha.

_Lady._ Prethee sweet heart be quiet, thou hast angred me at heart.

_Elder Lo._ I"le please you soon again.

_La._ Welford?

_Elder Lo._ I _Welford_, hee"s a young handsome fellow, well bred and landed, your Sister can instruct you in his good parts, better than I by this time.

_Lady._ Uds foot am I fetcht over thus?

_Elder Lo._ Yes i"faith.

And over shall be fetcht again, never fear it.

_Lady._ I must be patient, though it torture me: You have got the Sun Sir.

_Elder Lo._ And the Moon too, in which I"le be the man.

_Lady._ But had I known this, had I but surmiz"d it, you should have hunted three trains more, before you had come to th" course, you should have hankt o"th" bridle, Sir, i"faith.

_El. Lo._ I knew it, and min"d with you, and so blew you up.

Now you may see the Gentlewoman: stand close.

_Enter_ Welford, _and_ Martha.

_Mar._ For G.o.ds sake Sir, be private in this business, You have undone me else. O G.o.d, what have I done?

_Wel._ No harm I warrant thee.

_Mar._ How shall I look upon my friends again?

With what face?

_Wel._ Why e"ne with that: "tis a good one, thou canst not find a better: look upon all the faces thou shall see there, and you shall find "em smooth still, fair still, sweet still, and to your thinking honest; those have done as much as you have yet, or dare doe Mistris, and yet they keep no stir.

_Mar._ Good Sir goe in, and put your womans cloaths on: If you be seen thus, I am lost for ever.

_Wel._ I"le watch you for that Mistris: I am no fool, here will I tarry till the house be up and witness with me.

_Mar._ Good dear friend goe in.

_Wel._ To bed again if you please, else I am fixt here till there be notice taken what I am, and what I have done: if you could juggle me into my woman-hood again, and so cog me out of your company, all this would be forsworn, and I again an _asinego_, as your Sister left me. No, I"le have it known and publisht; then if you"le be a wh.o.r.e, forsake me and be asham"d: and when you can hold no longer, marry some cast _Cleve Captain_, and sell Bottle-ale.

_Mar._ I dare not stay Sir, use me modestly, I am your wife.

_Wel._ Goe in, I"le make up all.

_Elder Lo._ I"le be a witness of your naked truth Sir: this is the Gentlewoman, prethee look upon him, that is he that made me break my faith sweet: but thank your Sister, she hath soder"d it.

_Lady._ What a dull a.s.s was I, I could not see this wencher from a wench: twenty to one, if I had been but tender like my Sister, he had served me such a slippery trick too.

_Wel._ Twenty to one I had.

_Elder Lo._ I would have watcht you Sir, by your good patience, for ferreting in my ground.

_Lady._ You have been with my Sister.

_Wel._ Yes to bring.

_Elder Lo._ An heir into the world he means.

_Lady._ There is no chafing now.

_Wel._ I have had my part on"t: I have been chaft this three hours, that"s the least, I am reasonable cool now.

_Lady._ Cannot you fare well, but you must cry roast-meat?

_Wel._ He that fares well, and will not bless the founders, is either surfeited, or ill taught, Lady, for mine own part, I have found so sweet a diet, I can commend it, though I cannot spare it.

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