La. And thereof comes the prouerbe: (Blessing of your heart, you brew good Ale.) Sp. Item, she can sowe
La. That"s as much as to say (Can she so?) Sp. Item she can knit
La. What neede a man care for a stock with a wench, When she can knit him a stocke?
Sp. Item, she can wash and scoure
La. A speciall vertue: for then shee neede not be wash"d, and scowr"d
Sp. Item, she can spin
La. Then may I set the world on wheeles, when she can spin for her liuing
Sp. Item, she hath many namelesse vertues
La. That"s as much as to say b.a.s.t.a.r.d-vertues: that indeede know not their fathers; and therefore haue no names
Sp. Here follow her vices
La. Close at the heeles of her vertues
Sp. Item, shee is not to be fasting in respect of her breath
La. Well: that fault may be mended with a breakfast: read on
Sp. Item, she hath a sweet mouth
La. That makes amends for her soure breath
Sp. Item, she doth talke in her sleepe
La. It"s no matter for that; so shee sleepe not in her talke
Sp. Item, she is slow in words
La. Oh villaine, that set this downe among her vices; To be slow in words, is a womans onely vertue: I pray thee out with"t, and place it for her chiefe vertue
Sp. Item, she is proud
La. Out with that too: It was Eues legacie, and cannot be t"ane from her
Sp. Item, she hath no teeth
La. I care not for that neither: because I loue crusts
Sp. Item, she is curst
La. Well: the best is, she hath no teeth to bite
Sp. Item, she will often praise her liquor
La. If her liquor be good, she shall: if she will not, I will; for good things should be praised
Sp. Item, she is too liberall
La. Of her tongue she cannot; for that"s writ downe she is slow of: of her purse, shee shall not, for that ile keepe shut: Now, of another thing shee may, and that cannot I helpe. Well, proceede
Sp. Item, shee hath more haire then wit, and more faults then haires, and more wealth then faults
La. Stop there: Ile haue her: she was mine, and not mine, twice or thrice in that last Article: rehea.r.s.e that once more
Sp. Item, she hath more haire then wit
La. More haire then wit: it may be ile proue it: The couer of the salt, hides the salt, and therefore it is more then the salt; the haire that couers the wit, is more then the wit; for the greater hides the lesse: What"s next?
Sp. And more faults then haires
La. That"s monstrous: oh that that were out
Sp. And more wealth then faults
La. Why that word makes the faults gracious: Well, ile haue her: and if it be a match, as nothing is impossible
Sp. What then?
La. Why then, will I tell thee, that thy Master staies for thee at the North gate
Sp. For me?
La. For thee? I, who art thou? he hath staid for a better man then thee
Sp. And must I goe to him?
La. Thou must run to him; for thou hast staid so long, that going will scarce serue the turne
Sp. Why didst not tell me sooner? "pox of your loue Letters
La. Now will he be swing"d for reading my Letter; An vnmannerly slaue, that will thrust himselfe into secrets: Ile after, to reioyce in the boyes correctio[n].
Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
Enter Duke, Thurio, Protheus.
Du. Sir Thurio, feare not, but that she will loue you Now Valentine is banish"d from her sight
Th. Since his exile she hath despis"d me most, Forsworne my company, and rail"d at me, That I am desperate of obtaining her
Du. This weake impresse of Loue, is as a figure Trenched in ice, which with an houres heate Dissolues to water, and doth loose his forme.
A little time will melt her frozen thoughts, And worthlesse Valentine shall be forgot.
How now sir Protheus, is your countriman (According to our Proclamation) gon?