SCENE III.

PRISCILLA, MEANWELL.

PRIS. Pray y', entertain yourself awhile, until I give my mistress notice of your presence. I'd leave a book with you, but that I see You are a gentleman: perhaps you'll find Some pretty stories in the hangings there.

MEAN. Thank you, sweetheart.

PRIS. A very proper man! [_Aside._ If't lie in me to do you any pleasure, Pray you, sir, use me; you shall find me ready.

[_Exit_ PRISCILLA.

MEAN. I make no doubt of that. These implements, These chamber-properties are such ripe things, They'll fall with the least touch: from twelve to twenty They think that others are to sue to them; When once they've pass'd these limits, they make bold-- I cannot say to woo, that's something modest-- But ask downright themselves.

_Enter_ MISTRESS JANE.

JANE. Leave us, Priscilla, And wait without awhile.

MEAN. Fair mistress, pardon The boldness of a stranger, who uncivilly Thus interrupts your better thoughts.

JANE. May I Demand your business?

MEAN. Under favour thus: Not to use farther circumstance, fair virgin (And yet less fair, 'cause virgin), you are one That are the thought, the care, the aim, the strife-- I should not err, if I should say the madness-- Of all young men: all sighs, all folded arms, All o'ercast looks, all broken sleeps are ow'd Only to you.

JANE. I'm sorry I should be A trouble unto any: if I could Afford the remedy as well as now I do your grief, assure yourself that cure Shall be the birth of my next action.

MEAN. That cure is my request. If that this were Mine own suit, I had us'd no circumstance. Young Master Credulous, a proper man-- For sure he shall be rich--one whom the whole List of our city virgins doat on--you Conceive the rest, I know.

JANE. Alas! what ails him? I'll not be slack to do him any good.

MEAN. 'Tis in your power. He is very much, If you will know't--but, sure, you will not grant If I should tell you.

JANE. If you thus presume That I am hard, you only ask denial; Your expectation's cross'd, except you fail.

MEAN. If you will know it, then, he is in love.

JANE. I pity him indeed, poor heart. With whom?

MEAN. Even with your beauteous self.

JANE. 'Tis not well done To scoff one ne'er did injure you.

MEAN. I vow By all that's good, by your fair self, I am As tender of you as that bless'd one is, Whoe'er he be, that loves you most. If I In any case abuse you, let me be More miserable than Littleworth.

JANE. Is he become expression?[192] Is his fate The period of ill-wishes? Sure, he never Deserv'd so ill from you!

MEAN. I don't reflect Upon his ruin'd fortunes, but your coldness; And, sure, I may call him unhappy whom You do neglect.

JANE. That man, where'er he be,

Is happier than yourself; and were he here, You should see him receiv'd, and yourself scorn'd.

MEAN. I do not think so, lady; sure, you would Make more of me than so. I'll bring the man, And so confute you.

JANE. It may be I might Love you the better something for that office, If he might enter here.

MEAN. Nay, I could tell Y' had cast him off: alas! you need not hide it: I have it from himself.

JANE. Doth he think so? Could I but see him----

MEAN. If his sight can bring But the least joy unto you--as perhaps You'll take some pleasure in his misery-- You shall enjoy it.

JANE. I do fear you promise Only to raise my hopes awhile, and then To triumph in their ruin.

MEAN. That you may See how my breast and tongue agree, I'll leave This ring with you, till I return again.

JANE. My Littleworth! Fool that I was, could I Not all this while perceive 'twas thee? Why didst thou Defer my joy thus long by suffering me To stand i' th' cloud?

MEAN. Alas! I guess'd I'd been Infectious to thee now; that thou wouldst look On a disease more mildly than on me; For poverty is counted a contagion.

JANE. I call this kiss to witness--which I wish, If I prove false, may be the last to me Which friends pay dying friends--I ne'er will be Other's than thine.

MEAN. I like the vow so well, That the same way I'll seal my promise too. If I prove not as thou (that is, most constant), May this kiss be--that I may wish it worse, Than that which is due to departing souls-- The last that I shall take from thee. I am Sent here, but yet unknown to them that send me, To be another's spokesman: the man is That foolish son of Master Credulous. Thou must pretend some liking. 'Twas thy father Granted me this access to win thee for him: Be thou no way averse; 't shall be my care So to bring things about that thou shalt be Mine by consent in spite of misery.

JANE. Be secret, and love prosper thy design!

[_Exit_ JANE.

MEAN. Happy that man that meets such faithfulness! I did not think it had been in the sex. I know not now what's misery. Peace! my fair [_Music._ Is hallowing the lute with her bless'd touch.

_A Song within._

1. _Come, O, come, I brook no stay:_ _He doth not love that can delay._ _See how the stealing night_ _Hath blotted out the light,_ _And tapers do supply the day._

2. _To be chaste is to be old;_ _And that foolish girl that's cold_ _Is fourscore at fifteen:_ _Desires do write us green,_ _And looser flames our youth unfold._

MEAN. 'T cannot be her, her voice was ne'er profan'd With such immodest numbers.

3. _See, the first taper's almost gone;_ _Thy flame like that will straight be none,_ _And I as it expire,_ _Not able to hold fire:_ _She loseth time that lies alone._

MEAN. 'Tis the breath Of something troubled with virginity.

4. _O, let us cherish then these powers,_ _Whiles we yet may call them ours:_ _Then we best spend our time,_ _When no dull zealous chime,_ _But sprightful kisses strike the hours._

_Enter_ PRISCILLA.

MEAN. What dost thou mean?

PRIS. Only to please you, sir.

MEAN. Sweetest of things, was't thou? I' faith, I guess'd 'T could be no other's melody but yours. There have been many of your sex much given Unto this kind of music.

PRIS. Sappho was Excellent at it; but Amphion he-- He was the man that outdid all: 'tis said Of him that he could draw stones with the sound Of his sweet strings. I'd willingly arrive At some perfection in the quality.

MEAN. I do acknowledge your desires most prone. This for your trouble.

PRIS. I am not mercenary; Your acceptation is reward enough.

MEAN. You have it, then.

PRIS. Beauty go with you, sir. [_Exeunt several ways._