SCENE II.[1691

[_Enter, at a distance._] LADY POLITIC WOULD-BE, NANO, [_and two_ Waiting]-women.

_Lady P._ Where should this loose knight be, trow? Sure he ’s hous’d.

_Nan._ Why, then he ’s fast.

_Lady P._ Ay, he plays both[1692] with me. I pray you stay. This heat will do more harm To my complexion than his heart is worth. (I do not care to hinder, but to take him.) 5 How it comes off! [_Rubbing her cheeks._]

_1 Wom._ My master ’s yonder.

_Lady P._ Where?

_2 Wom._ With a young gentleman.

_Lady P._ That same ’s the party: In man’s apparel! Pray you, sir, jog my knight: I will be tender to his reputation, However he demerit.

_Sir P._ [_seeing her_] My lady!

_Per._ Where? 10

_Sir P._ ’T is she indeed, sir; you shall know her. She is, Were she not mine, a lady of that merit, For fashion and behaviour; and for beauty I durst compare——

_Per._ It seems you are not jealous, That dare commend her.

_Sir P._ Nay, and for discourse—— 15

_Per._ Being your wife, she cannot miss that.

_Sir. P._ [_introducing_ PER.] Madam, Here is a gentleman, pray you, use him fairly; He seems a youth, but he is——

_Lady P._ None.

_Sir P._ Yes one Has put his face as soon into the world——

_Lady P._ You mean, as early? But to-day?

_Sir P._ How ’s this? 20

_Lady P._ Why, in this habit, sir; you apprehend me. Well, Master Would-be, this doth not become you; I had thought the odour, sir, of your good name Had been more precious to you; that you would not Have done this dire massacre on your honour; One of your gravity, and rank besides! 26 But knights, I see, care little for the oath They make to ladies; chiefly their own ladies.

_Sir P._ Now, by my spurs, the symbol of my knighthood——

_Per._ [_Aside._] Lord, how his brain is humbl’d for an oath! 30

_Sir P._ I reach[1693] you not.

_Lady P._ Right, sir, your polity May bear it through thus. Sir, a word with you.

[_To_ PER.]

I would be loth to contest publicly With any gentlewoman, or to seem Froward, or violent, as the courtier says; 35 It comes too near rusticity in a lady, Which I would shun by all means: and however I may deserve from Master Would-be, yet T’ have one fair gentlewoman thus be made The unkind instrument to wrong another, 40 And one she knows not, ay, and to perséver; In my poor judgment, is not warranted From being a solecism in our sex, If not in manners.

_Per._ How is this!

_Sir P._ Sweet madam, Come nearer to your aim.

_Lady P._ Marry, and will, sir. 45 Since you provoke me with your impudence, And laughter of your light land-syren here, Your Sporus, your hermaphrodite——

_Per._ What ’s here? Poetic fury and historic storms! 49

_Sir P._ The gentleman, believe it, is of worth And of our nation.

_Lady P._ Ay, your Whitefriars nation.[1694] Come, I blush for you. Master Would-be, I; And am asham’d you should ha’ no more fore-head Than thus to be the patron, or St. George, To a lewd harlot, a base fricatrice,[1695] 55 A female devil, in a male outside.

_Sir P._ Nay, An you be such a one, I must bid adieu To your delights. The case appears too liquid. [_Exit._]

_Lady P._ Ay, you may carry ’t clear, with you state-face! But for your carnival concupiscence, 60 Who here is fled for liberty of conscience, From furious persecution of the marshal, Her will I disc’ple.[1696]

_Per._ This is fine, i’ faith! And do you use this often? Is this part Of your wit’s exercise, ’gainst you have occasion? 65 Madam——

_Lady P._ Go to, sir.

_Per._ Do you hear me, lady? Why, if your knight have set you to beg shirts, Or to invite me home, you might have done it A nearer way by far.

_Lady P._ This cannot work you Out of my snare.

_Per._ Why, am I in it, then? 70 Indeed your husband told me you were fair, And so you are; only your nose inclines, That side that ’s next the sun, to the queen-apple.[1697]

_Lady P._ This cannot be endur’d by any patience.