SCENE II.[3545

_Enter_ PINAC _and_ Servant.

_Pin._ Art thou her servant, sayest thou?

_Serv._ Her poor creature; But servant to her horse, sir.

_Pin._ Canst thou show me The way to her chamber, or where I may conveniently See her, or come to talk to her?

_Serv._ That I can, sir; But the question is, whether I will or no.

_Pin._ Why, I ’ll content thee. 5

_Serv._ Why, I ’ll content thee, then; now ye come to me.

_Pin._ There ’s for your diligence. [_Gives money._]

_Serv._ There ’s her chamber, sir. And this way she comes out; stand ye but here, sir, You have her at your prospect or your pleasure.

_Pin._ Is she not very angry?

_Serv._ You ’ll find that quickly. May be she ’ll call ye saucy, scurvy fellow, 11 Or some such familiar name; may be she knows ye And will fling a piss-pot at ye, or a pantofle,[3546] According as ye are in acquaintance. If she like ye, May be she ’ll look upon ye; may be no; 15 And two months hence call for ye.

_Pin._ This is fine. She is monstrous proud, then?

_Serv._ She is a little haughty; Of a small body, she has a mind well mounted. Can you speak Greek?

_Pin._ No, certain.

_Serv._ Get ye gone, then!— And talk of stars, and firmaments, and firedrakes? 20 Do you remember who was Adam’s schoolmaster, And who taught Eve to spin? She knows all these, And will run ye over the beginning o’ th’ world As familiar as a fiddler. Can you sit seven hours together, and say nothing? 25 Which she will do, and, when she speaks, speak oracles, Speak things that no man understands, nor herself neither.

_Pin._ Thou mak’st me wonder.

_Serv._ Can ye smile?

_Pin._ Yes, willingly; For naturally I bear a mirth about me.

_Serv._ She ’ll ne’er endure ye, then; she is never merry; 30 If she see one laugh, she ’ll swound past _aqua vitae_. Never come near her, sir; if ye chance to venture, And talk not like a doctor, you are damn’d too. I have told ye enough for your crown, and so, good speed you! _Exit._

_Pin._ I have a pretty task, if she be thus curious, 35 As, sure, it seems she is! If I fall off now, I shall be laugh’d at fearfully; if I go forward, I can but be abus’d, and that I look for; And yet I may hit right, but ’t is unlikely. Stay: in what mood and figure shall I attempt her? 40 A careless way? No, no, that will not waken her: Besides, her gravity will give me line still, And let me lose myself: yet this way often Has hit, and handsomely. A wanton method? Ay, if she give it leave to sink into her consideration: 45 But there’s the doubt: if it but stir her blood once, And creep into the crannies of her fancy, Set her a-gog;—but, if she chance to slight it, And by the power of her modesty fling it back, I shall appear the arrant’st rascal to her, 50 The most licentious knave, for I shall talk lewdly. To bear myself austerely? Rate my words? And fling a general gravity about me. As if I meant to give laws? But this I cannot do. This is a way above my understanding; 55 Or, if I could, ’t is odds she’ll think I mock her; For serious and sad things are ever still suspicious. Well, I ’ll say something: But learning I have none, and less good manners, Especially for ladies. Well I ’ll set my best face. 60 _Enter_ LILLIA BIANCA _and_ PETELLA. I hear some coming. This is the first woman I ever fear’d yet, the first face that shakes me. [_Retires._]

_Lil._ Give me my hat, Petella; take this veil off, This sullen cloud; it darkens my delights. Come, wench, be free, and let the music warble:— 65 Play me some lusty measure. [_Music within_, _to which presently_ LILLIA _dances_.]

_Pin._ [_Aside._] This is she, sure, The very same I saw, the very woman, The gravity I wonder’d at. Stay, stay; Let me be sure. Ne’er trust me, but she danceth! Summer is in her face now, and she skippeth! I ’ll go a little nearer. 71

_Lil._ Quicker time, fellows! _Enter_ MIRABEL [_and remains at the side of the stage_]. I cannot find my legs yet—Now Petella!

_Pin._ [_Aside._] I am amaz’d; I am founder’d in my fancy!

_Mir._ [_Aside._] Ha! say you so? Is this your gravity? 75 This the austerity you put upon you? I ’ll see more o’ this sport.

_Lil._ A song now! Call in for a merry and a light song; And sing it with a liberal spirit.

_Enter a_ Man.

_Man._ Yes, madam. 80

_Lil._ And be not amaz’d, sirrah, but take us for your own company.—

[_A song by the_ Man _who then exit_.]

Let ’s walk ourselves; come, wench. Would we had a man or two!

_Pin._ [_Aside._] Sure, she has spi’d me, and will abuse me dreadfully. She has put on this for the purpose: yet I will try her.— [_Advances._] Madam, I would be loth my rude intrusion, 85 Which I must crave a pardon for——

_Lil._ Oh, ye are welcome, Ye are very welcome, sir! We want such a one. Strike up again!—I dare presume ye dance well: Quick, quick, sir, quick! the time steals on.

_Pin._ I would talk with you.

_Lil._ Talk as you dance. [_They dance._]

_Mir._ [_Aside._] She ’ll beat him off his legs first. 90 This is the finest masque!

_Lil._ Now, how do ye, sir?

_Pin._ You have given me a shrewd heat.

_Lil._ I ’ll give you a hundred. Come, sing now, sing: for I know ye sing well; I see ye have a singing face.

_Pin._ [_Aside._] A fine modesty! If I could, she’d never give me breath.——Madam, would 95 I might sit and recover!

_Lil._ Sit here, and sing now; Let ’s do things quickly, sir, and handsomely.—— Sit close, wench, close.—Begin, begin.

_Pin._ I am lesson’d. _A song_ [_by_ PINAC].

_Lil._ ’T is very pretty, i’ faith. Give me some wine now. 100

_Pin._ I would fain speak to you.

_Lil._ You shall drink first, believe me. Here ’s to you a lusty health. [_They drink._]

_Pin._ I thank you, lady.— [_Aside._] Would I were off again! I smell my misery; I was never put to this rack: I shall be drunk too.

_Mir._ [_Aside._] If thou be’st not a right one, I have lost mine aim much: 105 I thank Heaven that I have scaped thee. To her, Pinac! For thou art as sure to have her, and to groan for her.— I’ll see how my other youth does; this speeds trimly. A fine grave gentlewoman, and worth much honour! _Exit._

_Lil._ Now, how do ye like me, sir?

_Pin._ I like ye rarely. 110

_Lil._ Ye see, sir, though sometimes we are grave and silent, And put on sadder dispositions, Yet we are compounded of free parts, and sometimes too Our lighter, airy, and our fiery mettles Break out, and show themselves: and what think you of that, sir? 115

_Pin._ Good lady, sit (for I am very weary), And then I ’ll tell ye.

_Lil._ Fie! a young man idle! Up, and walk: be still in action; The motions of the body are fair beauties; Besides, ’t is cold. ’Ods me, sir, let’s walk faster! What think ye now of the Lady Felicia? 121 And Bellafronte, the duke’s fair daughter? ha! Are they not handsome things? There is Duarta. And brown Olivia——

_Pin._ I know none of ’em.

_Lil._ But brown must not be cast away, sir. If young Lelia 125 Had kept herself till this day from a husband, Why, what a beauty, sir! You know Ismena, The fair gem of Saint-Germains?

_Pin._ By my troth, I do not.

_Lil._ And, then, I know, you must hear of Brisac, How unlike a gentleman——

_Pin._ As I live, I have heard nothing, 130

_Lil._ Strike me another galliard![3547]

_Pin._ By this light, I cannot! In troth, I have sprain’d my leg, madam.

_Lil._ Now sit ye down, sir, And tell me why ye came hither? Why ye chose me out? What is your business? Your errand? Despatch, despatch. Maybe, you are some gentleman’s man, and I mistook ye, 135 That have brought me a letter, or a haunch of venison, Sent me from some friend of mine.

_Pin._ Do I look like a carrier? You might allow me, what I am, a gentleman.

_Lil._ Cry ye mercy, sir! I saw ye yesterday; You are new-come out of travel; I mistook ye. 140 And how do all our impudent friends in Italy?

_Pin._ Madam, I came with duty, and fair courtesy, Service, and honour to ye.

_Lil._ Ye came to jeer me. Ye see I am merry, sir; I have chang’d my copy; None of the sages now: and, pray ye, proclaim it. 145 Fling on me what aspersion you shall please, sir, Of wantonness or wildness; I look for it; And tell the world I am an hypocrite, Mask in a forc’d and borrow’d shape; I expect it; But not to have you believ’d: for, mark ye, sir, 150 I have won a nobler estimation, A stronger tie, by my discretion, Upon opinion (howe’r you think I forc’d it) Than either tongue or art of yours can slubber; And, when I please, I will be what I please, sir, 155 So I exceed not mean;[3548] and none shall brand it, Either with scorn or shame, but shall be slighted.

_Pin._ Lady, I come to love ye.

_Lil._ Love yourself, sir; And, when I want observers,[3549] I ’ll send for ye. Heigh-ho! my fit ’s almost off; for we do all by fits, sir. 160 If ye be weary, sit till I come again to ye.

_Exit_ [_with_ PETELLA].

_Pin._ This is a wench of a dainty spirit; but Hang me, if I know yet either what to think Or make of her. She had her will of me, And baited me abundantly, I thank her; 165 And, I confess, I never was so blurted,[3550] Nor never so abus’d. I must bear mine own sins. Ye talk of travels; here ’s a curious country! Yet I will find her out, or forswear my faculty. _Exit._