SCENE III.[1186

KITELY, [_Enter_] COB.

_Kit._ What, Cob! our maids will have you by the back, i’ faith, for coming so late this morning.

_Cob._ Perhaps so, sir; take heed somebody have not them by the belly, for walking so late in the evening. 5 _He passes by with his tankard._

_Kit._ Well; yet my troubled spirit’s somewhat eas’d, Though not repos’d in that security As I could wish: but I must be content, Howe’er I set a face on ’t to the world. 10 Would I had lost this finger at a venture, So Wellbred had ne’er lodged within my house. Why ’t cannot be, where there is such resort Of wanton gallants and young revellers, That any woman should be honest long. 15 Is’t like that factious beauty will preserve The public weal of chastity unshaken, When such strong motives muster and make head[1187] Against her single peace? No, no: beware. When mutual appetite doth meet to treat, 20 And spirits of one kind and quality Come once to parley in the pride of blood, It is no slow conspiracy that follows. Well, to be plain, if I but thought the time Had answer’d their affections,[1188] all the world 25 Should not persuade me but I were a cuckold. Marry, I hope they ha’ not got that start; For opportunity hath balk’d ’em yet, And shall do still, while I have eyes and ears To attend the impositions of my heart. 30 My presence shall be as an iron bar ’Twixt the conspiring motions of desire: Yea, every look or glance mine eye ejects Shall check occasion, as one doth his slave, When he forgets the limits of prescription. 35

[_Enter_ DAME KITELY.]

_Dame K._ Sister Bridget, pray you fetch down the rose-water, above in the closet.—Sweetheart, will you come in to breakfast?

_Kit._ An she have overheard me now!——

_Dame Kit._ I pray thee, good muss,[1189] we stay for you. 41

_Kit._ By heaven, I would not for a thousand angels.[1190]

_Dame K._ What ail you, sweet-heart? are you not well? Speak, good muss. 46

_Kit._ Troth my head aches extremely on a sudden.

_Dame K._ [_putting her hand to his forehead._] O, the Lord!

_Kit._ How now! What? 50

_Dame K._ Alas, how it burns! Muss, keep you warm; good truth it is this new disease,[1191] there’s a number are troubled withal. For love’s sake, sweet-heart, come in out of the air.

_Kit._ How simple, and how subtle are her answers! 55 A new disease, and many troubled with it? Why true; she heard me, all the world to nothing.

_Dame K._ I pray thee, good sweet-heart, come in; the air will do you harm, in troth.

_Kit._ The air! she has me i’ the wind.[1192]— (60) Sweet-heart, I’ll come to you presently; ’t will away, I hope.

_Dame K._ Pray Heaven it do. [_Exit._]

_Kit._ A new disease! I know not, new or old, But it may well be call’d poor mortals’ plague; 65 For, like a pestilence, it doth infect The houses of the brain. First it begins Solely to work upon the phantasy, Filling her seat with such pestiferous air As soon corrupts the judgment; and from thence 70 Sends like contagion to the memory: Still each to other giving the infection, Which as a subtle vapour spreads itself Confusedly through every sensive part, Till not a thought or motion in the mind 75 Be free from the black poison of suspect.[1193] Ah! but what misery is it to know this? Or, knowing it, to want the mind’s erection In such extremes? Well, I will once more strive, In spite of this black cloud, myself to be, 80 And shake the fever off that thus shakes me. [_Exit._]