Chapter 52

_Enter a Gentleman walking over the stage hastily; After him_ FLORIMEL _and_ FLAVIA _masked_.

_Fla_. Phormio! Phormio! you will not leave us?

_Gent_. In faith, I have a little business.

[_Exit Gent_.

_Cel_. Cannot I serve you in the gentleman's room, ladies?

_Fla_. Which of us would you serve?

_Cel_. Either of you, or both of you.

_Fla_. Why, could you not be constant to one?

_Cel_. Constant to one!--I have been a courtier, a soldier, and a traveller, to good purpose, if I must be constant to one: Give me some twenty, some forty, some a hundred mistresses! I have more love than any woman can turn her to.

_Flo_. Bless us! let us be gone, cousin: We two are nothing in his hands.

_Cel_. Yet, for my part, I can live with as few mistresses as any man. I desire no superfluities; only for necessary change or so, as I shift my linen.

_Flo_. A pretty odd kind of fellow this; he fits my humour rarely. [_Aside_.

_Fla_. You are as inconstant as the moon.

_Flo_. You wrong him, he's as constant as the sun; he would see all the world in twenty-four hours.

_Cel_. 'Tis very true, madam; but, like him, I would visit, and away.

_Flo_. For what an unreasonable thing it were, to stay long, be troublesome, and hinder a lady of a fresh lover.

_Cel_. A rare creature this! [_Aside_]--Besides, madam, how like a fool a man looks, when, after all his eagerness of two minutes before, he shrinks into a faint kiss, and a cold compliment.--Ladies both, into your hands I commit myself; share me betwixt you.

_Fla_. I'll have nothing to do with you, since you cannot be constant to one.

_Cel_. Nay, rather than lose either of you, I'll do more; I'll be constant to an hundred of you. Or, if you will needs fetter me to one, agree the matter between yourselves; and the most handsome take me.

_Flo_. Though I am not she, yet since my mask is down, and you cannot convince me, have a good faith of my beauty, and for once I take you for my servant.

_Cel_. And for once I'll make a blind bargain with you. Strike hands; is't a match, mistress?

_Flo_. Done, servant.

_Cel_. Now I am sure I have the worst on't: For you see the worst of me, and that I do not of you, 'till you shew your face.--Yet, now I think on't, you must be handsome.

_Flo_. What kind of beauty do you like?

_Cel_. Just such a one as yours.

_Flo_. What's that?

_Cel_. Such an oval face, clear skin, hazel eyes, thick brown eye-brows, and hair as you have, for all the world.

_Fla_. But I can assure you, she has nothing of all this.

_Cel_. Hold thy peace, envy; nay, I can be constant an I set on't.

_Flo_. 'Tis true she tells you.

_Cel_. Ay, ay, you may slander yourself as you please: Then you have,--let me see.

_Flo_. Ill swear, you shall not see.

_Cel_. A turned up nose, that gives an air to your face:--Oh, I find I am more and more in love with you!--a full nether lip, an out-mouth, that makes mine water at it; the bottom of your cheeks a little blub, and two dimples when you smile: For your stature, 'tis well; and for your wit, 'twas given you by one that knew it had been thrown away upon an ill face.--Come, you're handsome, there's no denying it.

_Flo_. Can you settle your spirits to see an ugly face, and not be frighted? I could find in my heart to lift up my mask, and disabuse you.

_Cel_. I defy your mask:--Would you would try the experiment!

_Flo_. No, I won't; for your ignorance is the mother of your devotion to me.

_Cel_. Since you will not take the pains to convert me, I'll make bold to keep my faith. A miserable man, I am sure, you have made me.

_Fla_. This is pleasant.

_Cel_. It may be so to you, but it is not to me; for aught I see, I am going to be the most constant Maudlin,--

_Flo_. 'Tis very well, Celadon; you can be constant to one you have never seen, and have forsaken all you have seen?

_Cel_. It seems, you know me then:--Well, if thou should'st prove one of my cast mistresses, I would use thee most damnably, for offering to make me love thee twice.

_Flo_. You are i'the right: An old mistress, or servant, is an old tune; the pleasure on't is past, when we have once learned it.

_Fla_. But what woman in the world would you wish her like?

_Cel_. I have heard of one Florimel, the queen's ward; would she were as like her for beauty, as she is for humour!

_Fla_. Do you hear that, cousin? [_To_ FLOR. _aside_.

_Flo_. Florimel's not handsome: Besides she's inconstant; and only loves for some few days.

_Cel_. If she loves for shorter time than I, she must love by winter days and summer nights, i'faith.

_Flo_. When you see us together, you shall judge. In the mean time, adieu, sweet servant.

_Cel_. Why, you won't be so inhuman to carry away my heart, and not so much as tell me where I may hear news on't?

_Flo_. I mean to keep it safe for you; for, if you had it, you would bestow it worse: Farewell, I must see a lady.

_Cel_. So must I too, if I can pull off your mask.

_Flo_. You will not be so rude, I hope.

_Cel_. By this light, but I will!

_Flo_. By this leg, but you shan't.

[_Exeunt_ FLO. _and_ FLA. _running_.