SCENE IV.--_Another Apartment in the same.

_Enter_ BELFOREST _and_ LANGUEBEAU SNUFFE.

_Bel._ I entertain the offer of this match With purpose to confirm it presently. I have already moved it to my daughter. Her soft excuses savoured at the first, Methought, but of a modest innocence Of blood, whose unmoved stream was never drawn Into the current of affection. But when I Replied with more familiar arguments, Thinking to make her apprehension bold,-- Her modest blush fell to a pale dislike; And she refused it with such confidence, As if she had been prompted by a love Inclining firmly to some other man; And in that obstinacy she remains.

_Lang._ Verily, that disobedience doth not become a child. It proceedeth from an unsanctified liberty. You will be accessory to your own dishonour if you suffer it.

_Bel._ Your honest wisdom has advised me well. Once more I'll move her by persuasive means. If she resist, all mildness set apart, I will make use of my authority.

_Lang._ And instantly, lest fearing your constraint Her contrary affection teach her some Device that may prevent you.

_Bel._ To cut off every opportunity Procrastination may assist her with This instant night she shall be married.

_Lang._ Best.

_Enter_ CASTABELLA.

_Cast._ Please it your lordship, my mother attends I' the gallery, and desires your conference. [_Exit_ BELFOREST. This means I used to bring me to your ear. [_To_ LANGUEBEAU. Time cuts off circumstance; I must be brief, To your integrity did Charlemont Commit the contract of his love and mine; Which now so strong a hand seeks to divide, That if your grave advice assist me not, I shall be forced to violate my faith.

_Lang._ Since Charlemont's absence I have weighed his love with the spirit of consideration; and in sincerity I find it to be frivolous and vain. Withdraw your respect; his affection deserveth it not.

_Cast._ Good sir, I know your heart cannot profane The holiness you make profession of With such a vicious purpose as to break The vow your own consent did help to make.

_Lang._ Can he deserve your love who in neglect Of your delightful conversation and In obstinate contempt of all your prayers And tears, absents himself so far from your Sweet fellowship, and with a purpose so Contracted to that absence that you see He purchases your separation with The hazard of his blood and life, fearing to want Pretence to part your companies.-- 'Tis rather hate that doth division move. Love still desires the presence of his love.-- Verily he is not of the family of love.

_Cast._ O do not wrong him! 'Tis a generous mind That led his disposition to the war: For gentle love and noble courage are So near allied, that one begets another; Or Love is sister and Courage is the brother. Could I affect him better then before, His soldier's heart would make me love him more.

_Lang._ But, Castabella--

_Enter_ LEVIDULCIA.

_Lev._ Tush, you mistake the way into a woman. The passage lies not through her reason but her blood. [_Exit_ LANGUEBEAU. CASTABELLA _about to follow._ Nay, stay! How wouldst thou call the child, That being raised with cost and tenderness To full hability of body and means, Denies relief unto the parents who Bestowed that bringing up?

_Cast._ Unnatural.

_Lev._ Then Castabella is unnatural. Nature, the loving mother of us all, Brought forth a woman for her own relief By generation to revive her age; Which, now thou hast hability and means Presented, most unkindly dost deny.

_Cast._ Believe me, mother, I do love a man.

_Lev._ Preferr'st the affection of an absent love Before the sweet possession of a man; The barren mind before the fruitful body, Where our creation has no reference To man but in his body, being made Only for generation; which (unless Our children can be gotten by conceit) Must from the body come? If Reason were Our counsellor, we would neglect the work Of generation for the prodigal Expense it draws us to of that which is The wealth of life. Wise Nature, therefore, hath Reserved for an inducement to our sense Our greatest pleasure in that greatest work; Which being offered thee, thy ignorance Refuses, for the imaginary joy Of an unsatisfied affection to An absent man whose blood once spent i' the war Then he'll come home sick, lame, and impotent, And wed thee to a torment, like the pain Of Tantalus, continuing thy desire With fruitless presentation of the thing It loves, still moved, and still unsatisfied.

_Enter_ BELFOREST, D'AMVILLE, ROUSARD, SEBASTIAN, LANGUEBEAU, _&c._

_Bel._ Now, Levidulcia, hast thou yet prepared My daughter's love to entertain this man Her husband, here?

_Lev._ I'm but her mother i' law; Yet if she were my very flesh and blood I could advise no better for her[144] good.

_Rous._ Sweet wife, Thy joyful husband thus salutes thy cheek.

_Cast._ My husband? O! I am betrayed.-- Dear friend of Charlemont, your purity Professes a divine contempt o' the world; O be not bribed by that you so neglect, In being the world's hated instrument, To bring a just neglect upon yourself! [_Kneels from one to another._ Dear father, let me but examine my Affection.--Sir, your prudent judgment can Persuade your son that 'tis improvident To marry one whose disposition he Did ne'er observe.--Good sir, I may be of A nature so unpleasing to your mind, Perhaps you'll curse the fatal hour wherein You rashly married me.

_D'Am._ My Lord Belforest, I would not have her forced against her choice.

_Bel._ Passion o' me, thou peevish girl! I charge Thee by my blessing, and the authority I have to claim thy obedience, marry him.

_Cast._ Now, Charlemont! O my presaging tears! This sad event hath followed my sad fears.

_Sebas._ A rape, a rape, a rape!

_Bel._ How now!

_D'Am._ What's that?

_Sebas._ Why what is't but a rape to force a wench To marry, since it forces her to lie With him she would not?

_Lang._ Verily his tongue is an unsanctified member.

_Sebas._ Verily Your gravity becomes your perished soul As hoary mouldiness does rotten fruit.

_Bel._ Cousin, y'are both uncivil and profane.

_D'Am._ Thou disobedient villain, get thee out of my sight. Now, by my soul, I'll plague thee for this rudeness.

_Bel._ Come, set forward to the church. [_Exeunt all except_ SEBASTIAN.

_Sebas._ And verify the proverb--The nearer the church the further from God.--Poor wench! For thy sake may his hability die in his appetite, that thou beest not troubled with him thou lovest not! May his appetite move thy desire to another man, so he shall help to make himself cuckold! And let that man be one that he pays wages to; so thou shalt profit by him thou hatest. Let the chambers be matted, the hinges oiled, the curtain rings silenced, and the chambermaid hold her peace at his own request, that he may sleep the quieter; and in that sleep let him be soundly cuckolded. And when he knows it, and seeks to sue a divorce, let him have no other satisfaction than this: He lay by and slept: the law will take no hold of her because he winked at it. [_Exit._

ACT THE SECOND.