BOLD

Mistress Marry Princox forsooth. I have had apt breeding, how ever my misfor tune now makes me submit my self to service: but there is no ebb so low, but hath his tied again: when our days are at worst, they will mend in spite of the frowning De stinies. For we cannot be lower then earth, and the same blind Dame that hath cast her blear eyes hitherto upon my occasions, may turn her wheel, and at last wind them up with her white hand to some pinnacle that prosperously may flourish in the Sunshine of promotion. I will not lie Madam, I have numbered 57. Sum mers, and joust so many winter's have I passed. Madam, if it shall please you to entertain me, so: if not, I desire you not to misconstrue my good will, there's no harm done, the door's as big as it was, and your Ladi ships own wishes crown your beauty with content. As for these frumping Gallants, let them do their worst: it is not in men power to hurt me: it's well known I come not to be scoff worser. A woman may bear and bear till her back burst. I am a poor Gentlewoman, and since virtue has now a days no other companion but poverty, I set the Hares head against the Goose giblets, and what I want one way I hope I shall be enabled to supply the other. Any thing fit to be put into the hands of a Gentle woman. I can sleep on a low stool, if your Ladyship be talking in the same room with any Gentleman, I can read on a book, sing love songs, look up at the loover light, hear and be deaf, see and be blind, be ever dumb to your secrets, swear and equivocate, and whatsoever I spy, say the best. I beseech you Madame to neglect that desire, though I know your Ladyships understanding to be suffici ent to partake or take in the greatest secret; can be imparted: yet.— Faith Madame, heigh ho, I was (to confess truly) a little foolish in my last service, to believe men's oaths, but I hope my example, though prejudicial to my self, will be beneficial to other young Gentlewomen in service, my mi stresses brother (the Gentleman you named e' now, master Bold ) having often attempted my honour, but finding it im pregnable, vowed love, and marriage to me, at the last I, a young thing and raw, being seduced, set my mind upon him, but friends contradicting the match, I fell into a grievous consumption, and upon my first recovery, least the intended sacred ceremonies of Nuptials should succeed, his sister knowing this, thought it fit in her judgement, we should be farther a sunder, and so put me out of her service. Bawd, I defy you, indeed your Lordship thinks, you may make Bawds of whom you please, i'll take my oath upon a book, since I met her in the necessary house i'th morning, I never set eye on her. Bedtime an't please you Madame. Why, Madame? O God Madame, how mean you that, I hope you know, ill things taken into a Gentlewoman's eam es, are the quick corrupters of maiden modesty, I would be loath to continue in any service unfit for my virgin estate, or where the world should take any notice of light behaviour in the Lady I follow: for Madame, the main point of chastity in a Lady, is to built the rock of a good opinion amongst the people by circumstances, and a fair show she must make, Si, non cast, tamen Can to Madame, and though wit be a wanton Madame: yet I beseech your Ladyship for your own credit dit and mine, let the bridle of judgement be always in the chaps of it to give it head, or restrain it, according as time and place shall be convenient. Most frequently Madame, unworthy vessel that I am to partake or retain any of the delicious Due, that is there distilled. You speak most intellegently Madame. Madame, I do my endeavour, and the best can do no more, they that could do better, it may be would not, and then t'were all one, but rather then be a burden to your Ladyship, I protest sincerely, I would beg my bre worser, therefore I beseech you Madame to hold me excus worser, and let my good will stand for the Actium. I sweat Madame, you are very merry, God send you good luck, ha your Ladyship no waters, that you use at bedtime? No Complexion? No indeed Madame: now and then a piece of scarlet, or so; a little white and read Ceruse; but in troth Ma dame, I have and excellent receipt for a night masque, as ever you herd. Boars grease one ounce, Jordan Almouds blanched and ground a quartern, read Rosewater, half a pint, Mares urine, newly covered, half a score drops. In troth Madame, I but you'll say I speak blindly, but let my love stand a side. How Like you Master P rt? Why? Bold Madame is clean contrary. With all my heart Madame. Clean skind Madame there's a question, do you think I have the itch? I am and Englishwoman, I protest, I scorn the motion. Faith Madam I think ti's but simple honesty that dwells at the sign of me scab. Fortune, I thank thee, I will owe thee eyes For this good turn, now is she mine indeed, Thou hast given me that success my project hoped Of, false disguise that hast been true to me, And now be Bold, that thou ma 'st welcome be. Madam why? Can love beget lose? Do I covet you Unlawfully? Am I and unfit man. To make and husband of? Send for a Priest, First consumma e the match, and then to bed Without more trouble. Why you confessed to me as you're Gentlewoman, I was the man your heart id most affect: That you did doa e upon my mind and body. Why yet enjoy me now. Consider Lady, That little, but blessed time, I was in bed, Although I lay as by my sisters side, The world is apt to censure otherwise: So it's necessity that we marry now. Few widows would do thus. To be in bed and in possession Even of the mark I aimed at, and go off Foiled and disgraced, come, come, you'll laugh at me Behind my back, publish I wanted spirit, And mock me to the Ladies, call me child, Say you denied me but to try the heat And zeal of my affection towards you, Then clap't up with arime, as for example. He coldly loves, retires, for one vain trial, For we are yielding, when we make denial. S'hart, I am Tantalus, my longed for fruit Bobs at my lips, yet still it shrinks from me. Have not I that, which men say never fails To overcome any? opportunity? Come, come, I am too cold in my assault. By all the virtues, that yet ever were In man, or woman, I with reverence Do love thee Lady, but will be no fool To let occasion slip, her foretop from me. Your soul, ahlas Mistress, are you so found To think her general destruction Can be procured by such a natural act, Which beasts are born to and have privilege in? Fie, fiie, if this could be, far happier Are sensitive souls in their creation Than man the prince of creatures, think you Heaven Regards such mortal deeds, or punisheth Those acts, for which he hath ordained us? You put me down, yet will not put me down, I am too gentle, some of you I have herd, Love not these words but force, to have it done As they sing pricksong, e'ne at the first sighed. O widow wonderful, if thou be'st not honest. Now God forgive my mother and my sisters. Think but how finely Madam undiscovered For ever you and I, might live all day your Gentlewoman To do you service, but all night your man To do you service, newness of the trick, If nothing else might stir you. Let me but tarry till the morning Madam, To send for clothes, shall I go naked home. S'hart, will you marry me hereafter then? Why so? these women are the erranst Jugglers in the World, the wry-leg'd fellow is and Ass to they. Well I Mu sique. must have this wddow, what ever come on't: Faith she has turned me out of her service very barely, hark, whats here, music. You say true Master Subtle, I have been early up, but as God help me, I was never the near. What's that to you Sir? at a woman's labour. The troth is, I have been up all night at dice, & lost my clothes, good morrow Master Subtle, pray God the Watch be broke up: I thank you for my Music: Why then he can endure the sighed of a drawn sword now? In bed by Heaven. Z'oones man, she put her hands to my breasts and swore I was no maid, now I being eager to prove her words true, took that hint, and would violently have thrust her hand lower, when her thought being swifter then my strength, made her no sooner imagine that she was betrayed, but she leaps out of the bed, whips me down a sword that hung by, and as, if fortitude and justice had met to assist her, spite of all argument fair or fowl she forced me away. S'hart, what would you have me done? Have played Tarquin and ravished her. I was such and erroneous heretic to love, and women, as thou art, till now. Z'oones, would you had been in my place. Weltri'd, you deal unfriendly. Pray leave my chamber. Why how now my Lord? who do you call rogue? the Gentleman you name is my friend, if you were wise I should be angry. Nothing but this, how many do you think, you have slain last night? There was but four: my Lord, you had best pro vide your self and begun, three you have slain stark dead. T'is most true, Weltri'd is fled. I think you are a witch. The Widow has desired you by me to meet her to morrow morning at Church in some v known disguise, least any suspect it, for quoth she, Long hath he held me fast in his moist hand, Therefore I will be his in nuptial band. I am, what ever you please Sir, If it be not true, I will go with you to the Church my self, your disguise I have thought on; the Widow is your own. Come, leave your fooling. So true, as thou tellest to me, To morrow morn when I have the Widow, My deer friend shalt thou be. Fie, by no means. The Widow comes towards you. Not to your couching gear my Lord, though I be not so old, or rich as your Lordship, yet I love a young wench as well. O hapless wife, that shall have thee, that either must let thee sleep continually, or be kept waking her self by the cough. Nay Madame, yet she is not satisfied. Bold gives her a ring, and she puts it on her thumb. I hope you will not hang me, that were murder Lady, A greater sin, then lying with me sure. But how the Devil came this fool in your company? 'Sblood I as little for you. Why, farewell you. Weltri'd, I prithee stay, Thou knowest I love thee. Well friend, this is the business you must do for me, Repair unto the widow, where give out, To morrow morn, I shall be married, Invite her to the wedding, I have a trick, To put upon this Lord to, whom I made My instrument to prefer me. Madam by heaven, as fully I am resolved to marry now, And will to, if you do not hinder it, As ever lover was, only because The World has taken notice of some passage Betwixt you and me, and then to satisfy My sweet heart here, who poor soul is a feared, To have some public disgrace put upon her, I do require some small thing at your hands. This is dispatched. Now Madam is the time, For I long to be at it, your hand sweet heart. Then once again, I say, widow thou'rt mine Priest marry us, this match I did intend, Ye are all witnesses, if thou hinder it, Widow your lands and goods are forfeit mine. Troth my Lord, & that will stick by you I warrant. Hang her whore. Nay hold fair Lady, now I think vpon't. The old Count has no wife, lets make a match. Then kiss your Spouse. And I have a charge coming, I must not fight now. A Widow. Brood Maddame, it's well known I am a Gentle woman. My father was a man of 500. per annum, and he held something in Capite too. How if no body hear you? Nay stay my Lord, I did but try the tenderness of your conscience, all this is nothing so, but to sweeten the tale (I have for you) I foretold you this feigned mischance. Hymen comes towards us in a mourning robe. Yet many of us Madame are quickly undone some time, but herein we have the advantage of men, though they can be a bed sooner than we, i'ts a great while when they are a bed ever they can get up. S'hart the Lady swoons. Troth Madam, I was never brought up to it, t'is Chambermaids work, and I have ever lived Gentlewoman. And been used accordingly. I say Master Bold; o, do but mark him Madame, his leg, his hand, his body, & all his members standin print.