RHETORICA

Nay, dearest Logicus, let not the excellency of your reason be so severe, but that it may admit a gracious appre hension of a smiling love; let not the exactness of your wise dome be so regulated, but that it may express a courteous ac ceptance of a Lovers admiration; let not— Why lo, now your self has made a set speech; and thus while you Reprehend, you Offend: while you Direct, you Neglect: while you Reform, you Deform: while you— Which is your way? Nay, do you speak first, you are the better Man. Why so does mine; weel go together. Why so must I. Why, and I must walk here alone a little first. Why, and I can very well think on my business by the way. Why, and I am going to a Feast. Why, and I am going to Ethicus. No, no; your lip is all that I desire. TAra, ding de ding, ding de ding, lan, tan, dan, dido. Historiam? why, ask Poeta. I, you; they say she's sick of love. And eloquent tongue is never dry, Astrologiam will pledge you for me. I'll in too, to fit and Talk with her, while she's sick. Exit Rhetorica. Yes, faith, you shall go further if you will, to the Infinitive: I am not in the Mood to be wooed now. I wonder at this, Grammaticus: that you having brought Love under a Rule, cannot notwithstanding rule it. But why should you torture yourself so with love? I think they are happy that never marry. If then women desire so much to marry, why is A mor of the Masculine gender? I, but me thinks, they should be afraid of Actaeons fortune. Well, Sir, my necessary departure must cut off the End of your discourse by and Apocope. Exit. Rhet. And did you mark with what a Strength of Heat, his Cold Feebleness set upon me? and I was Mistress Tongue; and I was Nimble-tongued, and I had Four tongues. But if the Eye of Age be not so Dim, but that it may Re flect upon it self: if the Ear of Age be not so Perverse, but that it may Admit a free Attention; if the Reason of Age, will but yield to Reason; then shall his Eye, his Ear, his Rea son, bring in their several informations against his Age. If we should inquire with whom does reside the most refined Expolition of Language; would it be answered with Olde-folkes? if we should inquire with whom does abide the most nimble vigour of purest Apprehension; would it be answered with Old-folkes? if we should inquire who are most tried for Quick Dispatch of weighty Affairs, would it be answered your Old-folkes? whose Age brings Care, Care Weakness, Weakness Forwardness, Frowardness Distraction, Distraction Childishness: and thus running Round in the Circle of Time, growing Giddy, they fallen down upon all Four again, Like Children: Children I may call them for their Impotency, not Innocence: for their Perverseness, not Hopefulness; for their Impatience, not Tenderness; for then would they afford a more Tender censure, of our more Tender loves: but let's be gone, and though they Chide, yet will we Love; and I will sooner confess my Tongue to want Eloquence, then my Love of Logicus to want Reason. Why then, Grammaticus, at this double request, without any Circumlocutions or Figures, I plainly offer un to thee my love. Nay? nay? nay truly Ethicus, it's good manners, to let her answer in her own defence.