CANDIUS

Tush, let him foes heart string against another, he shall never trouble the least vain of my little finger, the old churl thinks none wise, unless he have a beard hang Dam ̄ gling to his wast, when my face is bedaubed with hair as his, then perchance my conceit may stumble on his staiednes. Parents in these days are grown peevish, they rock their children in their cradles till they sleep, and cross them about their bridals till their hearts ache. Marriage among them is become a mar ket, what will you give with your daughter? What Jointure will you make for your son? And many a match is broken off for a penny more or less, as though they could not afford their children at such a price, when none should cheapen such beware, but affection, and none buy it but love. He must needs go that the devil drives, a father, a fiend, that seeks to place affection by ap pointment, & to force love by compulsion, I have sworn to woo Sylena, but it shall be so coldly, that she shall take as small delight in my words, as I do contentment in his commandment, I'll teach him one school trick in love. But behold who is that that comes out of Stellios house, it should seem to be Silena by her attire, Enter Silena. by her face I am sure it is she, o fair face, o love lie countenance! How now Candius, if thou begin to slip at beauty on a sudden, thou wilt surfeit with carousing it at the last. Reme ̄ ber that Livia is faith full, I, and let thine eyes witness Silena is amiable, here shall I please my father and my self, I will learn to be obedient, & come what will, I'll make away, if she seem coy, I'll practice all the art of love; if I her cunning, all the pleasures of love. What, I think she is lunatic or foolish? Thou art a fool Candius, so fair a face cannot be the scabbard of a foolish mind, mad she may be, for commonly in beauty so rare, there falls passion extreme, Love and beauty disdain a mean, not therefore because beauty is no virtue, but because it is happiness, and we scholars know that virtue is not to be praised, but honoured. I will put on my best grace, sweet wench thy face is lovely, thy body comely, & all that the eyes can see enchanting, you see how unacquainted I am bold to board you. She raves or overreaches. I am one sweet soul that loves you, brought hither by report of your beauty, and here languishes with your rare ness. I will always call on such a saint, that hath power to release my sorrows, yield fair creature to love. The loving sect is and ancient sect and and honourable, and therefore should be in a person so perfect. I love thee much, give me one word of comfort. I have no master, but come to make choice of a mistress. Doubtless she is and idiot of the newest cut, I'll once more try his. I have loved thee long Si lena. Too simple to be natural: too senseless to be arteficiall. You said you went to know your fortune, I am a scholar and am cunning in pal mistry. Why laugh you? Alas poor wench, I see now also thy fol lie, a fair fool is like a fresh weed, pleasing leaves and sour juice. I will not yet leave her, she may dissemble. I cannot choose but love thee. Nay then farewell, either to proud to ac cept, or too simple to understand. Now I perceive thy folly, who hath rakt together all the odd blind phrases, that help them that know not how to discourse, but when they cannot answer wisely, either with gibing cover their rudeness, or by some new coined buy word bewray their peevishness, I am glad of this, now shall I have colour to refuse the match, and my father reason to accept of Livia, I will home, and repeat to my father our wise in counter, and he shall perceive there is nothing so fulsome as a she fool. Thou knowest that Accius is also a fool, and his raiment fits me, so that if apparel be infectious, I am also like to be a fool, and he wist what would be the conclusion, I marvel Bona verba Livia. In deed I think he served some post to his master, but come Dromio post me. Well. What must we do? Here I do plighted my faith, taking thee for the staff of my age, and of my youth my solace. But when shall we be married? To avoid danger, charge, and tediousness, let us now conclude it in the next Church. We thank them, and if they will come to Memphios house they shall take part of a bade dinner. This cottons, and works Like wax in a sows ear. I believe fair Livia, if your sour fire should see you with your sweet heart, he would not be we rye patient. Be of that mind still my fair Livia, let our father's lay their purses together, we our hearts, I will never woo where I cannot love, let Stellio enjoy his daughter. But what have you wrought here? A fine pleasant poet, who entreateth of the art of Love, and of the remedy. A short art & a certain, three rules in 3. lines. Principio quod amare velis reperire labora, Proximus huic labour est placidam euor are puellam, Tertius ut longo tempore ducet amor. So I will and pace it too: thou shalt be ac quainted with case, gender, and number. First one must find out a mistress, whom before all others he voweth to serve. Secondly, that he use all the means that he may to obtain her. And the last with de serts, faith and secrecy to study to keep her. The line of life is good, Venus mount very perfect, you shall have a scholar to your first hus band. No, I bid her use good words. None but a deed of gift. Her heart. Here fiddlers take this and not a word, here is no wedding, it was at Memphios house, yet gramercy, your music though it missed the house hit the mind, we were a preparing our wedding gear. How shall we recompense fortune, that to our loves hath added our parents good wills? Death. This one verse, Non caret essertu quod volum ere duo. Where two are agreed, it is impossible but they must speed. I cannot deny it, it was done so lately. You sir agreed to this match. In this place yesterday before Dromio & Risio. It but the apparel of Accius and Silena, we were the persons.