LIVIA

The care is taken, I'll ask him blessing as a father, but never take counsel for and husband, there is as much odds between my golden thoughts, & his leaden advice, as between his silver hairs and my amber locks, I know he will cough for anger that I yield not, but he shall cough me a fool for his labour. In deed our parents take great care to make us ask blessing and say grace when as we are little ones, and growing to years of judgement they de prive us of the greatest blessing, and the most graci us things to our minds, the liberty of our minds: they give us pap with a spoon before we can speak, and when we speak for that we love, pap with a hatchet: because their fancies being grown mu sty with hoary age, therefore nothing can relish in their thoughts that savours of sweet youth: they study twenty years together to make us grow as straight as a wand, and in the end by bowing us make us as crooked as a cammock. For mine own partly (sweet Candius) they shall pardon me, for I will measure my love by min own judgement, not my father's purse or peevishness. Nature hath made me his child, not his slave, I hare Memphio and his son deadly, if I wist he would place his affection by his father's appointment. Flowers, fowls, beasts, fish, trees, plants, stones, and what not. Among flowers, cowslops & lillies for our names Candius and Livia. Among fowls, Turtles and Sparrows, for our truth and desires. Among beasts, the fox and the Ermine for beauty and policy, and among fish the cockle & the Tortoise, because of Venus among trees, the vine wreathing about the elm for our embra cings. Among stones Abestor, which being hight will never be cold, for our constancies. Among plants, Time and harts-ease, to note that if we take time we shall ease our hearts. What book is that? Is there art in love? I pray thee repeat them. I am no Latinist Cand. you must construe it. Pop three knaves in a sheath, I'll make it a right Tunbridge case, and be the bodkin. I must begone, Taedet, it irketh, Oportet, it be hoveth my wits work Like barm, alias yeast, alias sizing, alias rising, alias Gods good. Good God, I think Gentlemen had never less wit in a year. We maids are mad wen ches, we gird them and flout them out of all scotch and notch, and they cannot see it, I will know of the old woman whither I be a maid or no, and then if I be not, I must needs be a man, God be here. This attire is very fit. But how if this make me a fool and Silena wise, you will then woo me and wed her. So do knaves go double; else how should they be so cunning in doubling. Why so sir boy? I beshrew your hearts, I hear one coming, I know it is my father by his coming. And I vow to thee affection which nothing can dissolve, neither the length of time, nor malice of for tune, not distance of place. A good question, for that one delay in wedding brings and hundred dangers in the Church, we will not be asked, and a licence is to chargeable, and to tarry till to morrow too tedious. Agreed. Whats the remedy? What of all the book is the conclusion? Whats that? Then cannot we miss, therefore give me thy hand Candius. I, and needless to be angry. You gave your consent. Sweet Candius, if thy father should see us alone, would be not fret? The old man me thinks should be full of . Here comes our counsellers.