CORISCA

I will not change thee For twenty boisterous young things without Beards. These bristles give the gentlest Tittillations, And such a sweet Due flows on them, it cures My lips without Pomatum; heres a round belly, It's a Down pillow to my back. I sleep So quietly by it; and this tunable nose (Faith when you hear it not) affords such music, That I curse all night Fiddlers. As I live I am jealous. Yes, and I have reason, Knowing how lusty and active a man you are. You have forgotten what you did in your sleep, And when you waked called for a Cawdle. I long to see the man of war Cleora Archadamus Daughter goes, and rich Olimpa, I will not miss the show. Troth I Like em the better. I cannot endure to have a perfumed Sir Stand cringing in the hammes; licking his lips, Like a Spaniel over a Firmenty pot, and yet Has not the boldness to come on, or offer What they know we expect. Musing Cliora? She has given it you. Let him kiss his Drum, I'll save my lips, I rest on it. He shall find We are a Commonwealth. Have at us. I am sick, the man Speaks poniards, and diseases. Plague upon it, She has God the start of us. I could e'ne burst With envy at her fortune. There are none but our slaves left, Nor are they to be trusted; some great women (Which I could name) in a dearth of Visitants, Rather then be idle, have been glad to play At small game, but I am so queasy stomached, And from my youth have been so used to Dainties, I cannot taste such gross meat; some that are hungry Draw on their shoemakers, and take a fallen From such as mend Mats in their Galleries; Or when a Taylor settles a Petticoat on, Take measure of his Bodkin: fie vpon't, It's base; for my partly, I could rather lie with A Gallants breeches, and conceive upon they, Then stoop so low. Here's a dull thing, But better taught I hope, send of your man. We'll have a Scene of mirth, I must not have you shamed for want of practice. I stand here for Cleora, and do you hear Minion, (That you may tell her, what her woman should do) Repeat the lesson over, that I taught you, When my young Lord came to visit me, if you miss In a Syllable or posture! If you are, I'll help you in. Thus I walk musing: You are to enter, and as you pass by, Salute my woman, be but bold enough, You'll speed I warrant you; begin. This is well on both parts. Very good, This Wench will learn in time. This will bring him on, Or he's a block. A good Girl! Now my turn comes. I am exceeding sick, pray you send my Page For young Asotus, I cannot live without him, Pray him to visit me, yet when he's present, I must be strange to him. You wait well, Minion, shortly I shall not speak My thoughts in my private Chamber, but they must Lie open to discovery. I hope she's no observer, Of whom I grace. Zant. Looks on a Book, kisses her. A kiss for entertainment is sufficient: Too much of one dish cloys me. You are very cautelous. Zanthia seems to sleep. You are grown conceited. You speak, as it were yours. Hold, you forget, I only play Cleora's partly. Forbear, Sir, Your Father's wife? Fallen off, I must trifle with the time too; Hell confound it. We forgotten, When we drew out intemperate feasts till midnight: Their hunger was not thought on, nor their watchings; Nor did we hold our selves served to the height, But when we did exact, and force their duties Beyond their strength and power. Nay good Chuck. Deny me, by my honour You take no pity on me. I shall swoon Assoon as you are absent, ask my Man else, You know he dares not tell a lie. And alls to make you merry When you come home. Old, Duck to me You are young Adonis. I'll kiss him for the honour of my Country, With any she in Corinth. And if need be I have a Couch, and a banqueting house in my Orchard, Where many a man of honour has not scorned To spend and afternoon. He's a clown, I warrant him. Careless Harlotry, Striking her. Look too't, if a Curl fallen, or wind, or Sun, Take my Complexion off, I will not leave One hair upon thine head. Fie on these wars, I am starved for want of Actium, not a gamester left To keep a woman play; if this world last A little longer with us, Ladies must study Some new found Mystery, to cool one another, We shall burn to Cinders else; I have herd there have been Such Arts in a long vacation; would they were Revealed to me: they have made my Doctor too Physician to the Army, he was used To serve the turn at a pinch: but I am now Quite unprovided. Leave the last out, it smells rank of the Country, And shows course breeding, your true Courtier knows not His Niece, or Sister from another woman, If she be apt and cunning. I could tempt now This fool, but he will be so long a working. Then he's my Husbands Son; the fitter to Supply his wants, I have the way already. I'll try, if it will take; when were you with Your Mistress, fair Cleora. Oh what am I fallen to! But it's a punishment for my lust and pride, Justly returned upon me. Yes forsooth. Whom can we accuse But our selves for what we suffer? thou art joust Thou all-creating power. And misery Instructs me now, that yesterday acknowledged, No Deity beyond my lust and pride. There is a heaven above us, that looks down With the eyes of Justice, upon such as number Those blessings freely given, in the account Of their poor merits: Else it could not be Now miserable I, to please whose palate The Elements were ransacked, yet complained Of Nature, as not liberal enough In her provision of rarities To sooth my taste, and pamper my proud flesh: Now wish in vain for bred: I that forgotten I was made of flesh and blood, and thought the silk Spun by the diligent worm, out of their entrails, Too course to cloth me; and the softest Down Too hard to sleep on; that disdained to look On virtue being in rags; that stopped my nose At those that did not use adulterate arts To better nature; that from those, that served me, Expected adoration, am made justly The scorn of my own Bondwoman. Tempered, I say, with mercy. Enter at one door Leosthenes Ti magoras at the other Officers with Pisander and Timandra. It'll best become you. Pray you, forbear; I am and altered woman. No matter, I have other thoughts.