LEODICE

Choose for your self Lady, I have and eye to pleasure My self? Nurse? Are the shoemakers gone that brought my Shopes? My shoe wrings me so it goes to the heart of me. How? does the Gods forbid to Marry wench? Pre he do, but stay a little; Thou sayest true, call they then, yet hark, 'twere as good not, The fault cannot be mended now: I thou sayest true in that, do, hark are thou goest. How's that, yowl not control your Princes will ye? Is it not stately to be Fantastical, go call the Shoemaker yet you shall not neither. Wast not a pretty youth? He drew my shoes on finely, quietly. 'Tis that he wants, he must know it Call him again. The length of my foot, a pretty figure If he be a good Anatomist, he may by one quantity Guess at another, and in the end take the whole bodies length Would, some strange fantasies are crept within me, I'm not Acquainted with, 'tis a pretty youth if I may credit my Judgement at the first sighed, and whats that to me, and Why not to me as well as to another: I am alone, and why Should I fear to tell my self my thoughts, I could love him, This tastes well of my tongue; O, but the coursenes of his condition Offends my stomach, when I should digest it, some Sectarist Now to scrwe and wrest a Text from his native sense, would Help me well in this, what am I, a woman, whats he a men Where's the inequality? my blood Royal, his perhaps ignoble, Whence springs that fount that runs all Royalty, 'tis the Sea It self, the lesser Rivulets and running Brooks are those of Common sense, yet all do mix and run in one another, What are Titles, Honours bestowed and Regis placitum, should My Father make that shoemaker a Lord, then were he Noble, Yet where's his blood refine, tush tush, greatness is Like a Glistering stone, more precious in the esteem than in the virtue: So, I am well called out of my contemplation. Who made my shoes sirrah, they pinch me? A tunable heel, I prithee English it. You're pleasant sir, and what is this a Prentice? And how far's that, which are your bounds? You have done well sir, and so no doubt will he by my Instructions; whats thy name? Is it so long since thou lost them? You promise well, let them be of your making then, that I May see how near you'll come to your promise. No matter, I'll hazard his good will, to morrow let me have And other pair, and bring them your self. Come hither view my foot well, you must be better Acquainted with it. No it's a little higher. Now sir what will you do? You have hit it Sir. There is and Idol or bed in his eye, that I could ever worship And if I should, sure he would bless me, love and folly, Inseperate and joint companions, you are too violent upon Me now; to beat affection with such down right strokes On a Mechanic drudge, a base, how base? how base? is there no President That great Ladies have yoked their underlings in fellowship? I take some counsel, on't Nurse. Out witch, dost know my thoughts: the shoemaker, and why The shoemaker? I thought of him, why call him? Thor't in love with him, I believe thou art, if I were certain That thou Wertenberg so base, I'de banish thee my presence; nay, My Father should banish thee the bounds of Britanny, out old doting fool. My shoemaker minion. Yet as great as you have doted on as base as he. Hast thou History for this? Nay prithee tell it on Nurse. Did not I watch with thee? So could a young Bachelor yet, widow, I prethe finish but Thy last discourse amongst all thy Cotations of men made; Great that were ignoble born, this I most desire; was Dioclesian joint ceaser with my Father, that oft hath made Room gorgeous with his triumphs, but of so mean dissent As thou reports? And yet is that no blemish to his son? My Grace be pledge, out, prithee speak freely? It's true, I have herd my Father boast it, yet had I forgotten it. O Majesty! thou may mest the memory, it loses all Records That are beneath us, now no more: prithee see if my Shoemaker be come yet, I'll walk abroad perhaps to take the air. I have not slept to night, I shall be tame if I be if I be kept that 2 pages missing My former words, I say thou art a Suitor to my woman? Thou shalt not swear and lie, I'll make it plain To thy confession; art not her shoemaker? Then her Suitor; I am a Roman sir, and speak that tongue; Is not a Suitor a Shoemaker? I would thou Wertenberg, in the plain English sense, Thou shouldst have then few nays. Not: since I am so far in discourse with you, I'll bring it To some end: suppose shoemaker my woman did love you, and Would have me to speak for her, what answer should I have? Be bold, and say what answer shall I have? Old! this is a new answer; will not her dignity, wealth, And Estate, make her young again? You would have one young then I perceive? For doubling of your prenticeship? Dare you venture on a wife of my choosing? That's no venture, I'll promise she shall be young, good Parentage, honest, let her beauty commend it self. You are too hard of belief, I mean plainly, I have Some skill in Magic, what would you give To see her amply personated in a glass, that must be your wife? I could by Metroposcopie read thy fate here in thy forehead; By Chyromancie find it in thy Palm, but these are petty Arts, no I'll show thee by speculatory magic, her face In this glass; kneel sir, for't must be done with reverence I tell you: now tell me what thou seest? It's but a shadow, hold up thy right hand and look again, What seest thou now? any substance yet? How likest her now, has she a good face? Who does she resemble? I, she's very Like me. Why wouldst not have her Like me? It's too long to dally, away with shadows, and imbra The substance, intruth I love thee; nay, do not fear—I'll Share all dangers with thee. Wrong not my love with doubt, look I'll pay thee back Thy duty given to me, th'art my better by virtue of my Honourable love, I make thee here my head: Thou shalt No more descend unto my foot, here thy work shall be, While in thine eyes two wanton Cupid's skip, Thou shalt lay Velvet touches on my lip. Yet all's not done, two pair of Rosy cheeks shall tie them on: Shall I not need to fear thee? If I could love thee better than I did I should, but intruth I cannot, but for the safest guardian of thy life, it's in my Heart, and that shall be plucked out ere it be found to harm thee. Our instant Marriage, that's the surest way, hazard a Chiding for thy negligence, and linger here about the Court to night, to morrow morning in some humble Habit weel steal the guardian; it shall be my task provide the Churchman. May I ever lie alone if there want a Bride, and that's a that I should be loath to endure, mean time be this the contract, the word of troth. There goes my heart. Shut night, sweet Phoebe on thy swiftest Arrow. Exit Leo. You shall do all, go, yet answer to me first. Was this young Shoemaker ere here before? I hope he will: well, fail omorrow, So 'twere one you loved, 'twere pleasing servitude? How can I want sweet comfort, having thee? alack, that Pleasure stolen, being back returned, should taste so Sour: It seems a shallow Ford, when first it's tried; But when the depth we found, It is a gulf of raging whirlpools found. Oh me! it's this I fear, The burden in my womb our death's do bear. What veil can now be drawn to hide our cares, Or keep this secret from our Father's ears. Of our stolen marriage? It must be a thick cloud darkens the Sun: This day my Father sits to cast death's doom Upon the Christians: and that doom I know The fruit this Land brings next, must be my woe. Dearest I will. Swear to me one thing first. Then as thou art Princely bred, I charge thee swear, That as above the world I hold thee deer, Thou wilt not leave me, whatsoever Thunder My Father throws at thee: Kings frowns can be but death: From thee I'll never partly unto my latest breath. Peace, no more, I'll ask thee pardon for this base Mistrust: kiss thy gentle cheek, loving and mild: I know thou canst not leave thy wife and child. Oh me, I shall forget my present safety: Dear heart stand by. Nurse, Who's within there? Nurse. Sweet honey Nurse, If the Emperor my father asks for me, Say I am not well, and keep my chamber. You Shoemaker a word, Yes Nurse, he has fitted me now. Ade my comfort. Thus folded in thine Arms I wish to die. His wife my Lord? Here's one deserves it more, he saved my life When I was almost dead with grief; These can witness it. And by the Proclamation, your self are bound To let this young man marry me: I'll swear I'll wed with none, except this Shoemaker. A Beggar? look on this Babe: It's his own; it's Princely born, And a Shoemakers son. Good Father hear, You know not what brave men these shoemakers are. I do beseech you Sir, my Royal Father, Take this lovely Child to kiss, and bless it. Base Brat? Alas, had the poor fool a tongue or power to speak, Hee'd swear you did him wrong: By all our gods it is as nobly born As the proudest here. I take but this poor Child's partly, and so should you: For look you Father, this base Brats Mother Lay in my Mother's belly; were she alive, She would acknowledge it, and comfort give, And it shall call you Grandsir if it live. This shoemakers. Father it is, and this long since I knew, Loved, and then married, a twelve Month since: This token, could it speak, would tell you all.