LORD

What hour is't? It early in the morning. Enter Secre. Whats the matter? A Lady? What her name? Decoy ? prithee admit her. Enter Decoy. Have you business Madam With me? I pray speak it. Wait i'th next cham ̄ ber till I call, now Madam. Exeunt. Please you to give me the particular That I may know the extent of my engagement, I am ignorant by what desert you should Be encouraged to have care of me. How dee mean Madam? In what Madam? Whats all this? Your Ladyship I conceive Does traffic in flesh merchandise. What is The Lady of pleasure you prefer. Wife to sir Thomas Bornwell ? Have you prepared her? And Madam when expect you to be whipped For doing these fine favors. The Lady Aretina is my kinswoman. I'll have thee carted. Your Ladyship shall be no protection If thou but stayest three minutes. I do not find that proneness since the fair Bellam Maria died, my blood is cold, Nor is there beauty enough surviving To heighten me to wantonness, who waits? And what said my Lady? Enter Hairecut. Would any man that meets This Lady take her for a bawd. I would thought better, call the Lady back, I wonot loose this opportunity, Bid her not fear, the favour is not common, And isle reward it. I do wonder much Will Sentlove was not here to day. You shall return My compliment in a letter to my Lady Aretina, favour me with a little patience, Show her that chamber. Write. Madam where your honour is in danger, My love must not be silent. Enter Sentlove and Kickshaw. Sentlove and Kickshaw! Writing a letter, nay it shanot bar Any discourse. What new beauty? You acquaint your selves With none but wonders. 'Twill require a strong faith. If you be innocent preserve your fame least this Decoy Madam betray it to your repentance. By what name is she known? He has a vast knowledge of Ladies, las poor Alexander ! When dost thou mean thy body shall lie fallow? I think It cooler travel if you examine it Upon the hoof through Spain. Nay less laborious to serve a prenticeship In Peru, and dig gold out of the mine, Though all the year were dogdayes. In brief, this Lady, could you fallen from virtue, Within my knowledge will not blush to be a Bawd. Be wise, and reward my caution, with Timely care of your self, so I shall not repent To be known your lovings kinsman and servant. Gentlemen, the Lady Celestina. Is she so rare a thing? I'll show thee a fairer presently, to shame Thy eyes and judgement, look o'that. — So I'll subscribe Seal it, isle excuse your pen for the direction. Your patience gentlemen isle return instantly. Exit. Has not that object Convinced your erring judgements. Were but your thoughts as capable as mine Of her Idea, you would wish no thought That were not active in her praise, above All worth and memory of her sex. Why do you think your selves competent Judges. Of beauty gentlemen? I can, and give a perfect censure of Each line and point, distinguish beauty from A thousand forms, which your corrupted optiks Would pass for natural. You do not know my fortitude Think you so gentlemen, I dare see this creature To make you know your errors and the difference Of her, whose memory is my Saint, not trust My senses? J dare see and speak with her, Which holds the best acquaintance to prepare My visit to her. I would give this advantage to your cause, Bid him appear in all the ornaments Did ever wait on beauty, all the riches Pride can put on, and teach her face more charm Then ever Poet dressed up Venus in, Bid her be all the graces, and the queen Of love in one, I'll see her Sentlove, and Bring off my heart armed, but single thought Of one that is dead, without a wound, and when I have made your folly prisoner, isle laugh at you. I'm for the present somewhere else engaged, Let me hear from you. Though you could turn each place you move in to A temple, rather than a wall should hide So rich a beauty from the world, it were Less want to loose our piety and your prayer, A throne were fitter to present you to Our wonder, whence your eyes more worth than all They look on, should chain every heart a prisoner. She has a merry soul, it will become Me ask your pardon Madam for my rude Approach so much a stranger to your knowledge. But did you hear all this. Pray let me have it Madam. You cannot Madam, these are things we owe To nature for. I see men would dissect me to a fibre, But do you believe this? You would be kind, And love me then. Then you should me Madam. Your hand, your lip, Now I am proof gainst all temptation. I that have strength Against thy voice and beauty, after this May dare the charms of womankind, thou art Bellam Maria unprofaned yet, This Magic has no power upon my blood. Farewell Madam, if you durst be the example Of chaste as well as fair, thou Wertenberg a brave one. I sent you a letter Madam. Madam I am glad To see you here, I meant to have kissed your hand Ere my return to Court. You do him grace. What alteration is this? I that so late Stood the temptation of her eye, and voice, Boasted a heart, above all licentious flame, At second view turn renegade, and think I was too superstitious, and full Of phlegm not to reward her amorous Courtship With manly freedom. She could not want a cunning to seem honest When I neglected her, I am resolved, You still look pleasant Madam. I must translate that compliment and owe All that is cheerful in my self to these All quickening smiles, and rather than such bright Eyes should repent their influence upon me, I would release the aspects, and quit the bounty Of all the other stars; Did you not think me A strange and melancholy gentleman To use you so unkindly. I hope you made no loud complaint, I wood not Be tried by a Jury of Ladies. I did not meet that noble entertainment, You were late pleased to show me. A noble folly I bring repentance fort, I know you have Madam a gentle faith, and wonot ruin What you have built to honour you. If you can love isle tell your Ladyship. You are all Composed of harmony. That which does perfect both, Madam you have herd I can be constant, and if you consent To grace it so, there is a spacious dwelling Prepared within my heart for such a Mistress. Why my good Lady? Your sex does hold it no dishonour To become Mistress to a noble servant In the now court, Platonicke way, consider Who 'tis that pleads to you, my birth, and present Valve can be no stain to your embrace, But these are shadows when my love appears, Which shall in his first miracle return Me in my bloom of youth, and thee a Virgin, When I within some new Elisium Of purpose made and meant for us, shall be In every thing Adonis, but in his Contempt of love, and court thee from a Daphne Hid in the cold rind of a bashful tree, With such warm language, and delight, till thou Leap from that bays into the queen of love, And pay my conquest with composing garlands Of thy own myrtle for me. Consent to be my Mistress Celestina, And we will have it Springtime all the year, Upon whose invitations when we walk, The winds shall play soft descant to our feet, And breathe rich odours to repure the air, Green bowers on every side shall tempt our stay, And Violets stoop to have us tread upon em. The read rose shall grow pale, being near thy cheek, And the white blush overcome with such a forehead, Here laid, and measuring with our selves some bank, A thousand birds shall from the woods repair. And place themselves so cunningly, behind The leaves of every tree, that while they pay As tribute of their songs, thou shat imagine The very trees bear music, and sweet voices Do grow in every arbour, here can we Embrace and kiss, tell tales, and kiss again, And none but heaven our rival. You chide me handsomely, pray tell me how You Like this language. You need not fly out of this circle Madam, These widows so are full of circumstance, I'll undertake in this time I would courted Your Ladyship for the toy, to would broken ten, Nay twenty colts, Virgins I mean, and taught em The amble, or what pace I most affected. You'll not be angry Madam. He may, and legs booted and spurred to ride into the country. Fell my arms? I cannot Madam. I'll sooner give these armess to'th hangmans axe, My head, my heart, to twenty executions Than fell one atom from my name. Enough to rectify a Satires blood, Obscure my blushes here. Enter Sentlove and Hairecut. From this Minute isle be a servant to thy goodness, A Mistress in the wanton sense is common, I'll honour you with chaste thoughts, and call you so. Sent love, your head was used to a covering, Beside a hat, when went the hair away. You are brave again. Though I be no Physician, I may prevent a fever in your blood. And where have you spent the morning's conversation? She's fair, I must confess, But does she keep this distance out of state. By your example I shall know how to compliment, in this You more confirm my welcome. You make me smile Madam. You do not Madam. You shall do me and honour. And glad to hear my faults. You cannot please me better. But one Madam? If they be able, or compound. Yes I am Still in their debt, and I must owe them love, It was partly of my character. What that? And am made Eunuch. Trouble not your self, I could convince your fears with demonstration That I am man enough, but knew not where Until this meeting beauty dwelled; the court You talked of must be where the queen of love is, Which moves but with your person, in your eye Her glory shines, and only at that flame Her wanton boy does light his quickening torch. Pardon Madam. Will Sentlove follow, I must laugh at you. Your pleasure. Your eyes are bribed, And your hearts chained to some desires, you cannot Enjoy the freedom of a sense. You sir — While Hairecut is busy about his hair, Sentlove goes to Celestina.