RUFALDO

Old men are the truest lovers, young men are in constant and wag with every wind, we never move, but are as true as steel. Beside, sweet Love, but do I court a shadow? to see whither love will carry a man: let me see, I could find in my heart to bestow a ring upon my Sweetheart, but that I am loath to partly with it: hem, I will get but one child, and that shall be a boy, lest having too many children, I un do my heir, and my goods be divided. Oh sweet Selina, Oh amiable Selina; sure I am not old. Old men walk with a staff, and creep along the streets, hold their heads below their girdle, falter in their speech, foam at mouth, and breathe ten times in a fur long, and are ready to spit their lungs on every men three should. God a mercy honest Gorgon. Why, and am not I? is not the fellow drunk? I am Rufaldo. I am that Rufaldo, the Merchant, that buried my wife lately, and have one daughter Hilaria, ancient ac quaintance with Cornelio and your Master Antonio. Is thy name Gorgon? Do I know thee to be Gorgon? what, shall I be faced out of my self? why thou varlet, who am I, if not Ru faldo? I'll assure thee I was Rufaldo, when I rose in the morning. No. Young, changed, art sure thou dost not mock? Altered young, would! I would I were; and yet me thinks I am livelier then I was, I feel my joints pliable as wax, and my voice is stronger too. But tell me, honest Gor gone, is it possible for and old man to be young again? Nay, stay, honest Gorgon, would! young, no grey hairs? stay, who's here? Gasparo! what, does not he know me too? Tricks, passages, I am Rufaldo, old Rufaldo. It's so, I am changed, I am younger then I was, I am that Rufaldo, believe, I know you to be a learned Gen tleman, named Gasparo, I was told afore I was altered, but not to trouble you with many questions, only one, Gas paro, is it a thing possible for and old man to be young again? I know it's admirable, but is it possible? you are a Schol ler. 'Tis very strange: I am not yet confident. Why, do you think it would not prove as gain full? Well, well, but if I be young, I have took no Physic for't. Well, I know not what to say too't, there is some power in love has blessed me: now Selina, be thou gracious. Not mad, Gasparo, I would be loath to be troubled with her and she be mad. No, no, I love no madness on any condition, for fear of being horn-mad. Prithee madcap leave, I am almost mad to hear thee. That thou shalt, boy, and I'll dance my self too, heigh,— I am something altered I confess, since I saw you. Just as Gasparo told me, it's apparent, nay, nay, son, forbear to be inquisitive, I confess I am abated of my age, the power of Love, and so forth, but I see your fire of love is not out too. Why, this Love does make us all ingenious too: come fit down, saving your tail sir, a cushion, we may discourse with the more case. She is very well, would son, I am in love too: son I call you, I hope you will get my daughters goodwill, but yowl find her peevish. Look you can you read, I made a ditty to send to my Mistress, and my Musician that I keep in my house, to teach my daughter, hath set it to a very good air, he tells me: you shall hear and judge of it, I hear him tuning his Instrument. God of War to Cupid yield, He is Master of the field, He with Arrow hits the heart, Thou with Lance the worse partly. Cupid greater is then Jove, Since he wounded was with love, Nay, in power by much ods He excels the other gods. Love transformed Jove to a Swan, Made Ulysses a mad man, But Rufaldo it does make Young for his Selina's sake. How do you relish it, would? O fie, they are barbarous and ignoble, that's beg gerly. Fie, a whipping post, tinkerly stuff; how did you Like the air? O Music, the life of the soul. And you shall have her between your legs pre sently. Hilaria, where is this girl? I'll fetch her to you, and leave her with you, for I have a Love of mine own, to whom I mean in person to present this Ditty, I'll fetch her. Still Antonio with you? you are a foolish girl: do I take care to provide a husband for you? and will you cast away your self upon a Prodigal? but that I would not dis content his sister, whom I hope to make my wife, I would forbid him my house; therefore be wise, and take heed of him, he's giddy-headed, and loose-bodied. The Be may buzz, but he will leave a sting: plant your love there: upon my blessing, he has many Lordship's. I have set open the gate of opportunity; Cupid speed us both. Nay, she shall uva ̄ to nothing my wealth can purchase, Oh my sweet Selina. With all my heart. Nor I for thousand world's forsake my Love. Come seal it with a kiss, another, another, another. O, that we were married! it's death to stay the Ceremonies, would we were a bed together. Most willingly, Oh my bird, my Chick, my Dove, My America, my newfound world, I shall shortly Run back into one and twenty again. It's now early day: fie, what a long night hath this been? the Sun went drunk to bed the last night, and could not see to rise this morning: I could hardly wink, I am sure, love kept me waking, and the expectation of this my wedding day did so caper in my brains, I thought of nothing but dancing the shaking of the sheets with my sweetheart. It is certain, I am young every body now tells me, so it did appear by Selina's consenting so soon to love, for when I had but broke the Ice of my affection, she fell over head and ears in love with me; was ever man so hap py as I am? I do feel, I do feel my years fallen off, as the rain from a man that comes dropping in, I do feel my self every day grow younger and younger still: let me see, and hundred years hence, if I live to it, I shall be new out of my teens, and running into years of discretion again: Well, I will now to Master Cornelios, and bid they good morrow with a noise of Musicians, and to see the very talking of music, how my heart leaps and dances, at my wedding already! I have bespoke the Parson to marry us, and have promised a double fee for expedition. Oh now I am so proud of my Joy, my feet do not know what ground they stand on. It is very strange, is not your man Gorgon come back? That anger's me most, sir. Hast thou happy news? Have I been young for this? if I find her not, I will run, I will run, I will run mad, mad. This morning we wanted a Bride too, but she was found, marry I cried for her first. Father, come, my Bro there Antonio is but gone to look his Sister: would, my sweet Wench, when shall's to bed. Gorgon, hast lost thy senses? here's Selina. Lights there: so, so, welcome thou much expected night, I do salute thy black brows: come, my Selina, shalt find I have young blood: Hillaria, do service to your Mother, make her unready. And why should we loose any? I pray thee let her come. I know it's your Virgin modesty, loath to partly with a Maidenhead, but it must off: come, prithee be not idle: why, thou knowest I married thee, Selina, as thou love me— Any thing, sweetheart. Any vows, what is't? Should any body else? Come, 'twas a foolish vow, and must be broke. Not lie with me the first night? 'twere a sin beyond in continency. I had rather loose half my estate, then miss thee but and hour out of mine arms this night. O, it's and age, a world of time to me: why I have fed of Oister-pyes, and rumps of Sparrows a whole month, in expectation of the first night, and leave it for a vow? How? must, come? I know you do but jest, this is but your device to whet me on, and heighten me, as if old age at once hath soaked up all my marrow. Hark you, how old do ye think I am? Out upon thy judgement: why I am not above, by all computation, six or seven and thirty: I am restored, re newd, when first I loved thee, by this hand I was. How? nay then I see you'll try my strength: thus I could force you. Antonio throws him down. She has thrown me down, I know not how to take it, nor well how to bear it, my bones ache, a pox a Gasparo, a my conscience I am and old fool: would? I will see more, and set a good face on't, you know who I am? Would, old? it's so, my spirits faint again: what did you marry for? How? Selina, sweet Selina, hear me. What will you do? O, any thing, bitter Selina. Never by this hand, and thank you too. Stark-naked. To the world's end. If you will have it so, I am content. Flesh, and blood, I do swear. O, I have married a Devil, I shall be utterly dis graced, if this be known: Pray sweet wife, let me beg one request of you, that you would not discredit me, I will be content to endure your pleasure, do not forsake my house, I beseech you that you would lie with my daughter. O no, I do but humbly entreat you will be plea said to lie with my daughter. I am the worse for you by forty marks. One thing more, virtuous wife, that you would not tell your father, nor any body else, how you have beaten me: Goodnight, sweet virtuous wife. Did you hear him confess it? Bubulcus kill Antonio? Nay then lay hands on him. There is no remedy: would thou hadst killed his Sister; I am plagued with her, and dare not speak it for shame, I'll do what I can to get a Reprieve for you; nay, and you kill folks, you must eene take your fortune. No, no, it's impossible. Nay, I could beat him, and I am sure you can beat me, wooed I were well rid of you: it's a double mi sery to be abused, and dare not speak out. Yes verily, alive again, let not the Hangman fright away your wits any longer. How, not my wife? I would feign see that. Do you make question? My wife? I think there is some reason, she is my very deer wife, I will as sure you sir. A boy? well, I have God something, a pox a your fingers. How sayest? is not something, done Sweetheart? It will break out anon. Would, how's this, my wife become a man? I confess she played the man with me. I am abused, disgraced, undone. Blessing on him: why he hath made Stockfish on me, he has beaten away all my inclination to give my blessing. Would, sayest so? Then my blessings to you: come, you're both my Children.