Where
I am tide to talke thus: I am a wife now.
Liv. It
seems so, and a modest.
Mar. You
are an asse; [220]
When thou art married once, thy modesty
Will never buy thee Pins.
Liv. 'Blesse
me.
Mar. From
what?
Bya. From
such a tame foole as our cozen Livia?
Liv. You
are not mad.
Mar. Yes
wench, and so must you be,
Or none of our acquantance, marke me Livia.
Or indeed sit for our sex: Tis bed time.
Pardon me yellow Hymen, that I
meane [230]
Thine offrings to protract, or to keepe
fasting
My valiant Bridegroome.
Liv. Whether
will this woman?
Bya. You
may perceive her end.
Liv. Or
rather feare it.
Mar. Dare
you be partner in't?
Liv. Leave
it Maria,
I feare I have mark'd too much, for goodnesse
leave it;
Devest you with obedient hands; to bed.
Mar. To
bed? No Livia, there are Comets hang
[240]
Prodigious over that yet; there's a fellow
Must yet before I know that heat ( nere
start wench )
Be made a man, for yet he is a monster;
Here must his head be Livia.
Liv. Never
hope it.
Tis as easie with a Sive to scoope the
Ocean, as
To tame Petruchio.
Mar. Stay:
Lucina heare me,
Never unlock the treasure of my womb
For humane fruit, to make it capable;
[250]
Nor never with thy secret hand make briefe
A mothers labour to me; if I doe
Give way unto my married husbands will,
Or be a wife, in any thing but hopes,
Till I have made him easie as a child,
And tame as feare, he shall not win a smile,
Or a pleas'd look, from this austerity,
Though it would pull another Joynture from
him,
And make him ev'ry day another man;
And when I kisse him, till I have my will,
[260]
May I be barren of delights, and know
Onely what pleasures are in dreams, and
guesses.
Liv. A
strange Exordium.
Bya. All
the severall wrongs
Done by Emperious husbands to their wives
These thousand yeeres and upwards, strengthen
thee :
Thou hast a brave cause.
Mar. And
Ile doe it bravely
Or may I knit my life out ever after.
Liv. In
what part of the world got she this spirit?
[270]
Yet pray Maria, looke before you
truly,
Besides the obedience of a wife,
Which you will finde a heavy imputation,
Which yet I cannot thinke your own, it
shews
So distant from your sweetnesse.
Mar. Tis
I sweare.
Liv. Weigh
but the person, and the hopes you have,
To worke this disperate cure.
Mar. A
weaker subject
Would shame the end I aime at, disobedience.
[280]
You talk too tamely: By the faith I have
In mine own Noble will, that childish woman
That lives a prisoner to her husbands pleasure,
Has lost her making, and becomes a beast,
Created for his use, not fellowship. |
Liv. His first wife said as much.
Mar. She
was a foole,
And took a scurvy course; let her be nam'd
'Mongst those that wish for things, but
dare not do 'em:
I have a new daunce for him.
[290]
Liv. Are
you of this faith?
Bya. Yes
truly, and wil die in't.
Liv. Why
then let's all weare breeches.
Mar. Now
thou comst neere the nature of a woman;
Hang these tame hearted Eyasses, that no
sooner
See the Lure out, and heare their husbands
halla,
But cry like Kites upon 'em: The free Haggard
( Which is that woman, that hath wing,
and knowes it,
Spirit, and plume ) wil make an hundred
checks,
To shew her freedome, saile in ev'ry ayre,
[300]
And look out ev'ry pleasure; not regarding
Lure, nor quarry, till her pitch command
What she desires, making her foundred keeper
Be glad to fling out traines, and golden
ones,
To take her down again.
Liv. You
are learned sister;
Yet I say still take heed.
Mar. A
witty saying ;
Ile tell thee Livia, had this fellow
tired
As many wives as horses under him,
[310]
With spurring of their patience; had he
got
A Patent, with an Office to reclaime us
Confirm'd by Parliament; had he all the
malice
And subtilty of Devils, or of us,
Or any thing that's worse then both.
Liv. Hey,
hey boyes, this is excellent.
Mar. Or
could he
Cast his wives new again, like Bels to
make 'em
Sound to his will; or had the fearfull
name
Of the first breaker of wilde women: yet,
[320]
Yet would I undertake this man, thus single,
And spight of all the freedom he has reach'd
to,
Turn him and bend him as I list, and mold
him
Into a babe again; that aged women,
Wanting both teeth & spleen, may Master
him.
Bya. Thou
wilt be chronicl'd.
Mar. That's
all I aime at.
Liv. I
must confesse, I do with all my heart
Hate an Emperious husband, and in time
Might be so wrought upon.
[330]
Bya. To
make him cuckold?
Mar. If
he deserve it.
Liv. Then
Ile leave ye Ladies.
Bya. Thou
hast not so much Noble anger in thee.
Mar. Goe
sleep, goe sleep, what we intend to do,
Lies not for such starv'd soules as thou
hast Livia.
Liv. Good
night : the Bridegroom will be with you
Mar. That's
more then you know.
( presently.
Liv. If
ye worke upon him,
As you have promised, ye may give example,
[340]
Which no doubt will be followed.
Mar. So.
By. Good
night: we'l trouble you no further.
Mar. If
you intend no good, pray doe no harm.
Liv. None,
but pray for you.
Exit Livia.
Bya. 'Cheere
wench?
Mar. Now
Byancha,
Those wits we have let's wind 'em to the
height,
My rest is up wench, and I pull for that
Will make me ever famous. They that lay
[350]
Foundations, are halfe builders all men
say.
Enter Jaques.
Jaq. My
Master forsooth. |
