University of Virginia Library

Scena Ia./

[Musick.]
Enter Lo. Ad: wth . 2 . or . 3 . attendantes./
Ad:
Leaue me awhile: (exeunt attend)/

(takes vp a paper)
reades/.

Let neyther thy beauty waste, nor thy selfe want through
sainted willfullnes/. subscribed. Locuples./

answeare/.

The best dower wch a woman enioyes is honestie, because
beautie maye be lost by time, & riches by fortune./

subscribed/. Dorotea Constance./

A foule perswasion to vnchastitie
foyld by a modest answeare: vertuous soule
(who ere thou art) how happy is that man
that doth enioye thee? what a troope of villaines
lurke in earch Corner, who like pioners
seeke nothinge more then to blowe vp the fort,
of vntoucht virgins, or im̄aculate wiues,/
makinge theyr [mor] monies Engines for theyr warre:
did I but know this Constant dorotea.
Eccho. dorotea.
stands amazed/.
wilt thou resolue me Eccho what she ys?
Echo/. ys.
ys she a virgin Eccho or a wyfe.—
Eccho. a wyfe.
of what pfession Eccho is her husband
Eccho. her husband.
nay mocke me not but tell me what he is.
Eccho. ys.
Ile pawne my lyfe a seaman & in India.
Eccho. in India.
Canne mony wooe her vnto lust or no?
Eccho. No.
a happie seaman that hath such a spouse:
Eccho.—spouse
wch ys then many of her sex more Chast.
Eccho. more chast./
as thou art Eccho answeare once agayne.
not one word more? what Eccho not a word?
& yet why I vrge I more, when heres ynough?
Collect the words togeather/.
Dorotea is a wyfe,:
her husband is in India.
No spouse more Chast.
Mayst thou be euer so: & may that soule
wch seekes thy ruine: ruinate [her] yt selfe.
Good heauns.
how ofte haue I auricularly heard
such sea-mens wiues Condemnd of vanitie?
but I haue euer beene most Confident
of better vertues in that feeble sex:
Report sayes all doe burne in lustfull fire
but here's one woman makes report a lyar./