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Scœn. 1.
Enter Franke and George, as walking to Totenham-Covrt.George.
Fie Franke; there's such a disproportion,
'Twill nere be brought to an equalitie.
Fr.
Why George, dost think th'exterior goods of fortune,
Or titular greatnesse that derives it selfe
From larger springs, and flow's to swell the blood
With attributes of gentle, or of noble
Can make the difference such, that the free soule
Must have the limits of her large desires
Prescrib'd by them? Nature's impartiall:
And in her worke of man prefer's not names
Of auncestors. She sometimes formes a piece
For admiration from the basest earth
That holds a soule: and to a Beggars issue
Gives those perfections make a beauty up;
When purer molds polish'd and gloss'd with titles,
Honours and wealth, bestow upon their bloods
Deform'd impressions; objects onely fit
For sport or pitty.
Geo.
Yet never can the mixture
Of gold with clay make any transformation
Of that base matter into purer metall.
14
The Chymistry of Love can surely doe it.
Wedlocke conferres all honour that's a husbands
Vpon his wife.
Geor.
And therefore you will marry
A milke wench; one that's drudge unto necessitie.
'Twould be a credit to that long continuance
Of noble matches which your auncestors
Have link'd to the chaine of their owne bloods.
To make the series of their Families
Spread in so many glorious divisions.
Come, let my counsell guide these passive fires
To flame aright, and send their Pyramids
More upwards. Let the grosser stuffe that feeds them,
By an inversion, choake them. From advice
Men must choose wives, not passion.
Fran.
She is faire:
Upon her person all the graces waite,
And dance in rings about her. Her bright eye
Is Loves chiefe mansion where he keepes his Court.
Envy not faire ones, if my fancie doth
Give all your dues to her, save onely those
Which your defects supply from wanton art.
Her white and red she borrow's not from any
Cosmetique drugs; nor puzzles the invention
Of learn'd practitioners for oyle of Talxe
To blanch an Ethiops skin. Lillies and Roses
Are figures fitting common beauties: hers
Wants a comparison but its proper selfe.
Geo.
You swell her praise too high; so meane a subject
fits nor not these raptures.
Fran.
Shee's a subject, George,
For larger volumes then invention
Yet ever fill'd with flattering hyperboles.
The very thought of her hath strain'd my heart-strings
Vp to a pitch of joy; whose musicke makes
My spleene dance lusty measures.
15
If she be
So rare a piece, her low condition
Makes me suspitious shee's some common wanton
Lurks in that maske for safety.
Fran.
Did not friendship
Restrain't, I should be angry: nay more; punish
So great a sin against her innocence.
I have laid all the baits that might entice
Apt inclination to sweet wickednesse;
But could not catch her that way. She hath shund them
With witty scorne, and such imperious checks
Have made me blush at my intentions foulenesse;
Which now is cleer'd with noble resolution
To give my hot desires their satisfaction
In faire embraces, such as the reverence
Of lawfull Wedlock sweetens.
Geor.
Vertuous policie.
Kill reputation, that you may preserve
A little better conscience. Any judgement
Would make a faire construction of my life,
That surfets in delights, and playes the Epicure
In all varietie and choyce of pleasures
Sooner then of thy act. Where ils doe want
A faire excuse (as thine doth) they are doubled.
Fran.
When thou hast seene her, thou wilt soone acknowledge
In what a misty error thy invectives
Have lost themselves.
Geo.
Nay rather hide her from me,
She may raise motions; and if I should rivall thee,
I must be serv'd: nothing was ere devis'd
To fright libidinous nature from it's pronenesse,
That can restraine me.
Fran.
Shal't not make me jealous?
Her soule is guarded with so many vertues
Temptations cannot better it: and i'th' way
16
The musicke of consent) I dare preferre
My selfe the first accepted.
Geor.
Still be confident.
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