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The sixth Scœne.
Enter Ierker, Artlove and Ieffrey, by the middle Scœne.Ierk.
Madame, I am bold to commend this Gentleman,
who will deserve your acquaintance.
Artl.
As far as my power will extend to expression.
La.
You are welcome Mr. Jerker and this Gentleman,
and shall bee whilst your visits are seasonable. But you
know I have a jealous husband.
Ierk.
There are medicines to cure it Madame.
Ieffr.
May not I salute the Ladie Cousin?
Ierk.
'Tis but courtesie and manners.
Ieffr.
I am bold with your Ladiships lip.
La.
'Tis marvell you blush not. So bold and so young!
you'l make up the number of the ten Worthies.
Ieffr.
Madame, I am neither Infidell, Iew, nor good
Christian; though I am little, I dare be your Ladiships
Champion in an active skirmish.
Tong.
This 'tis to be backward: you'l never thrive in
any thing unles you are more forward. Lose such an opportunity
with not speaking to her!
Lady.
Secretarie.
Susan.
Madame.
Lady.
Goe, and direct the Cooke.
Svsan goes forth by the middle Scœne.
Artl.
How on a sodaine my resolves are numb'd,
And frozen into silence, that confirmes
The first distrust of my knowne indeservings,
I dare not speake.
Doroth.
Shall I have another dumb servant! Are you
not well Sir?
Artl.
Well Ladie! yes. Health it selfe
Is a disease in others, if compar'd
With th'absolute state of mine. Where you are present
Sicknesse can have no power over frailtie.
The beames which you bright eyes shoot, purifie
The most infectious ayre. Your words distill
A Balme more precious then that Miracle
The Chymicks dreame of.
At distance I have often seene your beauty;
And thence receiv'd a fire, whose quickning flames
Did animate my soule, that else was earthy,
A lump of passive dulnesse; now 'tis active:
And if you please to cherish it, shall pay
All it's derivative abilities
Vnto your lowest service.
Doro.
You too much flatter my unworthinesse:
And in that likewise derogate
From your owne fulnesse of admired merit.
In your bright forehead, and your formes exactnesse,
A man repleat with all perfections.
Whose very superfluities might be
Additions to the barren worths of others.
Ierk.
And can there be greater disparity?
Would it not seeme a Prodigie in nature,
To have greene Summer with her rose-crown'd head
Kisse the white isicles from Winters beard?
Extinguish her bright fires in his cold bosome?
Madame, I know your sportive Youth desires
A more proportion'd mixture. Come, let's trie.
Fire put to fire increaseth active Flames;
Contraries dull each other with confusion:
Such are the frozen kisses of your Husband,
Vnto your warme delights—
Art.
Ladie, if any worth appeare in me
It must derive it's fulnesse from your liking:
Had I infus'd into me all the excellence
Of those Heroicks whom the Poets fain'd;
Were I made up with all Perfections
That Fiction ever painted, to expresse
Desert in freshest colours;
Vnlesse you cal'd it worth, 'twere but a subject
For base contempt, though popular admiration
Gav't divine Attributes. Since you commend
The faculties your whitenesse must dispose of—
Ieffr.
Aske your husband leave! by this hand I would
not aske an Alderman leave to Cuckold him. So he might
take example from a Citty kinde one, whose Wife long'd
to kisse a Lord: upon which he grew so proud for being
exalted above the rest of his neighbours, that he would
suffer none to Cuckold him ever after but Lords.
Dorot.
By no meanes Sir.
Wrong not your judgement, which must needs bee absolute.
The choice of me
The Cyprian Queene had shee but seene your face,
Would ne're have dy'd the roses with her blood,
Wept on their palenesse for Adonis losse:
But circled in a ring of all her graces
Court your celestiall forme upon the bosome
Of some more fragrant Tempe.
Artl.
She mocks me sure.
Dor.
Did Syrens heare your voice they would give o're
Their own malicious charms: and through the witchcraft
Of it's more powerfull musicke, rage with madnesse:
Leaving their proper element to dye
In the pursuit of sweeter melody.
Artl.
This grosse flattery, Ladie,
Commends your wit, rather then your good nature.
My heart is a plaine heart, and my desires
Are truly vertuous, not to be contemn'd.
Lady.
Fie, Mr. Ierker! besides the words incivility,
I did not expect such absurditie in a reputed wit. Could
you not haue couch'd it better; shall I have leave to doe
your Ladiship a piece of night service; or so. Come,
come, forbeare these wicked sollicits, or I shall disclaime
the promise of my favours reversion when my old Husband
die's, if nature be not mercilesse, and I goe first.
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