 | Women beware Women |  |
Scæn. 1.
Enter Leantio with Brancha, and Mother.Mother.
Thy sight was never yet more precious to me;
Welcome with all the affection of a Mother,
That comfort can express from natural love:
Since thy birth-joy, a Mothers chiefest gladness.
After sh'as undergone her curse of sorrows,
Thou was't not more dear to me, then this hour
Presents thee to my heart. Welcome again.
Leant.
'Las poor affectionate Soul, how her joys speak to me!
I have observ'd it often, and I know it is
The fortune commonly of knavish Children
To have the lovingst Mothers.
Moth.
What's this Gentlewoman?
88
Oh you have nam'd the most unvaluedst purchase,
That youth of man had ever knowledge of.
As often as I look upon that treasure,
And know it to be mine, (there lies the blessing)
It joys me that I ever was ordain'd
To have a Being, and to live 'mongst men;
Which is a fearful living, and a poor one;
Let a man truly think on't.
To have the toyl and griefs of fourscore years
Put up in a white sheet, ti'd with two knots:
Methinks it should strike Earthquakes in Adulterers,
When ev'n the very sheets they commit sin in,
May prove, for ought they know, all their last Garments.
Oh what a mark were there for women then!
But beauty able to content a Conquerer,
Whom Earth could scarce content, keeps me in compass;
I finde no wish in me bent sinfully
To this mans sister, or to that mans wife:
In loves name let 'em keep their honesties,
And cleave to their own husbands, 'tis their duties.
Now when I go to Church, I can pray handsomely;
Not come like Gallants onely to see faces,
As if Lust went to market still on Sondays.
I must confess I am guilty of one sin, Mother,
More then I brought into the world with me;
But that I glory in: 'Tis theft, but noble,
As ever greatness yet shot up withal.
Moth.
How's that?
Leant.
Never to be repented (Mother,)
Though sin be death; I had di'd, if I had not sin'd,
And here's my master-peece: Do you now behold her!
Look on her well, she's mine, look on her better:
89
That ever was committed; and I have my pardon for't:
'Tis seal'd from Heaven by marriage:
Moth.
Married to her!
Leant.
You must keep councel Mother, I am undone else;
If it be known, I have lost her; do but think now
What that loss is, life's but a triffle to't.
From Venice, her consent and I have brought her
From Parents great in wealth, more now in rage;
But let storms spend their furies, now we have got
A shelter o'r our quiet innocent loves,
We are contented; little money sh'as brought me.
View but her face, you may see all her dowry,
Save that which lies lockt up in hidden vertues,
Like Jewels kept in Cabinets.
Moth.
Y'are too blame,
If your obedience will give way to a check,
To wrong such a perfection.
Leant.
How?
Moth.
Such a Creature,
To draw her from her fortune, which no doubt,
At the full time, might have prov'd rich and noble:
You know not what you have done; my life can give you
But little helps, and my death lesser hopes.
And hitherto your own means has but made shift
To keep you single, and that hardly too.
What ableness have you to do her right then
In maintenance fitting her birth and vertues?
Which ev'ry woman of necessity looks for,
And most to go above it, not confin'd
By their conditions, vertues, bloods, or births,
But flowing to affections, wills, and humors:
90
Speak low sweet Mother; you are able to spoil as many
As come within the hearing: If it be not
Your fortune to mar all, I have much marvel.
I pray do not you teach her to rebel,
When she's in a good way to obedience,
To rise with other women in commotion
Against their husbands, for six Gowns a year,
And so maintain their cause, when they'r once up,
In all things else that require cost enough.
They are all of 'em a kinde of spirits soon rais'd,
But not so soon laid (Mother) As for example,
A womans belly is got up in a trice,
A simple charge ere it be laid down again:
So ever in all their quarrels, and their courses,
And I'm a proud man, I hear nothing of 'em,
They'r very still, I thank my happiness,
And sound asleep; pray let not your tongue wake 'em.
If you can but rest quiet, she's contented
With all conditions, that my fortunes bring her to;
To keep close as a wife that loves her husband;
To go after the rate of my ability,
Not the licentious swindg of her own will,
Like some of her old school-fellows, she intends
To take out other works in a new Sampler,
And frame the fashion of an honest love,
Which knows no wants; but mocking poverty
Brings forth more children, to make rich men wonder
At divine Providence, that feeds mouths of Infants,
And sends them none to feed, but stuffs their rooms
With fruitful bags, their beds with barren wombs.
Good Mother, make not you things worse then they are,
Out of your too much openness; pray take heed on't;
91
That strive to mar good sport, because they are perfit.
I would have you more pitiful to youth,
Especially to your own flesh and blood.
I'll prove an excellent husband, here's my hand,
Lay in provision, follow my business roundly,
And make you a Grand-mother in forty weeks.
Go, pray salute her, bid her welcome cheerfully.
Moth.
Gentlewoman, thus much is a debt of courtesie
Which fashionable strangers pay each other
At a kinde meeting; then there's more then one
Due to the knowledge I have of your neerness.
I am bold to come again, and now salute you
By th'name of daughter, which may challenge more
Then ordinary respect.
Leant.
Why this is well now,
And I think few Mothers of threescore will mend it.
Moth.
What I can bid you welcome to, is mean;
But make it all your own; we are full of wants,
And cannot welcome worth.
Leant.
Now this is scurvy,
And spake as if a woman lack'd her teeth.
These old folks talk of nothing but defects,
Because they grow so full of 'em themselves.
Branc.
Kinde Mother, there is nothing can be wanting
To her that does enjoy all her desires.
Heaven send a quiet peace with this mans love,
And I am as rich, as Vertue can be poor;
Which were enough after the rate of minde,
To erect Temples for content plac'd here;
I have forsook Friends, Fortunes, and my Country,
And hourly I rejoyce in't. Here's my Friends,
And few is the good number; thy successes
92
Hopeful or spightful, they shall all be welcome:
Who invites many guests, has of all sorts,
As he that trafficks much, drinks of all fortunes,
Yet they must all be welcome, and us'd well.
I'll call this place the place of my birth now,
And rightly too; for here my love was born,
And that's the birth-day of a womans joys.
You have not bid me welcome since I came.
Leant.
That I did questionless.
Branc.
No sure, how was't?
I have quite forgot it.
Leant.
Thus.
Branc.
Oh Sir, 'tis true;
Now I remember well: I have done thee wrong,
Pray tak't again Sir.
Leant.
How many of these wrongs
Could I put up in an hour? and turn up the Glass
For twice as many more.
Moth.
Wilt please you to walk in daughter?
Branc.
Thanks sweet Mother;
The voice of her that bare me, is not more pleasing.
Exeunt.
Leant.
Though my own care, and my rich Masters trust,
Lay their commands both on my Factorship,
This day and night, I'll know no other business
But her and her dear welcome. 'Tis a bitterness
To think upon to morrow, that I must leave her
Still to the sweet hopes of the weeks end,
That pleasure should be so restrain'd and curb'd
After the course of a rich Work-master,
That never pays till Saturday night.
Marry it comes together in a round sum then,
And do's more good you'll say: Oh fair ey'd Florence!
93
Thou now art Mistress of, a pride would take thee,
Able to shoot destruction through the bloods
Of all thy youthful Sons; but 'tis great policy
To keep choice treasures in obscurest places:
Should we shew Theeves our wealth, 'twould make 'em bolder;
Temptation is a Devil will not stick
To fasten upon a Saint; take heed of that;
The Jewel is cas'd up from all mens eyes.
Who could imagine now a Gem were kept,
Of that great value under this plain roof?
But how in times of absence? what assurance
Of this restraint then; yes, yes? there's one with her.
Old Mothers know the world; and such as these,
When Sons lock Chests, are good to look to Keys.
Exit.
| Women beware Women | |