The Mad Lover Part 18

_Chi._ Dost thou love him still wench?

_Clo._ Why should I not? he had my Maiden-head And all my youth.

_Chi._ Thou art come the happiest, In the most blessed time, sweet wench the fittest, If thou darst make thy fortune: by this light, _Cloe_, And so I'le kiss thee: and if thou wilt but let me, For 'tis well worth a kindness.

_Clo._ What shou'd I let ye?

_Chi._ Enjoy thy miniken.

_Clo._ Thou art still old _Chilax_.

_Chi._ Still still, and ever shall be: if, I say, Thou wo't strike the stroke: I cannot do much harm wench.

_Clo._ Nor much good.

_Chi._ _Siphax_ shall be thy Husband, Thy very Husband woman, thy fool, thy Cuckold, Or what thou wilt make him: I am over joy'd, Ravisht, clean ravisht with this fortune; kiss me, Or I shall lose my self.

_Clo._ My Husband said ye?

_Chi._ Said I? and will say, _Cloe_: nay and do it And do it home too; Peg thee as close to him As birds are with a pin to one another; I have it, I can do it: thou wantst clothes too, And hee'l be hang'd unless he marry thee E're he maintain thee: now he has Ladies, Courtiers More than his back can bend at, mult.i.tudes; We are taken up for threshers, will ye bite?

_Clo._ Yes.

_Chi._ And let me--

_Clo._ Yes and let ye--

_Chi._ What!

_Clo._ Why that ye wote of.

_Chi._ I cannot stay, take your instructions And something toward houshold, come, what ever I shall advise ye, follow it exactlie, And keep your times I point ye; for I'le tell ye A strange way you must wade through.

_Clo._ Fear not me Sir.

_Chi._ Come then, and let's dispatch this modic.u.m, For I have but an hour to stay, a short one, Besides more water for another mill, An old weak over-shot I must provide for, There's an old Nunnerie at hand.

_Clo._ What's that?

_Chi._ A bawdie house.

_Clo._ A pox consume it.

_Chi._ If the stones 'tis built on Were but as brittle as the flesh lives in it, Your curse came handsomlie: fear not, there's ladies, And other good sad people: your pinkt Citizens Think it no shame to shake a sheet there: Come wench. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ Cleanthe _and_ Siphax.

_Clean._ A Souldier and so fearfull?

_Siph._ Can ye blame me; When such a weight lies on me?

_Clean._ Fye upon ye, I tell ye, ye shall have her: have her safelie, And for your wife with her own will.

_Siph._ Good Sister--

_Cle._ What a distrustfull man are you! to morrow, To morrow morning--

_Siph._ Is it possible?

Can there be such a happiness?

_Clean._ Why hang me If then ye be not married: if to morrow night, Ye doe not--

_Siph._ O dear Sister--

_Clean._ What ye wou'd doe, What ye desire to doe; lie with her: Devil, What a dull man are you!

_Siph._ Nay I believe now, And shall she love me?

_Clean._ As her life, and stroke ye.

_Siph._ O I will be her Servant.

_Clean._ 'Tis your dutie.

_Siph._ And she shall have her whole will.

_Clean._ Yes 'tis reason, She is a Princess, and by that rule boundless.

_Si._ What wou'd you be? for I wou'd have ye Sister Chuse some great place about us: as her woman Is not so fit.

_Clean._ No, no, I shall find places.

_Siph._ And yet to be a Ladie of her bed-chamber, I hold not so fit neither, Some great t.i.tle, believe it, shall be look't out.

_Clean._ Ye may, a Dutchess Or such a toye, a small thing pleases me Sir.

_Sip._ What you will Sister: if a neighbour Prince, When we shall come to raign--

_Clean._ We shall think on't, Be ready at the time, and in that place too, And let me work the rest, within this half hour The Princess will be going, 'tis almost morning, Away and mind your business.

_Siph._ Fortune bless us. [_Exeunt._

_Enter King_, Polydor _and Lords_.

_Pol._ I do beseech your grace to banish me.

_King._ Why Gentleman, is she not worthy marriage?