SCAR. The father and the gallants have left me here with a gentlewoman, and if I know what to say to her, I am a villain. Heaven grant her life hath borrowed so much impudence of her sex but to speak to me first: for, by this hand, I have not so much steel of immodesty in my face to parley to a wench without blushing. I'll walk by her, in hope she can open her teeth. Not a word? Is it not strange a man should be in a woman's company all this while and not hear her tongue. I'll go further. God of his goodness! not a syllable. I think if I should take up her clothes too, she would say nothing to me. With what words, trow, does a man begin to woo. Gentlewoman, pray you, what is't a clock? CLARE. Troth, sir, carrying no watch about me but mine eyes, I answer you: I cannot tell. SCAR. And if you cannot tell, beauty, I take the adage for my reply: you are naught to keep sheep. CLARE. Yet I am big enough to keep myself. SCAR. Prythee tell me: are you not a woman? CLARE. I know not that neither, till I am better acquainted with a man. SCAR. And how would you be acquainted with a man? CLARE. To distinguish betwixt himself and myself. SCAR. Why, I am a man? CLARE. That's more than I know, sir. SCAR. To approve I am no less, thus I kiss thee. CLARE. And by that proof I am a man too; for I have kissed you. SCAR. Prythee, tell me, can you love? CLARE. O Lord, sir, three or four things: I love my meat, choice of suitors, clothes in the fashion, and, like a right woman, I love to have my will. SCAR. What think you of me for a husband? CLARE. Let me first know what you think of me for a wife? SCAR. Troth, I think you are a proper gentlewoman. CLARE. Do you but think so? SCAR. Nay, I see you are a very perfect proper gentlewoman. CLARE. It is great pity then I should be alone without a proper man. SCAR. Your father says I shall marry you. CLARE. And I say, God forbid, sir! alas, I am a great deal too young. SCAR. I love thee, by my troth. CLARE. O, pray you do not so; for then you stray from the steps of gentility; the fashion among them is to marry first, and love after by leisure. SCAR. That I do love thee, here by heaven I swear, And call it as a witness to this kiss. CLARE. You will not enforce me, I hope, sir? SCAR. Make me this woman's husband! thou art my Clare: Accept my heart, and prove as chaste as fair. CLARE. O God! you are too hot in your gifts; should I accept them, we should have you plead nonage some half a year hence, sue for reversement, and say the deed was done under age. SCAR. Prythee, do not jest. CLARE. No (God is my record), I speak in earnest: and desire to know Whether ye mean to marry me, yea or no? SCAR. This hand thus takes thee as my loving wife. CLARE. For better, for worse. SCAR. Ay, till death us depart,[342] love. CLARE. Why, then, I thank you, sir, and now I am like to have That I long look'd for--a husband. How soon from our own tongues is the word said Captives our maiden-freedom to a head!