HAR. She may be a nun; but if ever she prove an anchoress, I'll dig her grave with my nails. [_Aside._ FRANK. To her again, mother. [_Aside._ HAR. Hold thine own, wench. [_Aside._ PRI. You must read the morning mass, You must creep unto the cross,[288] Put cold ashes on your head, Have a hair-cloth for your bed. BIL. She had rather have a man in her bed. PRI. Bind your beads, and tell your needs, Your holy _aves_ and your creeds: Holy maid, this must be done, If you mean to live a nun. MIL. The holy maid will be no nun. [_Aside._ SIR ARTH. Madam, we have some business of import, And must be gone; Will't please you take my wife into your closet, Who farther will acquaint you with my mind: And so, good madam, for this time adieu. [_Exeunt women and_ SIR ARTHUR. SIR RALPH. Well now, Frank Jerningham, how sayest thou?[289] To be brief-- What wilt thou say for all this, if we two, Her father and myself, can bring about, That we convert this nun to be a wife, And thou the husband to this pretty nun? How then, my lad, ha? Frank, it may be done. HAR. Ay, now it works. FRANK. O God, sir! you amaze me at your words; Think with yourself, sir, what a thing it were To cause a recluse to remove her vow: A sainted,[290] contrite, and repentant soul, Ever mortified with fasting and with prayer, Whose thoughts, even as her eyes, are fix'd on heaven. To draw a virgin thus devout with zeal Back to the world: O impious deed! Nor by the canon-law can it be done Without a dispensation from the church; Besides, she is so prone unto this life, As she'll even shriek to hear a husband nam'd. BIL. Ay, a poor innocent, she! Well, here's no knavery; He flouts the old fools to their teeth. [_Aside._ SIR RALPH. Boy, I am glad to hear Thou mak'st such scruple of thy[291] conscience; And in a man so young as is yourself, I promise you 'tis very seldom seen. But, Frank, this is a trick, a mere device-- A sleight plotted betwixt her father and myself To thrust Mounchensey's nose beside the cushion;[292] That being thus debarr'd of all access. Time yet may work him from her thoughts, And give thee ample scope to thy desires. BIL. A plague on you both for a couple of Jews. [_Aside._ HAR. How now, Frank, what say you to that?