FLA. With all obedience: sir, dispose of me As of a child that judgeth nothing good, But what you shall approve. ANT. And you, Pandolfo? PAN. I, most of all. And for you know[354] the minds Of youth are apt to promise, and as prone To repent after, 'tis my advice they swear T' observe, without exception, your decree. FLA. Content. SUL. Content. PAN. By all the powers that hear Oaths, and rain vengeance upon broken faith, I promise to confirm and ratify Your sentence. LEL. Sir, I swear no less. EUG. Nor I. FLA. The selfsame oath binds me. SUL. And me the same. PAN. Now, dear Antonio, all our expectation Hangs at your mouth. None of us can appeal From you to higher courts. ANT. First, for preparative Or slight præludium to the greater matches, I must entreat you, that my Armellina Be match'd with Trincalo. Two hundred crowns I give her for her portion. PAN. 'Tis done. Some relics Of his old clownery and dregs o' th' country Dwell in him still. How careful he provides For himself first. [_Aside._] Content: and more, I grant him A lease for twenty pounds a year. ANT. I thank you. Gentlemen, since I feel myself much broken With age and my late miseries, and too cold To entertain new heat, I freely yield Sulpitia, whom I lov'd, to my son Lelio. PAN. How cunningly hath the farmer provided T' observe the 'semblance of Antonio's person, And keep himself still free for Armellina! ANT. Signior Pandolfo, y' are wise, and understand How ill hot appetites of unbridled youth Become grey hairs. How grave and honourable Were't for your age to be enamour'd With the fair shape of virtue and the glory Of our forefathers! Then would you blush to think How by this dotage and unequal love You stain their honour and your own. Awake! Banish those wild affections, and by my example Turn t' your reposed self. PAN. To what purpose, pray you, Serves this long proem? on to th' sentence. ANT. Sir, Conformity of years, likeness of manners, Are Gordian knots that bind up matrimony: Now, betwixt seventy winters and sixteen There's no proportion, nor least hope of love. Fie! that a gentleman of your discretion, Crown'd with such reputation in your youth, Should in your western days[355] lose th' good opinion Of all your friends, and run to th' open danger Of closing the weak remnant of your days With discontentment[356] unrecoverable. PAN. Rack me no more; pray you, let's hear the sentence. Note how the ass would fright me, and endear His service: intimating that his pow'r May overthrow my hopes. [_Aside._] Proceed to th' sentence.