[NEVILL, SCUDMORE, BELLAFRONT, STRANGE, KATHERINE, _whisper in one part_. PENDANT, SIR ABRAHAM, _and_ WAGTAIL _in another_. Mistress Lucida, you did once love me; if you do still, no more words, but give me your hand. Why are ye doubtful? ABRA. Ne'er look upon me, Mistress Lucida; time was, time is, and time's pass'd. I'll none of you now: I am otherwise provided. PEN. Well spoken, brazen-head![66] now or never, Sir Abraham. ABRA. Then first, as duty binds, I crave consent Of my two parents dear: if ay, say so; If not, I'll ha' her, whether you will or no. SIR INN. How? how? L. NIN. I hope you will not. ABRA. Ma'am, I am resolved: you have a humour of your aqua-vitæ bottle, why should not I have a humour in a wife? SIR J. WOR. An old man were a fitter match for her: He would make much of her. ABRA. Much on her? I know not what ye call much making on her, I am sure I have made two on her. PEN. And that an old man cannot do, I hope. NEV. O thou beyond Lawrence of Lancashire.[67] SIR INN. Come, come, you shall not. ABRA. Speak not in vain; I am too sure to change, For hand and heart are sure: _Ecce signum_. And this have I done, and never lay with her. SIR J. WOR. Nay, then, 'tis too late; 'Tis sure: 'tis vain to cross the will of fate. SIR INN. _and_ LADY. Well, well, God bless you. [ABRAHAM _and_ WAGTAIL _kneel_. ABRA. Thanks, reverend couple, and God bless withal The little Ninny that herein doth sprawl. Parson, you shall despatch us presently: Lord, how soberly you stand! PAR. Now truly I could ne'er stand drunk in my life. STRANGE. Strange and most fortunate, we must have a new Tuck then. C. FRED. Is it a match? LUC. 'Tis done. C. FRED. Then Bacchus squeeze grapes with a plenteous hand. Parson, you'll take some pains with us to-night. Come, brothers, come: fly, willow, to the woods, And, like the sea, for healths let's drink whole floods. STRANGE. I consecrate my deed unto the city, And hope to live myself to see the day, It shall be shown to people in a play. SCUD. And may all true love have like happy end. Women, forgive me; men, admire my friend. SIR J. WOR. On, parson, on; and, boy, outvoice the music.[68] Ne'er was so much (what cannot heavenly powers?) Done and undone, and done in twelve short hours. [_Exeunt._ FOOTNOTES: [59] [See _post_.] [60] The difficulty of concealing love has been the origin of a humorous proverb in Italian. In Pulci's "Morgante Maggiore," iv. 38, Rinaldo thus taunts the most sentimental of the Paladins, Oliver, when he becomes enamoured of Florisena-- "_Vero è pur che l'uom non possa,_ _Celar per certo l'amore e la tossa._" [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 269.]