MEAN. Fair mistress, pardon The boldness of a stranger, who uncivilly Thus interrupts your better thoughts. JANE. May I Demand your business? MEAN. Under favour thus: Not to use farther circumstance, fair virgin (And yet less fair, 'cause virgin), you are one That are the thought, the care, the aim, the strife-- I should not err, if I should say the madness-- Of all young men: all sighs, all folded arms, All o'ercast looks, all broken sleeps are ow'd Only to you. JANE. I'm sorry I should be A trouble unto any: if I could Afford the remedy as well as now I do your grief, assure yourself that cure Shall be the birth of my next action. MEAN. That cure is my request. If that this were Mine own suit, I had us'd no circumstance. Young Master Credulous, a proper man-- For sure he shall be rich--one whom the whole List of our city virgins doat on--you Conceive the rest, I know. JANE. Alas! what ails him? I'll not be slack to do him any good. MEAN. 'Tis in your power. He is very much, If you will know't--but, sure, you will not grant If I should tell you. JANE. If you thus presume That I am hard, you only ask denial; Your expectation's cross'd, except you fail. MEAN. If you will know it, then, he is in love. JANE. I pity him indeed, poor heart. With whom? MEAN. Even with your beauteous self. JANE. 'Tis not well done To scoff one ne'er did injure you. MEAN. I vow By all that's good, by your fair self, I am As tender of you as that bless'd one is, Whoe'er he be, that loves you most. If I In any case abuse you, let me be More miserable than Littleworth. JANE. Is he become expression?[192] Is his fate The period of ill-wishes? Sure, he never Deserv'd so ill from you! MEAN. I don't reflect Upon his ruin'd fortunes, but your coldness; And, sure, I may call him unhappy whom You do neglect. JANE. That man, where'er he be, Is happier than yourself; and were he here, You should see him receiv'd, and yourself scorn'd. MEAN. I do not think so, lady; sure, you would Make more of me than so. I'll bring the man, And so confute you. JANE. It may be I might Love you the better something for that office, If he might enter here. MEAN. Nay, I could tell Y' had cast him off: alas! you need not hide it: I have it from himself. JANE. Doth he think so? Could I but see him---- MEAN. If his sight can bring But the least joy unto you--as perhaps You'll take some pleasure in his misery-- You shall enjoy it. JANE. I do fear you promise Only to raise my hopes awhile, and then To triumph in their ruin. MEAN. That you may See how my breast and tongue agree, I'll leave This ring with you, till I return again.