TRO. I think I am; if justice Overdo sign to it, I am, and so we are
all: he'll quit us all, multiply us all.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE II.--_Another part of the Fair._
_Enter GRACE, QUARLOUS, and WINWIFE, with their swords drawn._
GRACE. Gentlemen, this is no way that you take; you do but breed one
another trouble and offence, and give me no contentment at all. I am
not she that affects to be quarrell'd for, or have my name or fortune
made the question of men's swords.
QUAR. 'Sblood, we love you.
GRACE. If you both love me, as you pretend, your own reason will tell
you, but one can enjoy me: and to that point there leads a directer
line, than by my infamy, which must follow, if you fight. 'Tis true, I
have profest it to you ingenuously, that rather than to be yoked with
this bridegroom is appointed me, I would take up any husband almost
upon any trust; though subtlety would say to me, I know, he is a fool,
and has an estate, and I might govern him, and enjoy a friend beside:
but these are not my aims; I must have a husband I must love, or I
cannot live with him. I shall ill make one of these politic wives.
WINW. Why, if you can like either of us, lady, say, which is he, and
the other shall swear instantly to desist.
QUAR. Content, I accord to that willingly.
GRACE. Sure you think me a woman of an extreme levity, gentlemen, or a
strange fancy, that, meeting you by chance in such a place as this,
both at one instant, and not yet of two hours' acquaintance, neither
of you deserving afore the other of me, I should so forsake my modesty
(though I might affect one more particularly) as to say, this is he,
and name him.
QUAR. Why, wherefore should you not? what should hinder you?
GRACE. If you would not give it to my modesty, allow it yet to my wit;
give me so much of woman and cunning, as not to betray myself
impertinently. How can I judge of you, so far as to a choice, without
knowing you more? You are both equal, and alike to me yet, and so
indifferently affected by me, as each of you might be the man, if the
other were away: for you are reasonable creatures, you have
understanding and discourse; and if fate send me an understanding
husband, I have no fear at all but mine own manners shall make him a
good one.
QUAR. Would I were put forth to making for you then.
GRACE. It may be you are, you know not what is toward you: will you
consent to a motion of mine, gentlemen?
WINW. Whatever it be, we'll presume reasonableness, coming from you.
QUAR. And fitness too.
GRACE. I saw one of you buy a pair of tables, e'en now.
WINW. Yes, here they be, and maiden ones too, unwritten in.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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