MRS. FORE. But you have a villainous character: you are a libertine in speech, as well as practice. SCAN. Come, I know what you would say: you think it more dangerous to be seen in conversation with me than to allow some other men the last favour; you mistake: the liberty I take in talking is purely affected for the service of your sex. He that first cries out stop thief is often he that has stol’n the treasure. I am a juggler, that act by confederacy; and if you please, we’ll put a trick upon the world. MRS. FORE. Ay; but you are such an universal juggler, that I’m afraid you have a great many confederates. SCAN. Faith, I’m sound. MRS. FORE. Oh, fie—I’ll swear you’re impudent. SCAN. I’ll swear you’re handsome. MRS. FORE. Pish, you’d tell me so, though you did not think so. SCAN. And you’d think so, though I should not tell you so. And now I think we know one another pretty well. MRS. FORE. O Lord, who’s here? SCENE XV. [_To them_] MRS. FRAIL _and_ BEN. BEN. Mess, I love to speak my mind. Father has nothing to do with me. Nay, I can’t say that neither; he has something to do with me. But what does that signify? If so be that I ben’t minded to be steered by him; ’tis as thof he should strive against wind and tide. MRS. FRAIL. Ay, but, my dear, we must keep it secret till the estate be settled; for you know, marrying without an estate is like sailing in a ship without ballast. BEN. He, he, he; why, that’s true; just so for all the world it is indeed, as like as two cable ropes. MRS. FRAIL. And though I have a good portion, you know one would not venture all in one bottom. BEN. Why, that’s true again; for mayhap one bottom may spring a leak. You have hit it indeed: mess, you’ve nicked the channel. MRS. FRAIL. Well, but if you should forsake me after all, you’d break my heart. BEN. Break your heart? I’d rather the _Mary-gold_ should break her cable in a storm, as well as I love her. Flesh, you don’t think I’m false-hearted, like a landman. A sailor will be honest, thof mayhap he has never a penny of money in his pocket. Mayhap I may not have so fair a face as a citizen or a courtier; but, for all that, I’ve as good blood in my veins, and a heart as sound as a biscuit. MRS. FRAIL. And will you love me always? BEN. Nay, an I love once, I’ll stick like pitch; I’ll tell you that. Come, I’ll sing you a song of a sailor. MRS. FRAIL. Hold, there’s my sister, I’ll call her to hear it. MRS. FORE. Well; I won’t go to bed to my husband to-night, because I’ll retire to my own chamber, and think of what you have said. SCAN. Well; you’ll give me leave to wait upon you to your chamber door, and leave you my last instructions? MRS. FORE. Hold, here’s my sister coming towards us. MRS. FRAIL. If it won’t interrupt you I’ll entertain you with a song.