_Mal._ I cannot contain,--he saw thee not that left thee.
If there be wisdom, reason, honour, grace,
Of any foolishly-esteemèd virtue,
In giving o'er possession of such beauty,
Let me be vicious, so I may be loved.
Passion, I am thy slave; sweet, it shall be my grace,
That I account thy love my only virtue:
Shall I swear I am thy most vowèd servant?
_Fra._ Mine vowed? Go! go! go! I cannot more of
love. No! no! no! You bin all unconstant. O unfaithful
men--tyrants--betrayers--de very enjoying us loseth
us; and when you only ha' made us hateful, you only
hate us. O mine forsaken heart! 123
_Mal._ I must not rave. Silence and modesty two
customary virtues. Will you be my mistress?
_Fra._ Mettres? Ha! ha! ha!
_Mal._ Will you lie with me?
_Fra._ Lie with you? O no; you men will out-lie any
woman; fait, me no more can love.
_Mal._ No matter, let me enjoy your bed. 130
_Fra._ O! vile man, vat do you tinck on me? Do you
take me to be a beast--a creature that for sense only
will entertain love, and not only for love--love? O!
brutish abomination!
_Mal._ Why, then I pray thee love, and with thy love
enjoy me----
_Fra._ Give me reason to affect you. Will you swear
you love me?
_Mal._ So seriously, that I protest no office so dangerous--no
deed so unreasonable--no cost so heavy, but I vow
to the utmost tentation of my best being to effect it. 141
_Fra._ Sall I, or can I trust again? O fool!
How natural 'tis for us to be abused!
Sall ick be sure that no satiety,
No enjoying,
Not time shall languish your affection?
_Mal._ If there be ought in brain, heart, or hand,
Can make you doubtless, I am your vow'd servant.
_Fra._ Will you do one ting for me?
_Mal._ Can I do it? 150
_Fra._ Yes, yes; but ick do not love dis same Freevill.
_Mal._ Well?
_Fra._ Nay, I do hate him.
_Mal._ So.
_Fra._ By this kiss I hate him.
_Mal._ I love to feel such oaths; swear again.
_Fra._ No, no. Did you ever hear of any that loved at
the first sight?
_Mal._ A thing most proper.
_Fra._ Now fait, I judge it all incredible until this hour
I saw you: pretty fair-eyed yout, would you enjoy
me? 162
_Mal._ Rather than my breath, even as my being.
_Fra._ Vel! had ick not made a vow----
_Mal._ What vow?
_Fra._ O let me forget it; it makes us both despair!
_Mal._ Dear soul, what vow?
_Fra._ Ha, good morrow, gentle sir; endeavour to forget
me, as I must be enforced to forget all men. Sweet
mind rest in you. 170
_Mal._ Stay, let not thy desire burst me. O my
impatient heat endures no resistance--no protraction!
there is no being for me but your sudden enjoying.
_Fra._ I do not love Freevill.
_Mal._ But what vow? what vow?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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