_Cri._ Will you so? Now bashfulness seize you, we
pronounce boldly, robbery, murder, treason, which
deeds must needs be far more loathsome than an act
which is so natural, just, and necessary, as that of procreation;
you shall have an hypocritical vestal virgin
speak that with close teeth publicly, which she will
receive with open mouth privately; for my own part, I
consider nature without apparel; without disguising of
custom or compliment, I give thoughts words, and
words truth, and truth boldness; she whose honest
freeness makes it her virtue to speak what she thinks
will make it her necessity to think what is good. I love
no prohibited things, and yet I would have nothing
prohibited by policy, but by virtue; for as in the fashion
of time those books that are call'd in are most in sale
and request,[54] so in nature those actions that are most
prohibited are most desired. 47
_Bea._ Good quick sister, stay your pace; we are
private, but the world would censure you, for truly
severe modesty is women's virtue.
_Cri._ Fie, fie! virtue is a free, pleasant, buxom quality.
I love a constant countenance well; but this froward
ignorant coyness, sour austere lumpish uncivil privateness,
that promises nothing but rough skins and
hard stools; ha! fie on't, good for nothing but for
nothing. Well, nurse, and what do you conceive of
all this? 57
_Put._ Nay, faith, my conceiving days be done. Marry
for kissing, I'll defend that; that's within my compass;
but for my own part, here's Mistress Beatrice is to be
married with the grace of God; a fine gentleman he is
shall have her, and I warrant a strong; he has a leg like
a post, a nose like a lion, a brow like a bull, and a
beard of most fair expectation: this week you must
marry him, and I now will read a lecture to you both,
how you shall behave yourselves to your husbands the
first month of your nuptial; I ha' broke my skull about
it, I can tell you, and there is much brain in it.
_Cri._ Read it to my sister, good nurse, for I assure
you I'll ne'er marry. 70
_Put._ Marry, God forfend, what will you do then?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account