_Mal._ Ay, and this heart; and in true proof you were slain, I should bring her this ring, from which she was assured You would not part until from life you parted; For which deed, and only for which deed, I should possess her sweetness. 251 _Free._ O! bloody villains! Nothing is defamed but by his proper self. Physicians abuse remedies; lawyers spoil the law; and women only shame women. You ha' vow'd my death? _Mal._ My lust, not I, before my reason would; yet I must use her. That I, a man of sense, should conceive endless pleasure in a body whose soul I know to be so hideously black! 259 _Free._ That a man at twenty-three should cry, O sweet pleasure! and at forty-three should sigh, O sharp pox! But consider man furnished with omnipotence, and you overthrow him; thou must cool thy impatient appetite. 'Tis fate, 'tis fate! _Mal._ I do malign my creation that I am subject to passion. I must enjoy her. _Free._ I have it, mark. I give a masque to-night To my love's kindred; in that thou shalt go. In that we two make show of falling out. Give seeming challenge--instantly depart, 270 With some suspicion to present fight. We will be seen as going to our swords; And after meeting, this ring only lent, I'll lurk in some obscure place, till rumour (The common bawd to loose suspicions) Have feign'd me slain, which (in respect myself Will not be found, and our late seeming quarrel) Will quickly sound to all as earnest truth. Then to thy wench; protest me surely dead; Show her this ring, enjoy her, and, blood cold, 280 We'll laugh at folly. _Mal._ O but think of it! _Free._ Think of it! come away; virtue, let sleep thy passions; What old times held as crimes, are now but fashions. [_Exeunt._ [53] Old eds. "goose-_turnd_-greene."--"Merde oye. A _Goose-turd-greene_."--_Cotgrave._ [54] Tacitus has the same sensible observation about prohibited books:--"Convictum Veientonem Italia depulit [Nero] et libros exuri jussit, _conquisitos lectitatosque, donec cum periculo parabantur: mox licentia habendi oblivionem attulit_."--_Ann._, xiv. 50. But in these days of "anthropological" research a public censor of morals might to the advantage of the community be allowed to exercise authority. Discretion, of course, would have to be used; otherwise this edition of Marston might be called in; _absit omen!_ [55] See Dyce's _Shakesp. Glossary_. [56] For information about the city-giants see Fairholt's excellent _History of Lord Mayors' Pageants_, p. 76 (Percy Society). [57] Proposal, scheme.