_Fra._ Go, little vag, pleasure should have a crane's long
neck, to relish de ambrosia of delight. And ick pre de
tell me, for me loves to hear of manhood very mush,
i'fait: ick prede--vat vas me a saying? Oh, ick prede
tell a me how did you killa Metre Freevill? 40
_Mal._ Why, quarrelled o' set purpose, drew him out,
Singled him, and, having the advantage
Of my sword and might, ran him through and through.
_Fra._ Vat did you vid him van he was sticken?
_Mal._ I dragg'd him by the heels to the next wharf,
And spurn'd him in the river.
[_Those in ambush rusheth forth and take him._
_Sir Lio._ Seize, seize him!
O monstrous! O ruthless villain!
_Mal._ What mean you, gentlemen? By heaven----
_Tyse._ Speak not of anything that's good. 49
_Mal._ Your errors gives you passion: Freevill lives.
_Sir Lio._ Thy own lips say thou liest.
_Mal._ Let me die, if at Shatewe's the jeweller he lives
not safe untouch'd.
_Tyse._ Meantime to strictest guard, to sharpest prison.
_Mal._ No rudeness, gentlemen: I'll go undragg'd.
O, wicked, wicked devil!
[_Exit._
_Sir Lio._ Sir, the day of trial is this morn; let's prosecute
The sharpest rigour and severest end:
Good men are cruel when they're vice's friend.
_Sir Hub._ Woman, we thank thee with no empty hand;
Strumpets are fit[92] for something. Farewell. 61
[_All save_ Young FREEVILL _depart_.
_Free._ Ay, for hell!
O, thou unreprievable, beyond all
Measure of grace damn'd irremediably![93]
That things of beauty created for sweet use,
Soft comfort, as[94] the very music of life,
Custom should make so unutterably[95] hellish!
O, heaven!
What difference is in women and their life!
What man, but worthy name of man, would leave 70
The modest pleasures of a lawful bed--
The holy union of two equal hearts
Mutually holding either dear as health--
Th' undoubted issues, joys of chaste sheets,
Th' unfeign'd embrace of sober ignorance--
To twine th' unhealthful loins of common loves,
The prostituted impudence of things,
Senseless like those by cataracts of Nile,
Their use so vile takes away sense! How vile
To love a creature made of blood and hell, 80
Whose use makes weak, whose company doth shame,
Whose bed doth beggar, issue doth defame!
_Re-enter_ FRANCESCHINA.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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