_Lev._ Preferr'st the affection of an absent love Before the sweet possession of a man; The barren mind before the fruitful body, Where our creation has no reference To man but in his body, being made Only for generation; which (unless Our children can be gotten by conceit) Must from the body come? If Reason were Our counsellor, we would neglect the work Of generation for the prodigal Expense it draws us to of that which is The wealth of life. Wise Nature, therefore, hath Reserved for an inducement to our sense Our greatest pleasure in that greatest work; Which being offered thee, thy ignorance Refuses, for the imaginary joy Of an unsatisfied affection to An absent man whose blood once spent i' the war Then he'll come home sick, lame, and impotent, And wed thee to a torment, like the pain Of Tantalus, continuing thy desire With fruitless presentation of the thing It loves, still moved, and still unsatisfied. _Enter_ BELFOREST, D'AMVILLE, ROUSARD, SEBASTIAN, LANGUEBEAU, _&c._ _Bel._ Now, Levidulcia, hast thou yet prepared My daughter's love to entertain this man Her husband, here? _Lev._ I'm but her mother i' law; Yet if she were my very flesh and blood I could advise no better for her[144] good. _Rous._ Sweet wife, Thy joyful husband thus salutes thy cheek. _Cast._ My husband? O! I am betrayed.-- Dear friend of Charlemont, your purity Professes a divine contempt o' the world; O be not bribed by that you so neglect, In being the world's hated instrument, To bring a just neglect upon yourself! [_Kneels from one to another._ Dear father, let me but examine my Affection.--Sir, your prudent judgment can Persuade your son that 'tis improvident To marry one whose disposition he Did ne'er observe.--Good sir, I may be of A nature so unpleasing to your mind, Perhaps you'll curse the fatal hour wherein You rashly married me. _D'Am._ My Lord Belforest, I would not have her forced against her choice. _Bel._ Passion o' me, thou peevish girl! I charge Thee by my blessing, and the authority I have to claim thy obedience, marry him. _Cast._ Now, Charlemont! O my presaging tears! This sad event hath followed my sad fears. _Sebas._ A rape, a rape, a rape! _Bel._ How now! _D'Am._ What's that? _Sebas._ Why what is't but a rape to force a wench To marry, since it forces her to lie With him she would not? _Lang._ Verily his tongue is an unsanctified member. _Sebas._ Verily Your gravity becomes your perished soul As hoary mouldiness does rotten fruit. _Bel._ Cousin, y'are both uncivil and profane. _D'Am._ Thou disobedient villain, get thee out of my sight. Now, by my soul, I'll plague thee for this rudeness. _Bel._ Come, set forward to the church. [_Exeunt all except_ SEBASTIAN.