De G. 'Tis not private,
Nor carryed so: 'tis common (my fair Sister)
Your love to Mirabel; your blushes tell it:
'Tis too much known, and spoken of too largely;
And with no little shame I wonder at it.
Oria. Is it a shame to love?
De G. To love undiscreetly:
A Virgin should be tender of her honour,
Close, and secure.
Oria. I am as close as can be,
And stand upon as strong and honest guards too;
Unless this Warlike Age need a Port-cullis:
Yet I confess, I love him.
De G. Hear the people.
Oria. Now I say hang the people: He that dares
Believe what they say, dares be mad, and give
His Mother, nay his own Wife up to Rumor;
All grounds of truth they build on, is a Tavern,
And their best censure's Sack, Sack in abundance:
For as they drink, they think: they ne're speak modestly
Unless the wine be poor, or they want mony.
Believe them? believe Amadis de Gaul,
The Knight o'th' Sun, or Palmerin of England;
For these, to them, are modest, and true stories.
Pray understand me; if their tongues be truth,
And if in Vino veritas be an Oracle,
What Woman is, or has been ever honest?
Give 'em but ten round cups, they'll swear Lucretia
Dy'd not for want of power to resist Tarquin,
But want of Pleasure, that he stay'd no longer:
And Portia, that was famous for her Piety
To her lov'd Lord, they'll face ye out, dy'd o'th' Pox.
De G. Well, there is something, Sister.
Oria. If there be, Brother,
'Tis none of their things, 'tis not yet so monstrous;
My thing is Marriage: And at his return
I hope to put their squint-eyes right again.
De G. Marriage? 'tis true; his Father is a rich man;
Rich both in land and money: he his heir,
A young and handsome man, I must confess too;
But of such qualities, and such wild flings,
Such admirable imperfections, Sister,
(For all his Travel, and bought experience)
I should be loth to own him for my Brother:
Methinks a rich mind in a state indifferent
Would prove the better fortune.
Oria. If he be wild,
The reclaiming him to good, and honest, (Brother)
Will make much for my honour; which, if I prosper,
Shall be the study of my love, and life too.