Ant. If that be all, you shall have carte blanche immediately; for I long to be ratifying.
Mor. No; now I think on't, you are already 378 entered into articles with my enemy Johayma:—"Any thing to serve you, madam; I shall refuse no drudgery:"—Whose words were those, gentleman? was that like a cavalier of honour?
Ant. Not very heroic; but self-preservation is a point above honour and religion too. Antonio was a rogue, I must confess; but you must give me leave to love him.
Mor. To beg your life so basely, and to present your sword to your enemy; Oh, recreant!
Ant. If I had died honourably, my fame indeed would have sounded loud, but I should never have heard the blast:—Come, don't make yourself worse-natured than you are; to save my life, you would be content I should promise any thing.
Mor. Yes, if I were sure you would perform nothing.
Ant. Can you suspect I would leave you for Johayma?
Mor. No; but I can expect you would have both of us. Love is covetous; I must have all of you; heart for heart is an equal trick. In short, I am younger, I think handsomer, and am sure I love you better. She has been my stepmother these fifteen years: You think that is her face you see, but it is only a daubed vizard; she wears an armour of proof upon it; an inch thick of paint, besides the wash. Her face is so fortified, that you can make no approaches to it without a shovel; but, for her constancy, I can tell you for your comfort, she will love till death, I mean till yours; for when she has worn you out, she will certainly dispatch you to another world, for fear of telling tales, as she has already served three slaves, your predecessors, of happy memory, in her favours. She has made my pious father a three-piled cuckold to my knowledge; and now she would be robbing me of my single sheep too.
379 Ant. Pr'ythee, prevent her then; and at least take the shearing of me first.
Mor. No; I'll have a butcher's pennyworth of you; first secure the carcase, and then take the fleece into the bargain.