Emil. By my troth, I have eaten but two spoonfuls, and methinks I could discourse most swiftly and wittily already.
Maq. Have you the art to seem honest?
Bian. Ay, thank advice and practice. 27
Maq. Why, then, eat me o’ this posset, quicken your blood, and preserve your beauty. Do you know Doctor Plaster-face? by this curd, he is the most exquisite in forging of veins, sprightening of eyes, dying of hair, sleeking of skins, blushing of cheeks, surphling[441] of breasts, blanching and bleaching of teeth, that ever made an old lady gracious by torchlight; by this curd, la.
Bian. Well,[442] we are resolved, what God has given us we’ll cherish. 36
Maq. Cherish anything saving your husband; keep him not too high, lest he leap the pale: but, for your beauty, let it be your saint; bequeath two hours to it every morning in your closet. I ha’ been young, and yet, in my conscience, I am not above five-and-twenty: but, believe me, preserve and use your beauty; for youth and beauty once gone, we are like bee-hives without honey, out-o’-fashion apparel that no man will wear: therefore use me your beauty. 45
Emil. Ay, but men say—
Maq. Men say! let men say what they will: life o’ woman! they are ignorant of our[443] wants. The more in years, the more in perfection they grow; if they lose youth and beauty, they gain wisdom and discretion: but when our beauty fades, good-night with us. There cannot be an uglier thing than to see an old woman: from which, O pruning, pinching, and painting, deliver all sweet beauties! 54
[Music within.
Bian. Hark! music!