swallowed among ladies? Faith, ’tis my torment—my very rack! 111
Herc. Right, Herod, true; for imagine all a man possess’d with[235] a perpetual pleasure, like that of generation, even in the highest lusciousness, he straight sinks as unable to bear so continual, so pure, so universal a sensuality.
Herod. By even truth, ’tis very right; and, for my part, would I were eunuch’d rather than thus suck’d away with kisses, enfeebling dalliance; and O the falling sickness on them all! why did reasonable nature give so strange, so rebellious, so tyrannous, so insatiate parts of appetite to so weak a governess—a[236] woman? 122
Herc. Or why, O custom! didst thou oblige them to modesty, such cold temperance, that they must be wooed by men—courted by men? Why, all know they are more full of strong desires—those desires most impatient of delay or hindrance, they have more unruly passions than men, and weaker reason to temper those passions than men.
Nym. Why, then, hath not the discretion of Nature thought it just that customary coyness, old fashions, terms of honour and of modesty, forsooth, all laid aside, they court not us, beseech not us rather, for sweets of love than we them? Why, by Janus! women are but men turn’d the wrong side outward. 135
Herc. O, sir, Nature is a wise workman. She knows right well that if women should woo us to the act of
love, we should all be utterly shamed. How often should they take us unprovided, when they are always ready! 140
Herod. Ay, sir, right, sir; to some few such unfortunate handsome fellows as myself am; to my grief, I know it.
Herc. Why, here are two perfect creatures—the one, Nymphadoro, loves all, and my Herod here enjoys all.
Herod. ’Faith, some score or two of ladies or so ravish me among them, divide my presents, and would indeed engross me, were I indeed such an ass as to be made a monopoly of. Look, sirrah, what a vild hand one of them writes. Who would ever take this for a d.—dearest, or read this for only—only dearest? 152