My infamy and her degenerate shame,
Yet in my life I’ll smother ’t, if I may,
And like a dead man to the world bequeath
These houses of vanity, mills, and lands. 50
Take what you will, I will not keep, among you, servants:
And welcome some religious monastery.
A true sworn beads-man I’ll hereafter be,
And wake the morning cock with holy prayers.
Ser. Good my lord—noble master——
Rob. Dissuade me not, my will shall be my king;
I thank thee, wife; a fair change thou has given;
I leave thy lust to woo the love of Heaven! 58
[Exit cum servis.
Gui. This is conversion, is ’t not—as good as might have been? He turns[237] religious upon his wife’s turning courtesan. This is just like some of our gallant prodigals, when they have consum’d their patrimonies wrongfully, they turn Capuchins for devotion.
[Exit.
[233] Old eds. “Mizaldus aware.”
[234] Ed. 1613 “Cods-head.”
[235] So the editor of 1820.—Old eds. “no horse.”
[236] Ed. 1631 “showres.”