Mass. Ushers should have much wit, but little hair;[263]
Thou hast of both sufficient: prithee leave me,
If thou hast an honest lady, commend me to her,
But she is none.
[Exit Anna.
Farewell, thou private strumpet, worse than common!
Man were on earth an angel but for woman.
That sevenfold branch of hell from them doth grow;
Pride, lust, and murder, they raise from below,
With all their fellow-sins. Women are made
Of blood, without souls; when their beauties fade,
And their lust’s past, avarice or bawdry 180
Makes them still loved; then they buy venery,
Bribing damnation, and hire brothel-slaves:
Shame’s their executors, infamy their graves.
Your painting will wipe off, which art did hide,
And show your ugly shape in spite of pride.
Farewell, Isabella, poor in soul and fame,
I leave thee rich in nothing but in shame.
Then, soulless women, know, whose faiths are hollow,
Your lust being quench’d a bloody act must follow.
[Exit.
[254] Ed. 1631 “speare-like.”
[255] Ed. 1631 “enters into thy.”
[256] Quy. “Joy’s?”
[257] The text is corrupt. Some copies of ed. 1613 have “conditious.”
[258] Ed. 1631 “men.”
[259] Ed. 1631 and some copies of ed. 1613 “in.”