Lady Am. Stay not amongst the wicked ones.
[Loud laughing without.
Eph. I must shut mine ears.
Lady Am. And thy mouth also, good Ephraim. I have bidden my cousin Henry to my house, and I will not set bounds to his mirth to gratify thy spleen, and show mine own inhospitality.
Eph. Why dost thou suffer him to put into the hands of thy servants books of tragedies, and books of comedies, prelude, interlude, yea, all lewd. My spirit doth wax wrath. I say unto thee a playhouse is the school for the old dragon, and a playbook the primer of Belzebub.
Lady Am. This is one; mark! [Reads.] "Not the king's crown, nor the deputed sword, the marshal's truncheon, nor the judge's robe, become them with one half so good a grace as mercy doth. Oh, think on that, and mercy then will breathe within your lips like man new made!"—Doth Belzebub speak such words?
Eph. Thy kinsman has made all the servants actors.
Lady Am. To act well is good service.
Eph. Here cometh the damsel for whom my heart yearneth.
Enter Jane, reading a paper joyfully.