Rous. Give me thy hand upon't.
Cast. Nay, you mistake me. If I love you very well I must not love you now. For now y'are not very well, y'are sick.
Rous. This equivocation is for the jest now.
Cast. I speak't as 'tis now in fashion, in earnest. But I shall not be in quiet for you, I perceive, till I have given you a favour. Do you love me?
Rous. With all my heart.
Cast. Then with all my heart I'll give you a jewel to hang in your ear.—Hark ye—I can never love you. [Exit.
Rous. Call you this a jewel to hang in mine ear? 'Tis no light favour, for I'll be sworn it comes somewhat heavily to me. Well, I will not leave her for all this. Methinks it animates a man to stand to't, when a woman desires to be rid of him at the first sight. [Exit.
SCENE IV.—Another Apartment in the same.
Enter Belforest and Languebeau Snuffe.
Bel. I entertain the offer of this match
With purpose to confirm it presently.
I have already moved it to my daughter.
Her soft excuses savoured at the first,
Methought, but of a modest innocence
Of blood, whose unmoved stream was never drawn
Into the current of affection. But when I
Replied with more familiar arguments,
Thinking to make her apprehension bold,—
Her modest blush fell to a pale dislike;
And she refused it with such confidence,
As if she had been prompted by a love
Inclining firmly to some other man;
And in that obstinacy she remains.