Bel. Now, Levidulcia, hast thou yet prepared
My daughter's love to entertain this man
Her husband, here?
Lev. I'm but her mother i' law;
Yet if she were my very flesh and blood
I could advise no better for her[144] good.
Rous. Sweet wife,
Thy joyful husband thus salutes thy cheek.
Cast. My husband? O! I am betrayed.—
Dear friend of Charlemont, your purity
Professes a divine contempt o' the world;
O be not bribed by that you so neglect,
In being the world's hated instrument,
To bring a just neglect upon yourself!
[Kneels from one to another.
Dear father, let me but examine my
Affection.—Sir, your prudent judgment can
Persuade your son that 'tis improvident
To marry one whose disposition he
Did ne'er observe.—Good sir, I may be of
A nature so unpleasing to your mind,
Perhaps you'll curse the fatal hour wherein
You rashly married me.
D'Am. My Lord Belforest,
I would not have her forced against her choice.
Bel. Passion o' me, thou peevish girl! I charge
Thee by my blessing, and the authority
I have to claim thy obedience, marry him.
Cast. Now, Charlemont! O my presaging tears!
This sad event hath followed my sad fears.
Sebas. A rape, a rape, a rape!
Bel. How now!
D'Am. What's that?
Sebas. Why what is't but a rape to force a wench
To marry, since it forces her to lie
With him she would not?
Lang. Verily his tongue is an unsanctified member.
Sebas. Verily
Your gravity becomes your perished soul
As hoary mouldiness does rotten fruit.
Bel. Cousin, y'are both uncivil and profane.
D'Am. Thou disobedient villain, get thee out of my sight.
Now, by my soul, I'll plague thee for this rudeness.
Bel. Come, set forward to the church.
[Exeunt all except Sebastian.
Sebas. And verify the proverb—The nearer the church the further from God.—Poor wench! For thy sake may his hability die in his appetite, that thou beest not troubled with him thou lovest not! May his appetite move thy desire to another man, so he shall help to make himself cuckold! And let that man be one that he pays wages to; so thou shalt profit by him thou hatest. Let the chambers be matted, the hinges oiled, the curtain rings silenced, and the chambermaid hold her peace at his own request, that he may sleep the quieter; and in that sleep let him be soundly cuckolded. And when he knows it, and seeks to sue a divorce, let him have no other satisfaction than this: He lay by and slept: the law will take no hold of her because he winked at it. [Exit.
ACT THE SECOND.
SCENE I.—The Banqueting Room in Belforest's Mansion.
Night time. A Banquet set out. Music.
Enter D'Amville, Belforest, Levidulcia, Rousard, Castabella, Languebeau Snuffe, at one side. At the other side enter Cataplasma and Soquette, ushered by Fresco.
Lev. Mistress Cataplasma, I expected you an hour since.
Cata. Certain ladies at my house, madam, detained me; otherwise I had attended your ladyship sooner.
Lev. We are beholden to you for your company. My lord, I pray you bid these gentlewomen welcome; they're my invited friends.