Lev. Mistress Cataplasma, good night. I pray when your man has brought you home, let him return and light me to my house.
Cata. He shall instantly wait upon your ladyship.
Lev. Good Mistress Cataplasma! for my servants are all drunk, I cannot be beholden to 'em for their attendance.
[Exeunt Cataplasma, Soquette, and Fresco.
O here's your bride!
Rous. And melancholic too, methinks.
Lev. How can she choose? Your sickness will
Distaste the expected sweetness o' the night
That makes her heavy.
Rous. That should make her light.
Lev. Look you to that.
Cast. What sweetness speak you of?
The sweetness of the night consists in rest.
Rous. With that sweetness thou shalt be surely blest
Unless my groaning wake thee. Do not moan.
Lev. She'd rather you would wake, and make her groan.
Rous. Nay 'troth, sweetheart, I will not trouble thee.
Thou shalt not lose thy maidenhead to-night.
Cast. O might that weakness ever be in force,
I never would desire to sue divorce.
Rous. Wilt go to bed?
Cast. I will attend you, sir.
Rous. Mother, good night.
Lev. Pleasure be your bedfellow.
[Exeunt Rousard and Castabella.
Why sure their generation was asleep
When she begot those dormice, that she made
Them up so weakly and imperfectly.
One wants desire, the t'other ability,
When my affection even with their cold bloods
(As snow rubbed through an active hand does make
The flesh to burn) by agitation is
Inflamed, I could embrace and entertain
The air to cool it.
Enter Sebastian.
Sebas. That but mitigates
The heat; rather embrace and entertain
A younger brother; he can quench the fire.
Lev. Can you so, sir? Now I beshrew your ear.
Why, bold Sebastian, how dare you approach
So near the presence of your displeased father?
Sebas. Under the protection of his present absence.
Lev. Belike you knew he was abroad then?
Sebas. Yes.
Let me encounter you so: I'll persuade
Your means to reconcile me to his loves.
Lev. Is that the way? I understand you not.
But for your reconcilement meet me at home;
I'll satisfy your suit.
Sebas. Within this half-hour? [Exit.
Lev. Or within this whole hour. When you will.—A lusty blood! has both the presence and spirit of a man. I like the freedom of his behaviour.
—Ho!—Sebastian! Gone?—Has set
My blood o' boiling i' my veins. And now,
Like water poured upon the ground that mixes
Itself with every moisture it meets, I could
Clasp with any man.
Enter Fresco with a lanthorn.