Rom. But yet bee carefull.
Detraction’s a bold monster, and feares not
To wound the fame of Princes, if it find
But any blemish in their liues to worke on.
But Ile bee plainer with you: had the people [155]
Bin learnd to speake, but what euen now I saw,
Their malice out of that would raise an engine
To ouerthrow your honor. In my fight
(With yonder pointed foole I frighted from you)
You vs’d familiarity beyond [160]
A modest entertaynment: you embrac’d him
With too much ardor for a stranger, and
Met him with kisses neyther chaste nor comely:
But learne you to forget him, as I will
Your bounties to him, you will find it safer [165]
Rather to be vncourtly, then immodest.
Beau. This prety rag about your necke shews well,
And being coorse and little worth, it speakes you,
As terrible as thrifty.
Rom. Madam.
Beau. Yes.
And this strong belt in which you hang your honor [170]
Will out-last twenty scarfs.
Rom. What meane you, Lady?
Beau. And all else about you Cap a pe
So vniforme in spite of handsomnesse,
Shews such a bold contempt of comelinesse,
That tis not strange your Laundresse in the League, [175]
Grew mad with loue of you.
Rom. Is my free counsayle
Answerd with this ridiculous scorne?
Beau. These obiects
Stole very much of my attention from me,
Yet something I remember, to speake truth,
Deceyued grauely, but to little purpose, [180]
That almost would haue made me sweare, some Curate
Had stolne into the person of Romont,
And in the praise of goodwife honesty,
Had read an homely.
Rom. By thy hand.
Beau. And sword,
I will make vp your oath, twill want weight else. [185]
You are angry with me, and poore I laugh at it.
Do you come from the Campe, which affords onely
The conuersation of cast suburbe whores,
To set downe to a Lady of my ranke,
Lymits of entertainment? [190]