Oni. I' th' first then, you should covenant love; not squinting
On every finer youth or greater lord,
But looking straight on me.
Cle. To the second, sir.
Oni. No dotage on the court, so far that my
Estate must rue it; and no vanity
Be started up, but my fond lady must
Be melancholy, and take physic till
She get into it.
Cle. Why, you envy then
Us our own trouble; keep us from the expense,
And leave us to our discontent for penance.
Oni. No! I would have the mind serene: without
All passion, though a masque should be presented,
And you i' th' country. I must have you wise,
To know your beauty mortal, which you must
Preserve to warm my eye, not aid by arts,
To keep the courtier's wit in exercise.
From his so practis'd flattery your ear
Must turn with a brave scorn; and when his eye
Doth offer parley, seem so ignorant
As not to understand the language.
Cle. Sir,
You haply will debar us our she-friends too?
Oni. As secret enemies, who'll first betray you.
Cle. You'll not allow us, wearied of our husbands,
To send them on discovery of new worlds?
Or if we take a toy ourselves to travel,
Perhaps to Barbary or Tartary,
Or the remotest parts?
Oni. To Bedlam sooner.
Cle. Or, if our sex should warrant it by custom,
To play at tennis, or run at the ring,
Or any other martial exercise:
I fear me, scrupulous sir, you will condemn it
As dangerous to my honour?