Now out vpon him most dissembling creature,
Ile warrant you that he can neuer thriue,
He showes himselfe, euen of as bad a nature,
As euer was in any man aliue:
Alas poore foole that hath this fellow got,
Shee hath a Iewell of him, hath she not?
Nell.
Yes surely hath she, (waying all things deepe,)
A louer that will tast as sweete as gall,
One that is better farre to hang then keepe,
And I perswade me you doe thinke so all:
Excepting onely partiall Mistris Bride,
For she stands stoutly to the married side.
Bride.
So farre as reason, and as right requires,
I will defend them both by word and deede,
Yet haue I no apology for lyers,
And ill conditions that false hearts doe breede:
"All that are married be not faithfull kinde,
Nor all vnmarried, are not chast in minde."
Are there not maids (vpon your coscience speake?)
Knowne to your selues as well as you knowe me,
Will vowe their loue to men, and falsly breake,
Which in the number of your Virgins be,
That will delude some halfe a score young men,
And hauing gull'd them, take some other then.
I will not name her was in loue with ten,
But in your eares i'le note her secret; harke,
She had both Courtiers, Cockneys, Country-men,
Yet in the ende a Saylor boards her Barke:
And therefore put not men in all the blame,
But speake the trueth, and so the diuell shame.
Grace.
I knowe the partie well that you doe meane,
And thus much for her I dare boldly say,
To diuers sutors though she seemed to leane,
To trye her fortunes out the wisest way:
Yet did she neuer plight her faith to any,
But vnto him she had, among so many:
And ther's no doubt but diuers doe as she,
Your selfe in conscience, haue had more then one,
To whom in shewe you would familiar be,
And comming to the point why you would none:
Ciuilitie allowes a courteous cariage,
To such as proffer loue by way of marriage.