Thu. Shees gon! What vapor which the flattring sunn
Exhales to heaven as to create a starr,
Yet throwst, a fading meteor, to the earth,
Has falne like me? Divinity, that tells
Us there are soules in women, Ile no more
Credit thy dubious Theorems nor thinke
Thy lawes astring us to preserve our faith.
Let the nice Casuists, that dispute each clause
Belongs to conscience with a[l]ternate sense,
Dispense with breach of promise and prescribe
Equivocacons to evade all oathes
Without offending, or shees damnd.
Enter Lovell.
Lov. Well, Companion, at my friends Intreatie I am content to be reconsyld; but have a care, goe to, ha, oh ho, youle[104] … more; why, goe to then … pledge the companion … heeres to thee: what, what!
Thu. Heres one perchance will satisfie me.
Sir, your habit speaks yer understanding:
Please you resolve me one thing which disturbes
The quiet of my conscience.
Lov. Revenge may slumber but can never sleep: He that lets slip an Injury thats done Takes the next course to draw a greater on.
Thu. You counsell well. I pray, in all the volumes
Your learning has perusd, did you ere find
Any conclusion that allowd it lawfull
To breake an oath?
Lov. If she neglect and throw[105] disgrace on thee, Fly't thou as much and be thy scorne as free.
Thu. An Oracle speakes in him; but, pray, tell me Ist lawfull then to breake an oath?
Lov. Though time prolongs, we cannot style it sloath: My vowes are firme; hees damd that breaks an oath.
Thu. Good, good, agen: but the oath I treat on, Is of another kind: tis to a woman.