MRS BAR. What, wilt thou take his part?
PHIL. To do him good,
And 'twere to wade hitherto up in blood.
FRAN. God-a-mercy, Philip!—But, mother, hear me.
MRS BAR. Call'st thou me mother? no, thy mother's name
Carries about with it reproach and shame.
Give me my daughter: ere that she shall wed
A strumpet's son, and have her so misled,
I'll marry her to a carter; come, I say,
Give me her from thee.
FRAN. Mother, not to-day,
Nor yet to-morrow, till my life's last morrow
Make me leave that which I with leave did borrow:
Here I have borrowed love, I'll not denay[332] it.—
Thy wedding night's my day, then I'll repay it.—
Till then she'll trust me. Wench, is't[333] not so?
And if it be, say ay, if not, say no.
MAL. Mother, good mother, hear me! O good God,
Now we are even, what, would you make us odd?
Now, I beseech ye, for the love of Christ,
To give me leave once to do what I list.
I am as you were, when you were a maid;
Guess by yourself how long you would have stay'd,
Might you have had your will: as good begin
At first as last, it saves us from much sin;
Lying alone, we muse on things and things,
And in our minds one thought another brings:
This maid's life, mother, is an idle life,
Therefore I'll be, ay, I will be a wife;
And, mother, do not mistrust[334] my age or power,
I am sufficient, I lack ne'er an hour;
I had both wit to grant, when he did woo me,
And strength to bear whate'er he can do to me.
MRS BAR. Well, bold-face, but I mean to make ye stay.
Go to, come from him, or I'll make ye come:
Will ye not come?
PHIL. Mother, I pray, forbear;
This match is for my sister.
MRS BAR. Villain, 'tis not;
Nor she shall not be so match'd now.[335]
PHIL. In troth, she shall, and your unruly hate
Shall not rule us; we'll end all this debate
By this begun device.