ILF. Prythee, tell me, hast not thou been a whoremaster?
HAR. In youth I swill'd my fill at Venus' cup,
Instead of full draughts now I am fain to sup.
ILF. Why then thou art a man fit for my company:
Dost thou hear? (to WEN. and BAR.) he is a good fellow of our stamp.
Make much of this[341] father.
[Exeunt.
Manent SCARBOROW and CLARE.
SCAR. The father and the gallants have left me here with a gentlewoman, and if I know what to say to her, I am a villain. Heaven grant her life hath borrowed so much impudence of her sex but to speak to me first: for, by this hand, I have not so much steel of immodesty in my face to parley to a wench without blushing. I'll walk by her, in hope she can open her teeth. Not a word? Is it not strange a man should be in a woman's company all this while and not hear her tongue. I'll go further. God of his goodness! not a syllable. I think if I should take up her clothes too, she would say nothing to me. With what words, trow, does a man begin to woo. Gentlewoman, pray you, what is't a clock?
CLARE. Troth, sir, carrying no watch about me but mine eyes, I answer you: I cannot tell.
SCAR. And if you cannot tell, beauty, I take the adage for my reply: you are naught to keep sheep.
CLARE. Yet I am big enough to keep myself.
SCAR. Prythee tell me: are you not a woman?