ACT IV., SCENE 1.
Enter Widow undressed, a sword in her hand; and Bold in his shirt, as started from bed.
Wid. Uncivil man! if I should take thy life,
It were not to be weigh'd with thy attempt.
Thou hast for ever lost me.
Bold. Madam, why?
Can love beget loss? Do I covet you
Unlawfully? Am I an unfit man
To make a husband of? Send for a priest;
First consummate the match, and then to bed
Without more trouble.
Wid. No, I will not do't.
Bold. Why, you confess'd to me (as your gentlewoman)[113]
I was the man your heart did most affect;
That you did doat upon my mind and body.
Wid. So, by the sacred and inviolate knot
Of marriage, I do; but will not wed thee.
Bold. Why, yet enjoy me now. Consider, lady,
That little but bless'd time I was in bed,
Although I lay as by my sister's side,
The world is apt to censure otherwise:
So, 'tis necessity that we marry now.
Wid. Pish! I regard not at a straw the world.
Fame from the tongues of men doth injury
Oft'ner than justice; and as conscience
Only makes guilty persons, not report,
(For show we clear as springs unto the world,
If our own knowledge do not make us so,
That is no satisfaction to ourselves),
So stand we ne'er so leprous to men's eye,
It cannot hurt heart-known integrity.
You have trusted to that fond opinion,
This is the way to have a widowhood,
By getting to her bed.[114] Alas! young man,
Shouldst thou thyself tell thy companions
Thou hast dishonour'd me (as you men have tongues
Forked and venom'd 'gainst our subject sex);
It should not move me, that know 'tis not so:
Therefore depart. Truth be my virtuous shield.