Rule a Wife, and Have a Wife | Page 5

e're you sleep sweet Lady, I'le send for all my trunks and give up all to ye, Into your own dispose, before I bed ye, And then sweet wench.
Estifania:
You have the art to cozen me. [Exeunt.

Actus Secundus

Scena Prima
[Enter Margarita, and two Ladies, and Altea.]
Margarita:
Sit down and give me your opinions seriously.
1 Lady:
You say you have a mind to marry Lady.
Margarita:
'Tis true, I have for to preserve my credit, Yet not so much for that as for my state Ladies, Conceive me right, there lies the main o'th' question, Credit I can redeem, mony will imp it, But when my monie's gone, when the law shall Seize that, and for incontinency strip me Of all.
1 Lady:
Do you find your body so malitious that way?
Margarita:
I find it as all bodies are that are young and lusty, Lazy, and high fed, I desire my pleasure, And pleasure I must have.
2 Lady:
'Tis fit you should have, Your years require it, and 'tis necessary, As necessary as meat to a young Lady, Sleep cannot nourish more.
1 Lady:
But might not all this be, and keep ye single. You take away variety in marriage, The abundance of the pleasure you are bar'd then, 182] Is't not abundance that you aim at?
Margarita:
Yes why was I made a woman?
2 Lady:
And every day a new?
Margarita:
Why fair and young but to use it?
1 Lady:
You are still i'th' right, why would you marry then?
Altea:
Because a husband stops all doubts in this point, And clears all passages.
2 Lady:
What Husband mean ye?
Altea:
A Husband of an easy faith, a fool, Made by her wealth, and moulded to her pleasure, One though he see himself become a monster, Shall hold the door, and entertain the maker.
2 Lady:
You grant there may be such a man.
1 Lady:
Yes marry, but how to bring 'em to this rare Perfection.
2 Lady:
They must be chosen so, things of no honour, Nor outward honesty.
Margarita:
No 'tis no matter, I care not what they are, so they be lusty.
2 Lady:
Me thinks now a rich Lawyer, some such fellow, That carries credit, and a face of awe, But lies with nothing but his clients business.
Margarita:
No there's no trusting them, they are too subtil, The Law has moulded 'em of natural mischief.
1 Lady:
Then some grave governor, Some man of honour, yet an easy man.
Margarita:
If he have honour I am undone, I'le none such, I'le have a lusty man, honour will cloy me..br
Altea:
'Tis fit ye should Lady; And to that end, with search and wit and labour, I have found one out, a right one and a perfect, He is made as strong as brass, is of brave years too, And doughty of complexion.
Margarita:
Is he a Gentleman?
Altea:
Yes and a souldier, as gentle as you would wish him, A good fellow, wears good cloaths.
Margarita:
Those I'le allow him, They are for my credit, does he understand But little?
Altea:
Very little. 183]
Margarita:
'Tis the better, Have not the wars bred him up to anger?
Alonzo:
No, he will not quarrel with a dog that bites hi[m], Let him be drunk or sober, is one silence.
Margarita:
H'as no capacity what honor is? For that's the Souldiers god.
Altea:
Honour's a thing too subtil for his wisdom, If honour lye in eating, he is right honourable.
Margarita:
Is he so goodly a man do you say?
Altea:
As you shall see Lady, But to all this is but a trunk.
Margarita:
I would have him so, I shall adde branches to him to adorn him, Goe, find me out this man, and let me see him, If he be that motion that you tell me of, And make no more noise, I shall entertain him, Let him be here.
Altea:
He shall attend your Ladiship. [Exeunt.
[Enter Juan, Alonzo, and Perez.]
Juan de Castro:
Why thou art not married indeed?
Michael Perez:
No, no, pray think so, Alas I am a fellow of no reckoning, Not worth a Ladies eye.
Alonzo:
Wou'dst thou steal a fortune, And make none of all thy friends acquainted with it, Nor bid us to thy wedding?
Michael Perez:
No indeed, There was no wisdom in't, to bid an Artist, An old seducer to a femal banquet, I can cut up my pye without your instructions.
Juan de Castro:
Was it the wench i'th' veil?
Michael Perez:
Basto 'twas she, The prettiest Rogue that e're you look'd upon, The lovingst thief.
Juan de Castro:
And is she rich withal too?
Michael Perez:
A mine, a mine, there is no end of wealth Coronel, I am an asse, a bashfull fool, prethee Coronel, How do thy compa[ni]es fill now?
Juan de Castro:
You are merry Sir, 184] You intend a safer war at home belike now.
Michael Perez:
I do not think I shall fight much this year Coronel, I find my self given to my ease a little, I care not if I sell my foolish company, They are things of hazard.
Alonzo:
How it angers me, This fellow at first fight should win a Lady, A rich young wench, and I that have consum'd My