Beggars Bush Part 20

_Cla._ Faith I shall ask you that that will disturb ye, But I must put ye to your promise.

_Gos._ Do, And if I faint and flinch in't--

_Cla._ Well said Master, And yet it grieves me too: and yet it must be.

_Gos._ Prethee distrust me not.

_Cla._ You must not marry, That's part of the power you gave me: which to make up, You must presently depart, and follow me.

_Gos._ Not marry, _Clause_?

_Cla._ Not if you keep your promise, And give me power to ask.

_Gos._ Pre'thee think better, I will obey, by Heaven.

_Cla._ I have thought the best, Sir

_Gos._ Give me thy reason, do'st thou fear her honesty?

_Cla._ Chaste as the ice, for any thing I know, Sir.

_Gos._ Why should'st thou light on that then? to what purpose?

_Cla._ I must not now discover.

_Gos._ Must not marry?

Shall I break now when my poor heart is p.a.w.n'd?

When all the preparation?

_Cla._ Now or never.

_Gos._ Come, 'tis not that thou would'st: thou do'st but fright me.

_Cla._ Upon my soul it is, Sir, and I bind ye.

_Gos._ _Clause_, can'st thou be so cruel?

_Cla._ You may break, Sir, But never more in my thoughts appear honest.

_Gos._ Did'st ever see her?

_Cla._ No.

_Gos._ She is such a thing, O _Clause_, she is such a wonder, such a mirror, For beauty, and fair vertue, _Europe_ has not: Why hast thou made me happy, to undo me?

But look upon her; then if thy heart relent not, I'le quit her presently: who waits there?

_Ser._ [_within_] Sir.

_Gos._ Bid my fair love come hither, and the Company.

Prethee be good unto me; take a mans heart And look upon her truly: take a friends heart And feel what misery must follow this.

_Cla._ Take you a n.o.ble heart and keep your promise; I forsook all I had, to make you happy.

_Enter_ Gertrude, Vandunk, _and the rest_ Merchants.

Can that thing call'd a Woman, stop your goodness?

_Gos._ Look there she is, deal with me as thou wilt now, Did'st ever see a fairer?

_Cla._ She is most goodly.

_Gos._ Pray ye stand still.

_Ger._ What ails my love?

_Gos._ Didst thou ever, By the fair light of Heave[n], behold a sweeter?

O that thou knew'st but love, or ever felt him, Look well, look narrowly upon her beauties.

_1 Mer._ Sure h'as some strange design in hand, he starts so.

_2 Mer._ This Beggar has a strong power over his pleasure.

_Gos._ View all her body,

_Cla._ 'Tis exact and excellent.

_Gos._ Is she a thing then to be lost thus lightly?

Her mind is ten times sweeter, ten times n.o.bler, And but to hear her speak, a Paradise, And such a love she bears to me, a chaste love, A vertuous, fair, and fruitful love: 'tis now too I am ready to enjoy it; the Priest ready, _Clause_, To say the holy words shall make us happy, This is a cruelty beyond mans study, All these are ready, all our joyes are ready, And all the expectation of our friends, 'Twill be her death to do it.

_Cla._ Let her dye then.

_Gos._ Thou canst not: 'tis impossible.

_Cla._ It must be.

_Gos._ 'Twill kill me too, 'twill murder me: by heaven _Clause_ I'le give thee half I have; come thou shalt save me.

_Cla._ Then you must go with me: I can stay no longer, If ye be true, and n.o.ble.

_Gos._ Hard heart, I'le follow: Pray ye all go in again, and pray be merry, I have a weighty business, (give my Cloak there,)

_Enter_ Servant (_with a Cloak._)

Concerns my life, and state, (make no enquiry,) This present hour befaln me: with the soonest I shall be here again: nay pray go in, Sir, And take them with you, 'tis but a night lost, Gentlemen.

_Van._ Come, come in, we will not lose our meat yet, Nor our good mirth, he cannot stay long from her, I am sure of that.

_Gos._ I will not stay; believe, Sir. [_Exit._