BRAND.  An abbess?  By the cross of my good blade,[354]
An excellent mother to bring up a maid! 
For me, I mean, and my good master John;
But never any for an honest man. [Coughs. 
Now, fie upon that word of honesty,
Passing my throat’t had almost choked me: 
’Sblood, I’ll forswear it for this trick. [Aside.]

MONK.  We trifle time.  Fair maid, it’s thus in brief: 
This abbey by your means may have relief;
An hundred marks a year.  Answer, I pray,
What will you do herein?

MAT.  Even all I may.

ABB.  It’s charitably spoken, my fair child: 
A little thing of yours, a little help,
Will serve the turn:  learn but to bear—­to bear
The burden of this world, and it will do.

BRAND.  Well, go thy ways:  is this no bawd, think you? [Aside.]

MAT.  Madam, the heavy burden of the world
Hath long oppress’d me.

ABB.  But not press’d you right;
Now shall you bear a burden far more light.

MAT.  What burden-bearing? whereto tends this talk?

MONK.  To you, to us, this abbey, and King John.

MAT.  O God, forfend he should be thought upon!

MONK.  Lady, make short:  the king must lie with you.

MAT.  With me? with me?
    [First turns to the MONK, then to the ABBESS.

ABB.  Sweet, never look so strange: 
He shall come closely,[355] nobody shall see.

MAT.  How can he come, but One hath eyes to see?

MONK.  Your chamber-windows shall be shadowed.

MAT.  But no veil from my conscience shadows me.

ABB.  And all the nuns sent quietly to bed.

MAT.  But they will rise, and by my blushing red
Quickly give guess of my lost maidenhead.

BRAND.  She goes, i’ faith:  by God, she is their own! [Aside.

MONK.  Be not so nice, the sin is venial,
Considering you yield for charity;
And by your fall the nunnery shall rise.

ABB.  Regard good counsel, daughter:  pray, be wise.

MONK.  Come, here’s a stir! will’t do, wench? will it do?

ABB.  Say ay, say ay; forget the sound of no: 
Or else say no, and take it:[356] wilt thou so?

MAT.  Do you intend thus lewdly as you speak?

BRAND.[357] Ay, by Gog’s blood, do they; and, moppet, you were best
To take their proffers, lest, if they forsake you,
I play the devil’s part—­step in, and take you.

MAT.  Some holy water! help me, blessed nuns! 
Two damned spirits, in religious weeds,
Attempt to tempt my spotless chastity;
And a third devil, gaping for my soul,
With horrid starings ghastly frighteth me.

ABB.  You may
Call while you will; but, maid, list what we say,
Or be assur’d this is your dying day.

MAT.  In his name that did suffer for my sin,
And by this blessed sign, I conjure you.
                         [Draws a crucifix. 
Depart, foul fiends, and cease to trouble me.