Lady. ’Tis very like, and fit it should be so, for he does think, and reasonably think, that I should keep him with my idle tricks for ever ere he be married.

Abi. At last he said, it should go hard but he would see you for your satisfaction.

Lady. All we that are called Women, know as well as men, it were a far more noble thing to grace where we are grace’t, and give respect there where we are respected:  yet we practise a wilder course, and never bend our eyes on men with pleasure, till they find the way to give us a neglect:  then we, too late, perceive the loss of what we might have had, and dote to death.

Enter Martha.

Mar. Sister, yonder’s your Servant, with a Gentlewoman with him.

Lady. Where?

Mar. Close at the door.

Lady. Alas I am undone, I fear he is be[t]roth’d, What kind of woman is she?

Mar. A most ill favoured one, with her Masque on:  And how her face should mend the rest I know not.

La. But yet her mind was of a milder stuff than mine was.

Enter Elder Loveless, and Welford in Womans apparel.

Lady. Now I see him, if my heart swell not again (away thou womans pride) so that I cannot speak a gentle word to him, let me not live.

Elder Lo. By your leave here.

Lady. How now, what new trick invites you hither?  Ha’you a fine device again?

Elder Lo. Faith this is the finest device I have now:  How dost thou sweet heart?

Wel. Why very well, so long as I may please You my dear Lover.  I nor can, nor will Be ill when you are well, well when you are ill.

Elder Lo. O thy sweet temper! what would I have given, that Lady had been like thee:  seest thou her? that face (my love) join’d with thy humble mind, had made a wench indeed.

Wel. Alas my love, what God hath done, I dare not think to mend.  I use no paint, nor any drugs of Art, my hands and face will shew it.

La. Why what thing have you brought to shew us there? do you take mony for it?

Elder Lo. A Godlike thing, not to be bought for mony:  ’tis my Mistris:  in whom there is no passion, nor no scorn:  what I will is for law; pray you salute her.

Lady. Salute her? by this good light, I would not kiss her for half my wealth.

Elder Lo. Why? why pray you?  You shall see me do’t afore you; look you.

Lady. Now fie upon thee, a beast would not have don’t.  I would not kiss thee of a month to gain a Kingdom.

Elder Lo. Marry you shall not be troubled.

Lady. Why was there ever such a Meg as this?  Sure thou art mad.

Elder Lo. I was mad once, when I lov’d pictures; for what are shape and colours else, but pictures? in that tawnie hide there lies an endless mass of vertues, when all your red and white ones want it.