The Roaring Girle/Act 2 Scene 2
Enter Sebastian solus.
Seb.If a man haue a free will, where should the vse
More perfect shine then in his will to loue.
All creatures haue their liberty in that,
Enter Sir Alexander and listens to him.
Tho else kept vnder seruile yoke and feare,
The very bondslaue has his freedome there,
Amongst a world of creatures voyc'd and silent.
Must my desires weare fetters———yea are you
So neere, then I must breake with my hearts truth;
Meete griefe at a backe way———well: why suppose.
The two leaud tongues of slander or of truth
Pronounce Mol loathsome: if before my loue
Shee appeare faire, what iniury haue I,
I haue the thing I like? in all things else
Mine owne eye guides me, and I find 'em prosper,
Life what should aile it now? I know that man
Nere truely loues, if he gainesayt he lyes,
That winkes and marries with his fathers eyes.
Ile keepe myne owne wide open.
Enter Mol and a porter with a viall on his backe.
More perfect shine then in his will to loue.
All creatures haue their liberty in that,
Enter Sir Alexander and listens to him.
Tho else kept vnder seruile yoke and feare,
The very bondslaue has his freedome there,
Amongst a world of creatures voyc'd and silent.
Must my desires weare fetters———yea are you
So neere, then I must breake with my hearts truth;
Meete griefe at a backe way———well: why suppose.
The two leaud tongues of slander or of truth
Pronounce Mol loathsome: if before my loue
Shee appeare faire, what iniury haue I,
I haue the thing I like? in all things else
Mine owne eye guides me, and I find 'em prosper,
Life what should aile it now? I know that man
Nere truely loues, if he gainesayt he lyes,
That winkes and marries with his fathers eyes.
Ile keepe myne owne wide open.
Enter Mol and a porter with a viall on his backe.
Alex.Here's braue wilfulnesse,
A made match, here she comes, they met a purpose.
A made match, here she comes, they met a purpose.
Por.Must I carry this great fiddle to your chamber Mistresse Mary.
Mol.Fiddle goodman hog-rubber, some of these porters beare so much for others, they haue no time to carry wit for themselues.
Por.To your owne chamber Mistresse Mary.
Moll.Who'le heare an Asse speake: whither else good-
man pagent-bearer: the're people of the worst memories.
Exit Porter.
Exit Porter.
Seb.Why 'twere too great a burthen loue, to haue them carry things in their minds, and a'ther backes together.
Mol.Pardon me sir, I thought not you so neere.
Alex.So, so, so.
Seb.I would be neerer to thee, and in that fashion,
That makes the best part of all creatures honest.
No otherwise I wish it.
That makes the best part of all creatures honest.
No otherwise I wish it.
Mol.Sir I am so poore to requite you, you must looke for nothing but thankes of me, I haue no humor to marry, I loue to lye aboth sides ath bed my selfe; and againe ath'other side, a wife you know ought to be obedient, but I feare me I am too headstrong to obey, therefore Ile nere go about it, I loue you so well sir for your good will I'de be loath you should repent your bargaine after, and therefore weele nere come together at first, I haue the head now of my selfe, and am man enough for a woman, marriage is but a chopping and changing, where a maiden looses one head, and has a worse ith place.
Alex.The most comfortablest answer from a Roaring Girle, that euer mine eares drunke in.
Seb.This were enough now to affright a foole for euer from thee, when tis the musicke that I loue thee for,
Alex.There's a boy spoyles all againe.
Mol.Beleeue it sir I am not of that disdainefull temper, but I could loue you faithfully.
Alex.A pox on you for that word. I like you not now,
Y'are a cunning roarer I see that already.
Y'are a cunning roarer I see that already.
Mol.But sleepe vpon this once more sir, you may chance shift a minde to morrow, be not too hasty to wrong your selfe, neuer while you liue sir take a wife running, many haue run out at heeles that haue don't: you see sir I speake against my selfe, and if euery woman would deale with their suter so honestly, poore yonger brothers would not bee so often gul'd with old cosoning widdowes, that turne ore all their wealth in trust to some kinsman, and make the poore Gentleman worke hard for a pension, fare you well sir.
Seb.Nay prethee one word more.
Alex.How do I wrong this girle, she puts him of still.
Moll.Thinke vpon this in cold bloud sir, you make as much hast as if you were a going vpon a sturgion voyage, take deliberation sir, neuer chuse a wife as if you were going to Virginia.
Seb.And so we parted, my too cursed fate.
Alex.She is but cunning, giues him longer time in't.
Enter a Tailor:
TaylorMistresse Mol, Mistresse Mol: so ho ho so ho.
Mol.There boy, there boy, what dost thou go a hawking after me with a red clout on thy finger.
TaylorI forgot to take measure on you for your new breeches.
Alex.Hoyda breeches, what will he marry a monster with two trinckets, what age is this? if the wife go in breeches, the man must weare long coates like a foole.
Mol.What fidlings heere, would not the old patterne haue seru'd your turne.
Taylor.You change the fashion, you say you'le haue the great Dutch slop Mistresse Mary.
Mol.Why sir I say so still.
Taylor.Your breeches then will take vp a yard more.
Mol.Well pray looke it be put in then.
Taylor.It shall stand round and full I warrant you,
Mol.Pray make em easy enough.
Taylor.I know my fault now, t'other was somewhat stiffe betweene the legges, Ile make these open enough I warrant you.
Alex.Heer's good geere towards, I haue brought vp my sonne to marry a Dutch slop, and a French dublet, a codpice daughter.
Taylor.So, I haue gone as farre as I can go.
Mol.Why then farewell.
Taylor.If you go presently to your chamber Mistresse Mary, pray send me the measure of your thigh, by some honest body.
Mol.Well sir, Ile send it by a Porter persently.
Exit Mol.
Exit Mol.
Taylor.So you had neede, it is a lusty one, both of them would make any porters backe ake in England.
Exit Taylor.
Exit Taylor.
Seb.I haue examined the best part of man,
Reason and iudgement, and in loue they tell me,
They leaue me vncontrould, he that is swayd
By an vnfeeling bloud, past heat of loue
His spring time must needes erre, his watch nere goes right
That sets his dyall by a rusty clocke,
Reason and iudgement, and in loue they tell me,
They leaue me vncontrould, he that is swayd
By an vnfeeling bloud, past heat of loue
His spring time must needes erre, his watch nere goes right
That sets his dyall by a rusty clocke,
Alex.So, and which is that rusty clocke sir you.
Seb.The clocke at Ludgate sir, it nere goes true.
Alex.But thou goest falser: not thy fathers cares
Can keepe thee right, when that insensible worke,
Obayes the workemans art, lets off the houre
And stops againe when time is satisfied,
But thou runst on, and iudgement, thy maine wheele,
Beats by all stoppes, as if the worke would breake
Begunne with long paines for a minutes ruine,
Much like a suffering man brought vp with care.
At last bequeath'd to shame and a short prayer,
Can keepe thee right, when that insensible worke,
Obayes the workemans art, lets off the houre
And stops againe when time is satisfied,
But thou runst on, and iudgement, thy maine wheele,
Beats by all stoppes, as if the worke would breake
Begunne with long paines for a minutes ruine,
Much like a suffering man brought vp with care.
At last bequeath'd to shame and a short prayer,
Seb.I tast you bitterer then I can deserue sir.
Alex.Who has bewitch thee sonne, what diuell or drug,
Hath wrought vpon the weaknesse of thy bloud,
And betrayd all her hopes to ruinous folly?
Oh wake from drowsy and enchanted shame,
Wherein thy soule sits with a golden dreame
Flatred and poysoned, I am old my sonne,
Oh let me preuaile quickly, for I haue waightier businesse of mine owne
Then to chide thee: I must not to my graue,
As a drunkard to his bed, whereon he lyes
Onely to sleepe, and neuer cares to rise,
Let me dispatch in time, come no more neere her.
Hath wrought vpon the weaknesse of thy bloud,
And betrayd all her hopes to ruinous folly?
Oh wake from drowsy and enchanted shame,
Wherein thy soule sits with a golden dreame
Flatred and poysoned, I am old my sonne,
Oh let me preuaile quickly, for I haue waightier businesse of mine owne
Then to chide thee: I must not to my graue,
As a drunkard to his bed, whereon he lyes
Onely to sleepe, and neuer cares to rise,
Let me dispatch in time, come no more neere her.
Seb.Not honestly, not in the way of marriage,
Alex.What sayst thou marriage, in what place, the Sessions house, and who shall giue the bride, prethe, an inditement.
Seb.Sir now yee take part with the world to wrong her.
Alex.Why, wouldst thou faine marry to be pointed at,
Alas the numbers great, do not o're burden't,
Why as good marry a beacon on a hill,
Which all the country fixe their eyes vpon
As her thy folly doates on. If thou longst
To haue the story of thy infamous fortunes,
Serue for discourse in ordinaries and tauernes
Th'art in the way: or to confound thy name,
Keepe on, thou canst not misse it: or to strike
Thy wretched father to vntimely coldnesse,
Keepe the left hand still, it will bring thee to't.
Yet if no teares wrung from thy fathers eyes,
Nor sighes that flye in sparkles, from his sorrowes,
Had power to alter what is wilfull in thee,
Me thinkes her very name should fright thee from her,
And neuer trouble me.
Alas the numbers great, do not o're burden't,
Why as good marry a beacon on a hill,
Which all the country fixe their eyes vpon
As her thy folly doates on. If thou longst
To haue the story of thy infamous fortunes,
Serue for discourse in ordinaries and tauernes
Th'art in the way: or to confound thy name,
Keepe on, thou canst not misse it: or to strike
Thy wretched father to vntimely coldnesse,
Keepe the left hand still, it will bring thee to't.
Yet if no teares wrung from thy fathers eyes,
Nor sighes that flye in sparkles, from his sorrowes,
Had power to alter what is wilfull in thee,
Me thinkes her very name should fright thee from her,
And neuer trouble me.
Seb.Why is the name of Mol so fatall sir.
Alex.Many one sir, where suspect is entred,
For seeke all London from one end to t'other,
More whoores of that name, then of any ten other.
For seeke all London from one end to t'other,
More whoores of that name, then of any ten other.
Seb.Whats that to her? let those blush for themselues.
Can any guilt in others condemne her?
I'ue vowd to loue her: let all stormes oppose me,
That euer beate against the brest of man,
Nothing but deaths blacke tempest shall diuide vs.
Can any guilt in others condemne her?
I'ue vowd to loue her: let all stormes oppose me,
That euer beate against the brest of man,
Nothing but deaths blacke tempest shall diuide vs.
Alex.Oh folly that can dote on nought but shame.
Seb.Put case a wanton itch runs through one name
More then another, is that name the worse,
Where honesty sits possest in't? it should rather
Appeare more excellent, and deserue more praise,
When through foule mists a brightnesse it can raise.
Why there are of the diuels, honest Gentlemen,
And well descended, keepe an open house,
And some ath (good mans) that are arrant knaues.
He hates vnworthily, that by rote contemnes,
For the name neither saues, nor yet condemnes,
And for her honesty, I haue made such proofe an't,
In seuerall formes, so neerely watcht her waies,
I will maintaine that strict, against an army,
Excepting you my father: here's her worst,
Sh'has a bold spirit that mingles with mankind,
But nothing else comes neere it: and oftentimes
Through her apparell somewhat shames her birth,
But she is loose in nothing but in mirth,
Would all Mols were no worse.
More then another, is that name the worse,
Where honesty sits possest in't? it should rather
Appeare more excellent, and deserue more praise,
When through foule mists a brightnesse it can raise.
Why there are of the diuels, honest Gentlemen,
And well descended, keepe an open house,
And some ath (good mans) that are arrant knaues.
He hates vnworthily, that by rote contemnes,
For the name neither saues, nor yet condemnes,
And for her honesty, I haue made such proofe an't,
In seuerall formes, so neerely watcht her waies,
I will maintaine that strict, against an army,
Excepting you my father: here's her worst,
Sh'has a bold spirit that mingles with mankind,
But nothing else comes neere it: and oftentimes
Through her apparell somewhat shames her birth,
But she is loose in nothing but in mirth,
Would all Mols were no worse.
Alex.This way I toyle in vaine and giue but ayme
To infamy and ruine: he will fall,
My blessing cannot stay him: all my ioyes
Stand at the brinke of a deuouring floud
And will be wilfully swallowed: wilfully.
But why so vaine, let all these teares be lost,
Ile pursue her to shame, and so al's crost.
Exit Sir Alexander
To infamy and ruine: he will fall,
My blessing cannot stay him: all my ioyes
Stand at the brinke of a deuouring floud
And will be wilfully swallowed: wilfully.
But why so vaine, let all these teares be lost,
Ile pursue her to shame, and so al's crost.
Exit Sir Alexander
Seb.Hee is gon with some strange purpose, whose effect
Will hurt me little if he shoot so wide,
To thinke I loue so blindly: I but feed
His heart to this match, to draw on th'other.
Wherein my ioy sits with a full wish crownd,
Onely his moode excepted which must change.
By opposite pollicies, courses indirect,
Plaine dealing in this world takes no effect.
This madde girle I'le acquaint with my intent,
Get her assistance, make my fortunes knowne,
Twixt louers hearts, shee's a fit instrument,
And has the art to help them to their owne,
By her aduise, for in that craft shee's wise,
My loue and I may meete, spite of all spies.
Exit Sebastian.
Will hurt me little if he shoot so wide,
To thinke I loue so blindly: I but feed
His heart to this match, to draw on th'other.
Wherein my ioy sits with a full wish crownd,
Onely his moode excepted which must change.
By opposite pollicies, courses indirect,
Plaine dealing in this world takes no effect.
This madde girle I'le acquaint with my intent,
Get her assistance, make my fortunes knowne,
Twixt louers hearts, shee's a fit instrument,
And has the art to help them to their owne,
By her aduise, for in that craft shee's wise,
My loue and I may meete, spite of all spies.
Exit Sebastian.