Phe. I will not eat my word; now thou art mine, Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. Enter JAQUES DE BOIS. [TO SIL Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word, or two; I am the second son of old sir Rowland, That bring these tidings to this fair assembly: His brother here, and put him to the sword : Duke S. That have endur'd shrewd days and nights with us, Play, music;—and you brides and bridegrooms all, The duke hath put on a religious life, Jaq. To him will I out of these convertites There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. You to your former honour I bequeath; [To DUKE S. Your patience, and your virtue, well deserves it :You [to ORLANDO] to a love that your true faith doth merit: You [to OLIVER] to your land, and love, and great allies: You [to SILVIUS] to a long and well-deserved bed :--And you [to TOUCHSTONE] to wrangling; for thy loving voyage Is but for two months victuall'd :--So to your pleasures; I am for other than for dancing measures. Duke S. Stay, Jaques, stay. Jaq. To see no pastime I:-what you would have I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. [Exit. Duke S. Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites, And we do trust they 'll end in true delights. [A dance. EPILOGUE. Ros. It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue: but it is no more unhandsome, than to see the lord the prologue. If it be true, that "good wine needs no bush," 't is true, that a good play needs no epilogue: Yet to good wine they do use good bushes; and good plays prove the better for the help of good epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am neither a good epilogue, nor cannot insinuate with you in the behalf of a good play! I am not furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not become me: my way is, to conjure you; and I'll begin with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love you bear to men, to like as much of this play as please you and I charge you, O men, for the love you bear to women, (as I perceive by your simpering, none of you hates them,) that between you and the women, the play may please. If I were a woman, I would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased me, complexions that liked me, and breaths that I defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good beards, or good faces, or sweet breaths, will, for my kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell. |