To her indeed 'tis, this wheel comes about;

That man that must be all this, perhaps ere morning
(For his white father does but mould away)
Has long desir'd your daughter.

Moth. Desir'd?

Vin. Nay, but hear me,

He desires now, that will command hereafter;
Therefore be wise, I speak as more a friend

To you than him; madam, I know you're poor.

And (lack the day!) there are too many poor ladies already;

Why should you wax the number? 'tis despised.

Live wealthy, rightly understand the world,

And chide away that foolish country girl

Keeps company with your daughter, Chastity.

Moth. O fie, fie! the riches of the world cannot hire a mother To such a most unnatural task.

Vin. No, but a thousand angels can;

Men have no power, angels must work you to 't:
The world descends into such base-born evils,
That forty angels can make fourscore devils.
There will be fools still I perceivo-still fool I
Would I be poor, dejected, scorn'd of greatness,
Swept from the palace, and see others' daughters
Spring with the dew of the court, having mine own
So much desir'd and lov'd-by the duke's son ?
No, I would raise my state upon her breast,
And call her eyes my tenants; I would count
My yearly maintenance upon her checks;
Take coach upon her lip; and all her parts
Should keep men after meu; and I would ride
In pleasure upon pleasure.

You took great pains for her, once when it was,
Let her requite it now, tho' it be but some;

You brought her forth, she may well bring you home.
Moth. O heavens! this o'ercomes me!

Vin. Not I hope already?

[Aside.

Moth. It is too strong for me; men know that know us,

We are so weak their words can overthrow us:

He touch'd ine nearly, made my virtues bate,
When his tongue struck upon my poor estate.

Vin. I even quake to proceed, my spirit turns edge.
I fear me she's unmother'd, yet I'll venture.
What think you now, lady? speak, are you wiser ?
What said advancement to you? thus it said,
The daughter's fall lifts up the mother's head:
Did it not, Madam ? but I'll swear it does
In many places; but this age fears no man,
'Tis no shame to be bad, because 'tis common.
Moth. Aye, that's the comfort on 't.

Vin. The comfort on 't !

I keep the best for last. Can these persuade you

To forget heaven-and—

Moth. Ay, these are they—

Vin. Oh!

Moth. That enchant our sex;

[Aride.

[Aside.

[Offers her money.

These are the means that govern our affections,—

That woman

Will not be troubled with the mother long,
That sees the comfortable shine of you:

I blush to think what for your sakes I'll do.

Vin. O suffering heaven! with thy invisible finger, E'en at this instant turn the precious side

Of both mine eye-balls inward, not to see myself.

Moth. Look you, Sir.

Vin. Hollo.

Moth. Let us thank your pains.

Vin. O you are a kind Madam.
Moth. I'll see how I can move.

Vin. Your words will sting.

Moth. If she be still chaste, I'll ne'er call her mine.

Vin. Spoke truer than you meant it!

Moth. Daughter Castiza

Cast. [within.] Madam!

Vin. O she's yonder, meet her.

Troops of celestial soldiers guard her heart.

[Aside.

Your dam nas devils enough to take her part.

[CASTIZA returns.

Cast. Madam, what makes yon evil-offic'd man

In presence of you?

Moth. Why?

Cust. He lately brought

Immodest writing sent from the duke's son,
To tempt me to dishonorable act.

Moth. Dishonorable act ?-good honorable fool.
That wouldst be honest, 'cause thou wouldst be so,
Producing no one reason but thy will;

And it has a good report, prettily commended,
But pray by whom? poor people: ignorant people;
The better sort, I'm sure, cannot abide it.

And by what rule should we square out our lives
But by our betters' actions? oh, if thou knew'st
What 'twere to lose it, thou wouldst never keep it ;
But there's a cold curse laid upon all maids,
Whilst others clip the sun, they clasp the shades.
Deny advancement! treasure! the duke's son!

Cast. I cry you mercy, lady, I mistook you;

Pray did you see my mother? which way went you?
Pray God I have not lost her.

Vin. Prettily put by.

[Aside.

Moth. Are you as proud to me, as coy to him?

Do you not know me now?

Cast. Why, are you she?

The world's so chang'd, one shape into another,

It is a wise child now that knows her mother.
Vin. Most right, i' faith.

[Aside.

Moth. I owe your cheek my hand

For that presumption now, but I'll forget it;

Come, you shall leave those childish 'haviors,

And understand your time. Fortunes flow to you.
What will you be a girl?

If all fear'd drowning that spy waves ashore,

Gold would grow rich, and all the merchants poor.

Cast. It is a pretty saying of a wicked one, but methinks now

It does not show so well out of your mouth;

Bettor in his.

Vin. Faith, bad enough in both,
Were I in earnest, as I'll seem no less.
I wonder, lady, your own mother's words
Cannot be taken, nor stand in full force.
'Tis honesty you urge; what's honesty 1

[Aside.

"Tis but heaven'ɛ beggar; and what woman is so foolish to keep honesty,

And be not able to keep herself? no,

Times are grown wiser, and will keep less charge.

A maid that has small portion now, intends

To break up house, and live upon her friends.
How blest are you! you have happiness alono ;
Others must fall to thousands, you to one ;
Suflicient in himself to make your forehead
Dazzle the world with jewels, and petitionary people

Start at your presence.

O think upon the pleasure of the palaco!

Secured ease and state! the stirring meats,

Ready to move out of the dishes, that o'en now quicken when they're eaten!

Banquets abroad by torch-light! music ! sports!
Bare-headed vassals, that had ne'er the fortune
To keep on their own hats, but let horns wear 'em!
Nine coaches waiting-hurry, hurry, hurry-

Cast. Aye, to the devil

Vin. Aye, to the devil! to the duke, by my faith.
Moth. Aye, to the duke. Daughter, you'd scorn to think
Of the devil, and you were there once.

Vin. Who'd sit at home in a neglected room,
Dealing her short-liv'd beauty to the pictures,
That are as useless as old men, when those
Poorer in face and fortune than herself
Walk with a hundred acres on their backs,
Fair meadows cut into green fore-parts ?—
Fair trees, those comely foretops of the field,
Are cut to maintain head-tires-much untold-

All thrives but chastity, she lies cold.

Nay, shall I come near to you? mark but this:

Why are there so few honest women, but because 'tis the poorer

profession? that's accounted best, that's best followed;

least in trade, least in fashion; and that's not honesty, be
lieve it; and do but note the low and dejected price of it:

Lose but t. pearl, we search and cannot brook it:
But that once gone, who is so mad to look it?
Moth. Troth, he says true.

Cast. False: I defy you both.

I have endur'd you with an ear of fire;
Your tongues have struck hot irons on my face.
Mother, come from that poisonous woman there.
Moth. Where?

Cast. Do you not see her? she's too inward then.
Slave, perish in thy office. You heavens please,
Henceforth to make the mother a disease,

Which first begins with me; yet I've outgone you.
Vin. O angels, clap your wings upon the skies,

[Exit.

And give this virgin crystal plaudities!

[Aside.

Moth. Peevish, coy, foolish!—but return this answer,

My lord shall be most welcome, when his pleasure

Conducts him this way; I will sway mine own;

Women with women can work best alone.

[Exit.

Vin. Forgive me, heaven, to call my mother wicked!

O lessen not my days upon the earth.

I cannot honor her.

The Brothers, Vindici and Hippolito, threaten their Mother with Death for consenting to the Dishonor of their Sister.

Vin. O thou for whom no name is bad enough.

Moth. What mean my sons? what, will you murther me? Vin. Wicked unnatural parent!

Hip. Friend of women!

Moth. Oh! are sons turn'd monsters! help!

Vin. In vain.

Moth. Are ye so barbarous to set iron nipples

:

Upon the breast that gave you suck ?