Page 317
Scene 21.
Madamoiselle, you may do a charitable Act.
As how?
As to marry me.
If it be a Charity to you, it would be none to my self, but the contrary: I should prove cruel to my self, in making my life unhappy.
Yet it will be a meritorious Act: for what is more meritori∣ous than to save a soul?
So I shall rob Pluto of his due and just right.
He will never miss his loss: for on my Conscience he is not so good an Arithmetician, as he could count and number the Millions of souls he hath in Hell, or those he hath right to; nay, if he had the skill of Utlick, he could not number them, for they surmount all Accounts.
But the torments he puts souls, to will ••ind them out.
It is a question whether souls are capable of torments; but howsoever; to put it out of question, pray marry me: for I am become of a sudden very consentious.
But there will be another question, which is, Whether Mariage will save you, or not?
O yes: for the Purgatory of Mariage doth purifie Souls, and make them fit for Heaven.
But I fear, if I should marry you, I should do like those that strive to save a drowning man; so I, indeavouring to save you, should lose my self.
There is no Honourable Act, without some danger to the Actor.
But all wise Actions have security.
There is no security in Nature.
I will consider, although after a wise consideration I do a foolish action, as most considerers do.