Scene 23.
Sweet-heart, I was in your Bed-chamber, and in your Cabinet-chamber, and missing you in both, I was afraid I must have been forc'd to have hir'd a Cryer, to have proclamed my loss.
Many a Wife doth proclame her Husbands loss without the help of a Cryer: for the Wives Adulterous Acts proclame her Husband a Cuc∣old, and the loss of his Honour.
But I am not afra'd of that: for I am confident of thy Chastity (al∣though the old saying is, Confidence makes Cuckolds.)
Your confidence of me shall never harm you.
But your too serious studies will harm your health; and if you be sick, I cannot be well; besides, it will decay your Beauty, waste your Youth, like Oyl spent in a melancholy Lamp, where Life is always blinking.
It were better that my Body should be sick, than my Mind idle; my Beauty decay, than my Understanding perish; my Youth waste, than my Fame lost; my Life blinking, than my Honour sinking: for an idle Mind, not well imploy'd creates a restless body, which runs from place to place, and hates to be at home. Thus Mind and Body both being out, extravagant Words and Actions run about, and Riot keeps possession.
And though the Beauty withers and decays, Yet Wit and Wisedome with the ruine stays: And if the Youth doth waste, and Life's Oyl's spent, Yet Fame lasts long, and builds a Monument: A melancholy life doth shadows cast, But sets forth Virtue, if they are well plac'd. Then who would entertain an idle Mirth, Begot by Vanity, and dies in scorn? Or proud, or pleas'd with Beauty, when the Birth Becomes the Grave or Tomb as soon as born? But Wisedome wishes to be old and glad, When youthful Follies die, which seem as mad: If Age is subject to repent what's past, Prudence and Experience redeems what's lost.I perceive, Wife, the Muses have kept you company, although you walk by your self; but now I desire you will leave their company for a time, and entertain mine.