Page 450
Scene 38.
Lord, Lord, this nasty love, or rather this heastly lust that doth corrupt all good manners, as gentle civility, free society, lawfull recreations, honest friendship, natural affections; it cuts off the feet of obedience, it breaks the knees of duty, it wounds the breast of fidelity, it pulls out the heart of loyalty; it turns away prudence, it banishes temperance, and murthers justice; it breaks peace and makes warrs, and t••rns arms i••••o petticoats. O sweet pure Chastity, how amiable thou art, how beautifull thou appearst in women, how heroick in men: for Chast women have such innocent thoughts, such pure, clean, clear, white immaculate minds, such modest countenances, such gentle behaviour, such civil discourses, such no∣ble actions, such discreet entertainments, such cautionarie recreations; o∣therwise they are bold, impudent, rude, flanting, ranting, romping wo∣men: also Chastity in men makes them heroick, for propriety, justice con∣stancy, and natural and honest love is the basis, pillars, or foundation where∣on true valour is built, when amorous affections make men effeminate, cau∣sing them to cast away their hard iron arms to lie in the soft arms of beau∣ty, and stops their cares from loud alarums, with charming notes of Musick, it takes them from being masters of themselves, and others, and makes them become servants, and slaves; from commanding an Army to be com∣manded by single women, by whom he is checkt like a school-boy, lead like a dog in a string, as after his mistrisses humours, her frowns make him crouch like a cur, her smiles make him skip, and make face like a Jack a••∣apes, and their beastly appetites make them so rude, and wilde, as they re∣gard no civility of behaviour, no gentleness of disposition, no constancy of affection, they keep no friendship, constancy, or vowes, they break all de∣cent customs, and disobey all honest laws; but this is a theam too wilde to be preacht on.
Why Madam, my Lord your father may be a very chast man although he lieth with his maid, if he hath made her his wife before he made her his bedfellow.
His wife? he scorns the thought, and hates the act?
Pardon me Madam, if I offer to lay a wager of it.
Are you so confident that you dare lay a wager?
If you inquire more I believe you will find it to be true.