Act 4 — SCENE V.

1. Whiles early light springs from the skies A fairer from your bride doth rue; A brighter day doth thence appear, And makes a second morning there. Her blush doth shed All o'er the bed Clean shamefac'd beams, That spread in streams, And purple round the modest air. 2. I will not tell what shrieks and cries, What angry pishes, and what fies, What pretty oaths then newly born, The list'ning taper heard there sworn: Whiles froward she Most peevishly Did yielding fight To keep o'er night, What she'd have proffer'd you ere morn. 3. Fair, we know, maids do refuse To grant what they do come to lose. Intend a conquest, you that wed; They would be chastely ravished. Not any kiss From Mistress Pris, If that you do, Persuade and woo: Know pleasure's by extorting fed. 4. O, may her arms wax black and blue Only by hard encircling you: May she round about you twine, Like the easy-twisting vine; And whiles you sip From her full lip Pleasures as new As morning dew, Let those soft ties your hearts combine. Singer. God give you joy, Master Meanwell! God give your worship good morrow! Rhyme. Come, let's be going. Chris. Hold, a blow I'll have, One jerk at th' times, wrapp'd in a benediction O' th' spouse's teeming, and I'll go with you.

Now thou, our future brother, That shalt make this spouse a mother, Spring up, and Dod's blessing on't.[224] Show thy little sorrel pate, And prove regenerate, Before thou be brought to the font. May the parish surplice be Cut in pieces quite for thee, To wrap thy soft body about; So 'twill better service do, Reformed thus into The state of an orthodox clout. When thou shalt leave the cradle, And shalt begin to waddle, And trudge in thy little apron; May'st thou conceive a grace Of half an hour's space, And rejoice in thy Friday capon. For an error that's the flock's, Name Master Paul, but urge St Knox;[225] And at every reform'd dinner, Let cheese come in, and preaching, And by that third course teaching Confirm an unsatisfi'd sinner. Thence grow up to hate a ring, And defy an offering; And learn to sing what others say. Let Christ-tide be thy fast, And Lent thy good repast; And regard not an holy-day.

Con. Lay hold on them! lay hold on them, I say! I'll hamper them. Catch. Hell take your headlong zeal! You must be jerking at the times, forsooth. I am afraid the times will 'scape, and we, The men of them, shall suffer now the scourge. Con. Let none escape. Chris. 'Twas godliness, verily: It was a hymn I warbled. Con. Thou dost lie, It was no hymn, it was a song. Is this Your filthy rendezvous? you shall be taught Another tune. Chris. I do beseech you, show Merciful cruelty, and as 'twere a kind Of pitiful hard-heartedness. I'm strong.

Con. I'm glad you told me so, I will provide Your ward accordingly. Drag 'em out both. And. Let me but send to th' ordinary. Con. You shall not; The ord'nary hath sent to you. No bail: I will take none. I'll suffer no such sneaks As you to offend this way: it doth belong T'your betters, sir. And. Here's a sufficient man, I do assure you; take my word for that. Con. This staff was made to knock down sin. I'll look There shall be no advoutry[226] in my ward, But what is honest. I'll see justice done As long as I'm in office. Come along. [Exeunt.