Act 5 — SCENE II.

Field between the two Houses.

Enter White Queen’s Pawn.

W. Q. Pawn. I see ’twas but a trial of my duty now;

Hath a more^[799] modest mind, and in that virtue

Most worthily hath fate provided for me.

396Enter Black Bishop’s Pawn in his reverend habit.

Hah! ’tis the bad man in the reverend habit:

Dares he be seen again, traitor to holiness,

O marble-fronted impudence! and knows

How much has wrong’d^[800] me? I'm asham’d he blushes not.

B. B. Pawn. Are you yet stor’d with any woman’s pity?

Are you the mistress of so much devotion,

Kindness, and charity, as to bestow

An alms of love on your poor sufferer yet

For your sake only?

W. Q. Pawn. Sir, for the reverend respect you ought

To give to sanctity, though none to me,

In being her servant vow’d and wear her livery,

If I might counsel, you should never speak

The language of unchasteness in that habit;

You would not think how ill it doth with you.

The world’s a stage on which all parts are play’d:

You’d think it most absurd to see a devil

Presented there not in a devil’s shape,

Or, wanting one, to send him out in yours;

You’d rail at that for an absurdity

No college e’er committed. For decorum' sake, then,

For pity’s cause, for sacred virtue’s honour,

If you’ll persist still in your devil’s part,

Present him as you should do, and let one

That carries up the goodness of the play

Come in that habit, and I'll speak with him;

Then will the parts be fitted, and the spectators

397Know which is which: they must have cunning judgments^[801]

To find it else, for such a one as you

Is able to deceive a mighty audience;

Nay, those you have seduc’d, if there be any

In the assembly, when^[802] they see what manner

You play your game with me, they cannot love you.

Is there so little hope of you, to smile, sir?

B. B. Pawn. Yes, at your fears, at th' ignorance of your power,

The little use you make of time, youth, fortune,

Knowing you have a husband for lust’s shelter,

You dare not yet make bold with a friend’s comfort;

This is the plague of weakness.

W. Q. Pawn. So hot burning!

The syllables of sin fly from his lips

As if the letter came new-cast^[803] from hell.

B. B. Pawn. Well, setting by^[804] the dish you loathe so much,

Which hath been heartily tasted by your betters,

I come to marry you to the gentleman

That last enjoy’d you: I hope that pleases you;

There’s no immodest relish in that office.

W. Q. Pawn. Strange of all men he should first light on him

To tie that holy knot that sought t' undo me!

[Aside.

Were you requested to perform that business, sir?

B. B. Pawn. I name you a sure token.

W. Q. Pawn. As for that, sir,

Now you’re most welcome; and my fair hope’s of you,

398You’ll^[805] never break the sacred knot you tie once

With any lewd soliciting hereafter.

B. B. Pawn. But all the craft’s in getting of it knit:

You’re all on fire to make your cozening market.

I am the marrier and the man—do you know me?

Do you know me, nice iniquity, strict luxury,^[806]

And holy whoredom?—that would clap on marriage

With all hot speed to solder up your game:

See what a scourge fate hath provided for thee!

You were a maid; swear still, you’re no worse now,

I left you as I found you: have I startled you?

I'm quit with you now for my discovery,

Your outcries, and your cunning:^[807] farewell, brokage!

W. Q. Pawn. Nay, stay, and hear me but give thanks a little,

If your ear can endure a work so gracious;

Then you may take your pleasure.

B. B. Pawn. I have done that.

W. Q. Pawn. Thou^[808] power, that hath preserv’d me from this devil——

B. B. Pawn. How?

W. Q. Pawn. This that may challenge the chief chair in hell,

And sit above his master——

B. B. Pawn. Bring in merit.

W. Q. Pawn. That suffered’st him, through blind lust, to be led

Last night to the action of some common bed——

B. Q. Pawn [within]. Not over-common neither.

B. B. Pawn. Hah, what voice is that?

399W. Q. Pawn. Of virgins be thou ever honourèd!—

Now you may go; you hear I've given thanks, sir.

B. B. Pawn. Here’s a strange game! Did not I lie with you?

B. Q. Pawn [within]. No.

B. B. Pawn. What the devil art thou?

W. Q. Pawn. I will not answer you, sir,

After thanksgiving.

B. B. Pawn. Why, you made promise to me

After the contract.

B. Q. Pawn [within]. Yes.

B. B. Pawn. Mischief confound thee!

I speak not to thee—and you were prepar’d for’t,

And set your joys more high——

B. Q. Pawn [within]. Than you could reach, sir.

B. B. Pawn. This is some^[809] bawdy Pawn; I'll slit the throat on’t!

Enter Black Queen’s Pawn.

B. Q. Pawn. What, offer violence to your bedfellow?

To one that works so kindly without rape?

B. B. Pawn. My bedfellow?

B. Q. Pawn. Do you plant your scorn against me?

Why, when I was probationer at Brussels,

That engine was not known; then adoration

Fill’d up the place, and wonder was in fashion:

Is’t turn’d to the wild seed of contempt so soon?

Can five years stamp a bawd? pray, look upon me, sir,

I've youth enough to take it: ’tis no longer

Since you were chief agent for the transportation

400Of ladies' daughters, if you be remember’d:

Some of their portions I could name; who purs’d ’em too:

They were soon dispossess’d of worldly cares

That came into your fingers.

B. B. Pawn. Shall I hear her?

B. Q. Pawn. Holy derision, yes, till thy ears^[810] swell

With thine own venom, thy profane life’s vomit:

Whose niece was she you poison’d, with child twice,

And gave her out possess’d with a foul spirit,

When ’twas indeed your bastard?

B. B. Pawn. I am taken

In mine own toils!

Enter White Queen and White Bishop’s Pawn.

W. B. Pawn. Yes, and ’tis just you should be.

W. Queen.^[811] And thou, lewd Pawn, the shame of womanhood!

B. B. Pawn. I'm lost of all hands!

B. Q. Pawn. And I cannot feel

The weight of my perdition; now he’s taken,

'T hath not the burden of a grasshopper.

B. B. Pawn. Thou whore of order, cockatrice^[812] in voto!

Enter Black Knight’s Pawn.

B. Kt.'s Pawn. Yon’s the White Bishop’s Pawn;

I'll play at’s heart now.

W. Q. Pawn. How now, black villain! would’st thou heap a murder

On thy first foul offence? O merciless bloodhound,

’Tis time that thou wert taken!

401B. Kt.'s Pawn. Death!^[813] prevented?

W. Q. Pawn. For thy sake and that partner in thy shame,

I'll never know man further than by name. [Exeunt.