_Near_ Sir HUBERT SUBBOYS' _house_.
_Enter_ FREEVILL, _speaking to some within_; MALHEUREUX
_at the other door_.
_Free._ As you respect my virtue, give me leave
To satisfy my reason, though not blood.--
So all runs right; our feignèd rage hath ta'en
To fullest life: they are much possess'd
Of force most, most all quarrel. Now, my right friend,
Resolve me with open breast, free and true heart;
Cannot thy virtue, having space to think
And fortify her weakened powers with reason,
Discourses, meditations, discipline,
Divine ejaculatories, and all those aids against devils,--
Cannot all these curb thy low appetite 11
And sensual fury?
_Mal._ There is no God in blood, no reason in desire.
Shall I but live? Shall I not be forced to act
Some deed whose very name is hideous?
_Free._ No.
_Mal._ Then I must enjoy Franceschina.
_Free._ You shall.
I'll lend this ring: show it to that fair devil:
It will resolve me dead;
Which rumour, with my artificial absence,
Will make most firm: enjoy her suddenly. 20
_Mal._ But if report go strong that you are slain,
And that by me,--whereon I may be seized,--
Where shall I find your being?
_Free._ At Master Shatewe's the jeweller's, to whose breast
I'll trust our secret purpose.
_Mal._ Ay, rest yourself;
Each man hath follies.
_Free._ But those worst of all,
Who, with a willing eye, do seeing fall.
_Mal._ 'Tis true, but truth seems folly in madness'
spectacles. I am not now myself, no man: farewell.
_Free._ Farewell. 30
_Mal._ When woman's in the heart, in the soul hell.
[_Exit_ MALHEUREUX.
_Free._ Now, repentance, the fool's whip, seize thee;
Nay, if there be no means I'll be thy friend,
But not thy vices'; and with greatest sense
I'll force thee feel thy errors to the worst;
The wildest of dangers thou shalt sink into.
No jeweller shall see me; I will lurk
Where none shall know or think; close I'll withdraw,
And leave thee with two friends--a whore and knave;
But is this virtue in me? No, not pure, 40
Nothing extremely best with us endures;
No use in simple purities; the elements
Are mix'd for use; silver without allay[83]
Is all too eager[84] to be wrought for use:
Nor precise virtues, ever purely good,
Holds useful size with temper of weak blood.
Then let my course be borne, though with side-wind;
The end being good, the means are well assign'd.
[_Exit._
[83] Old form of _alloy_.
[84] Brittle (Fr. _aigre_).--"_Aigre_, eagre, sharpe, tart,
biting, sower also _brittle, or easily broken with a
hammer_."--_Cotgrave._