OATLEY

Good Master Scott, I have been bold with you

To be witness to a wedding-knot

Betwixt young Master Hammon and my daughter.

O, stand aside; see where the lovers come.

ROSE

Can it be possible you love me so?

5

No, no, within those eyeballs I espy

Apparent likelihoods of flattery.

Pray now, let go of my hand.

HAMMON Sweet Mistress Rose,

Misconstrue not my word, nor misconceive

Of my affection, whose devoted soul

10

Swears that I love thee dearer than my heart.

ROSE

As dear as your own heart? I judge it right:

Men love their hearts best when they’re out of sight.

HAMMON

I love you, by this hand.

ROSE Yet hands off, now.

If flesh be frail, how weak and frail’s your vow!

15

HAMMON

Then by my life I swear.

ROSE Then do not brawl.

One quarrel loseth wife and life and all.

Is not your meaning thus?

HAMMON In faith, you jest.

ROSE

Love loves to sport; therefore leave love, you’re best.

OATLEY

What, square they, Master Scott?

SCOTT Sir, never doubt.

20

Lovers are quickly in and quickly out.

HAMMON

Sweet Rose, be not so strange in fancying me.

Nay, never turn aside, shun not my sight.

I am not grown so fond to found my love

On any that shall quit it with disdain.

25

If you will love me, so. If not, farewell.

OATLEY

Why, how now, lovers, are you both agreed?

HAMMON

Yes, faith, my lord.

OATLEY ’ Tis well. Give me your hand;

Give me yours, daughter. How now, both pull back?

What means this, girl?

ROSE I mean to live a maid.

30

HAMMON

[Aside] But not to die one - pause ere that be said!

OATLEY

Will you still cross me? Still be obstinate?

HAMMON

Nay, chide her not, my lord, for doing well.

If she can live an happy virgin’s life,

’Tis far more blessed than to be a wife.

35

ROSE

Say, sir, I cannot. I have made a vow,

Whoever be my husband, ’tis not you.

OATLEY

Your tongue is quick. But Master Hammon, know

I bade you welcome to another end.

HAMMON

What, would you have me pule, and pine, and pray,

40

With ‘lovely lady’, ‘mistress of my heart’,

‘Pardon your servant’, and the rhymer play,

Railing on Cupid and his tyrant’s dart?

Or shall I undertake some martial spoil,

Wearing your glove at tourney and at tilt,

45

And tell how many gallants I unhorsed?

Sweet, will this pleasure you?

ROSE Yea. When wilt begin?

What, love-rhymes, man? Fie on that deadly sin!

OATLEY

If you will have her, I’ll make her agree.

HAMMON

Enforced love is worse than hate to me.

50

There is a wench keeps shop in the Old Change:

To her will I. It is not wealth I seek;

I have enough, and will prefer her love

Before the world. My good Lord Mayor, adieu.

Old love for me. I have no luck with new. Exit

55

OATLEY

Now, mammet, you have well behaved yourself!

But you shall curse your coyness, if I live.

Who’s within there?