[Exeunt.]
SCENE III. The same.
[Enter Harry Clare, Frank Jerningham, Peter Fabell, and Milliscent.]
HARRY CLARE. Spight now hath done her worst; sister, be patient.
JERNINGHAM. Forewarned poor Raymonds company! O heaven! When the composure of weak frailty meet Upon this mart of durt, O, then weak love Must in her own unhappiness be silent, And winck on all deformities.
MILLISCENT. Tis well: Where's Raymond, brother? where's my dear Mounchensey? Would we might weep together and then part; Our sighing parle would much ease my heart.
FABELL. Sweet beauty, fold your sorrows in the thought Of future reconcilement: let your tears Shew you a woman; but be no farther spent Then from the eyes; for, sweet, experience says That love is firm that's flattered with delays.
MILLISCENT. Alas, sir, think you I shall ere be his?
FABELL. As sure as parting smiles on future bliss. Yond comes my friend: see, he hath doted So long upon your beauty, that your want Will with a pale retirement waste his blood; For in true love Musicke doth sweetly dwell: Severed, these less worlds bear within them hell.
[Enter Mounchensey.]
MOUNCHENSEY. Harry and Francke, you are enjoined to wain Your friendship from me; we must part: the breath Of all advised corruption--pardon me! Faith, I must say so;--you may think I love you; I breath not, rougher spight do sever us; We'll meet by stealth, sweet friend,--by stealth, you twain; Kisses are sweetest got with struggling pain.
JERNINGHAM. Our friendship dies not, Raymond.
MOUNCHENSEY. Pardon me: I am busied; I have lost my faculties, And buried them in Milliscent's clear eyes.
MILLISCENT. Alas, sweet Love, what shall become of me? I must to Chesson to the Nunry, I shall ne'er see thee more.
MOUNCHENSEY. How, sweet? I'll be thy votary, we'll often meet: This kiss divides us, and breathes soft adieu,-- This be a double charm to keep both true.
FABELL. Have done: your fathers may chance spy your parting. Refuse not you by any means, good sweetness, To go unto the Nunnery; far from hence Must we beget your love's sweet happiness. You shall not stay there long; your harder bed Shall be more soft when Nun and maid are dead.
[Enter Bilbo.]
MOUNCHENSEY. Now, sirra, what's the matter?
BILBO. Marry, you must to horse presently; that villainous old gouty churl, Sir Arthur Clare, longs till he be at the Nunry.
HARRY CLARE. How, sir?
BILBO. O, I cry you mercy, he is your father, sir, indeed; but I am sure that there's less affinity betwixt your two natures then there is between a broker and a cutpurse.
MOUNCHENSEY. Bring my gelding, sirra.
BILBO. Well, nothing grieves me, but for the poor wench; she must now cry vale to Lobster pies, hartichokes, and all such meats of mortality; poor gentlewoman, the sign must not be in virgo any longer with her, and that me grieves full well.
Poor Milliscent Must pray and repent: O fatal wonder! She'll now be no fatter, Love must not come at her Yet she shall be kept under.
[Exit.]
JERNINGHAM. Farewell, dear Raymond.
HARRY CLARE. Friend, adieu.
MILLISCENT. Dear sweet, No joy enjoys my heart till we next meet.
[Exeunt.]
FABELL. Well, Raymond, now the tide of discontent Beats in thy face; but, er't be long, the wind Shall turn the flood. We must to Waltham abbey, And as fair Milliscent in Cheston lives, A most unwilling Nun, so thou shalt there Become a beardless Novice; to what end, Let time and future accidents declare: Taste thou my sleights, thy love I'll only share.
MOUNCHENSEY. Turn friar? Come, my good Counsellor, let's go, Yet that disguise will hardly shroud my woe.
[Exeunt.]
ACT III.
SCENE I. Cheston Priory.
[Enter the Prioress of Cheston, with a Nun or two, Sir Arthur Clare, Sir Raph Jerningham, Henry and Francke, the Lady, and Bilbo, with Millisent.]
LADY CLARE. Madam, The love unto this holy sisterhood, And our confirmd opinion of your zeal Hath truly won us to bestow our Child Rather on this then any neighbouring Cell.