He goes about her and views her. She is exceeding fair, and of a special good favour; a sweet composition or harmony of limbs: her temper of beauty has the true height of my blood. The knave hath exceedingly well fitted me without: I will now try her within. Come near, fair gentlewoman: let not my behaviour seem rude, though unto you, being rare, it may haply appear strange. She curtseys. Nay, lady, you may speak, though Cutbeard and my man might not: for of all sounds, only the sweet voice of a fair lady has the just length of mine ears. I beseech you, say lady, out of the first fire of meeting eyes (they say) love is stricken: do you feel any such motion, suddenly shot into you, from any part you see in me? Ha, lady? Curtsey Alas, lady, these answers by silent curtseys, from you, are too courtless and simple. I have ever had my breeding in court: and she that shall be my wife, must be accomplished with courtly and audacious ornaments. Can you speak, lady?

EPI. Judge you, forsooth.

 

She speaks softly

 

MOR. What say you, lady? Speak out, I beseech you.

EPI. Judge you, forsooth.

MOR. O' my judgement, a divine softness! But can you naturally, lady, as I enjoin these by doctrine and industry, refer yourself to the search of my judgement, and (not taking pleasure in your tongue, which is a woman's chiefest pleasure) think it plausible to answer me by silent gestures, so long as my speeches jump right, with what you conceive? Curtsey. Excellent! Divine! If it were possible she should hold out thus! Peace, Cutbeard, thou art made forever, as thou has made me, if this felicity have lasting: but I will try her further. Dear lady, I am courtly, I tell you, and I must have mine ears banqueted with pleasant, and witty conferences, pretty girds, scoffs, and dalliance in her, that I mean to choose for my bedfere. The ladies in court think it a most desperate impair to their quickness of wit and good carriage, if they cannot give occasion for a man to court 'em; and when an amorous discourse is set on foot, minister as good matter to continue it, as himself: and do you alone so much differ from all them, that what they (with so much circumstance) affect and toil for, to seem learned, to seem judicious, to seem sharp and conceited, you can bury in yourself with silence? And rather trust your graces to the fair conscience of virtue than to the world's, or your own proclamation?

EPI. I should be sorry else.

MOR. What say you, lady? Good lady, speak out.

EPI. I should be sorry, else.

MOR. That sorrow doth fill me with gladness! Oh Morose! Thou art happy above mankind! Pray that thou mayest contain thyself. I will only put her to it once more, and it shall be with the utmost touch and test of their sex. But hear me, fair lady, I do also love to see her, whom I shall choose for my heifer, to be the first and principal in all fashions; precede all the dames at court by a fortnight; have her counsel of tailors, lineners, lace-women, embroiderers, and sit with 'em sometimes twice a day, upon French intelligences; and then come forth, varied like Nature, or oftener than she, and better, by the help of Art, her emulous servant. This do I affect. And how will you be able, lady, with this frugality of speech, to give the manifold (but necessary) instructions, for that bodice, these sleeves, those skirts, this cut, that stitch, this embroidery, that lace, this wire, those knots, that ruff, those roses, this girdle, that fan, the tother scarf, these gloves? Ha! What say you, lady?

EPI. I'll leave it to you, sir.

MOR. How, lady? Pray you, rise a note.

EPI. I leave it to wisdom, and you, sir.

MOR. Admirable creature! I will trouble you no more: I will not sin against so sweet a simplicity. Let me now be bold to print, on those divine lips, the seal of being mine. Cutbeard, I give thee the lease of thy house free: thank me not, but with thy leg (––) I know what thou wouldst say, she's poor, and her friends deceased; she has brought a wealthy dowry in her silence, Cutbeard: and in respect of her poverty, Cutbeard, I shall have her more loving and obedient, Cutbeard.