Volume Ix Part 4 (1/2)

Y. ART. My father may command my patience; But you, sir, that are but my father-in-law, Shall not so mock my reputation.

Sir, you shall find I am an honest man.

O. LUS. An honest man!

Y. ART. Ay, sir, so I say.

O. LUS. Nay, if you say so, I'll not be against it: But, sir, you might have us'd my daughter better, Than to have beat her, spurn'd her, rail'd at her Before our faces.

O. ART. Ay, therein, son Arthur, Thou show'dst thyself no better than a knave.

O. LUS. Ay, marry, did he, I will stand to it: To use my honest daughter in such sort, He show'd himself no better than a knave.

Y. ART. I say, again, I am an honest man; He wrongs me that shall say the contrary.

O. LUS. I grant, sir, that you are an honest man, Nor will I say unto the contrary: But wherefore do you use my daughter thus?

Can you accuse her of unchast.i.ty, of loose Demeanour, disobedience, or disloyalty?

Speak, what canst thou object against my daughter?

O. ART. Accuse her! here she stands; spit in her face, If she be guilty in the least of these.

MRS ART. O father, be more patient; if you wrong My honest husband, all the blame be mine, Because you do it only for my sake.

I am his handmaid; since it is his pleasure To use me thus, I am content therewith, And bear his checks and crosses patiently.

Y. ART. If in mine own house I can have no peace, I'll seek it elsewhere, and frequent it less.

Father, I'm now past one and twenty years; I'm past my father's pamp'ring, I suck not, Nor am I dandled on my mother's knee: Then, if you were my father twenty times, You shall not choose, but let me be myself.

Do I come home so seldom, and that seldom Am I thus baited? Wife, remember this!

Father, farewell! and, father-in-law, adieu!

Your son had rather fast than feast with you.

[_Exit_.

O. ART. Well, go to, wild-oats! spendthrift! prodigal!

I'll cross thy name quite from my reck'ning book: For these accounts, faith, it shall scathe thee somewhat, I will not say what somewhat it shall be.

O. LUS. And it shall scathe him somewhat of my purse: And, daughter, I will take thee home again, Since thus he hates thy fellows.h.i.+p; Be such an eyesore to his sight no more: I tell thee, thou no more shalt trouble him.

MRS ART. Will you divorce whom G.o.d hath tied together?

Or break that knot the sacred hand of heaven Made fast betwixt us? Have you never read, What a great curse was laid upon his head That breaks the holy band of marriage, Divorcing husbands from their chosen wives?

Father, I will not leave my Arthur so; Not all my friends can make me prove his foe.

O. ART. I could say somewhat in my son's reproof.

O. LUS. Faith, so could I.

O. ART. But, till I meet him, I will let it pa.s.s.

O. LUS. Faith, so will I.

O. ART. Daughter, farewell! with weeping eyes I part; Witness these tears, thy grief sits near my heart.

O. LUS. Weeps Master Arthur? nay, then, let me cry; His cheeks shall not be wet, and mine be dry.