The Works of Ben Jonson/Volume 6/A Tale of a Tub/Act I/Scene VII

Lady Tub, Wispe. Lad. How now, Wispe? Ha' you A Valentine yet? I'm taking th' air to chuse one. Wis. Fate send your Ladyship a fit one then. Lad. VVhat kind of one is that? Wis. A proper Man, To please your Ladyship. Lad. Out o' that Vanity, That takes the foolish Eye: Any poor creature, VVhose want may need my alms, or courtesie, I rather wish; so Bishop Valentine Left us Example to do Deeds of Charity; To feed the hungry, cloath the naked, visit The weak and sick; to entertain the poor, And give the dead a Christian Funeral: These were the works of Piety he did practise, And bade us imitate; not look for Lovers, Or handsome Images to please our Senses. I pray thee, Wispe, deal freely with me now: VVe are alone, and may be merry a little: Tho' art none o' the Court-Glories, nor the VVonders For VVit or Beauty i' the City: tell me, VVhat Man would satisfie thy present Fancy? Had thy ambition leave to chuse a Valentine, VVithin the Queens Dominion, so a Subject. Wis. Yo' ha' gi' me a large scope, Madam, I confess, And I will deal with your Ladyship sincerely: I'll utter my whole heart to you. I would have him The bravest, richest, and the properest Man A Taylor could make up; or all the Poets, VVith the Perfumers: I would have him such, As not another VVoman, but should spite me: Three City-Ladies should run mad for him: And Country-Madams infinite. Lad. You'ld spare me, And let me hold my Wits? VVis. I should with you ?? For the young Squire, my Master's sake, dispense A little; but it should be very little. Then all the Court-Wives I'ld ha' jealous of me, As all their Husbands jealous of them: And not a Lawyers Puss of any Quality, But lick her lips, for a snatch in the Terme time. Lad. Come, Let's walk: we'll hear the rest as we go on: You are this Morning in a good Vein, Dido: Would I could be as merry. My Son's absence Troubles me not a little: though I seek These ways to put it off; which will not help: Care that is entred once into the Breast, Will have the whole possession, ere it rest.