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SCENE III] LOVE FOR LOVE 261
your fair speeches and stroking my cheeks, and kissing, and
hugging, what, would you sheer off so? would you, and
leave me aground?
Mrs. Frail. No, I'll leave you adrift, and go which way
you will.
Ben. What, are you false-hearted, then?
Mrs. Frail. Only the wind's changed.
Ben. More shame for you:—the wind's changed! It's an ill
wind blows nobody good,—mayhap I have a good riddance
on you, if these be your tricks. What did you mean all this
while, to make a fool of me?
Mrs. Frail. Any fool but a husband.
Ben. Husband! gad, I would not be your husband, if you
would have me, now I know your mind, tho'f you had your
weight in gold and jewels, and tho'f I loved you never so
well.
Mrs. Frail. Why, canst thou love, porpoise?
Ben. No matter what I can do; don't call names,—I don't
love you so well as to bear that, whatever I did. I'm glad
you showed yourself, mistress.—Let them marry you, as
don't know you:—gad, I know you too well, by sad experience;
I believe he that marries you will go to sea in a henpecked
frigate—I believe that, young woman—and mayhap
may come to an anchor at Cuckold's-point; so there's a
dash for you, take it as you will, mayhap you may holla
after me when I won't come to. [Exit.
Mrs. Frail. Ha! ha! ha! no doubt on't;—
[Sings.] My true love is gone to sea—
Re-enter Mrs. FORESIGHT.
Mrs. Frail. O sister, had you come a minute sooner, you
would have seen the resolution of a lover.—Honest Tar and
I are parted,—and with the same indifference that we met.
—O' my life I am half vexed at the insensibility of a brute
that I despised.
Mrs. Fore. What, then, he bore it most heroically?
Mrs. Frail. Most tyrannically,—for you see he has got the
start of me; and I the poor forsaken maid am left complaining
on the shore. But I'll tell you a hint that he has
given me; Sir Sampson is enraged, and talks desperately of
committing matrimony himself;—if he has a mind to throw
himself away, he can't do it more effectually than upon me,
if we could bring it about.