Untitled - OUDL Home

SCENE iv] THE OLD BACHELOR 73
"D, let me feed, as well as taste;
I die, if I'm not wholly blest!"
After the song a Dance of Antics. 8
Silv. Indeed, it is very fine, I could look upon 'em all
day.
Heart. Well, has this prevailed for me, and will you look
upon me?
Silv. If you could sing and dance so, I should love to look
upon you too.
Heart. Why 'twas I sung and danced; I gave music to the
voice, and life to their measures.—Look you here, Silvia,
\Pulling out a purse and chinking it] here are songs and
dances, poetry and music. Hark! how sweetly one guinea
rhymes to another, and how they dance to the music of
their own chink. This buys all the t'other, and this thou
shalt have; this, and all that I am worth, for the purchase
of thy love.—Say, is it mine then, ha? Speak, siren!—
[Aside.] Dons, why do I look on her? Yet I must.—
[Aloud.] Speak, dear angel! devil! saint! witch! do not rack
me with suspense.
Silv. Nay, don't stare at me so; you make me blush, I
cannot look.
Heart. [Aside.] O manhood! where art thou? What am I
come to? a woman's toy, at these years! Death, a bearded
baby for a girl to dandle! O dotage, dotage! That ever that
noble passion, lust, should ebb to this degree!—No reflux of
vigorous blood; but milky love supplies the empty channels,
and prompts me to the softness of a child—a mere infant,
and would suck.—\Aloud.] Can you love me, Silvia? speak.
Silv. I dare not speak till I believe you, and indeed I'm
afraid to believe you yet.
Heart. \Aside..] Death, how her innocence torments and
pleases me!—\Aloud.} Lying, child, is indeed the art of
love; and men are generally masters in it: but I'm so
newly entered, you cannot distrust me of any skill in the
treacherous mystery. Now, by my soul, I cannot lie, though
it were to serve a friend or gain a mistress.
Silv. Must you lie then, if you say you love me?
Heart. No, no, dear ignorance! thou beauteous changeling!
"Dancers fantastically attired.