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SCENE iv] THE OLD BACHELOR 75
Heart. I'll have my beard shaved, it shan't hurt thee, and
we'll go to bed—
Silv. No, no, I'm not such a fool neither but I can keep
myself honest. Here, I won't keep anything that's yours;
I hate you now, [Throws the purse] and I'll never see you
again, 'cause you'd have me be naught. [Going.
Heart. [Aside.] Damn her! let her go, and a good riddance;
yet so much tenderness and beauty and honesty
together is a jewel.—[Aloud.] Stay, Silvia!—[Aside.] But
then to marry—why, every man plays the fool once in his
life; but to marry is playing the fool all one's life long.
Silv. What did you call me for?
Heart. I'll give thee all I have; and thou shalt live with
me in everything so like my wife, the world shall believe
it; nay, thou shalt think so thyself, only let me not think
so.
Silv. No, I'll die before I'll be your whore, as well as I
love you!
Heart. [Aside.] A woman, and ignorant, may be honest,
when 'tis out of obstinacy and contradiction; but, 'sdeath!
it is but a may-be, and upon scurvy terms.—[Aloud.] Well,
farewell then; if I can get out of sight, I may get the better
of myself.
Silv. Well, good bye. [Pretends to weep.
Heart. Ha! nay come, we'll kiss at parting.—[Aside.]
By heaven, her kiss is sweeter than liberty!—[Aloud.] I
will marry thee; there thou hast done't. All my resolves
melted in that kiss—one more.
Silv. But when?
Heart. I'm impatient till it be done; I will not give
myself liberty to think, lest I should cool.—I will about
a licence straight; in the evening expect me.—One kiss more
to confirm me mad; so. [Exit.
Silv. Ha! ha! ha! an old fox trapped!
Enter LUCY.
Bless me! you frighten me. I thought he had been come
again, and had heard me.
Lucy. Lord, madam, I met your lover in as much haste
as if he had been going for a midwife!
Silv. He's going for a parson, girl, the forerunner of a
midwife, some nine months hence.—Well, I find dissembling
to our sex is as natural as swimming to a negro; we