BIL. She had rather have a man in her bed.
PRI. Bind your beads, and tell your needs, Your holy _aves_ and your creeds: Holy maid, this must be done, If you mean to live a nun.
MIL. The holy maid will be no nun. [_Aside._
SIR ARTH. Madam, we have some business of import, And must be gone; Will't please you take my wife into your closet, Who farther will acquaint you with my mind: And so, good madam, for this time adieu.
SIR RALPH. Well now, Frank Jerningham, how sayest thou?[289] To be brief-- What wilt thou say for all this, if we two, Her father and myself, can bring about, That we convert this nun to be a wife, And thou the husband to this pretty nun? How then, my lad, ha? Frank, it may be done.
FRANK. O God, sir! you amaze me at your words; Think with yourself, sir, what a thing it were To cause a recluse to remove her vow: A sainted,[290] contrite, and repentant soul, Ever mortified with fasting and with prayer, Whose thoughts, even as her eyes, are fix'd on heaven. To draw a virgin thus devout with zeal Back to the world: O impious deed! Nor by the canon-law can it be done Without a dispensation from the church; Besides, she is so prone unto this life, As she'll even shriek to hear a husband nam'd.
BIL. Ay, a poor innocent, she! Well, here's no knavery; He flouts the old fools to their teeth. [_Aside._
SIR RALPH. Boy, I am glad to hear Thou mak'st such scruple of thy[291] conscience; And in a man so young as is yourself, I promise you 'tis very seldom seen. But, Frank, this is a trick, a mere device-- A sleight plotted betwixt her father and myself To thrust Mounchensey's nose beside the cushion;[292] That being thus debarr'd of all access. Time yet may work him from her thoughts, And give thee ample scope to thy desires.
BIL. A plague on you both for a couple of Jews.
HAR. How now, Frank, what say you to that?
FRANK. Let me alone, I warrant thee. [_To_ HARRY. Sir, assured that this motion doth proceed From your most kind and fatherly affection. I do dispose my liking to your pleasure: But for it is a matter of such moment As holy marriage, I must crave thus much, To have some conference with my ghostly father, Friar Hildersham hereby at Waltham Abbey, To be absolv'd of things, that it is fit None only but my confessor should know.