MR GOUR. Philip, if thy father will remit The wounds I gave him, and if these conditions May be performed, I banish all my wrath.
MR BAR. And if thy mother will but clear me, Philip, As I am ready to protest I am, Then Master Goursey is my friend again.
PHIL. Hark, mother; now you hear that your desires May be accomplished; they will both be friends, If you'll perform these easy articles.
MRS BAR. Shall I be friends with such an enemy?
PHIL. What say you[436] unto my persuase?
MRS BAR. I say she's[437] my deadly enemy.
PHIL. Ay, but she will be your friend, if you revolt.
MRS BAR. The words I said! what, shall I eat a truth?
MRS GOUR. Why, this I say, she slandered my good name.
FRAN. But if she now deny it, 'tis no defame.
MRS GOUR. What, shall I think her hate will yield so much?
FRAN. Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such.
PHIL. Yet stay, I have some hope. Mother, why, mother, why, hear ye[438]: Give me your hand; it is no more but thus; 'Tis easy labour to shake hands with her: Little[439] breath is spent in speaking of fair words, When wrath hath violent delivery.
MRS BAR. O husband, stay!-- Stay, Master Goursey: though your wife doth hate me, And bears unto me malice infinite And endless, yet I will respect your safeties; I would not have you perish by our means: I must confess that only suspect, And no proof else, hath fed my hate to her.
MRS GOUR. And, husband, I protest by heaven and earth That her suspect is causeless and unjust, And that I ne'er had such a vild[440] intent; Harm she imagin'd, where as none was meant.
MR BAR. Yes, Philip, this; That I confirm him in my innocence By this large universe.
MR GOUR. By that I swear, I'll credit none of you, until I hear Friendship concluded straight between them two: If I see that they willingly will do, Then I'll imagine all suspicion ends; I may be then assured, they being friends.
PHIL. Mother, make full my wish, and be it so.
MRS BAR. What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe?
PHIL. Why, this is well. The other I will try.-- Come, Mistress Goursey, do you first agree.
MRS GOUR. What, shall I yield unto mine enemy?
PHIL. Nay, then, I find this goes well forward still. Mother, give me your hand [_to_ MRS G.], give me yours too-- Be not so loth; some good thing I must do; But lay your torches by, I like not them; Come, come, deliver them unto your men: Give me your hands. So, now, sir, here I stand, Holding two angry women in my hand: And I must please them both; I could please tone[441], But it is hard when there is two to one, Especially of women; but 'tis so, They shall be pleas'd, whether they will or no.-- Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither! Why, then, yond help that both may come together[442]. So, stand still, stand [still] but a little while, And see, how I your angers will beguile. Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let me Join these two hands, and see how they'll agree: Peace, peace! they cry; look how they friendly kiss! Well, all this while there is no harm in this: Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike, If tone speaks fair, the tother should not strike: Jesus, the warriors will not offer blows! Why, then, 'tis strange that you two should be foes. O yes, you'll say, your weapons are your tongues; Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs: Go to, embrace, and say, if you be friends, That here the angry women's quarrels ends.