Set.  I am thy genius; and conduct thee to wealth, fame, and honour; what thou comest to do, do boldly; fear not; with this rod I charm thee; and neither elf nor goblin now can harm thee.

Lov.  Well, march on; if thou art my genius, thou art bound to be answerable for me; I’ll have thee hanged, if I miscarry.

Set.  Fear not, my son.

Lov.  Fear not, quotha! then, pr’ythee, put on a more familiar shape:—­one of us two stinks extremely:  Pr’ythee, do not come so near me; I do not love to have my face bleached like a tiffany with thy brimstone.

Set.  Fear not, but follow me.

Lov.  ’Faith, I have no great mind to’t; I am somewhat godly at present; but stay a month longer, and I’ll be proud, and fitter for thee.  In the mean time, pr’ythee, stay thy stomach with some Dutchman; an Hollander, with butter, will fry rarely in hell.

Set.  Mortal, ’tis now too late for a retreat; go on, and live; step back, and thou art mine.

Lorn.  So I am, however, first or last; but for once I’ll trust thee. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The scene opens, and discovers CONSTANCE, and a Parson by her; she habited like Fortune.

Enter again_.

Set.  Take here the mighty queen of good and ill, Fortune; first marry, then enjoy thy fill Of lawful pleasures; but depart ere morn; Slip from her bed, or else thou shalt be torn Piecemeal by fiends; thy blood caroused in bowls, And thy four quarters blown to the top of Paul’s.

Lov.  By your favour, I’ll never venture.  Is marrying the business?  I’ll none, I thank you.

[Here CONSTANCE whispers SETSTONE.

Set.  Fortune will turn her back if twice denied.

Lav.  Why, she may turn her girdle too on t’other side[A].  This is the devil; I will not venture on her.

[Footnote A:  A usual expression of indifference for a man’s displeasure.]

Set.  Fear not; she swears thou shalt receive no harm.

Lov.  Ay, if a man durst trust her; but the devil is got into such an ill name of lying—­

Set.  Whene’er you are not pleased, it shall be lawful to sue out your divorce.

Lov.  Ay, but where shall I get a lawyer? there you are aforehand with me; you have retained most of them already.  For the favours I have received, I am very much her servant; but, in the way of matrimony, Mr Parson there can tell you ’tis an ordinance, and must not be entered into without mature deliberation; besides, marriages, you know, are made in heaven; and that I am sure this was not.

Set.  She bids you then, at least, restore that gold, which she, too lavishly, poured out on you, unthankful man.

Lov.  Faith, I have it not at present; ’tis all gone, as I am a sinner; but, ’tis gone wickedly; all spent in the devil her father’s service.