Love for Love: Scene XIII.
Scene XIII.
MRS FRAIL, BEN LEGEND.
BEN LEGEND
All mad, I think. Flesh, I believe all the calentures of the
sea are come ashore, for my part.
MRS FRAIL
Mr Benjamin in choler!
BEN LEGEND
No, I'm pleased well enough, now I have found you. Mess, I
have had such a hurricane upon your account yonder.
MRS FRAIL
My account; pray what's the matter?
BEN LEGEND
Why, father came and found me squabbling with yon chitty-faced
thing as he would have me marry, so he asked what was the matter.
He asked in a surly sort of a way--it seems brother Val is gone mad,
and so that put'n into a passion; but what did I know that? what's
that to me?--so he asked in a surly sort of manner, and gad I
answered 'n as surlily. What thof he be my father, I an't bound
prentice to 'n; so faith I told 'n in plain terms, if I were minded
to marry, I'd marry to please myself, not him. And for the young
woman that he provided for me, I thought it more fitting for her to
learn her sampler and make dirt-pies than to look after a husband;
for my part I was none of her man. I had another voyage to make,
let him take it as he will.
MRS FRAIL
So, then, you intend to go to sea again?
BEN LEGEND
Nay, nay, my mind run upon you, but I would not tell him so
much. So he said he'd make my heart ache; and if so be that he
could get a woman to his mind, he'd marry himself. Gad, says I, an
you play the fool and marry at these years, there's more danger of
your head's aching than my heart. He was woundy angry when I gave'n
that wipe. He hadn't a word to say, and so I left'n, and the green
girl together; mayhap the bee may bite, and he'll marry her himself,
with all my heart.
MRS FRAIL
And were you this undutiful and graceless wretch to your
father?
BEN LEGEND
Then why was he graceless first? If I am undutiful and
graceless, why did he beget me so? I did not get myself.
MRS FRAIL
O impiety! How have I been mistaken! What an inhuman,
merciless creature have I set my heart upon? Oh, I am happy to have
discovered the shelves and quicksands that lurk beneath that
faithless, smiling face.
BEN LEGEND
Hey toss! What's the matter now? Why, you ben't angry, be
you?
MRS FRAIL
Oh, see me no more,--for thou wert born amongst rocks,
suckled by whales, cradled in a tempest, and whistled to by winds;
and thou art come forth with fins and scales, and three rows of
teeth, a most outrageous fish of prey.
BEN LEGEND
O Lord, O Lord, she's mad, poor young woman: love has turned
her senses, her brain is quite overset. Well-a-day, how shall I do
to set her to rights?
MRS FRAIL
No, no, I am not mad, monster; I am wise enough to find
you out. Hadst thou the impudence to aspire at being a husband with
that stubborn and disobedient temper? You that know not how to
submit to a father, presume to have a sufficient stock of duty to
undergo a wife? I should have been finely fobbed indeed, very
finely fobbed.
BEN LEGEND
Harkee, forsooth; if so be that you are in your right senses,
d'ye see, for ought as I perceive I'm like to be finely fobbed,--if
I have got anger here upon your account, and you are tacked about
already. What d'ye mean, after all your fair speeches, and stroking
my cheeks, and kissing and hugging, what would you sheer off so?
Would you, and leave me aground?
MRS FRAIL
No, I'll leave you adrift, and go which way you will.
BEN LEGEND
What, are you false-hearted, then?
MRS FRAIL
Only the wind's changed.
BEN LEGEND
More shame for you,--the wind's changed? It's an ill wind
blows nobody good,--mayhap I have a good riddance on you, if these
be your tricks. What, did you mean all this while to make a fool of
me?
MRS FRAIL
Any fool but a husband.
BEN LEGEND
Husband! Gad, I would not be your husband if you would have
me, now I know your mind: thof you had your weight in gold and
jewels, and thof I loved you never so well.
MRS FRAIL
Why, can'st thou love, Porpuss?
BEN LEGEND
No matter what I can do; don't call names. I don't love you
so well as to bear that, whatever I did. I'm glad you show
yourself, mistress. Let them marry you as don't know you. Gad, I
know you too well, by sad experience; I believe he that marries you
will go to sea in a hen-pecked frigate--I believe that, young woman-
-and mayhap may come to an anchor at Cuckolds-Point; so there's a
dash for you, take it as you will: mayhap you may holla after me
when I won't come to.
MRS FRAIL
Ha, ha, ha, no doubt on't.--MY TRUE LOVE IS GONE TO SEA.
[Sings]