From The Lady of Pleasure A Comedie, as It Was Acted by Her Majesties Servants, at the Private House in Drury Lane by James Shirley

Another game you have, which consumes more Your fame than purse, your revells in the night, Your meetings cal'd the Ball, to which appeare, As to the Court of Pleasure, all your gallants, And Ladies thither bound by a Subpena Of Venus, and small Cupids high displeasure, Tis but the family of love translated Into more costly sinne, there was a play on't, And had the Poet not beene brib'd to a modest Expression of your Anticke gambolls in't, Some darkes had beene discovered, and the deeds too, In time he may repent and make some blush, To see the second part danc'd on the Stage; My thoughts acquit you for dishonoring me By any foule act, but the vertuous know, Tis not enough to cleare our selves, but the Suspitions of our shame. Are. Have you concluded Your lecture? Bor. I ha done, and howsoever My language my appeare to you, it carries No other than my faire and just intent To your delights without curbe to their modestie And noble freedome. Are. Ile not be so tedious, In my reply, but without arte or elegance, Assure you I keepe still my first opinion, And though you vay'le, your avaritious meaning With hansome names of modesty, and thrift, I finde you would intrench and wound the liberty I was borne with, were my desires unpriviledged By example, while my judgement thought 'em fit, You ought not to oppose, but when the practise And tract of every honourable Lady, Authorise me, I take it great injustice, To have my pleasures circumscribed, and taught me, A narrow minded husband is a theefe To his owne fame, and his preferment too, He shuts his parts and fortunes from the world. While from the popular vote and knowledge men Rise to imployment in the state. Bor. I have No great ambition to buy preferment At so deare rate. Are. Nor I to sell my honour, By living poore and sparingly, I was not Bred in that ebbe of fortune, and my fate Shall not compell me too't. Bor. I know not Madam, But you pursue these wayes. Are. What wayes?

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