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  • Title: Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)
  • Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
  • ISBN:

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Kevin A. Quarmby
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Fair Em (Quarto 2, 1631)

    The Millers daughter
    William. A proper coniunction: as who should say,
    Lately come out of the fire,
    I would goe thrust my selfe into the flame.
    Let Maistres nice go Saint it where shee list,
    1395And coyly quaint it with dissembling face,
    I hold in scorne the fooleries that they vse,
    I being free will neuer subiect my selfe
    To any such as shee is vnderneath the sunne.
    Zweno. Refusest thou to take my daughter to thy wife?
    1400I tell thee Duke, this rash deniall
    May bring more mischiefe on thee then thou canst avoyd:
    William. Conceit hath wrought such generall dislike
    Through the false dealing of Mariana,
    That vtterly I doe abhor their sex.
    1405They are all disloyall, vnconstant, all vniust:
    Who tries as I haue tried,
    And findes as I haue found,
    Will say there's no such creatures on the ground.
    Blanch. Vnconstant Knight, though some deserue no trust,
    1410Thers others faithfull, louing, loyall, & iust.

    Enter to them Ualingford with Em and the Miller.
    And Mountney, and Manuile, and Elner.

    Willi. How now L. Ualingford, what makes these women here?
    Valingf. Here be two women, may it please your grace,
    1415That are contracted to one man,
    And are in strife whether shall haue him to their husband.
    William. Stand forth women and saie,
    To whether of you did he first giue his faith?
    EEm. To me forsooth.
    1420Elner. To me my gratious Lord.
    William. Speak Manuile, to whether didst thou giue thy faith?
    Manuile. To saie the troth: this maide had first my loue.
    Elner. Yea Manuile, but there was no witnesse by.
    Em. Thy conscience Manuile a hundred witnesses.
    Elner