aus:The Family of Love - Thomas Middleton

The Family of Love
(Leseprobe aus: The Family of Love)

[A gallery in Glister's house.]

Enter Glister, his wife, and Maria.

GLISTER. Tricks and shows: protestations with men are like tears with women, forgot ere the cheek be dry. Gerardine is a gentleman; his lands be in statutes: 'a is not for thee, nor thou for him; 'a is a gallant, and young thoughts be most unconstant.

MARIA. Yet young vines yield most wine.

MISTRESS GLISTER: But old vines the best. Believe not these great-breeched gallants; they love for profit, not for affection; if 'a brings thee to a fool's paradise, 'a will forsake thee.

GLISTER: Which fortune God send my enemy. Love is a cold heat, a bitter sweet, a pleasure full of pain, a huge loss, and no gain. Why shouldst thou love him only ?

MARIA: Words cannot force what destiny hath seal'd.

Who can resist the influence of his stars,
Or give a reason why 'a loves or hates,

Since our affections are not rul'd by will,

But will by our affections? 'Tis blasphemy

'Gainst love's most sacred deity, to axe

Why we do love, since 'tis his only power

That sways all our affections; all things which be,

Beasts, birds, men, gods, pay him their fealty.

GLISTER: Tut, love is an idle fantasy, bred by desire, nursed by delight, an humour that begins his dominion in Leo the Lion, the sign of the heart, and ends in Aries the Ram, the sign of the head; his power is to stir the blood, pricks up the flesh, fills all the body with a libidinous humour, and is indeed the overture of all ladies. Which to prevent, I have banished Gerardine, your dearly beloved, my house; and as for you, since I am your guardian by my brother's last will, I will sequester you from all other rooms in my house, save this gallery and your upper chamber, till in discretion I shall find it convenient to enlarge you.