Northlake monologue (Act 5) — The Merchant Prince of Cornville: A Comedy

Dimly these lights do burn, as if this boudoir A cloister were; but these fair ornaments, Arranged in chaste profusion, show a maiden Mind dwells here that doth delight in beauty. Yonder, enshrined with wreaths of evergreen And immortelles, a precious picture hangs,-- Her mother and my sister, looking most Pityingly on me. What is this? Why, here’s The carven image of a maid at prayer; And here’s a tender picture of a youth And maiden in a flower-garden, done In placid oils upon a patch of canvas. Methinks the artist had done better had He put here in the corner of the picture Some quaint and curious demon, peeping o’er The garden wall. Why, looking at these toys, So fitting for a maiden’s bower, almost Moves me from my purpose. Must all these Vanish? Will not some angel answer me? No; Heaven answers not a bankrupt’s prayer. My fortune and her fortune swallowed in The hideous maw of speculation; both Banished, completely banished! Why, I’d rather Be exiled from my country than my fortune. But all, all is not lost. She hath a girlish Beauty and a heart most rare; and in This age of rude massed gold there’s value in it. A heaven-dowered woman hath an alchemy That can refine base gold. The bargain’s good.... Ninon, is not thy lady nearly ready?