Thou
speakest it, poor Rosalynde, by experience; for being every way
distressed, surcharged with cares, and overgrown with sorrows, yet
amidst the heap of all these mishaps, love hath lodged in thy heart
the perfection of young Rosader, a man every way absolute as well for
his inward life, as for his outward lineaments, able to content the
eye with beauty, and the ear with the report of his virtue. But
consider, Rosalynde, his fortunes, and thy present estate: thou art
poor and without patrimony, and yet the daughter of a prince; he a
younger brother, and void of such possessions as either might maintain
thy dignities or revenge thy father's injuries. And hast thou not
learned this of other ladies, that lovers cannot live by looks, that
women's ears are sooner content with a dram of _give me_ than a pound
of _hear me_, that gold is sweeter than eloquence, that love is a fire
and wealth is the fuel, that Venus' coffers should be ever full?
Then, Rosalynde, seeing Rosader is poor, think him less beautiful
because he is in want, and account his virtues but qualities of course
for that he is not endued with wealth.
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