Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen God's sending that way; for it is said, 'God sends a curst cow short horns'; but to a cow too curst he sends none. So, by being too curst, let God send me no horns. Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening. Lord knows, I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woollen. Though I may light upon a husband with no beard. But What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting-gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man: and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him

therefore, I will even take sixpence in earnest of the berrord, and lead his apes into hell. No, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say 'Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven; here's no place for you maids': so deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for the heavens; he shows me where the bachelors sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.