You know that I am an indulgent master,

And therefore conceal nothing. What's your medicine,
To draw so many several sorts of wild-fowl?

Face. Sir, you were wont to affect mirth and wit,
But here's no place to talk on 't in the street.
Give me but leave to make the best of my fortune,
And only pardon me the abuse of your house:
It's all I beg. I'll help you to a widow,
In recompense, that you shall give me thanks for,
Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one.
'Tis but your putting on a Spanish cloak:

I have her within. You need not fear the house;
It was not visited.

Love. But by me, who came

Sooner than you expected.

Face. It is true, sir.

Pray you, forgive me.

Love. Well let's see your widow.

SCENE II.-A ROOM IN THE SAME

[Exeunt.

Enter SUBTLE, leading in DAPPER, with his eyes bound as before.

Sub. How have you eaten your gag?

Dap. Yes, faith, it crumbled

Away in my mouth.

Sub. You have spoiled all, then.

Dap. No!

I hope my aunt of Fairy will forgive me.

Sub. Your aunt's a gracious lady; but in troth You were to blame.

Dap. The fume did overcome me,

And I did do 't to stay my stomach. Pray you,

So satisfy her grace.

Enter FACE in his uniform.

Here comes the Captain,

Face. How now! Is his mouth down?

Sub. Ay, he has spoken !

Face. A plague, I heard him, and you too. He's undone then. I have been fain to say the house is haunted

With spirits, to keep churl back.

Sub. And hast thou done it?

Face. Sure, for this night.
Sub. Why, then triumph and sing

Of Face so famous, the precious king
Of present wits.

Face. Did you not hear the coil

About the door?

Sub. Yes, and I dwindled with it.

Face. Show him his aunt, and let him be despatched; I'll send her to you.

Sub. Well, sir, your aunt her grace

Will give you audience presently, on my suit,

[Exit FACE.

And the captain's word that you did not eat your gag
In any contempt of her highness.

Dap. Not I, in troth, sir.

[Unbinds his eyes.

Enter DOL like the Queen of Fairy.

Sub. Here she is come.

Down o' your knees and wriggle:

She has a stately presence. [DAPPER kneels, and shuffles towards her.] Good! Yet nearer,

And bid God save you!

Dap. Madam!

Sub. And your aunt.

Dap. And my most gracious aunt, God save your grace.
Dol. Nephew, we thought to have been angry with you;

But that sweet face of yours hath turned the tide,

And made it flow with joy, that ebb'd of love.

Arise, and touch our velvet gown.

Sub. The skirts,

And kiss 'em. So!

Dol. Let me now stroke that head.

Much, nephew, shalt thou win, much shalt thou spend,

Much shalt thou give away, much shalt thou lend.

Sub. Ay, much indeed! [Aside.] Why do you not thank

her grace?

Dap. I can not speak for joy.

Sub. See the kind wretch !

Your grace's kinsman right.

Dol. Give me the bird.

Here is your fly in a purse, about your neck, cousin ;
Wear it, and feed it about this day seven-night,

On your right wrist

Sub. Open a vein with a pin,

And let it suck but once a week; till then

You must not look on 't.

Dol. No: and, kinsman,

Bear yourself worthy of the blood you come on,

Sub. Her grace would have you eat no more Woolsack pies,

Nor Dagger frumerty.

Dol. Nor break his fast

In heaven and hell.

Sub. She's with you everywhere!

Nor play with costermongers at mum-chance, tray-trip.
God make you rich (when as your aunt has done it);

But keep

The gallant'st company and the best games

Dap. Yes, sir.

Sub. Gleek and primero: and what you get, be true to us. Dap. By this hand, I will.

Sub. You may bring 's a thousand pounds Before to-morrow night, if but three thousand Be stirring, an you will.

Dap. I swear I will, then.

Sub. Your fly will learn you all games.

Face. [Within.] Have you done there?

Sub. Your grace will command him no more duties?
Dol. No?

But come and see me often. I may chance

To leave him three or four hundred chests of treasure,
And some twelve thousand acres of Fairyland,

If he game well and comely with good gamesters.
Sub. There's a kind aunt! Kiss her departing part.
But you must sell your forty marks a-year, now.
Dap. Ay, sir, I mean.

Sub. Or give 't away; plague on 't!

Dap. I'll give 't mine aunt: I'll go and fetch the writings.

Sub. 'Tis well - away!

Re-enter FACE.

Face. Where's Subtle?

Sub. Here: what news?

Face. Drugger is at the door; go take his suit, And bid him fetch a parson, presently:

Say he shall marry the widow. Thou shalt spend

A hundred pounds by the service!

Now, Queen Dol,

Have you packed up all?

[Exit.

[Exit SUBTLE.

Re-enter SUBTLE.

Sub. Here's your Hieronymus' cloak and hat.
Face. Give me them.

Sub. And the ruff too?

Face. Yes; I'll come to you presently.

Sub. Now he is gone about his project, Dol, I told you of, for the widow.

Dol. 'Tis direct

Against our articles.

Sub. Well, we will fit him, wench.

Hast thou gulled her of her jewels or her bracelets?
Dol. No; but I will do 't.

Sub. Soon at night, my Dolly,

When we are shipped, and all our goods aboard,
Eastward for Ratcliff; we will turn our course
To Brainford, westward, if thou say'st the word,
And take our leaves of this o'er-weening rascal,
This peremptory Face.

Dol. Content, I'm weary of him.

[Exit.

Sub. Thou'st cause, when the slave will run a-wiving, Dol, Against the instrument that was drawn between us.

Dol. I'll pluck his bird as bare as I can.

Sub. Yes, tell her

She must by any means address some present

To the cunning man, make him amends for wronging
His art with her suspicion; send a ring

Or chain of pearl: she will be tortured else

Extremely in her sleep, say, and have strange things

Sub. My fine flitter-mouse,

My bird o' the night! we'll tickle it at the Pigeons,

When we have all, and may unlock the trunks,

And say, this is mine, and thine; and thine, and mine.

Re-enter FACE.

[They kiss.

Face. What now! a-billing?

Sub. Yes, a little exalted

In the good passage of our stock-affairs.

Face. Drugger has brought his parson; take him in, Subtle,

And send Nab back again to wash his face.

Sub. I will: and shave himself.

Face. If you can get him.

[Exit.

Dol. You are hot upon it, Face, whate'er it is!

Face. A trick that Dol shall spend ten pounds a month by.

Is he gone?

Re-enter SUBTLE.

Sub. The chaplain waits you in the hall, sir.

Face. I'll go bestow him.

Dol. He'll now marry her, instantly.

[Exit.

Dear Dol,

Sub. He can not yet, he is not ready. Cozen her of all thou canst. To deceive him Is no deceit, but justice, that would break Such an inextricable tie as ours was.

Dol. Let me alone to fit him.

Re-enter FACE.

Face. Come, my venturers,

You have packed up all? Where be the trunks? Bring forth.

Sub. Here.

Face. Let us see them. Where's the money?

Sub. Here,

In this.

Face. Mammon's ten pounds; eight score before: The brethren's money this. Drugger's and Dapper's. What paper's that?

Dol. The jewel of the waiting-maid's,

That stole it from her lady, to know certain

Face. If she should have precedence of her mistress?
Dol. Yes.

Face. What box is that?

Sub. The fish-wives' rings, I think,

And the ale-wives' single money. Is 't not Dol?

Dol. Yes; and the whistle that the sailor's wife Brought you to know an her husband were with Ward. Face. We'll wet it to-morrow; and our silver-beakers And tavern cups. Where be the French petticoats, And girdles and hangers?

Sub. Here, in the trunk,

And the bolts of lawn.

Face. Is Drugger's damask there,

And the tobacco?

Sub. Yes.

Face. Give me the keys.

Dol. Why you the keys?

Sub. No matter, Dol; because

We shall not open them before he comes.