a devil in it: and that he would learn us "all to make our husbands cuckolds at 66 plays: by another token, that a young "married wife i' the company said, she "could find in her heart to steal thither, "and see a little o' the vanity through her inask, and come practise at home.' Tuttle. "O, it was mistress-—” Mirth. "Nay, gossip, I name nobody. "It may be 'twas myself."

66

Expectation. "But was the devil a pro'per man, gossip?"

Mirth. "As fine a gentleman of his inches "as ever I saw trusted to the stage, or any "where else; and lov'd the commonwealth "as well as e'er a patriot of 'em all: he would "carry away the vice on his back, quick to "hell, in every play where he came, and "reform abuses."

Expectation." There was the devil of "Edmonton, no such man, I warrant you."

Censure. "The conjurer cozen'd him "with a candle's end; he was an ass."

Mirth. "But there was one Smug, a "smith, would have made a horse laugh, "and broke his halter, as they say." Tattle. "O, but the poor man had got a "shrewd mischance one day." Expectation. "How, gossip? Tattle." He had drest a roguy jade i' the morning, that had the staggers, and had got such a spice of 'em himself by noon, as they would not away all the play-time, "do what he could for his heart."

Mirth. ""Twas his part, gossip; he was "to be drunk by his part.'

Tattle. " Say you so? I understood not

"so much."

You do not look upon me with that face As you were wont, my goddess, bright Pe[hundred,

cunia :

Altho' your grace be fall'n, of two i' the
In vulgar estimation; yet am I
Your grace's servant still: and teach this
body

To bend, and these my aged knees to buckle,
In adoration, and just worship of you.
Indeed, I do confess, I have no shape

To make a minion of, but I'm your martyr,
Your grace's martyr. I can hear the rogues,
As I do walk the streets, whisper and point,
There goes old Penny-boy, the slave of
money,

Rich Penny-boy, lady Pecunia's drudge,
A sordid rascal, one that never made
Good meal in his sleep, but sells the acates
[self,
Fish, fowl, and vension, and preserves him-
Like an old hoary rat, with mouldy pye-

are sent him,

Without your self-tormentings and your

watches,

Your macerating of your body thus

With cares and scantings of your diet and

rest?

[lady, P. sen. O no, your services, my princely Cannot with too much zeal of rites be done, They are so sacred.

Pec. But my reputation

May suffer, and the worship of my family, When by so servile means they both are sought.

P. sen. You are a noble, young, free, gracious lady,

powers,

And would be every body's, in your bounty,
But you must not be so. They are a few
That know your merit, lady, and can value’t.
Yourself scarce understands your proper
[vants,
They are all-mighty, and that we your ser-
That have the honour here to stand so near
you,
[world
Know and can use too. All this nether-
Is yours, you command it, and do sway it,
The honour of it, and the honesty,
The reputation, I, and the religion,
(I was about to say, and had not err'd)
Is queen Pecunia's. For that stile is yours,
If mortals knew your grace, or their own
good.

Mor. Please your grace to retire.
Ban. I fear your grace

Hath ta'en too much of the sharp air.
Pec. O, no!

I could endure to take a great deal more

Pyed-mantle, Broker, Penny-boy sen. Pye. What luck's this? I am come an inch too late.

[family

Do you hear, sir? is your worship o' the Unto the lady Pecunia?

Bro. I serve her grace, sir, Aurelia Clara Pecunia, the Infanta.

Pye. Has she all those titles, and her
Grace besides?

I must correct that ignorance and oversight,
Before I do present. Sir, I have drawn
A pedigree for her grace, tho' yet a novice
In that so noble study.

Bro, A herald at arms?

Pye. No, sir, a pursuivant, my name is
Pyed-mantle.

Bro. Good master Pyed-mantle.
Pye. I have deduc'd her-

Bro. From all the Spanish mines in the
West-Indies,
[mother,

mines.

I hope; for she comes that way by her But by her grandmother she's dutchess of [her. Pye. From man's creation I have brought Bro. No farther? [thing else, Before, sir, long before, you have done noYour mines were before Adam, search your office,

Roll five-and-twenty, you will find it so. I see you are but a novice, master Pyedmantle,

If you had not told me so.

Pye. Sir, an apprentice

1

In armory. I have read the Elements, And Accidence, and all the leading books'; And I have now upon me a great ambition How to be brought to her grace, to kiss her hands. [mistress Statute,

Bro. Why, if you have acquaintance with Or mistress Band, my lady's gentlewomen, They can induce you. One is a judge's daughter,

But somewhat stately; th' other, mistress
Band,

Her father's but a scrivener, but she can
Almost as much with my lady as the other,"
Especially if Rose Wax the chambermaid
Be willing. Do you not know her, sir,

neither?

Pye. No, in troth, sir.

Bro. She's a good pliant wench,

And easy to be wrought, sir; but the nurse, Old mother Mortgage, if you have a tenement,

Or such a morsel, tho' she have no teeth, She loves a sweet-meat, any thing that melts In her warm gums, she could command it for you

On such a trifle, a toy. Sir, you may see How far your love, and this so pure complexion,

(A perfect sanguine) I ha' ventur'd thus, The straining of a ward, opening a door Into the secrets of our family.

Pye. I pray you let me know, sir, unto whom

I am so much beholden; but your name. Bro. My name is Broker; I am secretary And usher to her grace.

Pye. Good master Broker!

Bro. Good master Pyed-mantle.
Pye. Why, you could do me,

If you would, now, this favour of yourself.
Bro. Truly I think I could; but if I

would,

I hardly should, without, or mistress Band, Or mistress Statute, please to appear in it; Or the good nurse I told you of, mistress Mortgage.

We know our places here, we mingle not One in another's sphere, but all move orderly In our own orbs; yet we are all concentricks.

Pye. Well, sir, I'll wait a better season. Bro. Do, [Band, And study the right means; get mistress To urge on your behalf, or little Wax. [Broker makes a mouth at him. Pye. I have a hope, sir, that I may, by

the

Lic. Sir, take heed

What you give out.

531

P. sen. Against your grave great Solons ? Numa Pompilii, they that made that law? To take away the poor's inheritance:

It was their portion; I will stand to’t:
And they have robb'd 'em of it, plainly
robb'd 'em.

1 still am a just man, I tell the truth,
When monies went at ten i' the hundred, I,
And such as I, the servants of Pecunia,
Could spare the poor two out of ten, and did it:
How say you, Broker?

(Lic. Ask your eccho.)

Bro. You did it.

[justice? P. sen. I am for justice; when did i leave We knew 'twas theirs, they had right and

Now

title to❜t.

Lic. You can spare 'em nothing.
P. sen. Very little.

Lic. As good as nothing.

P. sen. They have bound our hands

With their wise solemn act, short'ned our

P. sen. What licence, knave, informer? cook. Lic. I am Lick-finger, your P. sen. A saucy Jack you are, that's once. What said I, Broker?

he list.

Bro. Nothing that I heard, sir. Lic. I know his gift, he can be deaf when [of eggs P. sen. Ha' you provided me my bushel I did bespeak?" I do not care how stale Or stinking that they be; let 'em be rotten: For ammunition here to pelt the boys That break my windows.

Lic. Yes, sir, I ha' spar'd 'em [mayor's. Out of the custard-politick for you, the P. sen. 'Tis well; go in, take hence all

that excess,

when

Make what you can of it, your best: and
[vide me
I have friends that I invite at home, pro-
Such, such, and such a dish, as I bespeak ;
One at a time, no superfluity.

Or if you have it not, return me money:
You know my ways.

Lic. They are a little crooked.
P. sen. How, knave?

Lic. Because you do indent.
P. sen. 'Tis true, sir,

I do indent you shall return me money.
Lic. Rather than meat, I know it: you

are just still.

[spend

P. sen. I love it still. And therefore if you The reed-deer pies i' your house, or sell 'em

forth, sir,

Cast so, that I may have their coffins all Return'd here, and pil'd up: I would be thought

To keep some kind of house.

Lic. By the mouldy signs?