Per. A mine, a mine; there is no end of her wealth, colonel;

I am an ass, a bashful fool. Pr'ythee, colonel, How do thy companies fill now?

Juan. You're merry, sir;

You intend a safer war at home, belike, now?

year, colonel;

I find myself given to my ease a little.

I care not, if I sell my foolish company;
They're things of hazard.

Alon. How it angers me,

This fellow, at first sight, should win a lady,

A rich young wench- —And I, that have consumed

My time and art in searching out their subtleties, Like a fooled alchymist, blow up my hopes still. When shall we come to thy house, and be freely merry?

Per. When I bave managed her a little more. I have an house to maintain an army.

Alon. If thy wife be fair, thou'lt have few less come to thee.

Per. Where they'll get entertainment, is the point;

Signior, I beat no drum.

May be I'll march, after a month or two,
To get a fresh stomach. I find, colonel,

A wantonness in wealth, methinks, I agree not with.

'Tis such a trouble to be married, too,
And have a thousand things of great importance,
Jewels and plate, and fooleries molest me,
To have a man's brains whimsied with his wealth.
Before I walked contentedly.

Enter Servant.

this way.

Is his mind so tame?

Alt. Pray question him, and, if you find him

not

Fit for your purpose, shake him off; there's no harm done.

Mar. Can ye love a young lady? How he blushes!

Alt. Leave twirling of your hat, and hold your head up,

And speak to the lady.

Leon. Yes, I think I can;

I must be taught; I know not what it means, madam.

Mar. You shall be taught. And can you, when she pleases,

Go ride abroad, and stay a week or two?
You shall have men and horses to attend ye,
And money in your purse.

Leon. Yes, I love riding;

And when I am from home, I am so merry! Mar. Be as merry as you will. Can you as handsomely,

When you are sent for back, come with obedi

ence,

And do your duty to the lady loves you?

Leon. Yes, sure, I shall.

Mar. And when you see her friends here, Or noble kinsmen, can you entertain Their servants in the cellar, and be busied,

absent.

Leon. 'Twere fit I were hanged else. Mar. Come, salute me.

Per. Or has she e'er a letter from a kinswoman,

That must be delivered in my absence, wife?
Or comes she from the doctor to salute ye,
And learn your health? she looks not like a con-
fessor.

Estif. What needs all this? why are you troubled, sir?

What do you suspect? she cannot cuckold ye: She is a woman, sir, a very woman.

Per. Your very woman may do very well, sir, Towards the matter; for, though she cannot perform it

In her own person, she may do it by proxy.
Your rarest jugglers work still by conspiracy.
Estif. Cry ye mercy, husband! you are jealous,
then,

And haply suspect me?

Per. No, indeed, wife.

Estif. Methinks you should not, till you have

more cause,

And clearer, too. I'm sure you've heard say, husband,

A woman forced will free herself through iron;
A happy, calm, and good wife, discontented,
May be caught by tricks.

Per. No, no: I do but jest with ye.
Estif. To-morrow, friend, I'll see you.
Cla. I shall leave ye

Till then, and pray all may go sweetly with
ye.
[Erit.
[Knocking.
Estif. Why, where's the girl? who's at the
[Knock.

door?

Per. Who knocks there?

Is't for the king you come, ye knock so boisterously?

Estif. I'll wise your worship

Before I leave ye. [Aside.] Pray ye walk by, and say nothing;

Only salute them, and leave the rest to me, sir; I was born to make ye a man.

Per. The rogue speaks heartily:

Her good-will colours in her cheeks: I am born to love her.

I must be gentle to these tender natures:
A soldier's rude, harsh words befit not ladies;
Nor must we talk to them, as we talk to
Our officers. I'll give her way, for 'tis for me
she

Works now; I am husband, heir, and all she has—
Enter MARGARITTA, LEON, ALTEA, and Ladies.
Who are these? I hate such flaunting things.
A woman of rare presence! excellent fair;
This is too big, sure, for a bawdy house;
Too open seated, too.

Estif. My husband, lady.

Mar. You have gained a proper man.
Per. Whate'er I am, I am your servant, lady.
[Kisses.
Estif. Sir, be ruled now, [Apart to PEREZ,
And I shall make you rich: this is my cousin;
That gentleman doats on her, even to death.
See how he observes her.

Per. She is a goodly woman.
Estif. She is a mirror.

But she is poor, she were for a prince's side else;
This house she has brought him to as to her own,
And presuming upon me, and on my courtesy--
Conceive me short; he knows not but she's
wealthy:

Or if he did know otherwise, 'twere all one,
He's so far gone.

Per. Forward; she's a rare face.

Estif. This we must carry with discretion, husband,

And yield unto her for four days.

Per. Yield our house up, our goods and

wealth!

A part of the house.

Estif. No, no, they shall have all,

And take their pleasure too; 'tis for our advan

tage.

VOL. II.

♦

Why, what's four days? Had you a sister, sir,
A niece, or mistress, that required this courtesy,
And should I make a scruple to do you good?
Per. If easily it would come back.

Estif. I swear, sir, as easily as it came on. 1s't not pity

To let such a gentlewoman for a little help
You give away no house.

Per. Clear but that question.

Estif. I'll put the writings into your hand.
Per. Well then.

Estif. And you shall keep them safe.

Per. I'm satisfied. Would I had the wench

too!

Estif. When she has married him,

So infinite his love is linked unto her,
You, I, or any one that helps at this pinch,
May have-Heaven knows what.

Per. I'll remove my trunks straight,

And take some poor house by; 'tis but four days. Estif. I have a poor friend; there we will be.

SCENE 1.-A Chamber.

Enter MARGARITTA and ALTEA.

Alt. ARE you at ease now? Is your heart at

rest,

Now you have got a shadow, an umbrella,
To keep the scorching world's opinion
From your fair credit?

Mar. I am at peace, Altea.

If he continue but the same he shews,
And be a master of that ignorance
He outwardly professes, I am happy.
Alt. You're a made woman.

Mar. But if he should prove now
A crafty and dissembling kind of husband,
One read in knavery, and brought up in the art
Of villainy concealed?

Alt. My life, an innocent.
Mar. That's it I ann at.

That's it I hope too, then I'm sure I rule him:
For innocents are like obedient children,
Brought up under a hard mother-in-law, a cruel,
Who, being not used to breakfasts and colla-
tions,

When they have coarse bread offered, are thankful,

And take it for a favour too.

Are the rooms made ready

To entertain my friends? I long to dance now. Let me have a song. Is the great couch up The duke of Medina sent?

Alt. Your house is nothing now but various pleasures.

The gallants begin to gaze too.

Mar. Let them gaze on.

I was brought up a courtier, high and happy;
And company is my delight, and courtship,

[Exeunt.

Enter a Lady.

1 Lady. Madam, the duke Medina, with some captains,

Will come to dinner, and have sent rare wine,
And their best services.

Mar. They shall be welcome.
See all be ready in the noblest fashion.

Go, get your best clothes on; but, till I call ye,
Be sure you be not seen. Dine with the gentle-

women,

And behave yourself handsomely, sir; 'tis for my credit.

Enter a second Lady.

2 Lady. Madam, the lady JuliaLeon. That's a bawd;

A three-piled bawd; bawd major to the army. 2 Lady. Has brought her coach to wait upon your ladyship,

And to be inforined if you will take the air this morning.

Leon. The neat air of her nunnery.

Mar. Tell her no; i' the afternoon I'll call on her.

2 Lady. I will, madam,

[Exit. Leon. Faith, madain, in my little understanding,

You'd better entertain your honest neighbours, Your friends about ye, that may speak well of

ye,

And give a worthy mention of your bounty.
Mar. How now, what's this?

Leon. 'Tis only to persuade ye
Courtiers are tickle things to deal withal,

A kind of march-pane men that will not last, madam;

An egg and pepper goes farther than their por

tions;

And in a well-knit body, a poor parsnip
Will play his prize above their strong potables,
Mar. The fellow's mad!

Leon. He, that shall counsel ladies,

That have both liquorish and ambitious eyes,
Is either mad or drunk, let him speak gospel,
Alt. He breaks out modestly.

Leon. Pray ye be not angry;

My indiscretion has made bold to tell ye
What you'll find true.

Mar. Thou dar'st not talk?

Leon. Not much, madam;

You have a tie upon your servant's tongue;
He dare not be so bold as reason bids him;
'Twere fit there were a stronger on your temper.
Ne'er look so stern upon me! I'm your husband:
But what are husbands? Read the New World's
Wonders,

Such husbands as this monstrous world produces,
And you will scarce find such strange deformities;
They're shadows to conceal your venal virtues;
Sails to your mills, that grind with all occasions;
Balls that lie by you, to wash out your stains;

And bills nailed up with horns before your doors, To rent out wantonness.

Mar. Do you hear him talk?

Leon. I've done, madam:

An ox once spoke, as learned men deliver;
Shortly I shall be such, then I'll speak wonders.
"Till when I tie myself to my obedience. [Exit.
Mar. First I'll untie myself. Did you mark
the gentleman,

How boldly and how saucily he talked,
And how unlike the lump I took him for!
The piece of ignorant dough! he stood up to me,
And rated my commands.

This was your providence,

Your wisdom, to elect this gentleman, Your excellent forecast in the man, your knowledge!

What think ye now?

All. I think him an ass still.

This boldness, some of your people have blown into him,

This wisdom too, with strong wine; 'tis a tyrant, And a philosopher also, and finds out reasons.

Mar. I'll have my cellar locked, no school kept

there,

Leon. Shall I wear my new suit, madam?
Mur. No, your old clothes.

And get you into the country presently,
And see my hawks well trained: you shall have
victuals,

Such as are fit for saucy palates, sir,
And lodgings with the hinds; it is too good too.
Leon. Good madam, be not so rough with re-
pentance!

Alt. You see how he's come round again.
Mar. I see not what I expect to see.
Leon, You shall see, madam, if it please your
ladyship.

Alt. He's humbled; Forgive, good lady.

Mar. Well, go, get you handsome, And let me hear no more.

Leon. Have ye yet no feeling?

I'll pinch you to the bones then, my proud lady.

[Exit.

Mar. See you preserve him thus, upon my fa

vour.

You know his temper, tie him to the grindstone; The next rebellion I'll be rid of him.