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? Per. I do not think I shall fight much this A man of a comely countenance. Pray ye, come year, colonel; I find myself given to my ease a little. I care not, if I sell my foolish company; 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, A wantonness in wealth, methinks, I agree not with. 'Tis such a trouble to be married, too, 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? 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, Ser, My mistress, sir, is sick, because you're And hold your peace, whate'er you see or hear! absent. Leon. 'Twere fit I were hanged else. Mar. Come, salute me. If I should be this lady, that affects ye; Nay, say I marry ye?' Alt. Hark to the lady. Mar. What money have ye? Leon. None, madam, nor no friends. I would do any thing to serve your ladyship. Mar. You must not look to be my master, sir. Nor talk in the house, as though you wore the breeches; No, nor command in any thing. Leon. I will not; Alas, I am not able! I've no wit, madam. Mar. Nor do not labour to arrive at any ; Leon. Yes, indeed, forsooth. That, if I take ye in, I put ye from me, Leon. I will not. Alas, I never knew myself Mar. Nor must not now. Leon, I'll be a dog to please you. SCENE IV.--A grand saloon. Enter CLARA and ESTIFANIA, with a paper. Cla. What, have you caught him? Cla. And do you find him A man of those hopes, that you aimed at? I find him rich too, Clara. Cla. Hast thou married him? Estif. What, dost thou think I fish without a I bob for fools. He is mine own. I have him. Cla. Does the lady know this? she's coming now to town: Now, to live here, in this house. Estif. Let her come, She shall be welcome, I'm prepared for her; Cla. Dost thou not love him? As long as there he stays, and looks no farther Mar. Indeed, you must fetch and carry as I And that wise hate will teach me how to cozen him. How to decline their wives, and curb their manners; appoint ye. Leon. I were to blame else. Mar. Kiss me again. [Kisses her. If you see me Kiss any other, twenty in an hour, sir, To put a stern and strong rein to their natures: You must not start, nor be offended. Leon. No, if you kiss a thousand, I shall be I owe him a good turn for these opinions; contented; It will the better teach me how to please ye. Alt. I told ye, madam. Mar. 'Tis the man I wished for, the less you speak Leon. I'll never speak again, madam, But when you charge me; then I'll speak softly too. Mar. Get me a priest; I'll wed him instantly. But, when you're married, sir, you must wait on me, And see ye observe my laws. Leon. Else you shall hang me. Mar. I'll give you better clothes, when you In one of the arbours; there 'tis cool and plea Per. Or has she e'er a letter from a kinswoman, That must be delivered in my absence, wife? 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. 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; Per. No, no: I do but jest with ye. Till then, and pray all may go sweetly with 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: Works now; I am husband, heir, and all she has— Estif. My husband, lady. Mar. You have gained a proper man. Per. She is a goodly woman. But she is poor, she were for a prince's side else; Or if he did know otherwise, 'twere all one, 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, Estif. I swear, sir, as easily as it came on. 1s't not pity To let such a gentlewoman for a little help Per. Clear but that question. Estif. I'll put the writings into your hand. 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, 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. ACT III. Alt. ARE you at ease now? Is your heart at rest, Now you have got a shadow, an umbrella, Mar. I am at peace, Altea. If he continue but the same he shews, Mar. But if he should prove now Alt. My life, an innocent. That's it I hope too, then I'm sure I rule him: 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; [Exeunt. Enter a Lady. 1 Lady. Madam, the duke Medina, with some captains, Will come to dinner, and have sent rare wine, Mar. They shall be welcome. Go, get your best clothes on; but, till I call ye, 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. Leon. 'Tis only to persuade ye 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 Leon. He, that shall counsel ladies, That have both liquorish and ambitious eyes, Leon. Pray ye be not angry; My indiscretion has made bold to tell ye Mar. Thou dar'st not talk? Leon. Not much, madam; You have a tie upon your servant's tongue; Such husbands as this monstrous world produces, 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; How boldly and how saucily he talked, 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? And get you into the country presently, Such as are fit for saucy palates, sir, Alt. You see how he's come round again. 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. |