Furn. Is this all?

Amble. My lady

SCENE II.-The Country.

Enter WELLBORN and MARRALL.
Well. I think I am in a good way.
Mar. Good, sir! the best way;
The certain best way.

Well. There are casualties,
That men are subject to.

Mar. You are above them. As you are already worshipful,

I hope ere long you will increase in worship, And be right worshipful.

Well. Pr'ythee do not flout me.

What I shall be, I shall be. Is't for your ease,

Wellborn.

As I live, he rises and takes up a dish,

Mar. Ease, and it like your worship!

I hope Jack Marrall shall not live so long,

capon,

And pledges her in white broth.

Furn. Nay, 'tis like

The rest of his tribe.

Amble. And when I brought him wine,

He leaves his chair, and after a leg or two
Most humbly thanks my worship.

Order. Ros! already!
Amble. I shall be chid.

Enter LADY, WELLBORN, and MARRALL.
Furn. My lady frowns.

Lady. You attended us well!

Let me have no more of this, I observed your leering.

Sirrah, I'll have you know, whom I think worthy
To sit at my table, be he never so mean,
When I am present, is not your companion.
Order. Nay, she'll preserve what's due to her.
Furn. This refreshing

Follows your flux of laughter.

Lady. You are master

Of your own will. I know so much of manners
As not to enquire your purposes; in a word,
To me you are ever welcome, as to a house
That is your own.

Well. Mark that.

And it like your worship.

Mar. With reverence, sir,

Well. Trouble yourself no farther,

vice,

Though it hail hazel nuts, as to be covered, When your worship's present.

Well. Is not this a true rogue, [Aside. That, out of mere hope of a future cozenage, Can turn thus suddenly? 'tis rank already. Mar. I know your worship's wise, and needs no counsel;

Yet if, in my desire to do

you service,
I humbly offer my advice (but still
Under correction) I hope I shall not
Incur your high displeasure.
Well. No; speak freely.

Mar. Then, in my judgment, sir, my simple
judgment,

(Still with your worship's favour) I could wish you A better habit; for this cannot be

But much distasteful to the noble lady
That loves you: I have twenty pounds here,
Which, out of my true love, I presently
Lay down at your worship's feet; 'twill serve to
buy you

A riding suit.

However, in my language I am sparing.

Come, Mr Marrall.

Mar. I attend your worship.

[Exit WELLBORN, MARRALL, and AMBLE. Lady. I see in your looks you are sorry, and you know me

An easy mistress: be merry: I have forgot all. Order and Furnace, come with me; I must give

you Farther directions.

Order. What you please.

Farn. We are ready.

When it is mine, 'tis thine.

Mar. I thank your worship.

[Exit WELLBORN. How was I cozened in the calculation Of this man's fortune? my master cozened, too, Whose pupil I am in the art of undoing men ; For that is our profession. Well, well, Mr Wellborn,

You are of a sweet nature, and fit again to be cheated:

Which, if the fates please, when you are possessed Of the land and lady, you sans question shall be. I'll presently think of the means.

[Walks by, musing.

Enter OVERREACH.

Over. Sirrah, order my carriage round; I'll walk to get me an appetite. 'Tis but a mile;

And exercise will keep me from being pursey.
Ha! Marrall! is he conjuring? Perhaps
The knave has wrought the prodigal to do
Some outrage on himself, and now he feels
Compunction in his conscience for't: no matter,
So it be done. Marrall!

Mar. Sir.

Over. How succeed we

In our plot on Wellborn?
Mar. Never better, sir.

Over. Has he hanged or drowned himself?
Mar. No, sir, he lives--

Lives once more to be made a prey to you;
And greater prey than ever.

Over. Art thou in thy wits?

If thou art, reveal this miracle, and briefly.

Mar. A lady, sir, is fallen in love with him.
Over. With him! What lady?

Mar. The rich lady Allworth.

And would, at his request, have kissed me too. Over. Why, thou rascal,

To tell me these impossibilities!

Dine at her table! and kiss him! or thee!
Impudent varlet! Have not I myself,

To whom great countesses' doors have oft flown open,

Ten times attempted, since her husband's death, In vain to see her, though I came—a suitor ? And yet your good solicitorship, and rogue Wellborn,

Were brought into her presence, feasted with her.

But that I know thee a dog that cannot blush,
This most incredible lie would call up one
On thy butter-milk cheeks.

Mar. Shall I not trust my eyes, sir?
Or taste? I feel her good cheer in my belly.
Over. You shall feel me, if you give not over,
sirrah;

Recover your brains again, and be no more gulled

With a beggar's plot, assisted by the aids

Of serving men, and chambermaids; for, beyond

these,

Over. I have done, then. Now, forgetting Your late imaginary feast and lady,

Mar. I speak truth;

And I do so but once a year; unless

It be to you, sir. We dined with her ladyship; I thank his worship.

Over. His worship!

Mar. As I live, sir,

I dined with him, at the great lady's table,

Simple as I stand here; and saw when she kissed

him;

Be careful not be wanting to receive him;
And bid my daughter's women trim her up,
Though they paint her, so she catch the lord;
I'll thank them.

There's a piece, for my late blows.

Mar. I must yet suffer:

But there may be a time-
Over. Do you grumble?
Mar. No, sir.

[Aside.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I.-continued.

Enter LOVELL and ALLWORTH.

something in private

I must impart to Allworth.

Allu. O, my

lord!

What danger, though in ne'er so horrid shapes,
Nay, death itself, though I should run to meet it,
Can I, and with a thankful willingness, suffer!
But still the retribution will fall short
Of your bounties showered upon me.
Lov. Loving youth,

'Till what I purpose be put into act,

Do not o'er prize it; since you have trusted me
With your soul's nearest, nay, her dearest secret,
Rest confident, 'tis in a cabinet locked,
Treachery shall never open. I have found you
More zealous in your love and service to me,
Than I have been in my rewards.

Alla. Still great ones,
Above my merit. You have been

More like a father to me than a master.
Pray you, pardon the comparison.
Lov. I allow it;

And give you assurance I'm pleased in it.
My carriage and demeanour to your mistress,
Fair Margaret, shall truly witness for me,
I can command my passion.

Alla. Tis a conquest

Few lords can boast of, when they are tempted— Oh!

Loo. Why do you sigh? can you be doubtful of me?

By that fair name I in the wars have purchased,
And all my actions hitherto untainted,

I will not be more true to mine own honour,
Than to my Allworth.

Allw. As you are the brave lord Lovell,
Your bare word only given, is an assurance
Of more validity and weight to me,
Than all the oaths, bound up with imprecations,
Which, when they would deceive, most courtiers
practise;

Yet being a man-for, sure, to stile you more, Would relish of gross flattery-I am forced, Against my confidence of your worth and vir

tues,

To doubt, nay, more, to fear.

Lov. So young, and jealous!

But when you feel her touch, or hear her talk!
Hippolytus himself would leave Diana,
To follow such a Venus.

Lov. Love hath made you

Poetical, Allworth.

Allw. Grant all these beat off,
Which, if it be in man to do, you'll do it,
Mammon, in sir Giles Overreach, steps in
With heaps of ill-got gold, and so much land,
To make her more remarkable, as would tire
A falcon's wings in one day to fly over.
I here release your trust;

'Tis happiness enough for me to serve you;
And sometimes, with chaste eyes, to look on her.
Lov. Why, shall I swear?

Allw. Oh, by no means, my lord!

Lov. Suspend

Your judgment till the trial. How far is it
To Overreach's house?

Allw. At the most, some half hour's riding; You'll soon be there.

Lov. And you the sooner freed

From your jealous fears.

Allw. Oh, that I durst but hope it! [Exeunt.

SCENE II-A hall in SIR GILES's house.

Enter OVERREACH, GREEDY, and MARRALL. Over. Spare for no cost, let my dressers crack with the weight

Of curious viands.

Greedy. Store, indeed, is no sore, sir.
Over. That proverb fits your stomach, Mr
Greedy.

Greedy. It does, indeed, sir Giles.

I do not like to see a table ill spread,
Poor, meagre, just sprinkled o'er with sallads,
Sliced beef, giblets, and pig's pettitoes.
But the substantials-Oh! sir Giles, the substan-
tials!

The state of a fat turkey, now,

The decorum, the grandeur he marches in with. O, I declare, I do much honour a chine of beef! O, Lord! I do reverence a loin of veal!

Over. And let no plate be seen but what's pure gold,

The victory were certain: but to stand
The charge of two such potent enemies,
At once assaulting you, as wealth and beauty,
And those two seconded with power, is odds
Too great for Hercules.

Lov. Speak your doubts and fears,
Since you will nourish them, in plainer language,
That I may understand them.

Allw. What's your will,

That it is made of; let my choicest linen
Perfume the room; and when we wash, the water
With precious powders mix, to please my lord,
That he may, with envy, wish to bathe so ever.
Mar. 'Twill be very chargeable.
Over. Avaunt, you drudge!

Now all my laboured ends are at the stake,
Is it time to think of thrift? Call in my daughter.
[Exit MARRALL.

Greedy. As I do, indeed, sir,

Almost as much as to give thanks for them-
Over. I do confer that province, with my power
Of absolute command to have abundance,
To your best care.

Greedy. I'll punctually discharge it, And give the best direction.-[OVERREACH retires. Now am I,

In mine own conceit, a monarch; at the least Arch-president of the boiled, the roast, the baked; I would not change my empire for the great Mogul's.

I will eat often, and give thanks, When my belly's braced up like a drum, and that's pure justice.

[Exit. Over. It must be so. Should the foolish girl prove modest,

1

She may spoil all; she had it not from me,
But from her mother: I was ever forward,
As she must be, and therefore I'll prepare her.

Enter MARGARET and MARRall. Alone, and let your women wait without, Margaret. [Exit MARRALL. Marg. Your pleasure, sir? Over. Ha, this is a neat dressing! These orient pearls, and diamonds well placed, too!

The gown affects me not; it should have been Embroidered o'er and o'er with flowers of gold; But these rich jewels and quaint fashion help it. How like you your new woman, the lady Downfallen

Marg. Well, for a companion: Not as a servant.

Over. Is she humble, Meg,

And careful, too? her ladyship forgotten?
Marg. I pity her fortune.

Over. Pity her, trample on her.

I took her up in an old tattered gown,
E'en starved for want of food, to serve thee;
And, if I understand she but repines

To do thee any duty, though ne'er so servile,
I'll pack her to her knight, where I have lodged
him,

Into the counter; and there let them howl together.

Marg. You know your own ways: but, for me, I blush

When I command her, that was once attended With persons not inferior to myself

In birth.

Over. In birth! Why, art thou not my daugh

ter,

The blest child of my industry and wealth?
Why, foolish girl, was't not to make thee great,
That I have run, and still pursue those ways,
That hale down curses on me, which I mind not?
Part with these humble thoughts, and apt thyself
To the noble state I labour to advance thee;

And throw thee from my care; do not provoke

me.

Marg. I will not, sir; mould me which way you please.

Enter GREEDY.

Over. How, interrupted?

Greedy. Tis matter of importance.
The cook, sir, is self-willed, and will not learn
From my experience. There's a fawn brought
in, sir,

And for my life, I cannot make him roast it
With a Norfolk dumpling in the belly of it:
And, sir, we wise men know, without the dump-
ling

Tis not worth three pence.

Over. Would it were whole in thy belly, To stuff it out! cook it any way; prithee, leave

Enter GREEDY.

Greedy. I'll resign my office,

If I be not better obeyed.

Over. 'Slight, art thou frantic?

Greedy. Frantic! 'twould make me frantic, and stark mad,

Were I not a justice of peace and quorum, too,
Which this rebellious cook cares not a straw for ;
There are a dozen of woodcocks,
For which he has found out

A new device for sauce, and will not dish them
With toast and butter.

Over. Cook, rogue, obey him.

I have given the word; pray you, now, remove yourself

To a collar of brawn, and trouble me no farther.
Greedy. I will, and meditate what to eat for
dinner.
[Exit GREEDY.
Over. And, as I said, Meg, when this gull dis-
turbed us,

This honourable lord, this colonel,
I would have thy husband.

Over. In, without reply,

Marg. There's too much disparity
Between his quality and mine to hope it.
Over. I more than hope it, and `doubt not to`
effect it.

Be thou no enemy to thyself; my wealth
Shall weigh his titles down, and make you equals.
Now for the means to assure him thine, observe

me;

Remember he's a courtier and a soldier,

And not to be trifled with; and therefore, when He comes to woo you, see you do not coy it. This mincing modesty hath spoiled many a match

By a first refusal, in vain after hoped for.

Marg. You'll have me, sir, preserve the distance that

Confines a virgin?

Over. Virgin me no virgins.

I will have you lose that name, or you lose me; I will have you private; start not, I say private; If you are my true daughter, not a bastard, Thou wilt venture alone with one man, though he came

Like Jupiter to Semele, and come off too.

Marg. I have heard this is the wanton's fashion, sir,

Which I must never learn.

Over, Learn any thing,

And from any creature, to make thee great;
From the devil himself.

Stand not on for form:

Words are no substances.

Marg. Though you can dispense
With your honour, I must guard my own.
This is not the way to make me his wife.
My maiden honour yielded up so soon,
Nay, prostituted, cannot but assure him,
I, that am light to him, will not hold weight
When tempted by others: so, in judgment,
When to his will I have given up iny honour,
He must and will forsake me.

Over. How! forsake thee?

Do I wear a sword for fashion? or is this arm
Shrunk up, or withered? does there live a man
Of that large list I have encountered with,
Can truly say I e'er gave inch of ground,
Not purchased with his blood, that did oppose

Forsake thee when the thing is done! he dares❘

not.

Give me but proof he has enjoyed thy person,
Though all his captains, echoes to his will,
Stood armed by his side to justify his wrong,
And he himself in the head of his bold troop,
Spite of his lordship, I will make him render
A bloody and a strict account, and force him,
By marrying thee, to cure thy wounded honour.
I have said it.

Enter MARRALL.

Mar. Sir, the man of honour's come, Newly alighted.

VOL. II.

And do as I command, or thou art lost.

Is the loud music I gave order for,
Ready to receive him?
Mar. 'Tis, sir.

Over. Let them sound

[Exit MARG.