A NEW A COMEDY IN FIVE ACTS. BY PHILIP MASSINGER. REMARKS. IT has been said, that Massinger surpassed all the writers of the "olden time" in purity of style and delicacy of manners; many have considered him as second only to Shakspeare. The immoral conduct of the drama in that age renders such an admission of slight value now, but it may fairly be conceded, that the writer of this comedy, of the City Madam, (on which Sir J. Burgess has framed "Riches,") of the Fatal Dowry, and many others, possessed a mind of no ordinary or limited capability. Mr. Gifford, the able editor of Massinger, is of opinion that a real person was aimed at in Sir Giles Overreach: fortunately for mankind, such monstrous deviations from "nature and from nature's laws" do not often appear, but there can be little doubt of their reality. The variety of character and incident in this Play, the strong and lively picture of domestic manners, the serious moral so distinctly deducible from it, are qualities sufficient to veil greater faults than can fairly be attached to this production. The animated performance of the principal character by Mr. Cooke, and since by Mr. Kean with increased effect, have placed this comedy on the stock-list of our Royal Theatres. ACT I. SCENE I.—The outside of a Village Alehouse. Not the remainder of a single can, Froth. Not the dropping of the tap for your "Tis verity, I assure you. Well. Verity, you brach! The devil turn'd precisian? Rogue, what am I? Tap. Troth! durst I trust you with a looking-glass, To let you see your trim shape, you would And take the name yourself. Tap. At his own peril! Do not put yourself In too much heat, there being no water near To quench your thirst; and sure for other li quor, [it, As mighty ale or beer, they are things, I take You must no more remember; not in a dream, Sir. Well. Why, thou unthankful villain, dar'st thou talk thus ? [Raising his stick. Is not thy house, and all thou hast, my gift? Tap. I find it not in chalk, Sir; and Timothy | But let 'em vanish; Tapwell Does keep no other register. Well. Am I not he [not Whose riots fed and cloth'd thee? Wert thou Tap. What I was, Sir, it skills not; [well; What you are is apparent. Now for a fareSince you talk of father, in my hope it will torment you, I'll briefly tell your story. Your dead father, Old Sir John Wellborn, My quondam master, was a man of worship; Bore the whole sway of the shire; kept a good house; Reliev'd the poor, and so forth; but he dying, Well. Slave, stop! or I shall lose myself. You cannot be out of your way. Tap. You were then a lord of acres, the prime gallant, [now: And I your under butler:-note the change You had a merry time of't. Hawks and hounds, With choice of running horses; mistresses, Well. Some curate has penn'd this invective, And you have studied it. [mongrel, Tap. I have not done yet. [token, Your lands gone, and your credit not worth a You grew the common borrower; no mau 'scap'd [groom; Your paper pellets, from the gentleman to the While I, honest Tim Tapwell, with a little stock, [tage, Some forty pounds or so, bought a small cotAnd humbled my self to marriage with my Froth here. Well. Hear me, ungrateful hell-hound! did not I Make purses for you? then you lick'd my boots, And thought your holiday cloak too coarse to clean 'em. 'Twas I, that when I heard thee swear, if ever Thou couldst arrive at forty pounds, thou wouldst Live like an emperor; 'twas I that gave it, Tap. I must, Sir. For from the tavern to the tap-house, all, [rich. Well. They are well rewarded That beggar themselves to make such rascals Thou viper, thankless viper! But since you are grown forgetful, I will help Your memory, and beat thee into remembrance; Nor leave one bone unbroken. [Beats him. Tap. Oh, oh, oh! Froth. Help! help! Enter ALLWorth. Allw. Hold, for my sake, hold! [anger. Deny me, Frank? they are not worth your Well. For once thou hast redeem'd them from this sceptre: [Shaking his cudgel. For if they grumble, I revoke my pardon. Froth. This comes of your prating, husband; you presum'd on your ambling wit, and must use your glib tongue, though you are beaten lame for't. Tap. Patience,. Froth, [Exeunt TAPWELL and FROTH into the Well. Sent for to your mother? Allw. My lady, Frank, my patroness! my all! She's such a mourner for my father's death, Well. "Tis a noble widow, And keeps her reputation pure, and clear Allw. Even the best of the shire, Frank, Do I run the hazard? Well. Art thou not in love? Put it not off with wonder. Allw. In love, at my years? Well. You think you walk in clouds, but are transparent. star [made; I have heard all, and the choice that you have And, with my finger, can point out the north By which the loadstone of your folly's guided. And to confirm this true, what think you of Fair Margaret, the only child and heir Of cormorant Overreach? Dost blush and start, To hear her only nam'd? Blush at your want Of wit and reason. Allw. Howe'er you have discover'd my intents, You know my aims are lawful; and if ever The queen of flowers, the glory of the spring, Sprung from an envious briar, I may infer, There's such disparity in their conditions Between the goddess of my soul, the daughter, And the base churl, her father. And think of some course suitable to thy rank, | To feed upon her. Yet, of all the harpies Allic. You have well advis'd me. [studious That do devour her, I am out of charity Fur. The same, the same. Meat's cast away It never thrives. He holds this paradox, yet" Who eats not well, can ne'er do justice well." His stomach's as insatiate as the grave. LA knocking. I can spare from myself, to help your wants. Well. How's this? Allw. Nay, be not angry. Well. Money from thee? From a boy? one that lives [Offers money. Amble. One knocks. Enter ALLWorth. At the devotion of a step-mother, [tune I'll eat my arms first. Howsoe'er blind For- [Exeunt severally. SCENE II.-A Room in LADY ALLWORTH'S House. Enter ORDER, AMBLE, and FURNACE. Order. Set all things right, or, as my name is Order, Whoever misses in his function, For one whole week makes forfeiture of his Good master steward. Fur. Let him; I'll be angry. Amble. Why, fellow Furnace, 'tis not twelve Nor dinner taking up; then 'tis allow'd, Order. Nay, nay, no wrangling. Fur. Twit me with the authority of the kit- At all hours, and at all places, I'll be angry; Amble. There was no hurt meant. Fur. I am friends with thee, and yet I will be angry; Order. With whom? Fur. No matter whom; yet, now I think Amble. Heaven forbid, man. She keeps her chamber, dines with a panada Order. Our late young master. Fur. Your hand.' [ready. If you have a stomach, a cold bake-meat's Fur. We are all your servants. Enter LADY ALLWORTH. Order. Her presence answers for us. Order. I shall, Madam. Lady A. Do, and leave me. [Exit ORDER, AMBLE, &c. [nour. Nay, stay you, Allworth. Lady A. I am honour'd in Allw. Constantly, good Madam ; Lady A. What say you to his purpose? You I will not force your will, but leave you free Allw. Any form you please I will put on; but, might I make my choice, Lady A. 'Tis well answer'd, And I commend your spirit. You had a father With such respect as if he liv'd in me, Most honour'd Madam, the best mother to me; [ACT L They do presume they may with license prac- | And red deer too, Sir Giles, and bak'd in tise Their lawless riots, they shall never merit To obey their leaders, and shun mutinies; In a fair cause, and for the country's safety Are the essentials to make up a soldier, Allw. There's no syllable You speak, but is to me an oracle, Allw. I shall obey in all things. Lady A. Follow me to my chamber; you To furnish you like my son, and still supplied Allw. I am still bound to you. [Exeunt. puff-paste! All business set aside, let us give thanks here. Mar. Your worships are to sit on commis sion, And if you fail to come you lose the cause. We may put off a commission; you shall find Sir G. Fie, Mr. Greedy, [it Will you lose me a thousand pounds for a dinner? No more, for shame! We must forget the [belly, Just. Gr. Well, you shall overrule me. Send but a corner of that immortal pasty, Who have we here? Well. You know me. Sir G. I did once, but now I will not; beggar! If ever thou presume to cross me more, [Exeunt SIR GILES OVERREACH, JUSTICE Amble. Will you out, Sir? I wonder how you durst creep in. Order. This is rudeness, [To WELLBORN. [basket, Amble. Cannot you stay Fur. Pr'ythee, vanish Into some out-house, though it be the pig-stye; Well. And though I have met with [here, Equipage, and fortune, your men's observance, Order. There he touch'd her. his fortune Almost as low as I. Want, debts, and crosses, 1 brought him on and off with honour, lady: Fur. Are we not base rogues [Aside. Well. I confess you made him For he had a shape, and to that shape a mind Lady A. "Tis most true, he had. Well. For his sake then, in that I was his Do not contemn me. [friend, Lady A. For what's past, excuse me; I will redeem it. [Offers him her pocket-book, Well. Madam, on no terms; I will not beg nor borrow sixpence of you; I will not tire your patience with relation [grace To your dead husband's friend, such seeming As might beget opinion in Sir Giles Of a true passion toward me, you would see, Quit all my owings, set me trimly forth, [use, Well. Nothing, unless you please to charge your servants To throw away a little respect upon me. Lady A. What you demand is yours. Respect this gentleman as 'twere myself. Adieu, dear master Wellborn; [To the Servants. Pray let me see you with your oft'nest means. Well. Your honour's servant. [Kisses her hand; exit LADY ALLWORTH, Now, what can be wrought out of such a suit Is yet in supposition. [Servants bow to WELL.] And, for a lucky omen to my project, Nay, all's forgotten; Shake hands, and end all quarrels in the cellar. Order. Agreed, agreed. Fur. Still merry, Mr. Wellborn. [Exeunt Servants. Well. Faith, a right worthy and a liberal lady, Who can at once so kindly meet my purposes, The world believes she means to heal my wants To squeeze these unthrifts into air; and yet Sir G. "Twas for these good ends I made him a justice. He that bribes his belly Is certain to command his soul. Mar. I wonder Why, your worship having The power to put this thin gut in commission, You are not in't yourself. Sir G. Thou art a fool; In being out of office, I am out of danger; Mar. You are all wisdom. Sir G. I would be worldly wise; for the other wisdom, That does prescribe us a well-govern'd life, Mar. What course take you (With your good pleasure) to hedge in the manor [said, Of your good neighbour, Mr. Frugal? As 'tis He will not sell, nor borrow, nor exchange; And his land, lying in the midst of your many Is a foul blemish. [lordships, |