Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.
Enter De Gard, and Lugier.
If there be any way to reach, and work upon him;
Upon his nature suddenly, and catch him: that he loves,
Though he dissemble it, and would shew contrary,
And will at length relent, I'le lay my Fortune,
Nay more, my life.
And my designments set.
All for that Game again: they have forgot wooing.
Pities your Sisters Fortune most sincerely;
And has appointed, for our more assistance,
Some of his secret Friends.
And be you serious too.
(Believe me, Sir) of the same Cup; my young Gentlewomen
Wait but who sets the game a foot; though they seem stubborn,
Reserv'd, and proud now, yet I know their hearts,
Their Pulses how they beat, and for what cause, Sir;
And how they long to venture their Abilities
In a true Quarrel; Husbands they must, and will have,
Or Nunneries, and thin Collations
To cool their bloods; let's all about our business,
And if this fail, let Nature work.
SCENE II.
Enter Mirabel, Nantolet, and La-Castre.
For I must Travel: lie lazy here,
Bound to a Wife? Chain'd to her subtleties,
Her humours, and her wills, which are meer Fetters;
To have her to day pleas'd, to morrow peevish,
The third day mad, the fourth rebellious?
You see, before they are married, what Moriscoes,
What Masques, and Mummeries they put upon us,
To be ty'd here, and suffer their Lavalto's?
Were they as I could wish 'em.
To endure what you think fit to put upon 'em:
Come, change your mind.
When I know Women worthy of my company,
I will return again and wait upon 'em;
Till then (dear Sir) I'le amble all the world over,
And run all hazards, misery, and poverty,
Enter Pinac, and Belleur.
Once more we'll seek our fortune in strange Countries;
Ours is too scornful for us.
That ye have read, or heard of, (for I care not how far it be,
Nor under what pestiferous Star it lies)
A happy Kingdom where there are no Women?
Nor have been ever? Nor no mention
Of any such lewd things, with lewder qualities?
For thither would I Travel; where 'tis Felony
To confess he had a Mother: a Mistris, Treason.
For living in the Moon, and stopping hedges,
E're I stay here to be abus'd, and baffl'd.
And sure I think I should have that command over 'em,
To see 'em well bestow'd: I know ye are Gentlemen,
Men of fair Parts and States; I know your Parents;
And had ye told me of your fair Affections—
Make but one tryal more; and let me second ye.
Can ye lend me an Armour of high proof, to appear in,
And two or three Field-pieces to defend me?
The Kings Guard are meer Pigmeys.
If their high stomachs hold: they came with Chopping-knives,
To cut me into Rands, and Sirloins, and so powder me.
Come, shall we go?
(If ye intend to go) as not to visit 'em,
And take your leaves.
And thank 'em too.
With a good Gun in my hand; I'le no more Amazons,
I mean, no more of their frights; I'le make my three legs
Kiss my hand twice; and if I smell no danger;
If the enterview be clear, may be I'le speak to her;
I'le wear a privy coat too; and behind me,
To make those parts secure, a Bandog.
I have been warn'd, and must be arm'd.
These are your hasty thoughts, when I see you are bent to it,
Then I'le believe, and joyn with ye; So we'll leave ye:
There's a Trick will make ye stay.
I know they love ye; and to gain ye handsomly,
Not to be thought to yield, they would give millions;
Their Fathers willingness, that must needs shew ye.
Would ye turn Renegado now?
Out of the Air, and tumult of their Villanies;
Though I were married to that Grashopper,
And had her fast by th' legs I should think she would cozen me.
Enter a young Factor.
And understanding you were here.
May I crave your name?
That you may know me better; I am Factor
To your old Merchant, Leverdure.
About some business.
Your Master's a right honest man; and one
I am much beholding to, and must very shortly
Trouble his love again.
I know ye well remember in your travel
A Genoa Merchant.
Must needs imprint him in ye: one Alberto;
A Gentleman you sav'd from being Murther'd
A little from Bollonia,
I was then my self in Italie, and suppli'd ye,
Though haply, you have forgot me now.
And that Alberto too: a noble Gentleman:
More to remember, were to thank my self, Sir.
What of that Gentleman?
All that he had, beside some certain Jewels,
Which with a Ceremony, he bequeath'd to you,
In gratefull memory: he commanded strictly
His Sister, as she lov'd him and his peace,
To see those Jewels safe, and true deliver'd;
And with them, his last love. She, as tender
To observe his will, not trusting friend, nor servant,
With such a weight, is come her self to Paris,
And at my Masters house.
And well attended: of much State, and Riches;
So loving, and obedient to her Brother;
That on my conscience, if he had given her also,
She would most willingly have made her tender.
Passing accompts of some few debts here owing,
And buying Jewels of a Merchant.
Her Brother had a main State.
For beautie, and for Courtesie.
But to morrow will be fitter for your visitation;
For she is not yet prepared.
And when you shall think fit for further visit.
Mean time, my love, and thanks, Sir.
To rescue from some rogues had almost slain him;
And he in kindness to remember this.
For all your protestations, and your forwardness,
Find out strange fortunes in this Ladies eyes,
And new enticements to put off your journey;
And who shall have honour then?
I must needs see her, to receive my Legacy.
May not we see too?
I must be known my self e're I be able
To make thee welcom: wouldst thou see more women?
I thought you had been out of love with all.
I find that, with the least encouragement:
Yet I desire to see whether all Countries
Are naturally possess'd with the same spirits;
For if they be, I'le take a Monastery,
And never travel; for I had rather be a Frier,
And live mew'd up, than be a fool, and flouted.
How e'er stand prepar'd, prest for our journey;
For certain, we shall go, I think, when I have seen her,
And view'd her well.
Your fortune directs ours.
Lamenting in Sack and Sugar for our losses;
If she be right Italian, and want servants,
You may prefer the properest man.
How I could worry a woman now!
Ye may have enough to do, without this boasting.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.
Enter Lugier, de-Gard, Rosalu, and Lilia.
As we hope too.
For I must not be seen; no, nor this Gentleman;
That may beget suspicion: all the rest
Are people of no doubt; I would have ye, Ladies,
Keep your old liberties, and as we instruct ye:
Come, look not pale; you shall not lose your wishes;
Nor beg 'em neither: but be your selves, and happy.
Nor give no more hard language.
Shall I beat a proper man out of heart?
Tell what ye know, ye had best.
For if he ask me now, if I can love him,
I'le tell him yes, I can: The man's a kind man;
And out of his true honesty affects me;
Although he plaid the fool, which I requited;
Must I still hold him at the staves end?
Follow but this advice I have set you in now,
And if ye lose: would ye yield now so basely?
Give up without your honours saved?
P[re]serve your freedom still.
If it begin to chop about, and scant us;
Hang me, but I know what I'le do: come direct us,
I make no doubt, we shall do handsomly.
The rest your man supplies.
SCENE IV.
Enter Factor, and Mirabel, Oriana, and two Merchants.
Methinks you are infinitely bound to her, for her journey.
I have been so out of my wits, to get her company:
I mean, Sir, of her own fair sex, and fashion.
At length, I have entreated two fair Ladies,
And happily you know 'em: the young Daughters
Of Monsieur Nantolet.
What are those? Jewels?
Was owing here: you see those Merchants with her;
They have brought it in now.
Now she looks this way.
How full of courtesie! Well, Sir, I'le leave ye,
And if I may be bold to bring a friend or two;
Good noble Gentlemen.
For you have most command.
A wonder dwells about him.
He is gone to fetch his friends.
Sit still, and let them see ye.
Enter Rosalure, Lilia, Servant.
A stranger to this Town: so please you visit her,
'Twill be well taken.
Upon her pate! Is't not a glode to catch Wood-cocks?
There's Sail enough for a Carrack.
For as I live, she's a goodly woman.
With all my heart, to have but one fling at her;
To give her but a washing blow.
Before ye cry come Anthonie, and kiss me.
For I protest, she is the handsomest,
The rarest, and the newest to mine eye
That ever I saw yet.
My friend shall do that kindness.
Come, pray ye come up.
Were I a man my self, I should now love ye;
Nay, I should doat.
For as I live ye are the strangest alter'd,
I must come up to know the truth.
For I am a kind of unbeliever too.
And what ye have seen, be secret in: you are paid else,
No more of your long tongue.
And talk with her? These venturers will come straight:
Away with this fellow.
SCENE V.
Enter Mirabel, Pinac, Belleur.
Our Women look like Gipsies, like Gills to her:
Their Clothes and fashions beggerly, and Bankrupt:
Base, old, and scurvy.
And the becoming-motion of her bodie
So sets her off.
That's more than I know: if she be that woman,
She appears to be.
Now I go for that end: and mark her, Gentlemen,
If she appear not to ye one of the sweetest,
The handsomest, the fairest in behaviour:
We shall meet the two wenches there too, they come to visit her,
To wonder, as we do.
And as ye find their humours.
This is the house, I'le usher ye.
And take a good heart if I can.
SCENE VI.
Enter Factor, Rosalure, Lelia, Oriana.
There Ladie: where's the boy? be readie, Sirrah,
And clear your Pipes, the Musick now: they enter. [Musick.
Enter Mirabel, Pinac, and Belleur.
How rich she is! I marry, this shews bravely.
But if she have a tongue, I'le not give two pence for her:
There sits my Fury: how I shake to see her!
She has a Spring dwells on her lips: a paradise:
This is the Legacie.
Thus his love and last offring.
Take it nobly, 'tis your due,
From a friendship ever true.
From a faith &c.
This from my now dead Brother, as his love,
And gratefull memory of your great benefit:
From me my thanks, my wishes, and my service.
Till I am more acquainted I am silent,
Only I dare say this, you are truly noble.
Would I had such another.
We hear ye are for travel?
And come to take our leaves.
We see you are grown so witty by your Journey,
We cannot choose but step out too: This Lady
We mean to wait upon as far as Italy.
I hope they cannot find me.
So good, and free society we hold ye,
We'll jog along too.
We'll go by Sea.
I think 'twill tame ye: can ye ride post?
A hundred mile a day is nothing with me.
I find it will be dangerous for a woman.
But say we pass through Germany, and drink hard?
Lady, I'le live at home.
And we'll keep house together.
And those I hate right heartily.
And so it may be up into Persia.
Even with the service of my life, those pains,
And those high favours you have thrown upon me;
Till I be more desertful in your eye;
And till my duty shall make known I honour ye:
Noblest of women, do me but this favour,
To accept this back again, as a poor testimony.
That says they must rest with ye, is infring'd, Sir;
Which pardon me, I dare not do.
And take me with the truest love.
My Brother lov'd ye dearly, and I ought
As dearly to preserve that love. But, Sir,
Though I were willing, these are but your Ceremonies.
But how you can like me, without I have Testimony,
A Stranger to ye.
A fair State I dare promise ye.
Enter La-Castre, Nantolet, Lugier, & de-Gard.
If ye start now let all the world cry shame on ye:
I have out travell'd ye.
And willingly I swallow it, and joy in't;
And yet perhaps I know ye: whose plot was this?
Followed your Fathers will.
And I do think, I shall love thee. As a Testimony,
I'le burn my book, and turn a new leaf over,
But these fine clothes you shall wear still.
What say ye, Gentlemen, to the Girles?
And if I use ye not, that ye may love me.
'Bless your five wits.
And beat me but once a week?
And 't be but in revenge, I'le do thee that courtesie.
Well, if thou wilt fear God, and me; have at thee.
Brother, your love: and now to Church of all hands;
Let's lose no time.