Ware. I do deliver this as my act and deed.
Ban., Quart. And we this, as our act and deed.
Plot. Pray, gentlemen,
 Be witness here. Upon a doubtful rumour
 Of two ships wreck'd, as they return'd from Ormus,
 My uncle covenants to give three parts
 To have the fourth secured. And these two here,

[Seathrift, Roseclap, Bright, and Newcut subscribe as witnesses.

As delegates of the office, undertake
 At that rate to assure them. Uncle, now
 Call forth the sailor, and send for the priest
 That married you.

Enter Salewit and Cypher.

Ware. Look, here they come.
Plot. First then,
 Not to afflict you longer, uncle; since
 We now are quiet, know all this was my project.
Ware. How!
Plot. Your two ships are richly landed: if
 You'll not believe me, here's the sailor who, [Cypher undisguises.
 Transform'd to Cypher, can tell you.
Cyph. 'Tis very true, sir.
 I hired this travelling case of one o' th' sailors
 That came in one of 'em: they lie at Blackwall.
 Troth, I in pity, sir, to Master Plotwell,
 Thought it my duty to deceive you.
Ware. Very well, sir;
 What, are these masquers too?
Plot. Faith, sir, these [Exit Cypher.
 Can change their forms too. They are two friends, [They undisguise.
 Worth threescore thousand pounds, sir, to my use.
Ware. Bannswright and Captain Quartfield!
Quart. Nay, old boy,
 Th' hast a good pennyworth on't. The jest is worth
 Three parts of four.
Ban. Faith, sir, we hope you'll pay
 Tonnage and poundage into th' bargain.
Ware. O, you are a precious rogue! you ha' preferr'd me
 To a chaste Lucrece, sirrah!
Ban. Your nephew, sir,
 Hath married her with all her faults. They are
 New-come from church.
Ware. How!
Plot. Wonder not, sir: you
 Were married but in jest. 'Twas no church-form,
 But a fine legend out of Rab'lais.
Sale. Troth,
 This reverend weed cast off, I'm a lay poet, [Salewit undisguises.
 And cannot marry, unless't be in a play—
 In the fifth act or so; and that's almost
 Worn out of fashion too.
Mis. Sea. These are the two
 That show'd my son. [Aside.
Mis. Hol. Let's have our money back. [Aside.
Plot. But, uncle, for the jointure you have made her
 I hope you'll not retract. That and three parts
 Of your two ships, besides what you will leave
 Us at your death, will make a pretty stock
 For young beginners.
Ware. Am I o'erreach'd so finely?
Sea. But are you married, sir, in earnest?
Plot. Troth
 We have not been abed yet, but may go,
 And no law broken.
Sea. Then I must tell you, sir,
 Y' have wrong'd me; and I look for satisfaction.
Plot. Why, I beseech you, sir?
Sea. Sir, were not you
 Betroth'd once to my daughter?
Mis. Sea. And did not I
 And Mistress Holland help to make you sure?
Plot. I do confess it.
Sea. Bear witness, gentlemen, he doth confess it.
Plot. I'll swear it too, sir.
Sea. Why,
 Then, have you match'd this woman?
Plot. Why! because
 This is your daughter, sir. I'm hers by conquest
 For this day's service.
Sea. Is't possible I should
 Be out in my own child so?
Mis. Sea. I told you, husband.
Mis. Scr. Surely my spirit gave me it was she;
 And yet to see, now you have not your wire
 Nor city ruff on, Mistress Sue, how these
 Clothes do beguile! In truth, I took you for
 A gentlewoman.
Sea. Here be rare plots indeed!
 Why, how now, sir, these young heads have outgone us.
 Was my son o' th' plot too?
Plot. Faith, sir, he
 Is married too. I did strike up a wedding
 Between him and my sister.

Enter Timothy and Aurelia.

Look, sir!
 They come without their maidenheads.[262]
Sea. Why, this
 Is better still. Now, sir, you might have ask'd
 Consent of parents.
Tim. Pray forgive me, sir.
 I thought I had match'd a lady, but she proves——
Sea. Much better, sir: I'd chide you as a fish,
 But that your choice pleads for you.
Tim. Mother, pray
 Salute my wife, and tell me if one may not
 Lie with her lips: nay, you too, Mistress Holland,
 You taught her to make shirts and bone-lace; she's
 Out of her time now.
Mis. Hol. I release her, sir.
Ware. I took your sister for a lady, nephew.
Plot. I kept her like one, sir. My Temple scores
 Went to maintain the title out of hope
 To gain some great match for her; which you see
 Is come to pass.
Ware. Well, Master Seathrift,
 Things are just fallen out as we contriv'd 'em:
 I grieve not I'm deceiv'd. Believe me, gentlemen,
 You all did your parts well; 'twas carried cleanly;
 And though I could take some things ill of you,
 Fair mistress, yet 'twas plot, and I forget it.
 Let's in and make 'em portions.
Sea. Lead the way, sir.
Ban. Pray stay a little.
Ware. More revelations yet?
Ban. I all this while have, stood behind the curtain.
 You have a brother, sir, and you a father.
Plot. If he do live, I have.
Ban. He in his time
 Was held the wealthiest merchant on th' Exchange.
Ware. 'Tis true, but that his shipwrecks broke him.
Ban. And
 The debt for which he broke I hear you have
 Compounded.
Sea. I am paid it.
Ban. Then I thank you. [Bannswright undisguises.
Ware. My brother Plotwell!
Ban. Son, I wish you joy.
Plot. O my bless'd stars! my father!
Ban. And to you, fair mistress,
 Let it not breed repentance that I have,
 For my security, to 'scape your father,
 Awhile descended from myself to this
 Unworthy shape. Now I can cast it off,
 And be my true self. I have a ship which fame
 Gave out for lost, but just now landed too,
 Worth twenty thousand pounds, towards your match.
Sea. Better and better still.
Ware. Well, what was wanting
 Unto our joys, and made these nuptials
 Imperfect, brother, you by your discovery
 Have fully added.

Enter Cypher.

Cyp. Sir, the two sheriffs are
 Within, and have both brought their wives.
Ware. The feast
 Intended for my wedding shall be yours.
To which I add—May you so love to say,
 When old, your time was but one marriage-day.

FOOTNOTES:

[256] Dr Warburton observes (note to "Henry IV.," Part I., act ii. sc. 4) that in the persecutions of the Protestants in Flanders under Philip II. those who came over into England on that occasion brought with them the woollen manufactory. These being Calvinists were joined by those of the same persuasion from other countries, and amongst the rest from Geneva.

[257] Rosemary was anciently supposed to strengthen the memory, and was therefore distributed at marriages and funerals. See a note on "Hamlet," x. 355, edit. 1778.

[258] [Old copies, ach.]

[259] The stately step and pompous manner, used by the prologue-speakers of the times, are still retained in delivering the few lines used as a prologue in "Hamlet." These particularities seem to have been delivered traditionally to the present race of actors from their brethren in the seventeenth century.

[260] See a note on "Timon of Athens," edit. 1778, viii. 409.—Steevens.

[261] See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, i. 209.] Aretine's pictures, there mentioned, were in fact Aretine's pictures of postures here alluded to.—Collier.

[262] In the old copies the name of Penelope (i.e., Aurelia) is placed before this line, but it seems to belong to Plotwell, and to be a continuation of what he has just before said.—Collier.