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Hau. No, we'll let him breathe now, a quarter of an hour or so.'

Cler. By my faith, a large truce.

Hau. Is that his keeper, that is gone with him?

..

Daw. It is his nephew, madam.

La-F. Sir Dauphine Eugene.

Cen. He looks like a very pitiful knight

Daw. As can be. This marriage has put him out of all.

La-F. He has not a penny in his purse, madam. Daw. He is ready to cry all this day.

La-F. A very fhark; he fet me i' th' nick t'other night at Primero.

Tru. How thefe fwabbers talk!

Cler. Ay, Otter's wine has swell'd their humours above a fpring-tide.

Hau. Good Morofe, let's go in again!'

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Epi. I wait on you, madam.

[Exeunt ladies, Daw, and La-Foole;

Epicone following is recalled by Tru.

Tru. Do you hear, lady bride? I pray thee now, as thou art a noble wench, continue this discourse of Dauphine within; but praise him exceedingly; magnify him with all the height of affection thou canft; (I have some purpose in't) and do but beat

oft

: off these two rooks, Jack Daw and his fellow, with any difcontent, and I'll honour thee for ever.

Epi. I warrant you; you fhall expect one of 'em presently.

[Exit. Gler. What a caft of caftrils are thefe, to hawk Drafter ladies thus!

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Tru. Ay, and ftrike at fuch an eagle as Dauphine.

Cler. He will be mad, when we tell him. Here the comes.

ない。

Enter Dauphine.

Oh, Sir, you are welcome!

Tru, Where's thine uncle?

Dau. Run out o' doors in's night-caps, to talk with a cafuift about his divorce. It works admirably.

Tru. Thou wouldst ha' faid fo, an thou hadst been here! The ladies have laugh'd at thee most comically, fince thou went'ft, Dauphine.

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Cler. And afk'd, if thou wert thine uncle's keeper.

Tru. And the brace of baboons anfwer'd Yes, and faid, thou wert a pitiful poor fellow, and hadst nothing but three fuits of apparel, and some few

benevolences that the lords gave thee to fool to 'em, and fwagger.

Dau. Let me not live, I'll beat 'em; I'll bind

U 2

'em

''em both to grand-madam's bed-pofts, and have 'em baited with monkies.

Tru. Thou shalt not need, they shall be beaten to thy hand, Dauphine. I have an execution to ferve upon 'em; truft my plot.

Dau. Ay, you have many plots! So you had one, to make all the wenches in love with me.

Tru. Why, if I do not yet afore night, as near as 'tis, and that they do not every one invite thee, and be ready to search for thee, take the mortgage of my wit.

Cler. I'll be his witnefs; thou fhalt have it, Dauphine. Thou shalt be his fool for ever, if thou doft not.

Tru. Agreed. Perhaps 'twill be the better estate. But I'll not forfeit my fureties. Thou shalt wreak revenge on thefe wits and braveries of the time, Dauphine, and even thereby become the idol, the reigning favourite of all the Collegiates. The device shall be mine, the pleasure thine own, and Daw and La-Foole fhall make themselves over, to laughter for ever.

[Exeunt.

3

ACT

t

A CT V.

A gallery in the house of Morofe.

Truewit, Dauphine, Clerimont,

Clerimont.

F fhould fail now ?

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Tru. Oh, Sirs, I'll be anfwerable for the iffue. I cannot fail. I know the height and dimenfion of their understandings too well: They'll believe themselves to be just such men as we make 'em, neither more nor lefs: They have nothing, not the use of their fenfes, but by tradition. 'Slight, man, I will have them as filent as figns, and their posts too, ere I have done with them. Do you obferve this gallery, or rather lobby indeed? Here are a couple of ftudies, at each end one: Here will I act fuch a tragi-comedy between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, Daw and La-Foole-which of 'em comes out first, will I feize on: (You two fhall be the chorus behind the arras, and whip out between the acts and fpeak.) If I do not make

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294

EPICE NE; OR,

them keep the peace for this remnant of the day, í if not of the year-I hear Daw coming: Hide, and do not laugh, for Heaven's fake.

[Exeunt Dau. and Cler,

Enter Sir John Daw.

Daw. Which is the way into the garden, trow? Tru. Oh, Jack Daw! I am glad I have met with you. In good faith, I muft have this matter, ga no further between you: I muft have it taken up. Daw. What matter, Sir? between whom?

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Tru. Come, you difguife it; Sir Amorous and you. If you love me, Jack, you fhall make use. of your philofophy now, for this once, and deliver me your fword. The bride has entreated me, Į will fee no blood fhed at her bridal

Daw. As I hope to finish Tacitus, I intend no murder.

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Tru. Do you not wait for Sir Amorous?

Daw, Not I, by my knighthood.

Tru. And your scholarship too?

Daw. And my scholarship too.

Tru. Go to, then I return you your fword, and afk you mercy; but put it not up, for you will be affaulted. I understood that you had apprehended it, and walk'd here to brave him; and that you

had

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