And she not yet appearing, his wise head It may be, Sweetheart, my project took. I'll bore thine eyes out else. Well. May it please your lordship, 20 For some ends of mine own, but to withdraw A little out of sight, though not of hearing, You may, perhaps, have sport. Lov. You shall direct me. Steps aside. Enter OVERREACH, with distracted looks, driving in MARRALL before him [with a box].1 Over. I shall sol fa you, rogue! Mar. Do you use me thus ? Over. Sir, for what cause Cause, slave! Why, I am angry, 25 And thou a subject only fit for beating, And so to cool my choler. Look to the writing; Let but the seal be broke upon the box That hast slept in my cabinet these three years, I'll rack thy soul for 't. Mar. (Aside.) I may yet cry quittance, 100 Though now I suffer, and dare not resist. Over. Lady, by your leave, did you see my daughter lady? And the lord her husband? Are they in your house? By Heaven and Hell, I'll do 't! Now put him to Over. [Aside to WELLBORN.] This rage is vain, sir; Well. 'Tis all I owe you. Over. 105 If they are, discover, that I may bid 'em joy; courtesies When she nods on you; which you must receive When I know, Sir Giles, Her state requires such ceremony, I shall pay it; But in the meantime, as I am myself, I give you to understand, I neither know Nor care where her honour is. Over. 110 When you once see her Supported, and led by the lord her husband, Over. Outbrav'd! L. All. Well. With all his wrongs and injuries about him, 14 Arm'd with his cut-throat practices to guard him; The right that I bring with me will defend me, And punish his extortion. Over. But single in the field! L. All. That I had thee My house your quarrelling scene. Have your redeem'd rags 115 Made yon thus insolent? Well. (in scorn.) Insolent to you! Why, what are you, sir, unless in your years, At the best, more than myself? L. All. 120 I am familiar with the cause that makes you Q. this entrance occurs after "took," above. Upon the least incitement; and whereas pounds, 155 If there be law, (howe'er you have no conscience,) Either restore my land or I'll recover Over. I in thy debt! O impudence! did I not purchase 100 3 Clothes in pawn were said to be "laid up in laven der." The land left by thy father, that rich land, That had continued in Wellborn's name Twenty descents; which, like a riotous fool, Thou didst make sale of it? Is not here inclos'd The deed that does confirm it mine? Mar. Any such land. I grant for a year or two Surrend'ring the possession, you shall ease Yourself and me of chargeable suits in law, 170 Which, if you prove not honest, as I doubt it, Must of necessity follow. L. All. He does advise you well. Over. In my judgment, Good! good! Conspire With your new husband, lady; second him 175 You'll speak in humbler key, and sue for fa 190 Over. I am o'erwhelm'd with wonder! What prodigy is this? What subtle devil Hath raz'd out the inscription, the wax Turn'd into dust? The rest of my deeds whole As when they were deliver'd, and this only Made nothing! Do you deal with witches, rascal? There is a statute 2 for you, which will bring 195 This juggling shall not save you. All your black plots, and level with the earth Your hill of pride, and, with these gabions 4 guarded Unload my great artillery, and shake, Nay pulverize, the walls you think defend you. L. All. How he foams at the mouth with Over. O that I had thee in my gripe, I would tear thee Joint after joint! Mar. I know you are a tearer, But I'll have first your fangs par'd off, and then Come nearer to you; when I have discover'd," And made it good before the judge, what ways 230 And devilish practices you us'd to cozen All will come out. The better. Over. But that I will live, rogue, to torture thee, 234 And make thee wish, and kneel in vain, to die, These swords that keep thee from me should fix here, Although they made my body but one wound, But I would reach thee. When you shall feel what I dare do. I think so: Well. And I am tame. Willdo. Married! Yes I assure you. 250 Over. Then vanish all sad thoughts! There's more gold for thee. My doubts and fears are in the titles drown'd Of my honourable, my right honourable daughter. Greedy. Here will be feasting! At least for a month I am provided: empty guts, croak no more. 155 Instantly be here ? (Whispering to WILLDO.) To my wish to my wish! Now you that plot against me, And hop'd to trip my heels up, that contemn'd me, Think on 't and tremble. (Loud music) They come! I hear the music. A lane there for my lord! Well. May yet be cool'd, sir. Over. This sudden heat 260 Make way there for my lord! Enter ALLWORTH and MARGARET. Marg. Sir, first your pardon, then your blessing, with Your full allowance of the choice I have made. As ever you could make use of your reason, 265 Kneeling. Grow not in passion; since you may as well Call back the day that 's past, as untie the knot Which is too strongly fasten'd. Not to dwell Too long on words, this is my husband. Over. How! 269 All. So I assure you; all the rites of marriage, With every circumstance, are past. Alas! sir, Although I am no lord, but a lord's page, Your daughter and my lov'd wife mourns not for it; And, for right honourable son-in-law, you may Is not this your letter, sir, and these the wo Baff'd and fool'd, and all my hopes and labor Well. You are so, my grave uncle. Over. Village nurses Revenge their wrongs with curses; I'll mo waste A syllable, but thus I take the life Offers to kill MARGARKI. Lov. [coming forward.] Hold, for your ow sake! Though charity to your daughter hath quite left you, Will you do an act, though in your hopes lost here Over. Since, like a Libyan lion in the toil, I do not like the sauce. All. Erit. Though it express your pity; what's decreed Above, we cannot alter. L. All. No scruple, madam. Mar. Nay, weep not, dearest, m His threats move me Was it not a rare trick, An it please your worship, to make the deed nothing? I can do twenty neater, if you please THE BROKEN HEART BY JOHN FORD THE SPEAKERS' NAMES FITTED TO THEIR QUALITIES AMYCLAS, Common to the Kings of Laconia. ARMOSTES, an Appeaser, a Councillor of State. NEARCHUS, Young Prince, Prince of Argos. GRONEAS, Tavern-haunter, two Courtiers. AMELUS, Trusty, Friend to Nearchus. Lords, Courtiers, Officers, Attendants, etc. OUR scene is Sparta. He whose best of art Hath drawn this piece calls it THE BROKEN HEART. Of apish laughter, or of some lame jeer Tun'd to unchaste ears, suit not modest tongues. The Virgin Sisters then deserv'd fresh bays When Innocence and Sweetness crown'd their lays; Then vices gasp'd for breath, whose whole commerce Was whipp'd to exile by unblushing verse. This law we keep in our presentment now, What may be here thought fiction,2 when time's youth In which, if words have cloth'd the subject right, Athens! Pray, why to Athens? You intend not Org. Inflame you to this travel, here in Sparta A member of the Areopagus, the highest judicial court in Athens. |