witness.

Why art thou sent to me to be my officer,

Aye, and commended, too, when thou dar'st not

fight?

Leon. There be more officers of my opinion, Or I am cozened, sir; men that talk more, too. Juan. How wilt thou escape with a bullet ? Leon. Why, by chance.

They aim at honourable men; alas, I am none, sir.

Juan. This fellow hath some doubts in his

talk, that strike me.

Enter ALONZO.

He cannot be all fool. Welcome, Alonzo.

Alon. What have you got there, Temperance into your company?!

The spirit of peace? we shall have wars by the ounce, then.

Enter CACAFOGO.

Oh, here's another pumpion, the crammed son of a starved usurer, Cacafogo.

Both their brains, buttered, cannot make two spoonfuls.

Caca. My father's dead, I am a man of war, too,

Monies, demesnes; I have ships at sea, too, captains.

Juan. Take heed of the Hollanders, your ships may leak else.

Caca. I scorn the Hollanders, they are my drunkards.

Alon. Put up your gold, sir, I will borrow it else.

Caca. I am satisfied you shall not.

Leon. I see he's hasty, and I would give him

When need shall call, or friends compel me use

it;

The suits you see of all the upper chambers,
Are those, that commonly adorn the house;

I think, I have, besides, as fair as Seville,
Or any town in Spain, can parallel.
Per. Now, if she be not married, I have some
hopes.

This shall provoke thee.

[He strikes.

Alon. You struck too low, by a foot, sir. Juan. You must get a ladder, when you would beat this fellow.

Leon. I cannot chuse but kick again; pray, pardon me.

Caca. Hadst thou not asked my pardon, I had killed thee.

I leave thee, as a thing despised; baso las manos a vostra Signora. [Exit CACA. Alon. You have escaped by miracle; there is not, in all Spain,

Are you a maid?

Estif. You make me blush to answer; ever was accounted so to this hour, And that's the reason, that I live retired, sir. Per. Then would I counsel you to marry presently,

[Aside.

(If I can get her, I am made for ever) For every year you lose, you lose a beauty. A husband now, an honest, careful husband, Were such a comfort. Will you walk above stairs?

Estif. This place will fit our talk; 'tis fitter far, sir;

Above, there are day-beds, and such temptations I dare not trust, sir.

Per. She is excellent wise withal, too.

strict, sir,

Nor tied unto a virgin's solitariness,
But if an honest, and a noble one,

Rich, and a soldier, for so I've vowed he shall be,
Were offered me, I think I should accept him.
But, above all, he must love.

Per. He were base else.

There's comfort ministered in the word, soldier. How sweetly should I live!

Estif. I'm not so ignorant,

But that I know well how to be commanded,
And how again to make myself obey, sir.
I waste but little: I have gathered much:
My rial not less worth, when it is spent,

If spent by my direction. To please my husband,

I hold it as indifferent in my duty,

To be his maid in the kitchen, or his cook,
As in the hall to know myself the mistress.
Per. Sweet, rich, and provident ! now, fortune,
stick to me.

I am a soldier, and a bachelor, lady;

And such a wife as you I could love infinitely.
They, that use many words, some are deceitful:
I long to be a husband, and a good one;
For 'tis most certain I shall make a precedent
For all, that follow me, to love their ladies.

SCENE I-An Apartment in MARGARITTA'S

house.

Mar. Those I'll allow him;

all to ye,

[Exeunt.

They are for my credit. Does he understand But little?

Alt. Very little.

Mar. 'Tis the better.

Have not the wars bred him up to anger ?

Alt. No, he won't quarrel with a dog that bites him;

Let him be drunk or sober, he's one silence.
Mar. H'as no capacity what honour is;

For that's a soldier's god?

Alt. Honour's a thing too subtle for his wisdom;

If honour lie in eating, he's right honourable.
Mar. Is he so goodly a man, do you say?
Alt. As you shall see, lady;
But, to all this, he's but a trunk.

Mar. I'd have him so.

Go, find me out this man, and let me see him.
If he be that motion, that you tell me of,
And make no more noise, I shall entertain him.
Let him be here.

Alt. He shall attend your ladyship. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A street.

Enter JUAN, ALONSO, and PEREZ.
Juan. Why, thou'rt not married indeed?
Per. No, no, pray think so.

Alas! I am a fellow of no reckoning,
Nor worth a lady's eye.

Alon. Wou'dst steal a fortune,

And make none of thy friends acquainted with it, Nor bid us to thy wedding?

Per. No, indeed.

There was no wisdom it it, to bid an artist,

An old seducer, to a female banquet.

I can cut up my pie without your instructions. Juan. Was it the wench in the veil?

Per. Basta; 'twas she.

The prettiest rogue, that e'er you looked upon; The loving'st thief!

Juan. And is she rich withal, too?

Per. A mine, a mine; there is no end of her wealth, colonel;

I am an ass, a bashful fool. Pr'ythee, colonel, How do thy companies fill now?

Juan. You're merry, sir ;

You intend a safer war at home, belike, now? Per. I do not think I shall fight much this year, colonel;

I find myself given to my ease a little.

I care not, if I sell my foolish company;
They're things of hazard.

Alon. How it angers me,

This fellow, at first sight, should win a lady, A rich young wench And I, that have consumed

My time and art in searching out their subtleties, Like a fooled alchymist, blow up my hopes still. When shall we come to thy house, and be freely

merry?

Per. When I bave managed her a little more. I have an house to maintain an army.

Alon. If thy wife be fair, thou❜lt have few less come to thee.

Per. Where they'll get entertainment, is the point;

Signior, I beat no drum.

May be I'll march, after a month or two,
To get a fresh stomach. I find, colonel,

A wantonness in wealth, methinks, I agree not with.

Tis such a trouble to be married, too,
And have a thousand things of great importance,
Jewels and plate, and fooleries molest me,
To have a man's brains whimsied with his wealth.
Before I walked contentedly.

Enter Servant.

Alt. Leave twirling of your hat, and hold your head up,

And speak to the lady.

Leon. Yes, I think I can;

I must be taught; I know not what it means, madam.

Mar. You shall be taught. And can you, when she pleases,

Go ride abroad, and stay a week or two?
You shall have men and horses to attend ye,
And money in your purse.

Leon. Yes, I love riding;

And when I am from home, I am so merry! Mar. Be as merry as you will. Can you as handsomely,

When you are sent for back, come with obedience,

And do your duty to the lady loves you?

Leon. Yes, sure, I shall.

Mar. And when you see her friends here,
Or noble kinsmen, can you entertain
Their servants in the cellar, and be busied,

absent.

Leon. 'Twere fit I were hanged else.

Mar. Come, salute me.

Leon. Madam?

Mar. How the fool shakes! I will not eat you, sir.

Can't you salute me?

Leon. Indeed, I know not; but, if your ladyship will

Please to instruct me, sure I shall learn.
Mar. Come on, then.
Leon. Come on, then.

[He kisses her. Mar. You shall, then, be instructed.

Alas, I am not able! I've no wit, madam.

Mar. Nor do not labour to arrive at any;
'Twill spoil your head. I take ye upon charity,
And like a servant ye must be unto me.
As I behold your duty, I shall love you;
Can you mark these?

Leon. Yes, indeed, forsooth.
Mar. There is one thing,

That, if I take ye in, I put ye from me,
Utterly from me; you must not be saucy,
No, nor at any time familiar with me,
Scarce know me, when I call ye not.

SCENE IV-A grand saloon.

Enter CLARA and ESTIFANIA, with a paper.

Cla. What, have you caught him?
Estif. Yes.

Cla. And do you find him

A man of those hopes, that you aimed at?
Estif. Yes, and the most kind man;

I find him rich too, Clara.

Cla. Hast thou married him?

Estif. What, dost thou think I fish without a
bait, wench?

I bob for fools. He is mine own. I have him.
I told thee what would tickle him like a trout;
And as I cast it, so I caught him daintily;
And all, he has, I've stowed at my devotion.
Cla. Does the lady know this? she's coming

sufficiently!

Mar. Nor must not now.

Leon. I'll be a dog to please you.

As long as there he stays, and looks no farther Into my ends; but when he doubts, I hate

him;

appoint ye.

Leon. I were to blame else.

Mar. Kiss me again.

If you see me

Kiss any other, twenty in an hour, sir,

You must not start, nor be offended.

contented;

And see ye observe my laws.

Leon. Else you shall hang me.

And, as I find his temper, I may pay him,

deserve them.

sant;

And have our wine cooled in the running foun-
tain.
Who's that?

Estif. A friend of mine, sir.
Per. Of what breeding?
Estif. A gentlewoman, sir.
Per. What business has she?

Is she a woman learned in the mathematics?
Can she tell fortunes?

Estif. More than I know, sir.

Per. Or has she e'er a letter from a kinswo

man,

That must be delivered in my absence, wife?
Or comes she from the doctor to salute ye,
And learn your health? she looks not like a con-
fessor.

Estif. What needs all this? why are you troubled, sir?

What do you suspect? she cannot cuckold ye : She is a woman, sir, a very woman.

Per. Your very woman may do very well, sir, Towards the matter; for, though she cannot perform it

In her own person, she may do it by proxy.
Your rarest jugglers work still by conspiracy.
Estif. Cry ye mercy, husband! you are jealous,
then,

And haply suspect me?
Per. No, indeed, wife.

Estif. Methinks you should not, till you have

Estif. I'll wise your worship

Before I leave ye. [Aside.] Pray ye walk by, and say nothing;

Only salute them, and leave the rest to me, sir; I was born to make ye a man.

Per. The rogue speaks heartily:

Her good-will colours in her cheeks: I am born to love her.

I must be gentle to these tender natures:
A soldier's rude, harsh words befit not ladies;
Nor must we talk to them, as we talk to
Our officers. I'll give her way, for 'tis for me
she

Works now; I am husband, heir, and all she has
Enter MARGARITTA, LEON, ALTEA, and Ladies.
Who are these? I hate such flaunting things.
A woman of rare presence! excellent fair;
This is too big, sure, for a bawdy house;
Too open seated, too.

Estif. My husband, lady.

Mar. You have gained a proper man.
Per. Whate'er I am, I am your servant, lady.
[Kisses.
Estif. Sir, be ruled now,
[Apart to PEREZ.
And I shall make you rich: this is my cousin;
That gentleman doats on her, even to death.
See how he observes her.

Per. She is a goodly woman.
Estif. She is a mirror.

But she is poor, she were for a prince's side else;
This house she has brought him to as to her own,
And presuming upon me, and on my courtesy--
Conceive me short; he knows not but she's
wealthy:

Or if he did know otherwise, 'twere all one,
He's so far gone.

Per. Forward; she's a rare face.

Estif. This we must carry with discretion, husband,

And yield unto her for four days.

Per. Yield our house up, our goods and

wealth!

VOL. II.

Q