Is't not pity Per. 'Tis well then. Estif. Go handsome off, and leave the house clear. Per. Well. Estif. That little stuff we'll use shall follow after; To let such a gentlewoman for a little help | And a boy to guide ye. Peace, and we are made You give away no house. Per. Clear but that question. Estif. I'll put the writings into your hand. Estif. And you shall keep them safe. Per. I'm satisfied. Would I had the wench too! Estif. When she has married him, So infinite his love is linked unto her, You, I, or any one that helps at this pinch, Per. I'll remove my trunks straight, both. Mar. Come, let's go in. Are all the rooms kept sweet, wench? Estif. They're sweet and neat. [Erit PEREZ. Mar. Why, where's your husband? Estif. Gone, madam. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Chamber. Enter MARGARITTA and ALTEA, Alt. ARE you at ease now? Is your heart at rest, Now you Mar. I am at peace, Altea. If he continue but the same he shews, Mar. But if he should prove now Alt. My life, an innocent. That's it I hope too, then I'm sure I rule him: When they have coarse bread offered, are thank ful, And take it for a favour too. Are the rooms made ready To entertain my friends? I long to dance now. Let me have a song. Is the great couch up The duke of Medina sent? Alt. Your house is nothing now but various pleasures. The gallants begin to gaze too. Mar. Let them gaze on. I was brought up a courtier, high and happy; Enter a second Lady. 2 Lady. Madam, the lady JuliaLeon. That's a bawd; A three-piled bawd; bawd major to the army. 2 Lady. Has brought her coach to wait upon your ladyship, And to be informed if you will take the air this morning. Leon. The neat air of her nunnery. Mar. Tell her no; i' the afternoon I'll call on her. 2 Lady. I will, madam. [Exit. Leon. Faith, madam, in my little understanding, You'd better entertain your honest neighbours, Your friends about ye, that may speak well of ye, And give a worthy mention of your bounty. Leon. 'Tis only to persuade ye A kind of march-pane men that will not last, madam; An egg and pepper goes farther than their por tions; And in a well-knit body, a poor parsnip Leon. He, that shall counsel ladies, Leon. Pray ye be not angry; My indiscretion has made bold to tell ye Mar. Thou dar'st not talk? You have a tie upon your servant's tongue; Such husbands as this monstrous world produces, And bills nailed up with horns before your doors, To rent out wantonness. Mar. Do you hear him talk? Leon. I've done, madam: An ox once spoke, as learned men deliver; How boldly and how saucily he talked, This was your providence, Your wisdom, to elect this gentleman, Your excellent forecast in the man, your know, ledge! What think ye now ? Alt. I think him an ass still . This boldness, some of your people have blown into him, This wisdom too, with strong wine ; 'tis a tyrant, And a philosopher also, and finds out reasons. Mar. I'll have my cellar locked, no school kept there, Never return to mine own house again? Estif. [within.] I'm going presently. I'm like the people that live in the sweet islands: I'll send ye people for the trunks afore-hand. But if I come not at my hour, come thither, And pray you, be brave for my sake. SCENE III.-A street. [Exeunt. And if we stay a night, we're gone for company. Enter JUAN DE CASTRO, SANCHIO, and CAcaThere's an old woman, that's now grown to mar ble, Dried in this brick-kiln, and she sits i' the chimney, Which is but three tiles raised, like a house of cards, FOGO. San. Thou'rt very brave. Caca. I've reason, I have money. Caca. Yes, and rhyme too, captain. The true proportion of an old smoaked Sybil. Caca. Ye've manners; ever thank him, that has murmur. Enter ESTIFANIA. Mercy deliver me. Oh, are you come, wife; Shall we be free again? Estif. I am now going, money. San. Wilt thou lend me any? Caca. Not a farthing, captain: San. Why so are all men. my bond. Thou shalt have Caca. Not bonds, nor fetters, captain. My money is my own, I make no doubt on't. Caca. Put it to pious uses. And you shall, presently, to your own house, sir: Buy wine and wenches, and undo young cox The remembrance of this small vexation Will be argument of mirth for ever. A piece of buttered wall you think is excellent. Juan. A provident charity. Are you for the wars, sir? Caca. I am not poor enough to be a soldier, Nor have I faith enough to ward a bullet; There is no lining for a trench, I take it. Juan. Ye have said wisely. Caca. Had you but my money, You'd swear it, colonel. I had rather drill at home A hundred thousand crowns, and with more honour, Than exercise ten thousand fools with nothing. marry, And live a reverend justice? Caca. Is it not nobler to command a reverend justice, than to be one? And for a wife, what need I marry, captain, When every courteous fool, that owes me money, Owes me his wife too, to appease my fury? Juan. Wilt thou go to dinner with us? Caca. I will go, and view the pearl of Spain, the orient Fair one, the rich one too; and I will be respected. I bear my patent here; I will talk to her; Old Wom. Ha! What would ye have? Old Wom. Are your trunks all open? And chains and jewels. How she smells like hung beef, The palsy, and pick-locks! Fye, how she belches The spirit of garlic! Old Wom. Where's your gentlewoman? The young fair woman? Per. What's that to my question? She is my wife, and gone about my business. Per. Yes, sir: is that a wonder? Is the name of wife unknown here? Old Wom. Is she duly and truly your wife? Per. Duly and truly my wife! I think so, For I married her. It was no vision, sure! Maid. She has the keys, sir. Per. I know she has; but who has all my goods, spirit? Old Wom. If you be married to that gentle woman, You are a wretched man: she has twenty husbands. Maid. She tells you true. Old Wom. And she has cozened all, sir. Per. The devil she has! I had a fair house with her, Juan. The duke dines there to-day too, the That stands hard by, and furnished royally. Old Wom. You're cozened too; 'tis none of her's, good gentleman, It is a lady's. Maid. The lady Margaritta; she was her ser vant, And kept the house; but going from her, sir, Per. Plague o' the devil! Am I, in the full meridian of my wisdom, Old Wom. A young sweet lady. Old Wom. She's indeed but little, but she's wondrous fair. Per. I feel I'm cozened: She had two women at the door attending, -I heard your trunks too Per. They were mine while they were laden; But now they've cast their calves, they're not worth owning. Was she her mistress, say you? Old Wom. Her own mistress, her very mistress, sir; and all you saw About and in that house was hers. Per. No plate, no jewels, nor no hangings? Old Wom. Abominable poor, as poor as we are, I think I am as poor as she, I'm wild else. Old Wom. You may find the truth as soon. Alas, a thousand concealed corners, sir, she lurks in; And here she gets a fleece, and there another, And lives in mists and smokes where none can find her. Per. Is she a whore too? Old Wom. Little better, gentleman : She's yours, sir: these five years she has firked Per. She has firked me finely. A whore and thief; two excellent moral learnings In one she saint. I hope to see her legend. Caught in my own noose? Here's a rial left yet; There's for your lodging, and your meat for a week; A silk-worm lives at a more plentiful ordinary, Farewell, great grandmother; If I do find you were an accessary, 'Tis but the cutting off two smoaking minutes! Old Wom. And I deserve it-I tell you truth. Old Wom. O the rogue, the villain! Is this [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A grand apartment. Enter the DUKE OF MEDINA, JUAN DE CASTRO, ALONZO, SANCHIO, CACAFOGO, and Attendants. Duke. A goodly house. Juan. And richly furnished too, sir. Alon. Hung wantonly; I like that preparation; It stirs the blood into a hopeful banquet, And intimates the mistress free and jovial; Those few slight pleasures, that inhabit here, sir, I do beseech your grace command; they're yours; Your servant but preserves them to delight ye. Duke. I thank ye, lady. I am bold to visit ye, Once more to bless mine eyes with your sweet beauty. It has been a long night, since you left the court, For, till I saw you now, no day broke to me. Mar. Bring in the duke's meat. San. She's most excellent. Juan. Most admirable fair, as e'er I looked on; I rather would command her than my regiment. Caca. I'll have a fling; 'tis but a thousand du cats, Which I can cozen up in ten days. Enter LEON. Mar. Why, where's this dinner? Nor shall it be, until I know the guests too, Mar. Why, sirrah; why, sirrah, you ! And, as you are my wife, command your ab sence, And know your duty; 'tis the crown of modesty. Duke. Your wife! Leon. Yes, good iny lord, I am her husband, And, pray, take notice, that I claim that honour, And will maintain it. Caca. If thou be'st her husband, . I am determined thou shalt be my cuckold; Leon. Peace, dirt and dunghill! I will not lose my anger on a rascal. {Exit. |