Alas, I am not able! I've no wit, madam. Mur. Nor do not labour to arrive at any; Leon. Yes, indeed, forsooth. you; That, if I take ye in, I put ye from me, Leon. I will not. Alas, I never knew myself Mar. Nor must not now. Leon. I'll be a dog to please you. SCENE IV.--A grand saloon. Enter CLARA and ESTIFANIA, with a paper. Cla. What, have you caught him? Cla. And do you find him A man of those hopes, that you aimed at? I find him rich too, Clara. Cla. Hast thou married him? Estif. What, dost thou think I fish without a I bob for fools. He is mine own. I have him. Cla. Does the lady know this? she's coming now to town: Now, to live here, in this house. Estif. Let her come, She shall be welcome, I'm prepared for her; Cla. Dost thou not love him? As long as there he stays, and looks no farther Mar. Indeed, you must fetch and carry as I And that wise hate will teach me how to cozen him. How to decline their wives, and curb their man appoint ye. Leon. I were to blame else. Mar. Kiss me again. [Kisses her. ners; If you see me Kiss any other, twenty in an hour, sir, To put a stern and strong rein to their natures: You must not start, nor be offended. Leon. No, if you kiss a thousand, I shall be I owe him a good turn for these opinions; And see ye observe my laws. Leon. Else you shall hang me. Mar. I'll give you better clothes, when you In one of the arbours; there 'tis cool and plea Per. Or has she e'er a letter from a kinswoman, That must be delivered in my absence, wife? 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. And haply suspect me? more cause, you should not, till you have And clearer, too. I'm sure you've heard say, husband, A woman forced will free herself through iron; Per. No, no: I do but jest with ye. Till then, and pray all may go sweetly with ye. [Exit. [Knocking. Estif. Why, where's the girl? who's at the door? [Knock. Per. Who knocks there? Is't for the king you come, ye knock so boisterously? Look to the door. 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 : she Works now; I am husband, heir, and all she has— Estif. My husband, lady. Mar. You have gained a proper man. Per. Whate'er I am, I am your servant, lady. [Kisses. [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. Estif. Sir, be ruled now, Per. She is a goodly woman. But she is poor, she were for a prince's side else; Or if he did know otherwise, 'twere all one, 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! A part of the house. Estif. No, no, they shall have all, And take their pleasure too; 'tis for our advan tage. VOL. II. ૨ Why, what's four days? Had you a sister, sir, Estif. I swear, sir, as easily as it came on. To let such a gentlewoman for a little help Per. Clear but that question. Estif. I'll put the writings into your Estif. And you shall keep them safe. hand. Per. I'm satisfied. Would I had the wench too! Estif. When she has married him, So infinite his love is linked unto her, Per. I'll remove my trunks straight, SCENE I.-A Chamber. Enter MARGARITTA and ALTEA. ACT III. Alt. ARE you at ease now? Is your heart at rest, Now you have got a shadow, an umbrella, 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 thankful, 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; [Exeunt. Enter a Lady. 1 Lady. Madam, the duke Medina, with some Will come to dinner, and have sent rare wine, Mar. They shall be welcome. See all be ready in the noblest fashion. Go, get your best clothes on; but, till I call ye, women, And behave yourself handsomely, sir; 'tis for my credit. Enter a second Lady. 2 Lady. Madam, the lady Julia- A three-piled bawd; bawd major to the army. And to be informed if you will take the air this Leon. The neat air of her nunnery. Mar, Tell her no; i' the afternoon I'll call on her. 2 Lady. I will, madam. And bills nailed up with horns before your doors, 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, What think ye now? This boldness, some of your people have blown This wisdom too, with strong wine; 'tis a tyrant, Mar. I'll have my cellar locked, no school kept [Erit. Nor no discovery. I'll turn my drunkards, Leon. Faith, madam, in my little understand-Such as are understanding in their draughts, tions; And in a well-knit body, a poor parsnip Leon. He, that shall counsel ladies, My indiscretion has made bold to tell ye Mar. Thou dar'st not talk? Leon. Not much, madam; You have a tie upon your servant's tongue; Such husbands as this monstrous world produces, And dispute learnedly the whys and wherefores, Nothing belongs to mankind but obedience, time: Alt. He's humbled Forgive, good lady. Mar. Well, go, get you handsome, Leon. Have ye yet no feeling? I'll pinch you to the bones then, my proud lady. [Exit. Mar. See you preserve him thus, upon my fa vour. You know his temper, tie him to the grindstone; Never return to mine own house again? Estif. [within.] I'm going presently. I'm like the people that live in the sweet islands: 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, FOGO. San. Thou'rt very brave. Caca. I've reason, I have money. San. Is money reason? Caca. Yes, and rhyme too, captain. If you've no money, you're an ass. San. I thank ye. Caca. Ye've manners; ever thank him, that has money. San. Wilt thou lend me any? Caca. Not a farthing, captain : Captains are casual things. San. Why so are all men. Thou shalt have my bond. Caca. Not bonds, nor fetters, captain. 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. But one another, like a race of cannibals? |