SCENE I.

Enter JUAN DE CASTRO and MICHAEL PEREZ.

Mich. ARE your companies full, colonel?
Juan. No, not yet, sir:

Nor will be this month yet, as I reckon ;
How rises your command?

Mich. We pick up still, and as our monies

hold out,

We have men come: about that time I think
We shall be full too; many young gallants go.
Juan. And unexperienced.

The wars are dainty dreams to young hot spirits,
Time and experience will allay those visions;
We have strange things to fill our numbers.
There's one Don Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Recommended to me from some noble friends,
For my Alferes; had you but seen his person,
And what a giant's promise it protesteth.

Mich. I have heard of him, and that he hath serv'd before too.

Juan. But no harm done, nor never meant,
Don Michael,

That came to my ears yet; ask him a question,
He blushes like a girl, and answers little,
To the point less; he wears a sword, a good one,
And good clothes too, he is whole skinn'd, has
no hurt yet,

Good promising hopes; I never yet heard cer

tainly

Of any gentleman that saw him angry.

Mich. Preserve him, he'll conclude a peace, if need be;

Many as strong as he will go along with us,
That swear as valiantly as heart can wish,
Their mouths charg'd with six oaths at once, and
whole ones,

That make the drunken Dutch creep into molehills.

Juan. 'Tis true, such we must look for: but Michael Perez,

When heard you of Donna Margarita, the great heiress?

Mich. I hear every hour of her, though I never saw her,

She is the main discourse: noble Don Juan de

Enter Servant, Donna CLARA, and ESTIFANIA, veiled.

Juan. You are welcome, ladies.

Mich. Both hooded! I like 'em well though: They come not for advice in law sure hither; May be they would learn to raise the pike. I am for 'em: they are very modest,"tis a fine preludium.

Juan. With me, or with this gentleman, Would you speak, lady?

Clara. With you, sir, as I guess, Juan de Castro. Mich. Her curtain opens, she is a pretty gentlewoman.

Juan. I am the man, and shall be bound to fortune,

I may do any service to your beauties. Clara. Captain, I hear you are marching down to Flanders,

To serve the catholic king.

Juan. I am, sweet lady.

Clara. I have a kinsman, and a noble friend, Employ'd in those wars; may be, sir, you know him, Don Campusano, captain of carbines, To whom I would request your nobleness, To give this poor remembrance.

Juan. I shall do it,

[A letter.

I know the gentleman, a most worthy captain. Clara. Something in private.

like me;

But in a strange place, to a stranger too,
As if I came on purpose to betray you :
Indeed I will not.

Mich. I shall love you dearly,
And 'tis a sin to fling away affection;
I have no mistress, no desire to honour
Any but you: (will not this oyster open?)

I know not, you have struck me with your modesty

(She will draw sure ;) so deep, and taken from me All the desire I might bestow on others: Quickly, before they come.

Estif. Indeed I dare not :

But since I see you are so desirous, sir,
To view a poor face that can merit nothing
But your repentance-

Mich. It must needs be excellent.

Estif. And with what honesty you ask it of me, When I am gone, let your man follow me, And view what house I enter; thither come, For there I dare be bold to appear open: And as I like your virtuous carriage then,

Enter JUAN, CLARA, a Servant.

I shall be able to give welcome to you. She has done her business, I must take my leave, sir.

Mich. I'll kiss your fair white hand, and thank you, lady.

My man shall wait, and I shall be your servant. Sirrah, come near; hark.

Serv. I shall do it faithfully.

[Erit.

Juan. You will command me no more services? Clara. To be careful of your noble health, dear sir,

That I may ever honour you.
Juan. I thank you,

And kiss your hands. Wait on the ladies down there. [Exeunt Ladies and Servants. Mich. You had the honour to see the face that came to you?

Juan. And 'twas a fair one: what was yours, Don Michael?

Alon. Better to pull 'em thus than walk wooden ones:

Serve bravely for a billet to support me.

Sanch. Fy, fy, 'tis base.

on

Alon. Dost thou count it base to suffer?
Suffer abundantly? 'tis the crown of honour;
You think it nothing to lie twenty days
Under a surgeon's hands that has no mercy.
Sanch. As thou hast done, I am sure: but I
perceive now

Why you desire to stay; the orient heiress,
The Margarita, sir,

Alon. I would I had her.
Sanch. They say she will marry.
Alon. I think she will.

Sanch. And marry suddenly, as report goes too.
She fears her youth will not hold out, Alonzo.
› Alon. I would I had the sheathing on't.
Sanch. They say too,

She has a greedy eye, that must be fed
With more than one man's meat.

Alon. Would she were mine,

I would cater for her well enough: but, Sanchio,

There be too many great men that adore her, Princes, and princes' fellows, that claim privilege. Sanch. Yet those stand off i' the way of marriage.

To be tied to a man's pleasure is a second labour. Alon. She has bought a brave house here in

town.

Sanch. I have heard so.

Alon. If she convert it now to pious uses,

And bid poor gentlemen welcome!

Sanch. When comes she to it?

1 Lady. How does the sweet young beauty, lady Margaret?

2 Lady. Has she slept well after her walk last night?

1 Lady. Are her dreams gentle to her mind? Alt. All's well,

She's very well; she sent for you thus suddenly,
To give her counsel in a business
That much concerns her.

2 Lady. She does well and wisely,

To ask the counsel of the ancient'st, madam ;

And hereabouts I lost her: stay, that's she,
'Tis very she-she makes me a low court'sy;
Let me note the place, the street I will remember.
[Exit ESTIF.

She is in again; certain some noble lady.
How happy should I be if she love my master:
A wond'rous goodly house! here are brave lod-
gings,

And I shall sleep now like an emperor,
And eat abundantly: I thank my fortune,
I'll back with speed, and bring him happy tidings.

Enter three old Ladies.

[Exit.

1 Lady. What should it mean, that in such haste

We are sent for?

2 Lady. Belike the lady Margaret has some business

She would break to us in private.

3 Lady. It should seem so. 'Tis a good lady, and a wise young lady.

2 Lady. And virtuous enough too, I warrant ye, For a young woman of her years; 'tis a pity To load her tender age with too much virtue. 3 Lady. 'Tis more sometimes than we can well away with.

Enter ALTEA.

Alt. Good morrow, ladies.
All. 'Morrow, my good madam.

knows not.

Juan. Nor ne'er ta'en prisoner?

Leon. No, I ran away;

For I had ne'er no money to redeem me.
Juan. Can you endure a drum?

Leon. It makes my head ache.

Juan. Are you not valiant when you are drunk? Leon. I think not, but I am loving, sir. Juan. What a lump is this man! Was your father wise?

Leon. Too wise for me, I'm sure,

For he gave all he had to my younger brother. Juan. That was no foolish part, I'll bear you witness.

Canst thou lie with a woman?

Leon. I think I could make shift, sir, But I am bashful.

Juan. In the night?

Leon. I know not,

Darkness indeed may do some good upon me. Juan. Why art thou sent to me to be my officer, Ay, and commended too, when thou darʼst not

fight?

By th' ounce then. O here's another pumpion, Let him loose for luck's sake, 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 o' th' Hollanders; your ships may leak else.

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

Alon. Put up your gold, sir, I'll borrow it else. Caca. I am satisfied, you shall not.

Come out, I know thee, meet mine anger instantly.

Leon. I never wrong'd ye.

Caca. Thou hast wrong'd mine honour,

Thou look'd'st upon my mistress thrice lasciviously,

I'll make it good.

Per. You have made me now too bountiful
amends, lady,

For
your strict carriage when you saw me first:
These beauties were not meant to be conceal'd,
It was a wrong to hide so sweet an object.
I could now chide ye, but it shall be thus,
No other anger ever touch your sweetness.

Estif. You appear to me so honest, and so
civil,

Without a blush, sir, I dare bid you welcome. Per. Now let me ask your name.

Estif. 'Tis Estifania, the heir of this poor place.

Per. Poor do you call it?

There's nothing that I cast mine eyes upon,
But shews both rich and admirable; all the rooms
Are hung as if a princess were to dwell here;
The gardens, orchards, every thing so curious:
Is all that plate your own too?

Estif. 'Tis but little,

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

Per. She is excellent wise withal too.

Estif. You nam'd a husband; I am not so strict, sir,

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

Rich, and a soldier, for so I have vowed he

shall be,

Were offer'd 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 am not so ignorant, but that I know well,