A Chamber.

SCENE II.

Enter SUBTLE, DAPPER, and DoL.

Sub. How! ha' you eaten your gag?

Dap. Yes, faith, it crumbled

Away i' my mouth.

Sub. You ha' spoil'd all then.
Dap. No;

I hope my aunt of Fairy will forgive me.

Sub. Your aunt's a gracious lady; but in troth,

You were to blame.

Dap. The fume did overcome me,

And I did do't to stay my stomach. Pray you,
So satisfy her grace.

Enter FACE.

Face. How now! Is his mouth down?

Sub. Ay, he has spoken.

Face. A pox! I heard him, and you too-He's un

done then

I have been fain to say the house is haunted

With spirits, to keep Churl back.

Sub. And hast thou done it ?

Face. Sure, for this night.

Sub. Why, then triumph and sing

Of Face so famous, the precious king
Of present wits.

Face. Did you not hear the coil
About the door?

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Sub. Yes, and I dwindled with it.

Face. Shew him his aunt, and let him be dispatch'd: I'll send her to you.

Drugger is at the door; go take his suit,

And bid him fetch a parson presently.

Say, he shall marry the widow. "Thou shalt spend "A hundred pounds by the service." [Exeunt Dapper and Subtle.] Now, queen Dol,

Ha' you pack'd up all ?

Dol. Yes.

Face. And how do you like

The lady Pliant?

Dol. A good dull innocent.

Re-enter SUBTLE.

Sub. Here's your Hieronymo's cloak and hat. 400

Face. Give me 'em.

Sub. And the ruff too.

Face. Yes: I'll come to you presently.

Sub. Now is he gone about his project, Dol,

I told you of, for the widow.

Dol. 'Tis direct

Against our articles.

Sub. Well, we'll fit him, wench.

[Exit.

Hast thou gull'd her of her jewels, or her bracelets ?

Dol. No, but I will do't.

Sub. Soon at night, my Dolly,

When we are shipp'd, and all our goods aboard,
Eastward for Ratcliff, we will turn our course

To Brainford, westward, if thou say'st the word,

And take our leave of this o'erweening rascal,

This peremptory Face.

Dol. Content; I'm weary of him.

Sub. We'll tickle it at the pigeons,

When we have all, and may unlock the trunks,

And say, this's mine and thine, and thine and mine.

Enter FACE.

[They kiss.

Face. What now, a billing?

Sub. Yes, a little exalted,

In the good passage of our stock affairs.

"Face Drugger has brought his parson; take him

in, Subtle,

"And send Nab back again to wash his face.

"Sub. I will: and shave himself.

"Face. If you can get him.

[Exit.

"Dol. You are hot upon it, Face, whate'er it is! "Face. A trick that Dol shall spend ten pounds a

month by.

"Is he gone?

Enter SUBTLE.

"Sub. The chaplain waits you i' the hall, sir.

"Face. I'll go bestow him.

"Dol. He'll now marry her instantly.

[Exit.

"Sub. He cannot yet, he is not ready. Dear Dol,

"Cozen her all thou canst. To deceive him

"Is no deceit, but justice that would break "Such an inextricable tie as ours was.

"Dol. Let me alone to fit him.

M

Enter FACE.

Face. Come, my venturers,

You ha' packed up all? Where be the trunks? Bring

forth.

Sub. Here.

Face. Let us see them. Where's the money?

Sub. Here.

440

Face. The brethren's money, this. Drugger's and Dapper's in this,

Mammon's ten pounds: eight score before.

Where be the French petticoats,

And girdles, and hangers?

Sub. Here i' the trunk,

And the bolts of lawn.

Face. Is Drugger's damask there?

Sub. Yes.

Face. Give me the keys.

Dol. Why you the keys?

Sub. No matter, Dol; because

We shall not open them, before he comes.

Face. 'Tis true, you shall not open them, indeed;

Nor have them forth. Do you see? Not forth, Dol. Dol. No!

Face. No, my smock-rampant. The right is, my

master

459

Knows all, has pardon'd me, and he will keep them;
Doctor, 'tis true (you look) for all your figures:
I sent for him indeed. Wherefore, good partners,
Both he, and she, be satisfy'd: for here

Determines the indenture tripartite,

'Twixt Subtle, Dol, and Face. All I can do, Is to help you over the wall, o' the backside;

Or lend you a sheet to save your velvet gown, Dol.. Here will be officers presently; bethink you

Of some course suddenly to 'scape the dock;

For thither you'll come else. Hark you, thunder.

Face. Dol, I am sorry for thee i' faith. But, hear'st

thou?

It shall go hard, but I will place thee somewhere: Thou shalt ha' my letter to mistress Amo.

Dol. Hang you—

Face. Or madam Cæsarean.

Dol. Pox upon you, rogue:

Would I had but time to beat thee.

Face. Subtle,

[Exit Dol.

480

Let's know where you set up next: I'll send you

A customer, now and then, for old acquaintance:
What new course ha' you?

Sub. Rogue, I'll hang myself,

That I may walk a greater devil than thou,

And haunt thee i'the flock-bed, and the buttery. [Exit.