Enter SUBTLE.

Sub. Is yet her grace's cousin come?

Face. He is come.

Sub. And is he fasting?

Face. Yes.

Sub. And hath cry'd hum?

Face. Thrice, you must answer.
Dap. Thrice.

Sub. And as oft, buz?

Face. If you have, say.
Dap. I have.

Sub. Then, to her cuz,

Hoping that he hath vinegar'd his senses,
As he was bid, the Fairy queen dispenses,
By me, this robe, the petticoat of Fortune;
Which that he straight put on, she doth importune,
And though to Fortune near be her petticoat,
Yet nearer is her smock, the queen doth note:
And therefore, even of that a piece she has sent,
Which, being a child, to wrap him in was rent;
And prays him for a scarf he now will wear it
(With as much love as then her grace did tear it)
About his eyes, to shew he is fortunate.

400

421

[They blind him with a rag.

And, trusting unto her to make his state,

He'll throw away all worldly pelf about him:

Which that he will perform she doth not doubt him.

Face. She need not doubt him, sir. Alas, he has

nothing

But what he will part withal as willingly,
Upon her grace's word (throw away your purse.)
As she would ask it. ("Handkerchiefs and all.)”
She cannot bid that thing, but he'll obey.

If you have a ring about you, cast it off,

Or a silver seal at your wrist : her grace will send
Her fairies here to search you; therefore deal
Directly with her highness. If they find
That you conceal a mite, you are undone.

[He throws away as they bid him.

Dap. Truly, there's all.

Face. All what?

Dap. My money, truly.

Face. Keep nothing that is transitory about you. Look the elves are come

To pinch you, if you tell not truth. Advise you. 440 Dap. Oh, I have a paper with a spur-ryal in't.

Face. Ti, ti,

They knew it, they say.

Sub. Ti, ti, ti, ti, he has more yet.

"Face. Ti, ti-ti-ti. I' the other pocket?

"Dap. Oh, oh.

"Face. Nay, pray you hold. He is her grace's ne

phew.

"Ti, ti, ti? What care you? Good faith, you shall care. "Deal plainly, sir, and shame the fairies. Shew "You are an innocent."

Dap. By this good light, I ha' nothing

But a half-crown

Of gold, about my wrist, that

my love

gave me;

And a leaden heart I wore sin' she forsook me.

Face. I thought 'twas something. And would you incur

Your aunt's displeasure for these trifles? Come,

I had rather you had thrown away twenty half-crowns, You may wear your leaden heart still.[Knock. ]How now? Enter DoL.

Sub. What news, Dol?

Dol. Yonder's your knight, sir Mammon.

460

Face. God's lid, we never thought of him till now.

Where is he?

Dol. Here, hard by. He's at the door.

Sub. And you are not ready now.

Dol. He must be sent back.

Face. Oh, by no means.

What shall we do with this same puffing here,

Now he's o' the spit?

Sub. Why, lay him back a while,

With some device. Ti, ti, ti, ti, ti. Would her grace

speak with me;

I come. Help, Dol.

Face. Who's there? Sir Epicure.

[Knock.

[He speaks through the key-hole, the other knocking.

My master's i' the way. Please you to walk
Three or four turns, but till his back be turn'd,

And I am for you. Quickly, Dol.

Sub. Her grace

[Exit Dol.

Commends her kindly to you, master Dapper.
Dap. I long to see her grace.

Sub. She now is set

480

At dinner in her bed, and she has sent you
From her own private trencher, a dead mouse,
And a piece of gingerbread, to be merry withal,
And stay your stomach, least you faint with fasting:
Yet if you could hold out till she saw you (she says)
It would be better for you.

Face. Sir, he shall

Hold out an 'twere this two hours for her highness; I can assure you that. We will not lose

All we ha' done

Sub. He must not see, nor speak

To any body, till then.

Face. For that we'll put, sir,

A stay in's mouth.

Sub. Of what?

Face. Of gingerbread.

Make you it fit. "He that hath pleas'd her grace "Thus far, shall not now crinkle for a little."

Gape, sir, and let him fit you.

Sub. Where shall we now

Bestow him?

Dol. I' the privy.

Sub. Come along, sir,

I now must shew you fortune's privy lodgings.
Face. Are they perfum'd, and his bath ready?
Sub. All.

Only the fumigation's somewhat strong.

૬૦૦

"Face. Sir Epicure, I am yours, sir, by and by."

[Exeunt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

FACE and MAMMON meet.

Face.

OH, sir, yo'are come i' the only finest time.

Mam. Where's master?

Face. Now preparing for projection, sir.

Your stuff will be all chang'd shortly.

Mam. Into gold?

Face. To gold and silver, sir.
Mam. Silver I care not for.

Face. Yes, sir, a little to give beggars.

Mam. Where's the lady?

Face. At hand here.

things o' you,

I ha' told her such brave

Touching your bounty, and your noble spirit

Mam. Hast thou?

Face. As she is almost in her fit to see you. But, good sir, no divinity i' your conference,

For fear of putting her in a rage—

Mam. I warrant thee.

"Face. Six men will not hold her down. And then

“If the old man should hear or see you."

Mam. Fear not.

Face. The very house, sir, would run mad. You

know it,

How scrupulous he is, and violent

20

'Gainst the least act of sin. "Physic, or mathematics,