 | Honoria and Mammon |  |
32
ACT III.
Enter Traverse and his Clarke.Tra.
VVait at the door, my Clients are so numerous
And pressing with their suites, they almost stifle me.
Let me enjoy the aire of my owne Chamber;
I think I have lost some lungs in the last cause,
Let me indulge a little to repair e'm,
A glass of the Greeke wine, Th'Italian Merchant
Presented me, and let the Terme go on,
I'l drive the Law at leisure, and o're take it.
Clarke fills Wine into the glass.
So so, this looks sprightly,
Be carefull of this Treasure, 'tis my blood,
VVast not one drop, upon thy life I charge thee.
Dash drinks from the bottle.
Das.
VVast quothe?
You shall not prove a wast, I'l warrant you.
Tra.
So, so, remove.
Das.
Sir your Idolaters, the Writs are come.
33
Tra.
The weather's hot, let no more spirits enter,
How like the soveraigne Bee, methinks I sit
In my prodigious hive, surveying all
My wing'd, industrious people, bringing honey,
And making wax more pretious than a trade
To both the Indies. My good Emissaries,
And faithfull spirits of the Law, descend
To your infernall shades, untill I call you,
Exeunt Writs.
Enter Dash.
Das.
A Gentleman desires to speak with you Sir,
From the Lady Mammon.
Tra.
Admit him.
Enter Phantasme.
Das.
VVhat a fine thing this Terme is?
And what an ungodly time, the long Vacation?
Pha.
Sir, I'l not hold you long, I know you have business,
There have past some overtures of love and marriage,
Between your City Client, Mr. Fulbank,
And the Mistriss that I serve, the Lady Mammon.
And you should draw a Deed to settle on her
His whole Estate, if she survive, as Joynture—
Tra.
I understand you Sir.
Pha.
I am glad you do, this Sir is his desire,
And to have all dispatch'd with expedition.
34
Very well.
Pha.
But the reason of my coming is
To desire you sir, to let all this
Alone, there is another thing, that will
Concern you more materially.
Tra.
Your meaning?
Pha.
You are not married.
Tra.
I enjoy a freedom.
Pha.
My Lady Mammon has a vast Estate,
And is a widdow, you do understand?
Tra.
Her name is precious to the VVorld.
Pha.
The VVorld's an asse, you look like a wiseman,
You have a good face, and a handsome person
Under a Gowne, you have a good Estate too;
I am a Servant, that have credit with her,
By my relation; and I have no mind,
The City Mule, your Client, should breake
His back with burden of his gold; in short,
I wish you well, and if you have the confidence
To make a motion for your self, this high
And mighty widdow, may be yours; I'm plain.
Tra.
Say you so?
Pha.
I'l bring her to you, and prepare her too,
Have I been tedious sir,
Tra.
My better Angell!
Pha.
Legions attend my Lady, trouble not
Your head why all this kindness from a stranger.
I had a revelation to do thus;
Have a strong faith, and think upon't, your Servant,
If within half an hour she visit you,
Think it no dreame, and thank me afterwards,
Now leave your wonder, and be wise.
Tra.
Can this be true? 'tis not impossible.
35
If she appear I may believe, and prosper.
Enter Maslin.
Das.
The tide is coming in,
Mr. Maslin the High-Constable, a good man
And full of causes.
Tra.
What intrusion's this?
Mas.
I have given a sop to Cerberus your doorkeeper.
Tra.
O' Mr. Maslin you are become a stranger.
Mas,
'Tis not for want of love to be at Law.
Your worship knows, I am apt to trouble you,
And the whole County where I live.
Tra.
Your business?
Mas.
Sir, it is extraordinary, and I desire
Beside your learned worships fees, to pay
For expedition.
Tra.
You speak reason.
Mas.
I do abound in reason, look you Sir
Shews Gold
Tis all of this complexion; here's a piece
For every day till the next Terme begin,
And two for every day it lasts.
Tra.
Have a care of your health, good Sir;
Mas,
And you of your spectacles.
Tar.
What must I do for this?
Mas.
Do? you must undoe
A friend of mine.
Tra.
A Friend?
Mas.
We are all friends in Law, Sir,
Never did man suffer so fast an injury,
36
Tra.
Has he kill'd your Father?
Mas.
VVorse, worse:
Tra.
Made a whore of your sister?
Mas.
VVorse than that:
Tra.
Ravish'd your wife?
Mas.
VVorse than all that, and yet this comes the neerest,
Has cheated me of my wench; a widdow Sir
That has more money than all your profession
Has got, since the dissolution of the Abbeys.
In short, this is the Case, Fulbanke, the City
Gulfe has swallowed my Lady Aurelia
Mammon.
Tra.
O Caniball!
Mas.
Devour'd my widdow, wife
That should ha been, this man I hate, this man
Must be undone, and there's part of the money.
Tra.
The Lady Aurelia Mammon?
Mas.
That very Polcat; but I must tell you Sir,
They are not married yet, if you have now
A dainty Devill to so bid the banes—
Tra.
Although this be a case, more pertinent
To the Court Ecclesiasticall, yet,
Let me consult my Law-giver.
Turns his Books.
Mas.
Sir, so I may
Be reveng'd, I stand not much upon't,
VVho has this Mammon, let the Devill take her,
Or your worship take her, 'tis all one to me.
Tra.
Hum! I shall stretch a point of Law for you.
37
Her presence instantly,
Mas.
Is that a conjuring book, expect her instantly?
Now i'le pronounce you master of your wishes,
For you shall have—
Mas.
The widdow?
Tra.
VVhat is sweeter than the widdow,
You Sir, shall have revenge, and Mr. Maslin
To vex him more, de'e observe I will have the widow,
My self.
Mas.
You will, and what shall I have?
Tra.
Sir, you shall have revenge, revenge, the joy
Of flesh and blood, life and delight of nature,
The poor mans Luxury, and the rich mans bath,
Above all wealth or widdows Sir. Mr. Maslin,
I'l tame his blood, and his Estate by Law,
VVhile you shall crack your spleen with mirth and laughter,
And wonder at my subtill arts to vex him.
Mas.
All this is reason.
Tra.
This shall be done by Law for the High-Constable.
Enter Mammon and Phantasme.
Mas.
The Lady's come; this Gentleman
Has studied the black art.
Tra.
Do you withdraw, and leave me opportunity
To wind the widdow up.
Mas.
Behind the Hangings;
He obscures.
Phantasme Exit.
38
Vouchsafe your Servant touch your hand, your lip
Is an ambition more becoming Princes:
Mam.
I am not proud, where fair salutes invite me.
I come to give you a little trouble, Sir.
Tra.
Madam command me, to the extent of all
My faculties.
Mas.
His faculties? that will carry her,
She is a glittering fairye, but he'le conjure her.
Stay if he takes this prize, what shall I have
For all my expences! that's considerable;
Oh, I shall have revenge he says; the widdow
Were much the better, but we must be rul'd
By our learned Counsell.
Mam.
You have order from
A Gentleman of the City, Mr. Fulbanke,
To draw up writings, sir—
Tra.
A Joynture Madam.
But I receiv'd a Countermand.
Mam.
From whom?
Tra.
From providence that would not suffer such
An excellent Lady to be lost, and thrown
Among the City rubbish.
Mam,
Do you know Mr. Fulbanke Sir?
Tra.
As much, as I do wonder at his impudence,
And sawcy ambition with his mean deserts
To look at such a blessing; your fortunes
Are worth your preservation, and a man
Whose art, and serious knowledge in the VVorld
May fence it in from a rapine, and that greater
Enemy to an Estates profusion.
Excuse my plainess Madam.
39
'Tis a Truth.
Tra.
Can you vouchsafe your smile upon a Servant,
To whose faith and care you safely may commit
A Treasure of more value than the World,
Your self; in me behold him Madam, one
That would devote his soule a Sacrifice
To be for ever burning in those beams,
There is no Law, but in your breast, your lips,
Preserve the Nations Oracle.
Mam.
This Language
Doth tast too much of Poetry, take heed, Sir.
Tra.
If this dislike you Madam, I can court you
In a more legall way, and in the name
Of Love and Law arrest you, thus
Embraces her.
Mam.
Arrest me?
Tra.
And hold you fast imprisoned in my arms,
Without or baile or maineprize.
Mam.
This does well.
Tra.
I can do better yet, and put in such
A declaration, Madam, as shall startle
Your merriest blood
Mam.
I may put in my answer.
Tra.
Then comes my replication, to which
You may rejoyne, Currat Lex. shall we?
Joyne issue presently?
Mam.
He'l have her se defendendo.
40
Pha.
What do you think of this, Sir?
Ful.
They are very familiar.
Mas.
'Tis he, the very he, come as my heart
Could wish to his vexation.
Pha.
Is this the honest Gentleman
You trusted, Sir;
Tra.
Who attends?
Enter the Writs.
Ful.
My passion stifles me.
Mas.
Are you come
My delicate: Devills cut in way? let him not
Approach too near, he can take measure
Of his forehead at this distance.
Pha.
These were my fears, marriage had made sure worke,
I was against you stay for tilts, and triumphs.
Mam.
'Tis Mr. Fulbanke.
Ful.
Would any strumpet vex an honest man thus?
Mam.
Strumpet; you shall have fuell to this jealousie.
Mas.
Excellent Pidgeons! admirable Spiders! ha, ha, ha.
Ful.
I'l be revenged.
Tra.
Currat Lex.
Pha.
Excuse me, Sir, I must follow the Law,
Exeunt.
The Writs enclose Fulbanke.
41
Joy Mr. Fulbanke, and a whole bundle of babies, ha, ha, ha.
Your wedding day was notably deferr'd
To be attended with more Ceremony,
And such an antimasque of sucking Devills.
He looks like the py'd Piper in Germany,
That undertook to cure the Town of Rats,
And now the fry of Vermin dance about him.
I am left to chew my Countrey cud, an asse,
A ridden-empty-pated-sordid Coxcomb:
You do command in chief o're Cuckolds sconce
Or Haven, to which all the Tups strike saile,
And bow in homage to your Soveraigne Antlers.
Most high and mighty halfe moon, Prince of Becos.
And so I kiss your hoof.
Exeunt Maslin and Writs.
Ful.
Well; if there be money and malice in the City,
Expect a black revenge upon ye all.
Exit.
Enter Phantasme.
Pha.
My nimble Lawyer thinks he has got my Lady,
And hugges his happiness, my next worke shall be
To spoile his practice, mischief is my office.
42
Most noble Alamode,
Ala,
My old acquaintance?
Pha.
I am proud that you will owne me, Sir, you Creature.
Ala.
When is this day of Triumph in the City.
For high and mighty Fulbanke, and your Ladies
So much expected marriage?
Pha.
At the Greeke Calends;
My Lady's has left the Alderman allready.
He may now change his Heraldry, and give
In's coat an armed beast at the new bull-ring
In a field dirt.
Ala.
whether is she gone prethee?
Pha.
To Travers sir, who has yet no Terme life.
Your hopes thrive I guess in the fair Honoria.
Ala.
She's a haggard too.
Pha.
Possible?
Ala.
She has gull'd us learnedly,
And took the Scholar, in few months you'le heare
Her brought to bed of Philosophy, she's gone,
And I may as soone hope to retrive thy Lady,
Pha.
My Lady? with your pardon, gentle sir,
Can you find in your self any warme thought,
Or meaning to my Lady?
Ala.
Could I wish
To live, and look at happiness?
Pha.
You have been a noble Patron to me.
Ala.
What canst thou do?
43
Do, I can do the office of a Gentleman,
And you shall go your part, and perhaps owner.
Ala.
Make me so happy.
Pha.
I'l conduct you,
You come i'th opportunity.
Exeunt.
Enter Travers.
Tra.
My starres conspire to make me a full happiness,
Since same spread my intended marriage
With Lady Mammon, methinks the people
Look on me with another face of feare,
And admiration, in my thoughts I see
My self allready in the Throne of Law,
In which the petty purples waite, dispersing
As I incline to frowne, or smile, the fate
Of trembling mortalls,
Enter Phantasme.
Pha.
He is return'd.
Tra.
Where is thy Lady, thou art (I observe) her favourite.
And must be mine;
Pha.
She's in her Chamber sir.
Tra.
Come I will have it so, thou art too humble,
Pha.
'Tis a becoming Duty. My ambition
Will be to observe the wonder of your happiness,
And how you'l rise to greatness, and to glory,
By matching with my Lady,
Tra.
You are not
A stranger to her closset, it will be
44
Pha.
She is a woman, Sir, but you are wise.
Tra.
Nay, nay, I must know her nature.
Pha.
'Tis very gentle, she is angell Gold,
And you may bend her as you please, she is
A teeming Lady too.
Tra.
What Children?
Pha.
All provided for, they'l not trouble you,
She has a thousand friends.
Tra.
Thou art kind, proceed—
Pha.
You are a Gentleman,
Whose wisdome I may trust, I should not use
This freedom else.
Tra.
Thou maist tell me any thing.
Pha.
She loves to be abroad, and to disperse
Her shine upon some persons that adore her,
That's all her fault, she wo'not be confind, Sir;
And how the softness of your nature will
Consent, to keep her under lock and key—
Tra.
Umh! if she be so volatile, I must
Hang weight upon her, 'twill be necessary.
Enter a Doctor.
Retain thy wisdom and observe my Lady,
Pha.
It is my duty, Sir.
Tra.
My noble Client.
Doc.
I ha not leisure to aske how go causes.
Tra.
Yours will be heard, the first day of the Term.
Doc.
I build upon your care.
Tra.
You may be confident,
Neglect my Doctor, to whose care, and art
45
Doc.
Oh you are pleasant,
But I am now engag'd, and shall desire
I may be excus'd, you know my Lady Honoria:
Tra.
She is not sick.
Doc.
No, but a Gentleman
Whom she declares most precious to her, is,
I'th height of expectation, and fair hopes
To have been her husband,) desperately falne Sick,
And now I think on't, 'tis my wonder, you
Made no addresses timely to that Lady.
Men that are eminent in Law, are wont
To be ambitious of Honour.
Tra.
Oh Sir
It is a maxime in our politicks,
A Judge destroyes a mighty practiser.
VVhen they grow rich, and lazie, they are ripe
For honour.
Doc.
You have Sir a swelling fortune.
Tra.
I have Mammon, I think, and for my owne part
Can easily consent to accept of Lordship.
Doc.
If this man take the toy, and dye, she's worth
Your thoughts, my learned in the Laws, I wish
Sir I could serve you.
Tra.
Nay, nay prethee Doctor.
Doc.
The Gentleman may suffer,
Tra.
If he dye,
You and I shall be friends, i'le not engage you
To poison him.
Doc.
You have more justice.
Tra.
Yet I should not breake my heart, if he were dead,
46
This very mention of her, at this nick
Of time, when her delight is taking leave,
Hath a strange operation in my fancye:
You know my constitution, I may want
Your ay'd, but honourably.
Doc.
You shall command it.
Tra.
Then i'l to her instantly, and beare you company.
Doc.
You can pretend no visit, being a stranger.
Tra.
No, I will go under the notion of
Your friend, and fellow Doctor, one o'th Colledge.
Doc,
You may do so.
Tra.
I need not shift my habit.
Doc.
And what then?
Tra.
Observe, and see the Motions of my Lady
Who knows but I may feel her pulse? I prophecie
Something will follow fortunate. If I thrive
Thou shalt be King of Cos, my learn'd Hyppocrate,
And I will be thy Servant.
Doc.
'Tis too early to court her:
Tra.
'Tis a fault of modesty
In men to think so. Women are no fools,
And howsoe're they bridle it, 'tis providence
'T entertain new comforts, I have heard
A modest Gentleman say, that made his love
Known to a Lady e're her husbands flesh
VVas cold i'th crust, I meane new cofind up,
But he had a repulse, the answer was
He came too late, the widdow had been promis'd
The day before.
Doc.
If you be so resolv'd,
I'le waite upon you, Sir:
47
The rest to my kind starres, come wee'l take Coach.
Exit.
Enter Mammon Alamode and Phantasme.
Mam.
Presume to lock me up? thou ha'st my Jewells.
I'l leave him instantly.
Ala.
He fears his tenure,
And would secure your Ladyship from starting,
But this doth very well become your prudence,
To quit the house e're he improve his interest,
By some new quirk in Law.
Pha.
A noble Gentleman!
And one that honours you religiously.
Mam.
You much obliege me sir, and I look on, you
Design'd by providence my preserver; wee'le
Into t'h Countrey instantly.
Ala.
Any whether, excellent Phantasme!
I am your Servant Madam, to wait on you
Through the VVorld.
Pha.
I was borne to make you—
A foole, or I am mistaken.
Enter Dash.
This is his Clarke, and spie upon your person.
Ala.
How the rascall squints upon us?
Mam.
Tell Mr. Travers,
The Bird is flowne, commend me to his night-cap,
I shanot see him till the next vacation,
48
Ala.
And dost heare? bid him
Provide new locks and keys, and barres and bolts,
And cap the Chimney, least my Lady fly
Out at the Lover hole, so commend us to
The precious owle your Master.
They kick Dash.
Pha.
One token from me.
Exeunt.
Das.
You have trusted me with tokens of remembrance,
I would my Master had received them in
His propria persona, to have thank'd you.
Their toes are somewhat harder than my haunches;
But this is nothing to the generall damage,
If our great Lady Mammon be run from us;
VVhich I believe, as sure, as I am waking,
And have been kick'd, the most convincing argument.
All our hopes come to this? our mighty hopes
Huge as a Mountain, shrunke into a wart?
VVe are undone, and may go hang our selves.
Exit.
Enter Honoria.
Hon.
I was too blame, my curiosity
Now suffers for the Triall of his vertue;
And he too apprehensive, when I chid
The Ambition of his love, made himself past
The cure of my affection.
49
Sir, you are welcome:
Doc.
Madam, I presum'd
To bring another able Doctor with me
For his consult, in case there may be danger.
Hon.
You have very much oblieged me.
Tra.
She is a very gallant Lady!
Inspight of all the clouds that dwell upon her.
Hon.
VVho waits there? shew these Doctors Mr. Alworths
Chamber, there is another Gentleman within
Of your profession; your cares shall find
A gratitude becoming both my self,
And your owne worth, and I may tell you Doctor,
If it may give the least addition to
Your Cheerfulness, in his you will preserve my life.
Doct.
Madam, retain but your own vertue; and be confident.
Hon.
Poor Alworth, there is left no other way
To pay my satisfaction to thy merits,
But with my sorrow for thy sufferings,
And what will be thought pious to thy memory,
If Fate translate thee hence: ha, he is returned.
Enter Traverse.
What think you Sir?
Tra.
I wish he could sleep Madam, I am for his sleep,
It would be a benefit, truth is, I much fear him,
50
To let this Sorrow play too much a Tyrant
On your fair cheek: This shews him precious to you,
If the Stars envying his converse on Earth,
Court him to their bright Dwellings, you must be
Arm'd with a noble Fortitude, and consent
To let him rise a Constellation there,
And not impair your self, who were not meant
To be snatch'd hence, by over-hasty sorrow,
But live the worlds best Ornament.
Hon.
Did you say
That sleep would much advantage him? What think you
Of some soft murmures of the Lure, or Voyce?
I have heard the purlings of a spring will make
Our senses glide into a dream I have a Page did use
To please him much.
Ex. Hon.
Enter Doctor.
Doct.
What think you on her?
Tra.
I think? I cannot think too much upon her.
But I'll not leave her thus, her very presence
Is able to recover him.
Doct.
Let me tell you Sir,
I finde no Danger in him, be then counsel'd
Not to betray your self, you finde his temper
Not apt for your design, Expect a time—
Tra.
I love her infinitely. Mammon is a Blouze,
A deformed Gypsie, didst ere see her Doctor?
She paints abominably, ey'd like a Tumbler,
51
Her Lips are blue, and her teeth straddle, you
May pick'em with a bed-staff.
Doct.
You describe
An Elegant person.
Tra.
But Honoria
Has all perfections. Stay, what fees de'e think
I have had of you since our acquaintance, there's
A purse of gold—no ceremony, I am still
In thy arrears for bringing me to see
This wonder of her sex.
Doct.
You are not wilde.
Tra.
Your cause shall cost you nothing too, that ended,
Quarrel with all the Countrey, your Law's paid for.
Serve me but now, I'll be thy slave for ever.
Exit.
Doct.
I now suspect the Lawyer is short liv'd,
Men of his Robe are seldom guilty of
These restitutions, but who can help it?
If I knew any handsome way to serve him,
He has oblig'd me.
Exit.
Musick, a Song.
Enter Doctor.
Doct.
He'l shame us all,
He's zealously perswading the poor Gentleman
To dye with all speed, and tells him stories
Of Heaven, what a fine place it is, an what
52
What a base Prison to a noble Soul
The world is, nothing right under the Moon,
Or worth a manly thought; and presently
He courts my Lady, and falls into such raptures
In her commendation. The Gentleman
(Whose Crisis is not desperate, if I
Have any Judgement) smiles at his folly.
They'r both here.
Enter Traverse and Honoria.
Tra.
He's a Gentleman, whose condition,
And as he has relation to your favours,
May invite some passion: But you are wiset
Then to condemn your self to solitude,
And for his absence to despise mankinde;
Be just for your own sake, and Madam, look
Beyond his Hearse, with pitty on the living,
'Mongst which, you cannot want, as just admirers,
And some that may be worth your second thoughts.
Hon.
What mean you Sir?
Tra.
I mean your second choice.
Hon.
This language makes your Charity suspected.
Doct.
You are too violent, leave us a while.
Ex. Tra.
Hon.
Your friend is full of counsel.
Doct.
You have goodnes,
To place an innocent sense upon his language,
I know he has much honour to your person,
And 'tis sometimes as necessary, to
Advise the living to preserve their health,
Which their immoderate sorrows would consume
As cure the languishing patient.
Exit.
53
Tra.
Now Madam,
Your grief is useless to him, he is dead.
Hon.
Dead?
Doct.
She Faints.
Tra.
A blessed Opportunity!
There is a Coach at door will hold us all,
My dearest Esculapian, help, and finde
A bounty will deserve it.
They carry in Honoria.
| Honoria and Mammon | |