University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

A Hall in Sir John Traffic's House.
Enter Sir Maurice Lacey, Edward Lacey, and Holdfast.
Sir Maurice.
Be pleas'd, good fellow, to acquaint your master,
Sir Maurice Lacey and his son are here,
Awaiting his good pleasure.

Holdfast.
You have chosen
A time ill-suited to your purposes,
For he hath occupation.—Who comes here?

Enter Heartwell.
Heartwell.
Art thou Sir John's domestic?

Holdfast.
Aye; what then?

Heartwell.
Then I request thee to apprize him that
One master Heartwell comes to wait on him,
And his two fair daughters.

E. Lacey.
(aside)
Mark'd you that?

Sir Maurice.
Be patient for awhile.

Heartwell.
Did'st thou not hear?

Holdfast.
I did.

Heartwell.
And wherefore go'st thou not?

Holdfast.
I will.
[Exit Holdfast.

Heartwell.
A crusty knave methinks.—Whom have we here?
The goodness of the day be on you, gentlemen.

Sir Maurice.
On you, Sir, equally. May I enquire
What bus'ness brings you hither?

Heartwell.
Marry, Sir,
My business soon is told; if 'twere as soon
Brought to conclusion happily, 'twere well.
You doubtless know Sir John hath two fair daughters,
Joint heirs to his great wealth. To try my chance
Of gaining one of them am I come hither.

E. Lacey.
And which of them d'you mean, Sir, to address?

Heartwell.
Faith, Sir, that's as it proves. I'll see them both,
And, as I like them, choose.

E. Lacey.
And do you think,
Thus like the Turk to throw your handkerchief,
And grace submissive beauty by your choice?
I wish to know your name and quality.

Heartwell.
So courteous is your greeting, I will tell you,
Frank Heartwell is my name; my quality,
A Glos'tershire esquire, whose lands return him
Three thousand pounds a year. You know me now.

E. Lacey.
I do; and now Sir 'Squire, you shall know me.
I am this gentleman's apparent heir;
Be pleas'd to know him as Sir Maurice Lacey,
Who, or his reputation on the Exchange
Is falsely rated, hath a fortune far
Exceeding your poor rents. And Sir, moreover,
I'm here to claim the first choice of his daughters.

Heartwell.
Concise and pithy. Now hear my reply.
Tho' all his rich reversion now were thine,
It should not in the way of affection make me
Give thee precedence. I will visit them,
Tho' thou stood'st porter to deny me entrance.

Sir Maurice.
We shall have quarrelling anon:—Sweet son!
Be patient—

E. Lacey.
I do hereby give you caution,
As you esteem the safety of your life—

Sir Maurice.
Good Master Heartwell—

Heartwell.
Nay, an he begin,
I'll not be first to end—

(They draw.)
Enter Sir John Traffic and Luke.
Sir John.
What's here to do?
Men of your quality to breed this stir!
Hath this fair kingdom no presumptuous foe,
That thus you turn your swords against each other?

Heartwell.
He claims precedence in your daughters' favour—

E. Lacey.
He takes upon him to dispute my right
Of prior choice—

Sir John.
Was this your ground of quarrel?
Is your hot moody-blood so quickly stirr'd,
That thus you make my hall your fencing-school?

Sir Maurice.
Nay, good Sir John, on your old friend's account
Pass over this extravagance. (To Edward.)
Why, Ned!
Has't not a word? E'en now you said too much.

E. Lacey.
I humbly beg forgiveness for my share
In this offence; but, as for him who caus'd it—

Heartwell.
Nay, Sir, I ask your pardon too; but for
That delicate young gentleman, a time
May come—

Sir John.
A time may come?—For what, I pray?
For shame, young men! Do you think my daughters can
Be won by such behaviour? You are both
Men of respect, and so should treat each other.
For my sake do so. Here, approach, shake hands.
Come, I'll conduct you to my daughters; there
Make your approaches, and, if their affections
Can sympathize with your's, they shall not come,
On my credit, beggars to you. Good Sir Maurice,
I pray excuse me.

[Exeunt Sir John, E. Lacey, and Heartwell.
Sir Maurice.
How now, Master Luke?
I'm glad to see you here.

Luke.
I thank your worship.

Sir Maurice.
Your hand, good Master Luke! The world's chang'd with you,
Within these few months. Then you were the gallant;
No meeting at a horse-race, cocking, hunting,
Shooting or bowling, at which Master Luke
Was not a principal gam'ster, and companion
For the nobility.

Luke.
I have paid dear,
Good Sir, for all these follies: 'tis but justice,
That such as soar above their pitch, and will not
Be warn'd by my example, should, like me,
Share in the miseries that wait upon it.
Your honour in your charity may do well
Not to upbraid me with those weaknesses
Too late repented.

Sir Maurice.
I nor do, nor will;
And you shall find I'll lend a helping hand
To raise your fallen fortunes.

Luke.
Generous Sir!
Your goodness far exceeds my poor desert.
Alas! I have not merited such kindness,
Nor can I make return, save by my pray'rs
And endless benedictions.

Sir Maurice.
Say no more—
Rely on me. I have it in my power
To be of service to you: if henceforth
You do renounce your follies, and pursue
A wiser course, I'll put you in a way
To bring up what is past.

Luke.
I've had enough
Of folly, worthy Sir, and have reflected
Too seriously upon my late misconduct,
Again to be seduc'd by her enticements.
Believe me, Sir, I am an alter'd man:
My mind is strengthen'd by adversity;
And, if good fortune ever should befriend me,
I'll make a different use of it.

Sir Maurice.
That's well.
I trust you will. How deals your brother with you?

Luke.
Beyond my merit. Thank his goodness for it,
I am a free man, all my debts discharg'd,
Nor does one creditor, undone by me,
Curse my loose riots. I have meat and cloaths;
Time to ask heav'n remission for what's past;
Cares of the world by me are laid aside;
My present poverty's a blessing to me;
And, tho' I have liv'd long, I dare not say
I ever liv'd till now.

Sir Maurice.
You bear it well,
Your brother's generous treatment of you shews
He has more feeling than the world allows him.
I've heard, that, in th' acquirement of his wealth,
He has been accounted harsh, as one who weighs not
Whose ruin he builds upon.

Luke.
In that, report
Doth foully wrong him. He is a merchant, Sir,
Who would encrease his heap, and will not lose
What the law gives him.

Sir Maurice.
Therein he is right,
Nay, much to be commended. Thus it is,
That envy oft depreciates good desert!
'Tis certain you are like to know him best;
And, were it merely gratitude which makes you
Give him this commendation, it becomes you.

Luke.
My gratitude is boundless, I confess;
Yet cannot that, or any other feeling,
Lead me beyond the truth. I know him, Sir,
For what I do report him, kind and noble.
But since your honour, as I grieve to think,
Still doubts my unsupported testimony,
You are come opportunely. I can bring you,
Where you unseen may see and hear his carriage
Tow'rds some poor men, whose making or undoing
Depends upon his pleasure.

Sir Maurice.
To my wish.
I know no object that could more content me.

[Exeunt.