University of Virginia Library

The third Scene.

To him Father, Mother and Servant.
Your arrivall
Will be of use sir.

Fat.
Else my paines were fruitlesse.
Chance brought us hither, for what ends I know not.
But understanding you were here, I come
To aske a daughter from you.

Good.
I from you
Must have a wounded reputation cur'd,
It bleeds worse then my kinsman, whom your sonne
And daughter are by circumstance suspected
To have attempted.

Fat.
My sonne sayd you sir?
I heare that sonne of mine must be your heire;
And I have heard what plots and circumventions
You us'd to catch me: so you have sir finely.
My states mine owne still, though my daughter's lost.

Good.
And pray' sir keep it; doubt not but 'twill find
Some gratefull heire, that will preserve the memory
Of such a benefit, with witty libells
Upon your glorious life.

Fat.
Your scorn is well sir;
And well becomes that supercilious gravity,
Hath aw'd the citty long, and frighted Rats
Into the Counter.

Good.
You are very free sir.
Yet these are not the Cittyes liberties.
Stand not too much upon your priviledge.
If you can give faire satisfaction
For what concernes you, doe; and let not passion
Kindle a new flame. I am calme; have quencht
My spleene that late was fired.

Fat.
I acknowledge
I heare your kinsman's wounded, and there is
A supposition by my daughters sweet heart.
But how farre this concernes me, be your selfe
The judge. Sir I have suffer'd in my fame already
Too much, to have more added by suspition
Of being accessary to an act
Of such vile nature; and your self may sooner
Prove guilty, if the circumstance be weigh'd
You have made him your heire.

Good.
My intention
Had done it; neither did it want the forme
Of law for confirmation: but 'twas when
I was too partiall in affection: now
I am resolv'd to satisfie that error
With severe justice.

Fat.
You'l revoke your act!

Good.
Hands stain'd with bloud shall never have the power
To make a distribution of that wealth
Heaven hath blest my faire endeavours with.
Should he be prov'd a murderer (for though
My cosin dye not, his intent was such)
Revenge would waite on all his actions;
And even his charity when he gave almes
Would to his conscience so present the fact
In bloudy characters, that his best deeds
Would loose their merit.

Fat.
I am hard put to it.
But sir suppose your kinsman did attempt
Some practice upon him; ther's circumstance
To make it probable. Suppose your cosin
Repining at it that you should preferre
Adoption before naturall succession,
Assaulted him first to remove him, who
Defending so himselfe made the act lawfull.

Good.
From your suppose I raise a supposition,
That he to cleere himselfe of after troubles
Which might arise by any kinsmans claime,
Attempted this prevention by some others
If not himselfe: which yet we cannot urge
My kinsman to discover.

Fat.
There are plots
In these proceedings. Might I sir be witnesse
To an examination of your kinsman?
The knowledge of the truth is of some consequence
And doth concerne us.

Good.
If he may endure
Discourse without his danger.