University of Virginia Library

The seventh Scœne.

To them Worthgood, Bellamie Keeper.
Cice.
Let her selfe satisfie,
If passion hath not made you too uncapable.

Bella.
Alas mine Vncle.

Vnc.
Killing spectacle.
Come from his armes: if any force restraine thee
But thine owne freenesse (which I most doe feare)
I will reveng't with lawes extremitie.
Come from his armes I say.

Bella.
Vncle I owe
You many duties. One from natures precepts;
And morrall gratitude for your great love
Instructs me in another: but necessitie
In this compels a vertuous disobedience.

Vnc.
Girle hee's a begger. He had a prodigall father
That spent all ere he dyed: his whole estate
Depends but on the love of a rich Vncle;
And that's incertaine.

Wort.
Pray upbraid me not
With a dead mans misfortune. I have beene
A Soldier, and perhaps am apt to anger.

Vnc.
Threaten your fill Sir, so my Neece forsake you.

Sam.
Kinde Vncle, call not poverty a sin.
Wealth's but the glosse and outside of desert.
And for my Sister, since she loves this Gentleman,
Shee hath some portion left her; your estate
Would be a faire addition: but the loves
Of Vncles are uncertaine. The truth is,
I love this maid: shee's but this Keepers daughter;
Yet I would marry her, please her good Father
To be consenting.

Keep.
Blessings unexpected.
If she be willing. Shee's a poore girle Sir.

Sam.
Shee's richer then the Indies.

Vnc.
Shall mine age
Be curs'd to this misfortune. Ile build hospitals;
Where wooden legs and lazy hypocrites
Shall be mine heyres.

2 Ten.
And the Divell your Executor.

Vnc.
They scorne my easinesse.
I should have rag'd, and from a furious anger
Sent threats, not calme intreaties.

Keep.
That would likewise
Have beene as uselesse. I conceive such joy
At these events, they almost have confounded
My preparations to begin the Story
Reserv'd to crowne all. First doe you imbrace
A naturall Sister.

Wort.
Mine owne Sister, sir,
Suppos'd to have dy'd an infant!

Cice.
I still thought it
By an instinct.

Keep.
This is Cicilia Worthgood,
Whom my Wife nurst when both your Parents dy'd.
I have beene carefull of her education
Well as her person; though my love conceal'd
The knowledge of her selfe still from herself,
Least I should lose her: being th'onely comfort
I wisht from providence: Such was the duty
With which I honour'd your dead Auncestors
That brought me up.

Vnc.
Sir, this concernes not me.

Keep.
It doth your Nephew, to whose loves imbrace
I next commend her, and a portion too.
She shall inherit somthing that hath beene
Stor'd from my care; nor hath her industry
Wanted a share.

Cice.
Still let me call you Father;
Whose love deserves it for my preservation,
And after being.

Wort.
What a knot of fortunes
Is here unty'd. Oh let me weare you ever
Vpon my heart with these.
Enter Servant hastily.
Mine Vncles servant! What new accident?

Ser.

Oh Sir, never was endeavour so tir'd. But I am
glad I have found you. Your Vncle's dead, and hath made
you his heyre.

Vnc.

Ha, ha! is't come about! nay then; are you married
neece? if not, about it presently whilst 'tis morning.
Thou shalt be mine heire likewise: love him; lye with him;
Get boyes, and any thing now; you have my consent.

To them Franke.
Bella.
And now I owe you duty.

Frank.
With what impudence
Shall I apparell my prepar'd excuse,
To make it passe? What meane so many people?
I am return'd to chide your cruell practice,
That mock't my vertue into wicked frailty,
And an abus'd beliefe. I am your convert;
And come with more then sorrow, satisfaction.
Let not the memory of my past errors
Pervert your thoughts into a worse opinion
Of my reclaiming, then if ill intents
Had nere exprest themselves.

Wort.
What meanes that Gentleman?

Bella.
Hee's one of those that—

whisper.
Cice.
If you'l have my Maidenhead,
A Husbands leave is light.

Sam.
As your Commodity:
How did you like it; Sir?

Enter Host.
Fran.
They will abuse me
Into a madnesse. Farewell vertuous Maid,
And blesse his bed deserves thee. Here I banish
All after-thoughts of Women; but t'admire
The goodnesse makes them perfect; since such were
Added to be mans onely comfort here.

Exit.
Keep.

Most opportunely Widdow. I have sollicited
long; and if you will now consent, let's beare these
company.

Host.
With all my heart.

Kee.
Why then to Pancras: each with his lov'd consort;
And make it Holiday at Totenham-Court.