University of Virginia Library

Scene. II.

Mere-craft. Gvilt-head. Fitz-dottrell. Plvtarchvs.
[Mer.]
O, is he come! I knew he would not faile me.
Welcome, good Guilt-head, I must ha' you doe
A noble Gentleman, a courtesie, here:
In a mere toy (some pretty Ring, or Iewell)
Of fifty, or threescore pound (Make it a hundred,
And hedge in the last forty, that I owe you,
And your owne price for the Ring) He's a good man, Sr,
And you may hap' see him a great one! Hee,
Is likely to bestow hundreds, and thousands,
Wi'you; if you can humour him. A great prince
He will be shortly. What doe you say?

Gvi.
In truth, Sir
I cannot. 'T has beene a long vacation with vs,

Fit.
Of what, I pray thee? of wit? or honesty?
Those are your Citizens long vacations.

Plv.
Good Father do not trust 'hem.

Mer.
Nay, Thom. Guilt-head.
Hee will not buy a courtesie and begge it:
Hee'll rather pay, then pray. If you doe for him,
You must doe cheerefully. His credit, Sir,
Is not yet prostitute! Who's this? thy sonne?
A pretty youth, what's his name?

Plv.
Plutarchus, Sir.

Mer.
Plutarchus! How came that about?

Gvi.
That yeere Sr,
That I begot him, I bought Plutarch's liues,
And fell s' in loue with the booke, as I call'd my sonne
By 'his name; In hope he should be like him:
And write the liues of our great men!

Mer.
I'the City?
And you do breed him, there?

Gvi.
His minde, Sir, lies
Much to that way.

Mer.
Why, then, he is i'the right way.

Gvi.
But, now, I had rather get him a good wife,
And plant him i'the countrey; there to vse
The blessing I shall leaue him:

Mer.
Out vpon't!
And lose the laudable meanes, thou hast at home, heere,
T'aduance, and make him a young Alderman?
Buy him a Captaines place, for shame; and let him
Into the world, early, and with his plume,
And Scarfes, march through Cheapside, or along Cornehill,
And by the vertue'of those, draw downe a wife
There from a windo', worth ten thousand pound!
Get him the posture booke, and's leaden men,
To set vpon a table, 'gainst his Mistresse
Chance to come by, that hee may draw her in,
And shew her Finsbury battells.

Gvi.
I haue plac'd him
With Iustice Eytherside, to get so much law—

Mer.
As thou hast conscience. Come, come, thou dost wrong
Pretty Plutarchus, who had not his name,
For nothing: but was borne to traine the youth
Of London, in the military truth—
That way his Genius lies. My Cousin Euerill!