University of Virginia Library

Scene. VI.

VVittipol. Mistresse Fitz-dottrel. Manly. Mere-craft.
[Wit.]
Be not afraid, sweet Lady: yo'are trusted
To loue, not violence here; I am no rauisher,
But one, whom you, by your faire trust againe,
May of a seruant make a most true friend.

Mrs. Fi.
And such a one I need, but not this way:
Sir, I confesse me to you, the meere manner
Of your attempting mee, this morning tooke mee,
And I did hold m'inuention, and my manners,
Were both engag'd, to giue it a requitall;
But not vnto your ends: my hope was then,
(Though interrupted, ere it could be vtter'd)
That whom I found the Master of such language,
That braine and spirit, for such an enterprise,
Could not, but if those succours were demanded
To a right vse, employ them vertuously!
And make that profit of his noble parts,
Which they would yeeld. Sr, you haue now the ground,
To exercise them in: I am a woman;
That cannot speake more wretchednesse of my selfe,
Then you can read; match'd to a masse of folly;
That euery day makes haste to his owne ruine;
The wealthy portion, that I brought him, spent;
And (through my friends neglect) no ioynture made me.
My fortunes standing in this precipice,
'Tis Counsell that I want, and honest aides:
And in this name, I need you, for a friend!
Neuer in any other; for his ill,
Must not make me, Sr, worse.

Man.
O friend! forsake not
Manly, conceal'd this while, shews himselfe.
The braue occasion, vertue offers you,
To keepe you innocent: I haue fear'd for both;
And watch'd you, to preuent the ill I fear'd.
But, since the weaker side hath so assur'd mee,
Let not the stronger fall by his owne vice,
Or be the lesse a friend, cause vertue needs him.

Wit.
Vertue shall neuer aske my succours twice;
Most friend, most man; your Counsells are commands:
Lady, I can loue goodnes in you, more
Then I did Beauty; and doe here intitle
Your vertue, to the power, vpon a life
You shall engage in any fruitfull seruice,
Euen to forfeit.

Mer.
Madame: Do you heare, Sir,
We haue another leg-strain'd for this Dottrel.
Mere-craft takes Wittipol aside, & moues a proiect for himselfe.
He' ha's a quarrell to carry, and ha's caus'd
A deed of Feoffment, of his whole estate
To be drawne yonder; h'ha'st within: And you,
Onely, he meanes to make Feoffee. H'is falne
So desperatly enamour'd on you, and talkes
Most like a mad-man: you did neuer heare
A Phrentick, so in loue with his owne fauour!
Now, you doe know, 'tis of no validity
In your name, as you stand; Therefore aduise him
To put in me. (h'is come here:) You shall share Sir.