University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

Lady, Palate, Rut.
Lad.
I, tis his fault, she's not bestow'd,
My brother Interests.

Pal.
Who, old Sir Moath?

Lad.
Hee keeps off all her Suitors, keepes the portion,
Still in his hands: and will not part with all,
On any termes.

Pal.
Hinc illæ lachrymæ
Thence flowes the cause o' the maine grievance.

Rut.
That
It is a maine one! how much is the portion?

Lad.
No petty summe.

Pal.
But sixteene thousand pound.

Rut.
He should be forc'd, Madam, to lay it downe.
When is it payable?

Lad.
When she is married.

Pal.
Marry her, marry her, Madam.

Rut.
Get her married.
Loose not a day, an houre—

Pal.
Not a minute.
Pursue your project reall. Mr. Compasse,
Advis'd you, too. He is the perfect Instrument,
Your Ladiship should saile by.

Rut.
Now, Mr. Compasse
Is a fine witty man; I saw him goe in, now.

Lad.
Is hee gone in?

Pal.
Yes, and a Fether with him,
He seemes a Souldier.

Rut.
Some new Sutor, Madam.

Lad.
I am beholden to him: hee brings ever
Variety of good persons to my table,
And I must thanke him, though my brother Interest
Dislike of it a little.

Pal.
Hee likes nothing
That runs your way.

Rut.
Troth, and the other cares not.
Hee'll goe his owne way, if he thinke it right.

Lad.
Hee's a true friend! and ther's Mr. Practise,
The fine young man of Law comes to the house:
My brother brooks him not, because he thinkes
He is by me assigned for my Neice:
Hee will not heare of it.

Rut.
Not of that eare:
But yet your Ladiship doth wisely in it—

Pal.
'Twill make him to lay downe the portion sooner,
If he but dreame you'l match her with a Lawyer.

Lad.
So Mr. Compasse sayes. It is betweene
The Lawyer, and the Courtier, which shall have her.

Bal.
Who, Sir Diaphanous Silke-worme?

Rut.
A fine Gentle-man.
Old Mr. Silke-wormes Heire.

Pal.
And a neat Courtier,
Of a most elegant thred

Lad.
And so my Gossip
Polish assures me. Here she comes! good Polish
Welcome in troth! How do'st thou gentle Polish?

Rut.
Who's this?

Pal.
Dame Polish, her shee-Parasite,
Her talking, soothing, sometime governing Gossip.