University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

Compasse. Keepe. Practise.
Com.
How now Nurse, where's my Lady?

Kee.
In her Chamber
Lock'd up, I thinke: shee'll speake with no body.

Com.
Knowes shee o' this accident?

Kee.
Alas Sir, no;
Would she might never know it.

Pra.
I thinke her Ladiship
Too vertuous, and too nobly innocent,
To have a hand in so ill-form'd a busines.

Com.
Your thought Sir is a brave thought, and a safe one,
The child now to be borne is not more free,
From the aspersion of all spot, then she?
She have her hand in plot, 'gainst Mr. Practise.
If there were nothing else, whom she so loves?
Cries up, and values? knowes to be a man
Mark'd out, for a chiefe Justice in his cradle?
Or a Lord Paramount; the head o' the Hall?
The Top or the Top-gallant of our Law?
Assure your selfe, she could not so deprave,
The rectitude of her Judgement, to wish you
Vnto a wife, might prove your Infamy,
Whom she esteem'd that part o' the Common-wealth,
And had up for honour to her blood.

Pra.
I must confesse a great beholdingnesse
Vnto her Ladiships offer, and good wishes.
But the truth is, I never had affection,
Or any liking to this Neice of hers.

Com.
You fore-saw somewhat then?

Pra.
I had my notes,
And my Prognosticks.

Com.
You read Almanacks,
And study 'hem to some purpose, I beleeve?

Pra.
I doe confesse, I doe beleeve, and pray too:
According to the Planets at sometimes.

Com.
And doe observe the signe in making Love?

Pra.
As in Phlebotomy.

Com.
And choose your Mistris
By the good dayes, and leave her by the bad?

Pra.
I doe, and I doe not.

Com.
A little more
Would fetch all his Astronomie from Allestree.

Pra.
I tell you Mr. Compasse, as my friend,
And under seale, I cast mine eye long since,
Vpo' the other wench, my Ladies woman,
Another manner of peice for handsomnesse,
Then is the Neice (but that is sub sigillo,
And as I give it you) in hope o' your aid,
And counsell in the busines.

Com.
You need counsell?
The only famous Counsell, o' the kingdome,
And in all Courts? That is a Jeere in faith,
Worthy your name, and your profession too,
Sharpe Mr. Practise.

Pra.
No, upo' my Law,
As I am a Bencher, and now double Reader,
I meant in meere simplicity of request.

Com.
If you meant so. Th'affaires are now perplex'd,
And full of trouble, give 'hem breath, and setling,
Ile doe my best. But in meane time doe you
Prepare the Parson. (I am glad to know
This; for my selfe lik'd the young Maid before,
And lov'd her too.) Ha' you a Licence?

Pra.
No;
But I can fetch one straight.

Com.
Doe, doe, and mind
The Parsons pint t'ingage him—the busines;
A knitting Cup there must be.

Pra.
I shall doe it.