University of Virginia Library

Scene III.

Bias. Interest. Compasse.
Bia.
Tis an affront, from you Sir; you here brought me,
Vnto my Ladies, and to wooe a wife,
Which since is prov'd a crack'd commoditie;
Shee hath broke bulke too soone.

Int.
No fault of mine,
If she be crack'd in peeces, or broke round;
It was my sisters fault, that ownes the house,
Where she hath got her clap, makes all this noise.
I keepe her portion safe, that is not scatter'd:
The money's rattle not; nor are they throwne,
To make a Musse, yet 'mong the gamesome Suitors.

Com.
Can you endure that flout, close Mr. Bias,
And have beene so bred in the Politiques?
The injury is done you, and by him only;
He lent you imprest money, and upbraids it:
Furnish'd you for the wooing, and now waves you.

Bia.
That makes me to expostulate the wrong
So with him, and resent it as I doe.

Com.
But doe it home then.

Bia.
Sir, my Lord shall know it.

Com.
And all the Lords o' the Court too.

Bia.
What a Moath
You are Sir Interest!

Int.
Wherein I intreat you,
Sweet Master Bias?

Com.
To draw in young States-men,
And heires of policie into the noose
Of an infamous matrimonie.

Bia.
Yes,
Infamous, quasi in communem famam:
And Matrimony, quasi, matter of Money.

Com.
Learnedly urg'd, my cunning Mr. Bias.

Bia.
With his lewd, knowne, and prostituted Neice.

Int.
My knowne, and prostitute: how you mistake,
And run upon a false ground, Mr. Bias!
(Your Lords will doe me right.) Now, she is prostitute,
And that I know it (please you understand me.)
I meane to keepe the portion in my hands:
And pay no monies.

Com.
Marke you that Don Bias?
And you shall still remaine in bonds to him,
For wooing furniture, and imprest charges.

Int.
Good Mr. Compasse, for the summes he has had
Of me, I doe acquit him: They are his owne.
Here, before you, I doe release him.

Com.
Good!

Bia.
O Sir.

Com.
'Slid take it: I doe witnesse it:
Hee cannot hurle away his money better.

Int.
He shall get so much Sir, by my acquaintance,
To be my friend: And now report to his Lords
As I deserve no otherwise.

Com.
But well:
And I will witnesse it, and to the value;
Foure hundred is the price, if I mistake not,
Of your true friend in Court. Take hands, you ha'bought him,
And bought him cheap.

Bia.
I am his worships servant.

Com.
And you his slave, Sir Moath. Seal'd, and deliver'd.
Ha' you not studied the Court Complement?
Here are a paire of Humours, reconcil'd now,
That money held at distance: or their thoughts,
Baser then money.