University of Virginia Library

Scea. pria.

Enter Antonio, & Gaspero.
Gas.
Good Sir, Whence springs this Sadnes? trust me Sir.
You looke not like a Man was Married yesterdaie:
there could come no ill Tidings since last night
to cause that discontent: J was wont to know all
before you had a Wiffe (Sir) You nere found me
without those parts of Manhood, (Trust, & Secrecie)

An.
J will not tell the this.

Gasp.
not your true Seruant (Sir?)

An.
True? you'll all flowt according to yor Tallent
the best a Man can keepe of you: and a hell 'tis
for Masters to pay Wages, to be laughd at

[An.]
give order that two Cocks be boyld to Jelly.

Gas.
how? two Cocks boyld to Jelly?

An.
fetch half an Ounce of Pearle.

—Exit
Gas.
this is a Cullysse,
for a Consumption: and J hope one Night
has not brought you to need the Cooke already,
and some part of the Gold-smith: what two Trades
in fowre and twenty howres, and lesse time?
'pray heaven the Surgeon, and the Pothecarie
keepe out, and then 'tis well. you'had better fortune
(as far as J see) with your Strumpet-Soiourner
(your litle fowre-Nobles a-weeke: J nere knew you
eate one Ponado all the time y'haue kept her,
and is't in one night now, come-vp to two-Cock-broth?
—Enter Francisca
J wonder at the alteration strangely.

Fra.
good-morrow Gasper.

Gas.
Your hartie wishes Mistris,
and your sweet Dreames come upon You.

Fra.
what's that Sir?

Gas.
in a good Husband, that's my reall-meaning

Fra.
saw you my Brother– –lately?

Gas.
yes.

Fra.
J mett him now
as sad (me-thought) as Greif could make a man,
know you the cause?

Gas.
not J: J know nothing:
but half an ounce of Pearle, and kitchin-Busynes
wc h J will see perform'd with all fidelitie,
J'll breake my trust in nothing: not in porredge, J

—Exit
Fra.
J haue the hardest fortune J thinck of a-hundred
Gentlewomen; some can make merry with a Frend seaven yeere,
and nothing seene: as perfect a Maid still
(to the worlds knowledge) as she came from Rocking.
but 'twas my luck, at the first howre (forsooth)
to prove too fruitfull: sure J'me neere my time.
J'me yet but a Yong Scholler, J may faile
in my Account: but certenly J doe not.
Theis Bastards come vpon poore-venturing Gentle women
ten to one faster then your Legitimate Children.

Yf J had byn married J'll be hangd, if J had ben w
t h Child so soone now: When they are once Husbands, they'll be
whipd ere they take such paines, as a Frend will doe; To
come by water to the Back-dore at Midnight, there stay
perhaps an howre in all weathers, with a paire of Reeking-Water-men,
laden with Bottles of wyne, Chewitts, and
Curran-Custards, J may Cursse those Eg-pies, they are meat
that help forward too fast This hath byn vsuall with me,
night by night (honestie forgive me) When my Brother has
byn dreaming of no such Juncketts; yet he hath farde the
better for my sake, though he litle thinck for what, nor
must he ever. My Frend promisd me to provide saffely for
me, and devise a meanes to save my Creadit here i'th'house.
My Brother sure would kill me if he knew't;

and powder-vp my Frend, and all his kindred
—Enter Jsabella.
for an East-Jndian Voyage.

Is.
Alone Sister?

Fra.
Noe: ther's an other with Me, though You see't not:
'Morrow (sweet Sister) how haue you slept to night?

Js.
more then J thought J should: J 'haue had good rest.

Fra.
J'am glad to heare 't.

Js.
Sister, me-thincks you are too long alone,
and loose much good time, sociable, and honest;
J'am for the married-life, J must praise that now.

Fra.
J cannot blame you (Sister) to com̄end it
You haue happend well (no doubt) on a kind Husband,
and that's not every Womans fortune (Sister)
You know if he were any but my Brother
my praises should not leave him yet so soone.

Jsa.
J must acknowledge (Sister) that my life
is happely blessd with him, he is no Gamster,
that ever J could find, or heare of yet;
nor mid-night Surffeiter: he dos intend
to leave Tobacco too.

Fra.
why heere's a Husband;

Jsa.
he saw it did offend me, and swore freely
hee'll'd nere take pleasure in a Toy agen
that should displease me: some Knights-Wives in Towne
will haue great hope, vpon his reformation
to bring their Husbands breathes into th'old fashion,
and make'em kisse like Christians, not like Pagans,

Fra.
J promise you (Sister) 't wilbe a worthie work,
to put-downe all theis Pipers; 'tis great pitty
there should not be a Statut against them,
as against Fidlers.

Jsa.
theis good Offices,
yf you'had a Husband, you might exercise
to th'good o'th'Common-wealth, and doe much proffit:
beside it is a Comfort to a Woman
t'haue Children (Sister) a great Blessing certenly.

Fra.
they will come fast enough.

Jsa.
not so fast neither,
as they're still wellcom to an honest woman.

Fra.
how neere she comes to me? J protest she grates
my very skin.

Jsa.
were J conceivd with Child
beshrew my hart, J should be so prowd on't:

Fra.
that's naturall: Pride is a kind of Swelling:
and yet J' haue small Cause to be prowd of mine.

Jsa.
you are no good Companion for a Wiffe,
get you a Husband; pre-thee (Sister) doe,
that J may ask your Councell now and then
'twill mend your discourse much: You Mayds know nothing

Fra.
Noe: we are Fooles: but com̄only we prove
quicker Mothers, then you that haue Husbands,
—Enter Antonio
(J'am sure J shall els; J may speake for one)

An.
J will not looke vpon her: J'll passe-by
and make as though J see her not.

Jsa.
why Sir,
'pray your opinion, by the way, with leave (Sir)
J'am councelling your Sister here, to Marry.

An.
to Marry? soft: the Preist is not at leysure yet:
some five yeare hence: would you fayne Marry (Sister?)

Fra.
J haue no such hunger to't (Sir) for J thinck
J'ue a good bitt, that well may stay my Stomach
as well as any that broke-fast a Sinner.

An.
though she seeme tall of growth, she's short in yeares
of some that seeme much lower: how old Sister?
not seaven-teene, for a yeard of Lawne?

Fra.
not yet Sir.

An.
J told you soe.

Fra.
J would he'had laied a Wager of old Shirts rather,
J shall haue more need of them shortly: and yet
a yeard of Lawne will serve for a Christning-Cloth
J haue vse for every thing, as my case stands.

Jsa.
J care not if J trye my Voice this Morning
but J haue got a Cold Sir, by your meanes,

An.
J'll strive to mend that fault.

Jsa.
J thanck you Sir.


Song.
Jn a Maiden-time profest,
then we say that Life is best.
Fasting once the Married Life,
then we onlie praise the wife
There's but one State more to trie
which makes woemen Laugh, or Crie
Widow: Widow. of theis three,
the Midle's best, and that giue me.

An.
there's thy reward.

Jsa.
J will not grumble (Sir)
like some Musitian; if more come, 'tis wellcom.

Fra.
such Trickes has made me doe all that J'haue don,
Your kissing Married-Folkes, spoiles all ye Maides
—Enter Aberzanes.
that ever Live i'th'house with'em: oh here he comes
with his Baggs, and Bottles, he was borne
to lead poore water-men, and J.

Ab.
goe Fellowes into'th'Larder, let the Bakemeates
be sorted by them selues.

An.
why Sir?

Ab.
looke the Canary-Bottles, be well stopt,
the three of Clarret shalbe droonck at dinner.

An.
my good Sir; y'ar too plenteous of theis Curtesies
indeed you are; forbeare'em, J beseech ye,
J know no merrit in me, but poore Love
and a true Frends well-wishing, that can cause
this kindnes in excesse: i'th'State that J am
J shall goe neere to kick this Fellow shortly
and send him downe stayres, wt h his Bag, & Baggage,
why comes he now J'am married? there's the point.
J pray forbeare theis things.

Ab.
alas you know Sir,
theis idle Toyes, which you call Curtesies,
they cost me nothing but my Seruants Trauaile.
One Office must be kind (Sir) to an other
You know the fashion: What, the Gentle-woman
your Sister's sad me-thincks

An.
J know no Cause she has

Fra.
nor shall you. by my good-will. What doe you meane Sir,
shall J stay here, to shame myself. and you?
the Time may be to night, for aught you know.

Ab.
peace: there's meanes wrought, J tell thee.

—Enter Sebastian & Gentleman
Fra.
J Sir, when?

An.
how-now? what's he.

Jsa.
oh, this is the Man, Sir,
J entertaind this Morning, for my Service,
please you to give your liking

An.
yes: he's wellcom,
J like him not amisse: thou wouldst speake Busynes,
wouldst thou not?

Seb.
yes; may it please you Sir,
there is a Gentleman from the Northerne parts,
hath brought a Letter, as it seemes in hast.

An.
from whom?

Gent.
your bonney-Lady-Mother, Sir.

An.
you'are kindly wellcom, Sir: how doth she?

Gent.
J left her heale—varray-well Sir.

Letter.

J praie send your Sister downe with all speed to me
J hope it will proue much for her good, in the waie
of her Preferment; Faile me not, J desire you (Son)
nor Let any Excuse of hers with-hold her; J haue
sent, (ready furnish'd) Horse and Man for her.

Ab.
Now? haue J thought vpon You?

Fra.
peace, good Sir.
you'are worthie of a kindnes an other time.

An.
her Will shalbe obeyd: Sister, prepare your self
you must downe with all speed.

Fra.
J know downe J must;
and good-speed 'send me.

An.
'tis our Mothers pleasure.

Fra.
good Sir wryte back againe, and certefie her
J'am at my harts wish here; J'me with my Frends,
and can be but well, say:

An.
You shall pardon me (Sister)
J hold it no wise part, to Contradict her,
nor would J councell you to't.

Fra.
'tis so vn-couth
living i'th Cuntrie, now J'me vsde to'th Cittie
that J shall ne'ur endure 't.

Ab.
perhaps forsooth
'tis not her meaning You shall live the're long
J doe not thinck but after a Moneth, or soe
you'll be sent-vp againe: that's my Conceit.
how ever, let her haue her Will.

An.
J (good Sir)
great reason 'tis she should

Jsa.
J am sorry (Sister)
'tis our hard fortune, thus to part so soone.

Fra.
the Sorrow wilbe mine.

An.
'please you walke-in (Sir)
wee'll haue one health into those Northerne-Parts
though J be sick at' hart.

Ab.
J Sir, a deepe one,
Which you shall pledge too.

—Ext.
Fra.
you shall pardon me:
J haue pledg'd one too deepe already Sir.

Ab.
peace: all's provided for: the Wine's laid in
Sugar, and Spice: the Place not ten Mile hence.
What cause haue Maides now, to Complaine of Men,
when a Farme-house can make all whole agen?

—Ext
Seb.
Jt takes: ha's no Content: how well she beares it yet?
hardly myself can find so much from her
that am acquainted with the Cold Disease
O honestie's a rare Wealth in a Woman,
it knowes no want, at least will expresse none,
(not in a Looke) yet J'me not throughly happy:
his Jll, dos me no good: well may it keepe me
from open rage, and Madnes for a time,
but J feele harts-greif in the same place, still;
What makes the greatest Torment 'mongst lost Soules?
'tis not so much the horror of their paines
(though they be infinite) as the losse of Joyes:
Jt is that Deprivation, is the Mother
of all the Groanes in Hell; and here on Earth
of all the redd-sighes in the harts of Lovers.
Still She's not mine, that can be no Man's else
till J be nothing, yf Religion
haue the same strength for me, as 't has for others
—Enter Gaspero, & L. Gouernor.
holly Vowes witnes, that our Soules were married

Gas:
Where are you (Sir,) Come 'pray give yor Attendance.
heere's my Lord Gouernor Come.

Gou.
where's our new Kindred?
not Stirring yet J thinck?

Gas.
yes, my good Lord:
please you walk neere?

Gou.
Come Gentle men, wee'll Enter.

Seb.
J' ha' don't vpon a Breach: this 'a lesse Venture.