University of Virginia Library

Scea. 2a.

Enter Gaspero, & Florida.
Flo.

Pree-thee be care full of me, very care full now,

Gas.

J warrant yo
u: He that cannot be carefull of a Queane, can be care full of no body; 'tis every mans humo
r that: J should neu'r looke to a Wife half so handsomely.

Flo.

oh softly, (sweet Sir) should your Mistris meet me now
in her owne House, J were vndon for ever.

Gas.
never feare her; She's at her Prick-song close,
ther's all the ioy she has, or takes delight in
Looke heer's the Garden key, my Master gaue 't me,
and will'd me to be carefull: doubt not you on't.

Flo.
your Master is a noble Compleat Gentleman,
—Enter Sebastian
and do's a woman all the right that may be.

Seb.
how now? what's she?

Gas.
a kind of doubtfull Creature;
J'll tell thee more anon.

Seb.
J know that face
to be a Strumpetts; or mine eie is envious
and would fayne wish it soe, where J would haue it.
J faile, if the Condition of this Fellow
weares not about it, a strong scent of Basenes,
J saw her once before here, five daies since 'tis
and the same wary-Pandarous dilligence
was then bestow'd on her; She came alterd then,
and more enclyning to the Citty-tuck.
Whom should this Peice of Transformation visit
after the com̄on curtesie of Frailetie
in our House here? surely not any Servant
they are not kept so lusty, She so lowe;
J'am at a strange Stand, Loue, and Luck assist me.
—Enter Gaspero.
the Truth J shall wyn from him, by falce play
he's now return'd: Well Sir, as you were saying
goe forward with your Tale.

Gas.
what? J know nothing.

Seb.
the Gentlewoman

Gas.
She's gon out at' Back-dore now.

Seb.
then farewell She, and, you, if that be all

Gas.
Come: Come, thou shalt haue more: J haue no powre
to lock myself vp from thee.

Seb.
so me-thincks.

Gas.
You shall not thinck; trust me Sir, You shall not.
Your eare: She's one o'th'Falling Famely
a Queane, my Master keepes; she lyes at Rutneys.

Seb.
is't possible: J thought J' had seene her some-where.

Gas.
J tell you truth sinceerely. Sha's byn thrice here
by stelth within theis ten daies, and departed still
with pleasure, and with thancks Sir, 'tis her luck.
surely J thinck if ever there were man
be-witchd in this world 'tis my Master (Sirha)

Seb.
thinckst thou so Gasper?

Gas.
oh, Sir too apparant.

Seb.
this may prove happie: 'tis the likeliest meanes
that Fortune yet ere showd me.

—Enter Jsabella
Jsa.
you're both here now,
and strangers newly lighted: wher's your Attendance?

Seb.
J know what makes you waspish: a pox on't
shee'll every day be angrie now at nothing

—Ext
Jsa.
J'll call her stranger ever in my hart,
Sha's killd the name of Sister, through base lust
and fled to shifts: oh, how a Brother's good thoughtes
may be be-guild in woman: Heer's a Letter
(found in her absence.) reports strangely of her
and speakes her Jmpudence: sh'as vndon herself.
J could not hold from weeping, when J read it;
abusde her Brother's house, and his good confidence:
'twas don not like herself: J blame here much:
but if she can but keep it from his knowledge
—Enter Gaspero
J will not greive him first. it shall not Come
by my meanes to his hart: Now Sir, the Newes?

Gas.
You call'd'em Strangers: 'tis my Masters Sister (Madam)

Jsa.
oh, is't soe: She's wellcome: Who's come wt h her?

Gas.
J see none but Abberzanes.

Jsa.
he's enough
to bring a Woman to Confusion
more then a wiser man, or a far greater.
A letter came last weeke to her Brother's hands
to make-way for her Com̄ing-vp agen,
after her shame was lightend; and she writt there
the Gentleman her Mother wishd her to
(taking a violent Surfeyt, at a Wedding)
dide ere she came to see him: What strange Cun̄ing
—Enter Abberzanes & Francisca
Sin helpes a woman to: here she comes now
Sister, you'ar wellcom home againe.

Fra.
thancks (sweet Sister)

Jsa.
y'haue had good speed.

Fra.
what saies she? J haue made
all the best speed, J could.

Jsa.
J well beleeue You.
Sir, we'are all much beholding to Your kindnes

Ab.
my Service ever (Madam) to a Gentle woman,
J tooke a bouney-Mare J keep, and mett her
some ten mile out of towne: aleaven, J thinck:
'twas at the Stump J mett you, J remember.
at bottom of the Hill.

Fra.
'twas there about Sir.

Ab.
full eleaven then, by the rod, if they were measur'd

Jsa.
you looke ill (me thincks) haue you byn sick of late?
'troth, very bleake, doth she not? how thinck you Sir?

Ab.
no: no: a litle sharp with riding, sh'as ridd sore.

Fra.
J ever looke leane after a Jorney Sister
one shall doe, that has travaild: travaild hard.

Ab.
till Evening, J comēnd you to yourselves, Ladies

—Exit
Jsa:
and that's best trusting to, if you were hangd.
y'ar well acquainted with his hand, went-out now?

Fra.
his hand?

Jsa.
J speake of nothing els: J thinck 'tis there.
please you to looke vpon 't: and when y' haue don
yf you did weepe, it could not be amisse
a signe you could say Grace, after a full Meale.
You had not need looke paler; Yet you doe:
'twas ill don to abuse your self, and vs,
to wrong so good a Brother, and the thoughtes
that we both held of you: J did doubt you much
before or marriage-day: but then my strangenes,
and better-hope still, kept me off, from speaking.
Yet may you find a kind, and peacefull Sister of me,
if you desist here, and shake-hands with Folly,
which You ha'more cause to doe, then J to wish you;
as truely as J beare a Love to Goodnes,
your Brother knowes not yet on't, nor shall ever
for my part, so you leave his Company:
but if J find you impudent, in synīng
J will not keep't an howre; nay, prove you r Enemie
and you know who will ayde me: as y' haue goodnes,
You may make vse of this; J'll leave it with you.

—Exit
Fra.
heer's a sweet Churching, after a Womans Labour,
and a five giue you ioy: why where the Devill
lay you to be found out? the sodaine hurrey
of hastning to prevent shame, brought shame forth.
that's still the Cursse of all lascivious Stuff
Misdeedes could neuer yet be wary enough.
Now must J stand in feare of every looke:
nay tremble at a Whisper: she can keepe it secreat?
that's very likely, and a Woman too?
J'am sure J could not do't: and J am made
as well as she can be for any purpose,
'twould neuer stay with me two daies; J'haue cast it
the third would be a terrible sick-day with me,
not possible to beare it: should J then
trust to her strength in 't, that lyes every night
whispering the daies newes in a Husbands eare?
Noe: and J haue thought vpon the meanes: blessd Fortune;
J must be quitt with her, in the same fashion,
or els 'tis nothing; there's no way like it,
To bring her Honestie into question cunīngly:
my Brother will beleeue small likelihoods,
comīng from Me to; J lying now i'th house,
may work things to my will, beyond Conceit too:
Disgrace her first: her Tale will neu'r be heard,
J learnd that Councell first of a sound Card.
J doe suspect Gasper, my Brother's Squire there
had some hand in this mischeif, for he's Cuning
—Enter Antonio
and J perhaps may fitt him.

An.
Your Sister told me
You were come: thou'rt wellcome.

Fra.
where is she?

An.
who? my wiffe?

Fra.
J Sir.

An.
within.

Fra.
not'within hearing, 'thinck you?

An.
Within hearing?
what's thy conceit in that? why shak'st thy head soe?
and look'st so pale, and poorely?

Fra.
J'm a Foole indeed
to take such greif for others: for your Fortune Sir,

An.
my Fortune? worsse things yet? fare well life then.

Fra.
J feare y'ar much deceiu'd (Sir) in this Woman,

An.
who? in my Wife? speak low: Come hether, softly Sister.

Fra.
J love her as a Woman You made choice of,
but when she wrongs you, Naturall Love is touchd (Brother)
and that will speake you know.

An.
J trust it will.

Fra.
J held a shrewd suspition of her Lightnes
at first, when J went downe: Which made me haste the sooner
but more, to make amends, at my Returne now
J found apparant signes.

An.
apparant sai'st thou?

Fra.
J, and of base Lust too; that makes th'affliction

An.
there has byn villany wrought vpon me then,
'tis too playne now.

Fra.
happy are they, J say still
that haue their Sisters living i'th House with 'em,
their Mothers, or some kindred: a great Comfort;
to all poore Married Men; it is not possible
a yong Wife can abuse a Husband then,
'tis found streight. but sweare secrecie to this (Brother)

An.
to this, and all thou wilt haue.

—Enter Jsabella.
Fra.
then this followes, Sir.

An.
J praise thy Councell well: J'll put't in vse straight
See where she comes herself: kind, honest Lady,
J must now borrow a whole forthnights leave of thee

Jsa.
how Sir? a forthnights?

An.
Jt may be but ten daies: J know not Yet.
'tis Busynes for the State, and 't must be don

Jsa.
J wish good speed to't then.

An.
why that was well spoake,
J'll take but a Foote-Boy: J need no more.
the rest J'll leave at home, to doe you service.

Jsa.
vse your owne pleasure, Sir.

An.
'till my Returne
you'll be good Company: my Sister, and you

Jsa.
wee shall make shift Sir.

An.
J'am glad now she's Come,
and so the wishes of my love to both.

—Exit
—Enter Sebastian
Jsa.
and our good praires with you Sir.

Seb:
Now my fortune.
by your kind fauor (Madam)

Jsa.
with me, Sir?

Seb.
the words shall not be many: but the faithfullnes
and true respect, that is included in 'em,
is worthie your Attention; and may put vpon Me
the faire repute of a iust honest Seruant.

Jsa.
What's here to doe Sir, ther's such great preparation toward?

Seb.
in breif, that Goodnes in you, is abusd, Madam;
You haue the Married life, but 'tis a Strumpet
that has the Joy on't, and the fruitfullnes,
there goes away your Comfort.

Jsa.
how? a Strumpet?

Seb.
of five yeeres cost, and vpwards: a deere mischeif
(as they are all of 'em) his forthnights Jorney
is to that Cuntry, if it be not rudenes
to speake the truth. J haue found it all out (Madam)

Jsa.
thou'st found out thine owne Ruine: for to my knowledge
thou do'st be-lye him basely: J dare sweare
he's a Gentleman, as free from that Folly
as ever tooke religious life vpon him.

Seb.
be not too confident to your owne Abuse (Madam)
Since J haue begun the truth, neither your Frownes
the onely Cursses that J haue on Earth
(because my Meanes depends vpon your Service)
Nor all the execration of Mans Fury
shall putt me off: though J be poore, J'm honest,
and too iust in this Busynes: J perceive now,
too-much Respect, and faithfullnes to Ladies
may be a wrong to Seruants.

Jsa.
art thou yet
so impudent to stand in 't?

Seb.
are you yet so cold, (Madam,)
in the beleif on't? there my wonder's fixt,
hauing such blessed health, and youth about you,
Which makes the Jniury mightie

Jsa.
Why J tell thee
it were too great a fortune for thy Lownes
to find-out such a thing: thou do'st not looke
as if thou'rt made for't: by the pretious Sweetes of Love
J would give half my Wealth, for such a Bargaine
and thinck 'twer bought too cheape: thou canst not ghesse
thy Meanes, and happines, should J find this true.
First, J'll'd prefer thee to the Lord, my Vncle,
hee's Gouernour of Rauenna, all the Advauncements
i'th'Kingdom, flowes from him: What need J boast that,
which Comōn Fame can teach thee?

Seb.
then thus (Madam)
since J presume now on you r height of Spirit
& yor regard to Yor owne youth, and fruitfullnes
(wc h every Woman naturally loves and covetts)
Accept but of my Labour, in directions,
You shall both find your Wrongs (wc h you may right
at your owne pleasure) yet not misse to night
here in the house neither: None shall take notice
of any absence in you, as J haue thought on't.

Jsa.
doe this, and take my praise, and thancks for ever.

Seb.
as J deserue, J wish'em: and will serve you

—Ext.