 | A New Way to Pay Old Debts |  |
Scena tertia.
Welborne. Marrall.Welborne.
I thinke I am in a good way.
Marrall.
Good Sir, the best way.
The certaine best way.
Welb.
There are casualties
That men are subiect too.
Mar.
You are aboue 'em,
And as you are already Worshipfull,
I hope e're long you will increase in Worship,
Welb.
Prethee doe not flowt mee.
What I shall be, I shall be. Is't for your ease,
You keepe your hat off?
Mar.
Ease, and it like your Worship?
I hope Jacke Marrall shall not liue so long,
To proue himselfe such an vnmannerly beast,
Though it haile Hazell Nutts, as to be couer'd
When your Worshipp's present.
Welb.
Is not this a true Rogue?
aside.
That out of meere hope of a future cosnage
Can turne thus suddainely: 'tis ranke already.
Mar.
I know your Worshipp's wise, and needs no counsell:
Yet if in my desire to doe you seruice,
I humbly offer my aduice, (but still
Vnder correction) I hope I shall not
Incurre your high displeasure.
Welb.
No; speake freely.
Mar.
Then in my iudgement Sir, my simple iudgement,
(Still with your Worshipps fauour) I could wish you
A better habit, for this cannot be,
But much distastfull to the noble Lady.
(I say no more) that loues you, for this morning
To me (and I am but a Swine to her)
Before th'assurance of her wealth perfum'd you;
You sauour'd not of amber.
VVelb,
I doe now then?
Kisses the end of his cudgell,
Mar.
This your Battoone hath got a touch of it.
Yet if you please for change I haue twenty pounds here
Which, out of my true loue I presently
Lay downe at your Worshipps feet: 'twill serue to buy you
A riding suite.
Welb.
But where's the horse?
Mar.
My Gelding
Is at your seruice: nay, you shall ride me
Before your Worship shall be put to the trouble
To walke a foote. Alas, when you are Lord
You may with the lease of glebe land, call'd knaues-acre,
A place I would manure, requite your vassall.
Welb.
I thanke thy loue: but must make no vse of it,
What's twenty pounds?
Mar.
'Tis all that I can make, Sir.
Welb.
Doest thou thinke though I want clothes I could not haue 'em,
For one word to my Lady?
Mar.
As I know not that.
Welb.
Come I'le tell thee a secret, and so leaue thee.
I'le not giue her the aduantage, though she be
A gallant minded Lady, after we are married
(There being no woman, but is sometimes froward)
To hit me in the teeth, and say she was forc'd
To buy my wedding clothes, and tooke me on
With a plaine Riding-suite, and an ambling Nagge.
No, I'le be furnish'd something like my selfe.
And so farewell; for thy suite touching
Knaues acre.
When it is mine 'tis thine.
Mar.
I thanke your Worship.
Exit Welb.
How was coozen'd in the calculation
Of this mans fortune, my master coozen'd too
Whose pupill I am in the art of undoing men,
For that is our profession; well, well, master Welborne
You are of a sweet nature, and fit againe to be cheated:
Which, if the fates please, when you are possess'd
Of the land, and Lady, you sans question shall be.
I'le presently thinke of the meanes.
Walke by masing, Enter Ouerreach.
Ouer.
Sirrha, take my horse.
I'le walke to get me an appetite? 'tis but a mile,
And Exercise will keep me, from being pursie.
Ha! Marrall! is he coniuring! perhaps
The knaue has wrought the prodigall to doe
Some outrage on himselfe, and now he feeles
Compunction in his conscience for't: no matter
So it be done, Marrall.
Marrall.
Sir.
How succeed we
In our plot on Welborne?
Mar.
Neuer better Sir.
Ouer.
Has he hang'd, or drown'd himselfe?
Mar.
No Sir, he liues.
Liues once more to be made a prey to you,
A greater prey than euer.
Ouer.
Art thou in thy witts?
If thou art reueale this miracle, and briefely.
Mar.
A Lady Sir, is falne in loue with him.
Ouer.
With him? what Lady?
Mar.
The rich Lady Alworth.
Ouer.
Thou Dolt; how dar'st thou speake this?
Mar.
I speake truth;
And I doe so but once a yeare, vnlesse
It be to you Sir, we din'd with her Ladyship,
I thanke his Worship.
Ouer.
His Worship!
Mar.
As I liue Sir;
I din'd with him, at the great Ladyes table,
Simple as I stand here, and saw when, she kiss'd him,
And would at his request, haue kiss'd me too,
But I was not so audacious, as some Youths are,
And dare do any thing be it ne're so absurd,
And sad after performance.
Ouer.
Why thou Rascall,
To tell me these impossibilities:
Dine, at her table? and kisse him? or thee?
Impudent Varlet. Haue not I my selfe
To whom great Countesses dores haue oft flew open,
Ten times attempted, since her husbands death
In vaine to see her, though I came—a suitor;
And yet your good Sollicitor-ship, and rogue—Welborne,
Were brought into her presence, feasted with her.
But that I know thee a Dogge, that cannot blush
This most incredible lye would call vp one
On thy buttermilke cheekes.
Mar.
Shall I not trust my eyes Sir?
Ouer.
You shall feele me, if you giue not ouer Sirra,
Recouer your braines agen, and be no more gull'd
With a beggers plot assisted by the aides
Of seruing men, and chambermaides; for beyound these
Thou neuer saw'st a Woman, or I'le quit you
From my imployments.
Mar.
Will you credit this yet?
On my confidence of their marriage I offer'd Welborne
(I would giue a crowne now, I durst say his worship)—
aside
My nagge, and twenty pounds.
Ouer.
Did you so I doe?
Strikes him downe,
Was this the way to worke him to despaire
Or rather to crosse me?
Mar.
Will your worship kill me?
Ouer.
No, no; but driue the lying spirit out of you.
Mar.
Hee's gone.
Ouer.
I haue done then: now forgetting,
Your late imaginerie feast, and Lady,
Know my Lord Louell dins with me to morrow,
Be carefull nought, be wanting to receaue him,
And bid my daughters women trimne her vp,
Though they paint her, so she catch the Lord, I'le thanke 'em,
There's a peece for my late blowes.
Mar.
I must yet suffer:
But there may be a time.— aside.
Ouer.
Doe you grumble?
Mar.
No Sir.
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