University of Virginia Library

Scena tertia.

Enter Lord, and Sir John.
Lord.
The plot shews very likely.

Sir John.
I repose
My principal trust in your Lordship; 'twill prepare
The physick I intend to minister
To my Wife, and Daughters.

Lord.
I will do my parts
To set it off to the life.

Enter Lacie and Plenty.
Sir John.
It may produce
A Scene of no vulgar mirth. Here come the Suitors;
When we understand how they relish my Wife's humors,
The rest is feasible.

Lord.
Their looks are cloudie.

Sir John.
How sits the wind? Are you ready to launch forth
Into this sea of marriage.

Plenty.
Call it rather
A Whirle-pool of afflictions.

Lacie.
If you please
To injoin me to it, I will undertake
To find the North-passage to the Indies sooner,
Then plough with your proud Heifer.

Plenty.
I will make
A Voiage to Hell first.

Sir John.
How, Sir?

Plenty.
And court Proserpine
In the sight of Pluto, his three headed Porter
Cerberus standing by, and all the furies,
With their whips to scourge me for't, then say, I Jeffrey
Take your Mary for my Wife.

Lord.
Why what's the matter?

Lacie,
The matter is, the mother, with your pardon,
I cannot but speak so much, is a most insufferable,
Proud, insolent Ladie.

Plenty.
And the daughter's worse.
The Damm in years had th'advantage to be wicked,
But they were so in her belly.

Lacie.
I must tell you,
With reverence to your wealth, I do begin
To think you of the same leaven.

Plenty.
Take my counsel;
Tis safer for your credit to professe
Your self a Cuckold, and upon record,
Then say they are your Daughters.

Sir John.
You go too far Sir.

Lacie.
They have so Articl'd with us.

Plenty.
And will not take us
For their Husbands, but their slaves, and so aforehand
They do profess they'l use us.

Sir John.
Leave this heat:
Though they are mine I must tell you, the perverseneess
Of their manners (which they did not take from me,
But from their mother) qualified, they deserve
Your equalls.

Lacie.
True, but what's bred in the bone
Admits no hope of cure:

Plenty.
Though Saints, and Angels
Were their Physitians.

Sir John.
You conclude too fast.

Plenty.
God bowy you, I'le travail three years, but I'le bury
This shame that lives upon me.

Lacie.
With your licence,
I'le keep him company.

Lord.
who shall furnish you,
For your expences?

Plenty.
He shall not need your help,
My purse is his, we were rivals, but now friends,
And will live and die so.

Lacie.
E're we go I'le pay
My duty as a son.

Plenty.
And till then leave you.

Ext. Lacie and Plenty.
Lord.
They are strangely mov'd.

Sir John.
What's wealth, accompanied
With disobedience in a wife and children?
My heart will break

Lord.
Be comforted, and hope better;
Wee'l ride abroad, the fresh air and discourse,
May yield us new inventions.

Sir John.
You are noble,
And shall in all things, as you please command me.

Exeunt