 | The Maid in the Mill |  |
Scæna Prima.
Enter Antonio, Martine, Bustofa.Mar.
By all means discharge your follower.
Ant.
If we can get him off: Sirrha Bustofa.
Thou must needs run back.
Bust.
But I must not unlesse you send
A Bier, or a Lictor at my back, I do not use to run
From my friends.
Ant.
Well, go will serve turne: I have forgot.
Bust.
What Sir,
Ant.
See if I can think on't now.
Bust.
I know what 'tis now?
Ant.
A Pistolet of that.
Bust.
Done, you have forgot a device to send me away,
You are going a smocking perhaps.
Mar.
His owne, due, due i'faith Antonio,
The Pistolet's his owne.
Ant.
I confesse it,
There 'tis: now if you could afford out of it
A reasonable excuse to mine Uncle.
Bust.
Yes, I can:
But an excuse will not serve your turn: it must be a lie,
A full lie, 'twill do no good else: if you'll go to
The price of that?
Ant.
Is a lie dearer then an excuse?
Bust.
Oh, treble; this is the price of an excuse: but a lye is two more:
Look how many foyles go to a fair fall, so many excuses to
A full lye, and lesse cannot serve your turn, let any Tailor
I'th' Towne make it.
Mar.
Wie, 'tis reasonable, give him his price:
Let it be large enough now.
Bust.
I'll warrant you, cover him all over.
Ant.
I would have proof of one now.
Bust.
What? scale my invention before hand? you shall pardon
Me for that: well, I'll commend you to your Uncle, and
Tell him you'll be at home at supper with him.
Ant.
By no means, I cannot come to night (man)
Bust.
I know that too, you do not know a lye when you see it.
Mar.
Remember it must stretch for all night.
Bust.
I shall want stuffe, I doubt 'twill come to the other Pistolet.
Ant.
Well, lay out, you shall be no loser Sir.
Bust.
It must be faced, you know, there will be a yard of dissimulation
At least (City-measure) and cut upon an untroth or two: Lyned
With Fables, that must needs be, cold weather's coming, if it had
A galloon of hypocrisie, 't would do wells and hooked
Together with a couple of conceits,
That's necessity; well, I'll bring in my
Bill: I'll warrant you as fair a lye by that time I have done
With it, as any gentleman i'th' Town can swear too: if he
Would betray his Lord and Master.
Exit.
Ant.
So, so, this necessary trouble's over.
Mar.
I would you had bought an excuse of him
Before he went: you'll want one for Ismenia.
15
Tush, there needs none, there's no suspition yet,
And I'll be arm'd before the next encounter,
In a fast tye with my fair Isabel.
Enter Bustofa.
Mar.
Yes, you'll find your errand is before you now.
Bust.
Oh Gentlemen, look to your selves, ye are
Men of another world else: your enemies are upon you;
The old house of the Bellides will fall upon your heads:
Signior Lisauro.
Ant.
Lisauro?
Bust.
And Don what call you him? he's a Gentleman:
Yet he has but a Yeomans name,
Don Tarso, Tarso, and a dozen at their heels.
Ant.
Lisauro, Tarso, nor a dozen more
Shall fright me from my ground, nor shun my path,
Let'em come on in their ablest fury.
Mar.
'Tis worthily resolved: I'll stand by you Sir,
This way, I am thy true friend.
Bust.
I'll be gone Sir, that one may live to tell what's become of you.
Put up, put up, will you never learn to know a lye
From an Esop's fables? there's a taste for you now.
Exit.
Enter Ismenia and Aminta,
Mar.
Look Sir, what time of day is it?
Ant.
I know not, my eies go false, I dare not trust 'em now,
I prethee tell me (Martin) if thou canst,
Is that Ismenia, or Isabella.
Mar.
This is the Lady, forget not Isabella.
Ant.
If this face may be borrowed and lent out,
If it can shift shoulders, and take other tyres,
So, 'tis mine where ere I find it
Ism.
Be sudden:
Exit Aminta.
I cannot hold out long.
Mar.
Beleeve't she frowns.
Ant.
Let it come, she cannot frown me off on't:
How prettily it wooes me to come neerer?
How do you (Lady) since yesterdaies pains?
Were you not weary? of my faith.
Ism.
I think you were.
Ant.
What Lady?
Ism.
Weary of your faith, 'tis a burthen
That men faint under, though they bear little of it.
Mar.
So, this is to the purpose.
Ant.
You came home
In a fair hour I hope?
Enter Aminta.
Ism.
From whence Sir?
Am.
Sir, there's a Gentlewoman without desires to speak with you.
Ant.
They were pretty homely toyes: but your presence
Made them illustrious.
Ism.
My Cosen speaks to you.
Am.
A Gentlewoman Sir, Isabella
She names her self.
Mar.
So, so, it hits finely now.
Ant.
Name your self how you please: speak what you please,
I'll hear you cheerfully.
Ism.
You are not well,
Request her in: she may have more acquaintance
With his passions, and better cure for 'em.
Am.
She's nice in that (Madam) poor soul it seems
She's fearfull of your displeasure.
Ism.
I'll quit her
From that presently, and bring her in my self.
Exit.
Mar.
How carelesly do you behave your self?
When you should call all your best faculties
To councell in you: how will you answer
The breach you made with fair Ismenia?
Have you forgot the retrograde vow you took
With her, that now is come in evidence?
You'll die upon your shame, you need no more
Enemies of the house, but the Lady now:
You shall have your dispatch.
Enter Ismenia like Juno.
Ant.
Give me that face,
And I am satisfied upon whose shoulders
So ere it growes: Juno deliver us
Out of this amazement: Beseech you Goddesse
Tell us of our friends, how dos Ismenia?
And how does Isabella? both in good health
I hope, as you your self are.
Ism.
I am at farthest
In my counterfeit: my Antonio
I have matter against you may need pardon,
As I must crave of you.
Ant.
Observe you Sir,
What evidence is come against me? what think you
The Hydra-headed Jury will say to't?
Mar.
'Tis I am foold,
My hopes are pour'd into the bottomles tubs,
Tis labour for the house of Bellides:
I must not seem so yet: but in sooth (Lady)
Did you imagine your changeable face
Hid you from me? by this hand I knew you.
Ant.
I went by the face: and by these eies I
Might have been deceived.
Ism.
You might indeed (Antonio)
For this Gentleman did vow to Isabella,
That he it was that lov'd Ismenia,
And not Antonio?
Mar.
Good, and was not that
A manifest confession that I knew you?
I else had been unjust unto my friend:
Twas well remembred, there I found you out
And speak your conscience now.
Ant.
But did he so protest?
Ism.
Yes, I vow to you, had Antonio
Wedded Isabella, Ismenia
Had not been lost, there had been her lover.
Ant.
Why much good do you friend, take her to you:
I crave but one, here have I my wish full,
I am glad we shall be so neer Neighbours.
Mar.
Take both Sir, Juno to boote: three parts in one,
S. Hilarie blesse you, now oportunitie
Beware to meet with falshood, if thou canst
Shun it, my friends faith's turning from him.
Ism.
Might I not justly accuse Antonio
For a love-wanderer? you know no other
But me, for another, and confesse troth now?
Ant.
Here was my guide, where ere I find this face,
I am a Lover, marry, I must not misse
This freckle then, I have the number of 'em,
Nor this dimple: not a silk from this brow,
I carry the full Idea ever with me;
If Nature can so punctually paralel,
I may be cozened.
Ism.
Well, all this is even:
But now, to perfect all, our love must now
Come to our Enemies hands, where neither part
Will ever give consent to't.
Ant.
Most certain:
For which reason it must not be put to'em:
Have we not prevention in our owne hands.
16
Yet be so nice to pull till I ask leave
Of the churlish Gardner, that will deny me?
Ism.
O Antonio.
Ant.
'Tis manners to fall to
When grace is said.
Ism.
That holy act 's to come.
Mar.
You may ope an oyster or two before grace.
Ant.
Are there not double vows, as valuable
And as well spoke as any Frier utters?
Heaven has heard all.
Ism.
Yes: but stayes the blessing,
Till all dues be done: heaven is not serv'd by halfs.
Wee shall have ne'r a fathers blessing here,
Let us not lose the better, from above.
Ant.
You take up weapons of unequal force,
It shows you cowardly: heark in your ear.
Am.
Have I lost all imployment? Would this proffer
Had been made to me, though I had paid it
With a reasonable pennance.
Mar.
Have I past
All thy fore-lock (Time)? I'll stretch a long arm
But I'll catch hold again: Doe but look back
Over thy shoulder, and have a pull at thee.
Ism.
I hear you (Sir) nor can I hear too much
While you speak well: You know th'accustom'd place
Of our night-parley: if you can ascend,
The window shall receive you. You may finde there
A corrupted Church-man to bid you welcome.
Ant.
I would meet no other man.
Ism.
Aminta, you hear this.
Am.
With joy (Madam) 'cause it pleases you.
It may be mine own case another time:
Now you go the right way: ask the Banes out,
Put it past father, or friends, to forbid it,
And then you're sure. Sir, your Hymen Taper
I'll light up for you: the window shall show you
The way to Sestos.
Ant.
I'll venture drowning.
Mar.
The Simile holds not; 'tis hanging rather.
You must ascend your Castle by a ladder;
To the foot I'll bring you.
Ant.
Leave mee to climb it.
Mar.
If I do turn you off?
Ant.
Till night fare-well:
Then better.
Ism.
Best it should be;
But peevish hatred keeps back that degree.
Exeunt.
Mar.
I never look'd so smooth as now I purpose:
And then beware: Knave is at worst of knave
When he smiles best, and the most seems to save.
Exit.
| The Maid in the Mill | |