University of Virginia Library

Actus Tertius.

Enter Simple and Aurelia.
Sim.

Th'art a brave Wench.

Aur.

You are growne bold of late.

Sim.

I thinke so, gramercy Sacke; Come kisse mee, wo't
thou be a Lady?

Aur.
I have no great ambition.

Sim.

Ile buy thee a Parrat to morrow, and a Monkey!
Here, take this Ring.

Aur.

Pray keepe it, and let me tell you Sir my mind.

Sim.

And Ile tell thee mine, that's one for another.

Aur.

Briefly then.

Sim.

Be as briefe as you please, I can be as briefe as you,
and tedious too: I know thou lovest mee: Sirra, didst
thinke I was such a fearefull coxcombe as I made my selfe?
No, I know when to be Lion, and when to be a Hare. But
prethee tell me plainely, when shall we matrimony it, ha?
thou dot'st upon my good parts; come, speake to me, prethee
be not bashfull.

Aur.

I feare you wo'not understand me.

Sim.

Speake no language, and I warrant, I know Greeke
and Latine, I learn'd my Accidence.

Aur.
Then know, I doe not love you, Sir.

Sim.
You do not love me, Sir: then I have lost my labour, Sir.

Aur.
I make no doubt it will appeare so,
I could be of the humour of some Mistrisses,
By some slight favours to encourage you,
Accept your gifts, extoll your wit, invent
New wayes to melt your gold, beside the Exchange,
And petticoat imbroyderies.

Sim.

Thou sha't have smocke imbroyderies; nay, thy very
skinne shall be imbroydered.

Aur.
Have every day some progresse for your Coach,
And tire you worse than your foure Flanders Mares;
And then laugh at you too: but I am honest,
And will deserve your nobler character:
I tell you what you must expect, in troth
I cannot love you, pray leave off in time,
And let this satisfie you.

Sim.
This satisfie? why this is even as good nothing.

Aur.
It is all that I can promise you.

Sim.
Though you cannot love me,
It shall be for your honour to marry me.

Aur.
By no meanes.

Sim.
VVhat, not marry me neither?
Then be no Lady, that I first pronounce!
Secondly know, I am resolved, your Mother
Shall understand it, by these Hilts.

Aur.
I would advise you rather to be silent.
And take your leave like a good Christian Lover:
If you betray my honest meaning so,
And move her to impatience, I shall wish you
Ith'VVest Jndiaes.

Enter Mistris Golds.
Sim.
Here shee comes.

Mis.
Sir I hope, you and my Daughter are agreed,

Aur.
And the conditions please mee infinitely;
Mother you never plac'd your commendation
Vpon a Gentleman so Noble, such
Plenty of honour dwels in him, I must
Bee happy in his imbraces.

Sim.
Oh ho! is't come about agen?

Mis.
Nay nay, I told you, you should find him honourable.

Aur.
Wee understand each other perfectly,
Hee has so sweet a soule, I may have any thing;
Hee has promised me the finest Parrats.

Sim.
Oh I, and Madgehowlets that can speake all languages.

Mis.
Nay, and hee'le performe:
Well, for this act of duty, I shall finde
Some gold beside thy portion, i'th meane time
Ile move thy father to conclude the marriage:
And here hee is already.

Enter Golds. Caperw. and Chrysol.
Aur.
Looke you Sir,
These turnes you put mee too; doe not beleeve
I beare one thought more of good-will for this,
If you suspect it otherwise, because
I carry it sweet and pleasing to my mother,
Who is so zealous in your cause, I'le sweare
Your worship is the most unwelcomm'st man
I'th world to mee.

Sim.
I'm glad shee is not gone yet.

Au.
What need you distrust?
Hee'l know precisely when we must be married,
Is jealous of delayes, wo'not beleeve I love him,
Till the Priest hath seald me his i'th Church, hee sayes.

Sim.
These are tricks, demurres, your daughter is not sober.

Au.
He meanes serious.

Sim.
She doth but mocke—

Au.
Who would thinke you could dissemble.

Mis.
Sir have patience, I have not beene so hasty,
To become tedious at last, referre that to my care;
Since you have made a marriage in your hearts,
The Church shall soone confirme it.

Au.
What doe y'thinke of this?
Faith yet be wise and leave this wooing,
I shall maintaine this humour to my mother,
And finde a crotchet to come off with honour, you have not
Yet my hate, pray let's bee friends, and never meet agen,

Sim.
This is very fine yfaith, if I do not study some mischiefe.

Au.
Conceale for your owne shame.

Cap.
How doe'y like 'em Lady? 'tpleasd your father
To impose somewhat severely on my Muse,
But your Divine acceptance shall declare it
A Crowned Poem, most illustrious Simple,

Sim.
Simple mee no more than I simple thee.

Enter servant.
Ser.
Sir, there is a Lady enquires for Master Caperwit.

Cap.
A Lady out of complement? tis hee.

Ser.
Shee seemes of Noble quality, she has Coach and faire
Attendants, and cals her selfe the Lady Bird.

Cap.
Good Cupid is it shee?
Who gave her direction to finde mee here?
An honourable Lady, I confesse, and hath a fortune
Noble like her birth, tis the rich Aldermans widdow,
The great Bird that dyed at's Country house, a Kinsman
To the Ravens of the City; by no meanes admit her,
Shee'le betray her foolish Passion.

Gol.
What is the matter?

Cap.
Some few dayes agoe
I did by chance, but drop a complement,
How much I was her servant, and she tooke it
To'th heart, and ever since hath sought occasion
To expresse her love to mee, poore Gentlewoman.

Gol.
You cannot helpe it.

Cap.
Tis one, but of the myriad of Ladies
That have been taken—

Chr.
With your tropes and figures,

Gol.
No matter, let her come, it were not civill
Sir to deny your selfe.

Cap.
Sheele tire all patience:
But Lady, be assur'd my heart is dedicate
To you, and were all womenkind in ballance
With your divinest person, their light scale
Would kicke the Firmament, or comming downe,
Bee lost i'th middle Region of the ayre,
Or bee converted to a Cloud to weepe
Vpon the earth, for being so much exceld.

Enter Lady Bird.
Bir.
Where's this Footman?

Ser.
Trot my Ladies Footman.

Bir.
Goe pray my Vncle Sir Walter Cormorant
To dine with me to morrow— And doe y'heare?
Tis in your way to aske if my Cosin Bulfinch,
The Steward of my Land, bee come to Towne,
Hee lies in Fleetstreet betweene Hawke and Buzzard.
I'th afternoone, remember Sirrah, that
You goe to Master Kite, that lives i'th Poultry,
And say I shall expect the thousand pound,
Was lent him upon morgage:
Sir, beseech your Noblenesse excuse mee,
The affaires so neerely doe concerne mee, with
A Gentleman, (now your guest,) that I presumed
It should not bee offence, if I tooke hold
Of this occasion, to speake with him.

Gol.
Madame, you need plead no excuse for that,
Command your freedome here: Daughters, my Lady
Would have some private conference.

Bir.
By no meanes
Let me appeare so troublesome, your presence
Will be no hurt to my desigue, you shall
Command a great deale more.

Cap.
'Twas cunningly prepared.

Bi.
Sir, after all, let me obtaine your priviledge.

Ca.
Proceed.—

Bi.
I shall accuse my selfe of too much boldnesse,
If you neglect mee Sir before all these;
I come not to disturbe you, nor to publish
What you have taken from mee.

Go.
I hope shee will lay some felony to his charge.

Bi.

But Sir, you might have been so kind, to have seene
your friend once in three dayes.

Ca.
I must be pardon'd Widow,
The glasse that tells the hower, hath not more sands,
Than there be Ladies waite to catch me up
To spend my time with 'em, they breake my dreames,
With importunity, and allow me but
One minute in a weeke, to say my prayers.

Bi.
Among them all, there is not one
That more desires your happinesse.

Ca.
Tis more your goodnesse Lady, than desert,
Or provocation in me.

Bi.
Y'are modest,
And thus increase your value.

Ca.
Your favours are acknowledg'd, and take up
Much of my studies, how I may be active
In service to reward 'em, still preserving
My liberty, I must not be confind
Or wedg'd in; all that's good in nature ought
To be communicable, if you have
Promis'd your selfe more of me, than as you are
Allowd, an excellent part o'th commonwealth,
Tis justice you correct the imagination,
Perhaps you'l say, you love me.

Go.
A fine Dialogue:

Bi.
My blushes speake me guilty, and I feare
Betray my frailty to these Gentlewomen:
You'l sinne against your knowledge Sir, to make
A question how much I esteeme you, be not
A tyrant, if my opinion of your worth
Prevaile against my modesty, to say
I cannot choose but love you, tis my fate,
My breeding never suffred, but in this,
That I should lose my selfe to court a man,
Ambitious of my favour; 'tis in vaine
To tell you, with what art, my eyes have beene
Courted by great ones for their smile, for you
Will turne them all to teares.

Chr.
Alas poore Lady.
I pitty her, what doth she see in him,
To draw this passion?

Cap.
May be, I am engag'd
To another beauty.

Bir.
That's my feare indeed;
For who can looke with eyes like mine upon you,
And not be tempted to the same desires?
But be not Sir deceived, all forheads are not
True glasses of the minde, and beauty alone
Deserves not such a blessing, young men doe
Too hastily betray themselves to miserie,
That thinke no heaven but in their Mistresse face,
Looke on my fortune, which doth spread more riches,
Than pleasure can instruct thee wayes to spend,
Delights shall streame themselves into thy bosome,
Honour and titles of the state shall woe
Thy name to put them on and not be thine
But thou their ornament.

Cap.
Affection must
Flow uncompeld, you may be pleas'd to take
Some other time, to finish this discourse.

Bir.
I may suspect I have offended these;
But pray interpret fairely, noble Sir,
to Simple.
I doe beseech you pardon
The errors that you finde in us fraile women,
Yet I beleeve you would not use me so
Neglectfully: tis time, I take my leave.

Gol.
Wee are your humble servants.

Sim.
Sir, if you will not affect this Ladie,
I hope some other may.

Ca.
And write himselfe the happiest man alive;
She is Widow for a Lord; but I am fixt,
I would you had her Sir, I say no more;
She has an estate of twenty Exchequers, and
Is of so gentle soule.

Bir.
I leave you to repent
Your cruelty, my Coach—

Sim.
Please you Madam,
Doe me the grace to let me waite upon you.

Cap.
Now do I expect shee'l dote upon me:
Ex. Gol. Bird, Simple.
Ladies, you see what fortunes I neglect,
She is a pretty handsome creature too.

Aur.
In my opinion Sir, you have not beene
So kind as shee deserves, and for my part
I have so much compassion of her sufferings,
Were all the wit of younger brothers in you,
And could you make me joynture of a Province,
I would rather marry my fathers serving man
And stand at livery my selfe than be
Wife to a man so ingratefull.

Ex. Au.
Cap.
How, sweet Lady?

Chr.
My sister, Sir, is just, can you expect
An entertainement here after your scorne
Of one that nobly loves you?

Ex. Chr.
Cap.
I have usd a pretious policie to supplant my selfe,
She has a scruple in her conscience,
And will not wrong the Lady Bird, a pox
Vpon his Rhetoricke.

Enter Goldsworth.
Gol.
Your Lady Bird is Coach'd, and she hath tooke
Sir Gervace with her.

Ca.
How?

Gol.
Their legs doe justle
In the same boote.

Cap.
Ha, ha, ha.

Gol.
Why doe you laugh? What humor's this?

Cap.
Sir Gervace: Ha, ha, he thinkes, ha, ha—

Gol.
You have a merry spleene, I know not what
He thinkes, but if he meane to retrive the Lady Bird.

Cap.
Ha, ha.

Gol.

Pray let me know, whence springs this
suddaine mirth; I will laugh wi'yee.

Cap.
Hold my sides, my buttons!

Gol.
Tis well your doublet's slash'd

Cap.
Ha, ha, next time I come, Ile discover—I sha'not
Containe my selfe i'th'streete, ha, ha.

Gol.
The Poet's mad indeed, farewell Democritus.

Ex.
Enter Thornay, Yongrave.
Yon.
By your favour Sir.

Tho.
Your businesse?

Yon.
I understand your name is Thornay.

Tho.

It was my fathers, and tis upon record, that I was
christened Thomas, does that concerne you Sir?

Yon.

I bring
commends from a friend of yours.

Tho.

I crave you mercy,
I am your servant.

Reades the letter
Yon.
He appeares unmov'd.

Tho.
Thanke you Sir, Godbe-wi'y'.

Yon.
Although I am confident
You thinke it not my office to convey
Letters so much respect I beare the Gentlewoman
That sent it, I would thinke it Sir no burden
To carry an answer to her.

Tho.
It requires none.

Yon.
Shall I returne, you'l visit her in person?

Tho.
I cannot promise.

Yon.
Why?

Tho.
I may forget it.

Yon.
With your pardon Sir, she did impose on me.
To know some resolution.

Tho.
She did?
Are you acquainted with her?

Yon.
I doe beare
No great age in her knowledge.

Tho.
Perhaps she has imparted the contents.

Yon.
I could conjecture
By circumstance shee much desires to see you.

Tho.
Cannot come; that's all—

Yon.
I must have more.

Tho.
How Sir?

Yon.
Tis a neglect becomes you not.

Tho.
You are not sent a Champion to defie me.

Yon.
I have no title from her blood, and yet
Her vertue is so neere me, I must tell you,
She hath deserv'd your best esteeme.

Tho.
She has told you belike some story.

Yon.
I pray see her, Ile waite upon you.

Tho.
To what purpose?

Yon.
To love and cherish her, that claimes your heart,
The office of your soule to honour her,
Does not your conscience tremble yet? what reason
Can you alledge you should not love her?

Tho.
Reason? Ile shew you a reason, walk a little further.

Yon.
I shall expect it.

Ex.
Enter Gerard.
Ger.
It must be so, and yet methinkes I move
Without a soule, she is the first apostate
From loves religion, in that my honour
Is safe, and it is justice, my Aurelia,
This heart to thee, should now alone be sacred.

Enter Chrysolina.
Ch.
Sir, you are welcome, what not speake to me?
This is a strange neglect; I have newes for you:
Your friend—

Ger.
Tis so, he has prevaild with her,
And she will boast her change.

Chr.
He cannot be
So fixt in meditation; with your favour.

Ger.
Reserve your newes, I doe not thirst to heare it.

Chr.
Sure he mistakes me all this while, tis I.

Ge.
But tis not I, I see you are a woman,
I have nothing else to say.

Exit.
Ch.

I have not us'd him so: was there no way to expresse
his purpose, without this scorne? tis not discreetly done,
I could be very angry he returnes,

Enter Gerard, Aurelia.
With him Aurelia.

Aur.
I am ignorant
With what words I should meet this noble love.

Ger.
I was created for this happinesse,
To these embraces which doe more than twist
Our bodies, every circle of thy armes
Enchaines my soule, that doth forget all freedome,
And willingly submit to be thy prisoner.

Chr.
It doe not grieve me that he loves my sister,

Ge.
I am too little to containe my joy,
It slowes above the narrow banks Aurelia:
What shall I say let me bath here eternally,
And study new Arithmetick, to count
Our blessings.

Au.
Can you Sir be constant?

Chr.
I, touch him there Aurelia.

Ger.
You doe ill
To interrupt our joyes upon this lip
That deserves all should open to commend it,
I seale the contract of my heart for ever,
I wil be nothing when I am not thine:
Suspect the starres may lose themselves in heaven,
But never I this vow, thy sister has
No part in my affection; she usurp'd
Some title, but I now have canceld all
The thoughts of her, and offer thee my selfe,
My selfe thy perfect honourer.

Ex. Ger. Aur.
Chr.
Wherein have I deserv'd to be thus slighted?
Is there no conflict in my blood? Can love
I beare a sister, take away all sense
Of this indignity?

Enter Thornay and Yongrave.
Tho.
Looke you Sir, I promis'd you a reason, why I could
Not love Eugenia; there's my reason, I
Doe love that Gentlewoman.

Chr.
Tis Master Thornay:
I am resolv'd, I have no other way
To punish his disdaine, than to pretend
I love this Gentleman, that he may see
I have the freedome of my soule, to mocke
His triumph, and with as much facility
Meet his neglect. Oh Master Thornay,
You are very welcome, I was wishing for you.

Thor.
Hum? this entertainment is a little better
Than I expected.

Chr.

You absent your selfe too much beleeve, your visits shall
not be more frequent, than your person gratefull hither.

Thor.
doe y'heare, you may returne, and tell this story
Vnto the Lady i'th inchanted Castle:
You see my fate, I cannot come; Godbe-wi'y'.

Yon.
You shall acquit your selfe more Nobly Sir,
And better satisfie her in your person.

Thor.
I wo'not take the paines to see her, and
Shee were a dying.

Yon.
How?

Thor.
Not to recover her.

Chr.
Shall you and I Sir, walke a turne i'th Garden.

Thor.
Yes Lady, Heaven vouchsafe I grow not mad
Wi'my good fortune.

Yon.
With your pardon Mistresse,
I must take priviledge to tell this man
Hee is not worthy of your favours.

Thor.
How Sir?
You doe not know my temper:

Yon.
Nor regard it.

draw.
Chr.
Hold as you beare respect to mee.

Thor.
I am charm'd.

Yon.
I should be guilty of some sinne to you
Not to reveale, this Gentleman has made
A forfeit of his honor.

Thor.
Will you heare him?
Pox o'my dulnesse, what meant I to bring
Him hither? doe not credit any thing,
Wee are old enemies, and he has studied this
Device to poison your opinion of me,
A meere trick; doe not beleeve a word sweet Lady.

Ch.
I am not easie Sir to entertaine
Malicious accusation of your fame,
Your vertue in my thoughts, is not so soone
Shaken with one report.

Thor.
That's comfort yet.

Yon.
Then you provoke me to be plaine, know Lady,
Y'are i'th way to be most miserable,
Abus'd by this false man, that will betray
Your innocent beauty to so great a shame,
Repentance is not able to restore you;
He has a wife already.

Ch.
How a wife?

Yon.
A wife, if holy vowes have power to bind you;

Tho.
Doe you beleeve this? were you by
When I was married.

Yon.
No, but heaven and Angels
Are witnesses you did exchange a faith
With one that mournes a Virgin, and a Widdow:
Have you no earthquake in you? does thy soule
It selfe not feele an ague, to remember
How many kisses seald the amorous contract?
Shee meant it so, and every day her eyes
Weepe in the memory of her selfe forsaken:
And cause her griefe will not at once destroy her,
Despairing of your love, to shew how willing
Shee is to dye, doth every houre distill
Part of her soule in teares.

Chr.
This cannot bee.

Thor.
Be: no, no, 'tis impossible: shall we walk sweet Lady?

Yon.
Will not this excite your pitty, mercy shines bright in women.

Chr.
I have heard you Sir,
And doubt not, when hee comes to answer
These imputations, hee may quit himselfe.

Thor.
Would wee were both on's but to skirmish in
A saw-pit, I must cut his throat.

Chr.
Admit he promis'd love,
Oblig'd himselfe by oath to her you plead for,
This binds him not to undoe himselfe for ever.

Yon.
Vndoe himselfe.

Chr.
Yes, marriage is an act,
That doth concerne his whole life, and in something
May marre, or profit his eternity:
Perhaps the Gentlewoman, since hee gave
His faith is falne from vertue.

Thor.
I have heard so.

Chr.
May be turn'd prostitute.

Thor.
I, who'l sweare for her?

Yon.
I must not heare her nam'd with the suspition
Of such a staine.

Chr.
Wee doe not Sir accuse her.

Thor.
Not absolutely.

Yon.
Did you but know the Creature, it would call
A blush into your face, for talking thus;
Shee has purity enough for all her sex,
And this attended with so many vertues,
As but to wish her more, it selfe were sinne.

Chr.
This Gentleman pleades for her.

Thor.
Will you please to walke?

Chr.
Dismisse him first.

Thor.
Doe y'heare; this Lady
Is weary of your company; you have
Not us'd me like a Gentleman, indeed
Scurvily, tis no time nor place to expostulate,
But wee shall meet agen; in the meane time,
Returne, and tell the Virgin you so magnifie,
I doe not finde my selfe in any humour
To see her agen; pray her neglect no fortune,
For my sake, there be many yonger brothers
I'th Towne, will bee content to marry her:
You may resolve her what's become of me,
There is no wrastling with our fate.

Yon.
Thou art not worth my answer.

Exit Yon.
Chr.
Ile not question Sir, this Gentlemans relation.

Tho.
You are wise.

Chr.
But in my confidence, hee hath spoke all truth:
I must desire you visit mee no more.

Thor.
You doe but jest I hope.

Chr.
Ingratefull man! how are poore women coozen'd?
With what impudence couldst thou desire my favour?
Goe and make a satisfaction to the injur'd Maid,
Borne the dishonour of a man.

Exit.
Thor.
Am I awake? Or doe I dreame,
I am made a Coxcombe thus?
I am a Raskall, and deserve no mercy,
For abusing that poore Gentlewoman, that sent
So kindly to me; wo'd the Messenger were here agen.
Enter Gerard and Aurelia.
Tis Master Gerard, how hath hee sped?

Ger.
You are sad Aurelia; what on the sudden
Can beget this change? Are you in health?

Aur.
Yes Sir.

Ger.
Your blood me thinkes
Is wandring from your cheeke, your eyes have lost
Their lightning too, call backe your smiles, and blesse
Him that is now your creature.

Aur.
Mine? excuse me if I suspect.

Ger.
Ha.

Aur.
I have heard you Sir.
And have considered all that you have said
To make me thinke you are now wholly mine:
I must confesse you have exprest a Lover,
Wanted no Art to flourish your warme passion:
But language is no clew to guide us to
The knowledge of your heart.

Ge.
Nor is suspition a cause enough in justice to condemn.

Aur.
It is not; but where circumstances meet,
They may be thought on.

Ger.
By your beauty,
By those faire eyes, that never kil'd till now,
Make me so happy, but to know what cause
Inclines you to suspect, and I will take it
The greatest argument of love, that ever
A Virgin shew'd to man; then Ile be bold,
And with the whitenesse of my soule make such
Assurance of you, that not malice, aided
With all the devils cunning, shall be able
To interpose one scruple more against me.

Aur.
You lov'd my Sister.

Ger.
I did once, my Aurelia.

Aur.
And you declare you can neglect her now,
Looke on her like a stranger.

Ger.
'Tis most true.

Aur.
She lov'd you well, most nobly, with as much
Fervour as ever I did or can love;
Should I thinke to be more secure than she?
Promise that firme to me, which in so fresh
A sight and memory you have violated
To her, that plac'd you in as deare a bosome?
Discretion bids me pause, I may be rash,
Either you lov'd her not at all, and so
You may play false with both, or loving her
With as much levity, I suppose you may
Forsake me too. Therfore I bid you first farewell.

Exit.
Ge.
I am blasted.

Thor.
We are both undone, I dare not see him.

Exit.
Ger.
Was ever man so miserably lost?
Is there a balme can cure me? Oh, I bleed:
The sword wounds gently but love kils indeed.

Exit.