 | Changes : Or, Love in a Maze |  |
1
Actus primus
Scena primas.
Enter at one doore Sir Iohn Wood-hamore, and Master Goldsworth, at the other M. Gerard, and Master Yongrave.Golds.
I heard your Neece, Sir, was not well, you
should incourage her to take the aire some
times.
Woo.
Indeed shee's somewhat melancholy, and keepes
Her chamber:
Gol.
'T may prove inconvenient for
Her health, does she not languish for a husband?
Take heed oth'greene disease.
Woo.
I'le finde a cure,
If that will doe't; your daughters are not yet
Dispos'd of?
Gol.
No, but we have clients daily
That visit their affections; and while
We are speaking, here is one.
2
Ha, which of them? I hope not Master Yongrave.
Hee would engage his service to my Neece,
I shall not thinke him worthy if he have
Two Hares afoot.
Gol.
He is a stranger to me,
But Master Gerard that holds conference with him,
Maintaines some correspondence with my daughters:
Pray let's observe.
Ge.
Prethee come, venter in.
Yon.
No farther, you have obligation,
Excuse me, I have affaires, some other time
Ile waite on you.
Ge.
What needes this ceremony?
The faire ones will not blast you.
Yon.
'Twere a sinne,
To thinke their beames could hurt.
Ge.
Faith, I could wish
Thy affection not ingag'd, there's so much beauty
And goodnesse in this paire of sisters.
Yon.
Doe not
Make me suspect your friendship, you would wish
Me miserable, not that I dispute
Their merit, but I must not yeeld to that
Will bring my faith and honour into question;
I have a Mistris, be you happy Sir in yours.
Woo.
I like this well lets interrupt e'm;
Good fortune Master Yongrave.
Yon.
You are Sir,
Most opportunely met.
Gol.
Kinde Master Gerard.
Yon.
I had a present resolution,
To visit you at home, and your faire kind woman.
Ge.
I shall be bold.
Gol.
Pray enter.
Woo.
Wee'l together I take my leave.
Go.
I am your humble servant,
Woo.
Come Master Yongrave.
Exeunt.
3
This Gerard is a Gentleman of handsome parts,
And they say fortun'd, diligent in's courtship:
But it concernes me to be carefull in
Disposing of my children.
Enter Servant.
Ser.
Sir Gervace Simple Sir, is newly entred,
Gol.
His wisdome must be welcome: there's a Knight
With Lordships, but no mannors, one that has
But newly cast his country skin, came up
To see the fashions of the Towne, has crept
Into a Knight-hood which he paid for heartily
And in his best clothes is suspected for
A Gentleman.
Enter Sir Ger. Simple, and his man Thumpe.
Sim.
Thumpe, I have not yet the face to speake to her, but
'Tis no matter, and I can get her fathers and mothers good will.
Thu.
You have her mothers already.
Sim.
I, I, shee's a Matron as they lay, I came over her with
My Knight-hood, and begot a consent upon her quickly: I
Perceive 'tis an advantage for a man to weare spurres,
The rowell of Knight-hood does gingle in the care of their
Vnderstanding.
Thu.
I doe wonder Sir, that you speake so well now, and
Want the audacity as they say to talke to your Mistresse.
Sim.
So do I too, but I cannot help it: I was a Gentleman
Thou knowest but tother day, I have yet but a few
Complements, within a while I shall get more impudence
And then have at her.
Thu.
The father.
Sim.
Pray heaven you may be sav'd, Sir.
Go.
Y'are charitable.
Sim.
I am come Sir to doe my businesse.
Go.
How Sir?
Sim.
You may imagine as they say, and so forth your
Daughter is a very fine Gentlewoman and may in due time be a Lady,
4
Heraldry.
Gol.
Have you acquainted her,
How much you meane to honour us, how farre
Have you engaged her liking?
Sim.
Nay, I n'er spoke to her in my life, nor do not meane
in hast.
Gol.
How Sir?
Sim.
Not in hast Sir, 'twere no good manners to speake
hastily to a Gentlewoman, to talke post (as they say) to his
Mistresse; I am resolv'd to have your consent first, and then.
Gol.
It argues your discretion;
Sim.
I think so, some wiser than some, faith how doe y'like my face.
Gol.
I have seene worse in a beard,
Sim.
Oh, ho, I tooke my choise of forty, this morning.
Gol.
Did you so?
Sim.
My man knowes I broke a Looking-glasse into forty pieces,
I am sure, and this was the best face I could finde among
'Em all, look in my forehead, hast any skill in Palmistry?
Gol.
Not I, Sir.
Sim.
But this is nothing to the purpose (as they say,)
Where is my beautifull Mistresse, your
Daughter?
Gol.
Which of e'm?
Sim.
No matter which.
Gol.
They are both within.
Sim.
Oh, 'tis well, I will not speake with her, I told you
Before, but I hope I shall have your good
Will.
Gol.
You meane to marry her.
Sim.
My Chaplaine shall.
Gol.
You are witty; I hope Sir, you will give me leave (as
They say) to deliberate, for after your example, I would
Doe nothing rushly, I will not give you my consent in
Hast Sir.
5
'Tis wisdome, I can tarry, 'tis fit I should, commend
Me to the Virgin.
As he goes forth he meetes Mistris Goldsworth.
Mis.
What, leaving us already, noble Sir?
Why husband, what doe y'meane? no more respect
To a man honorable? y'are not going Sir?
Sim.
Yes faith, I love to be going, I cannot abide to stand
Still, Thumpe, take off my cloake; does my Rapier become
Me?
Thu.
Excellent well.
Sim.
This 'tis to be a compleat Gentleman, what a coxcombe
was I before I came to towne, the countrey breeds so
many Clownes; dost thinke my tenants will know mee now
I am disguised
Go.
But what assurance can he give me, wife,
That he is able to get children?
For that's a thing materiall; I would not
Willingly sacrifice my daughter to
An Eunuch, and such a one may that Knight be,
For ought I know.
Mis.
What doe you talke of children?
Is he not honorable, a proper Knight?
Sim.
She does commend mee; doe not put on my cloke
yet, let her survey my person.
Mis.
Shall not our daughter be a Lady, and I a
Ladies mother? And the Heralds know
That is some priviledge; you have seene many Eunuches
With a blacke beard; he is a man I warrant him,
He has the right haire, Husband, for a woman,
I know it by experience; tell not me,
Suppose he were an Eunuch, he I say
Is honorable, and any body can get children,
That's the least thing of a hundred
And the woman be but fruitfull.
Sim.
Now Ile take my leave.
6
Wil't please you Sir, to walke in, and speake to my daughter?
Sim.
No, I thinke it not the best way to speake to her, as I said,
In hast, what if I had an inventory of my good parts
First drawne to prepare her.
Gol.
And his father had not left him more land than braine,
His worship had beene but a poore foole.
Sim.
Well, if she understand signes, have at her.
Mis.
Come, I will direct you.
Exeunt.
Gol.
My wife is passionate and affects this Knight
For's title, but I hope my daughter will
Enter Servant.
Submit to my election: how now:
Ser.
Here is a Gentleman desires accesse to you.
Gol.
A Gentleman?
Ser.
He may be a Lord by his traine,
A Page waites on him.
Gol.
Some fresh Inamorato.
Enter Caperwit, and his Page.
Cap.
Save you Sir.
Gol.
And you Sir.
Cap.
You doe not know me?
Gol.
Not I Sir.
Cap.
'Tis very likely: you have a daughter.
Gol.
I have two:
Cap.
Two? the better, there is more choise,
They want husbands.
Gol.
'Twill become my care to provide'm good ones.
Cap.
You say well, what doe y'thinke of me?
Gol.
I know you not.
Cap.
You told me that afore: may I see'm?
Gol.
They are not to be let out Sir by lease,
Or yeerely rent.
Cap.
You mistake me; I come not for a lodging.
Gol.
Nor to lye with them?
7
I come to take'm Sir, another way:
What portions have they?
Go.
You should be a purse-taker, by your enquirie
After their mony, they have a round portion, Sir.
Cap.
What's that?
Go.
A cipher.
Cap.
How?
Go.
Nothing, I hope you have no mind to marry.
Cap.
Ex nihilo nihil fit. I came to offer my selfe a
Servant in affection to one of your daughters, but
Nothing has converted me.
Go.
Doe y'heare Sir, a fine humorist: if they marry with
My consent, I can make figures, which added to
Their ciphers, may make up 2000.pound apiece: what
Is your name?
Cap.
My name is Caperwit.
Go.
Y'ave a dancing Name, I doe not thinke, but you
Write all the Coranto's.
Ca.
Wit! wit by Mercury! I shall loue thy daughters the
Better for that: doe they affect Poetry?
Go.
They reade nothing else.
Ca.
Then they are wise; 'tis a Seraphicke contemplation;
I'le furnish them with the most excellent Poems—
Go.
Of your owne composition?
Ca.
That is intimated, when I say excellent;
Your daughters shall be judge, let'm vouchsafe
A subject to my muse, and prove the height
Of my imaginations.
Go.
They are entring.
Enter Gerard, Chrisolina, Aurelia.
Cap.
Thus breakes Aurora from the Easterne hills,
And chaseth night away, let me salute
Your rosie cheeke—
Ch.
Good morrow to you Sir, there is but one Aurora,
What doe y'make my Sister pray?
Cap.
She is the Sun it selfe.
Au.
No Sir, I am the daughter of that Gentleman,
8
Ca.
Whose golden beames doe gild this lower world,
Transfixing hearts, converting ribs of ice
Into a flame.
Ge.
What buffonry is this?
Ch.
Lets heare his speech out, and my Sister be the Sunne,
Wee shall have day enough: a pretty Pageant!
Au.
Prethee doe not minde him.
Cap.
Virgins, that equall all the graces, and
Only in this, that you are two, beneath them.
The miracles of beauty! for whose eyes
The Persians might forsake their god, and pay
Religious honour to this flame—whats he?
Go.
A Gentleman, that would endeare himselfe.
Cap.
Has he any fancies in him? Can he ravish
The Ladies?
Go.
Ravish Ladies Sir? that's a dangerous matter.
Ca.
How many raptures does he talke a day?
Is he transported with Poeticke rage?
When was he stil'd Imperiall wit? who are
The Prince Electors in his Monarchy?
Can he like Celtick Hercules, with chaines
Of his divine tongue, draw the gallant tribe
Through every streete, whilst the grave senator
Points at him; as he walkes in triumph, and
Doth wish, with halfe his wealth, he might be young,
To spend it all in Sack, to heare him talke
Eternall Sonnets to his Mistris? ha?
Who loves not verse is damn'd—
Go.
How Sir? This Gentleman dares fight.
Cap.
Who will fight with him?
Go.
You doe not know his disposition.
Cap.
But I will, Sir; I have a great ambition to be of your
acquaintance, I hope you will excuse these fancies of mine,
though I were borne a Poet I will study to be your servant
in Prose, yet if now and then my braines doe sparkle, I cannot
helpe it, raptures will out; my Motto is Quicquid conabor,
9
Sidney that inspired me, and my nurse descended from old
Chaucer, my conversation has beene among the furies, and if
I meete you in Apollo, a pottle of the best Ambrosia in the
house, shall waite upon you.
Enter Sir Gervase Simple, and Mistris Goldsworth.
Mis.
They are here Sir, at full view.
Cap.
What's he?
Mis.
A Knight Ile assure you.
Cap.
Does he come
A wooing to the Ladies?
Gol.
After the Spanish fashion—
A farre off.
Mis.
Daughter, I must counsell you to respect
This honorable man, you doe not know
What tis to be a Lady, and take place,
Such titles come not every day, observe
With what a comely garbe he walkes, and how
He bends his subtle body, take him a my word,
A man of his complection loves a woman naturally.
Cap.
A pretty motion.
Mis.
Pray come neerer Sir.
Sim.
You shall pardon me for that, I know
My distance.
Cap.
Will he not speake to her?
Gol.
You should doe well to furnish him with an oration,
a spoonefull of Aganippe's well, and a little of your Salt,
would season, if not pickle him.
Cap.
Should I so wast the
bright Minerva's dew, to pickle a Mushrome?
Sim.
Thumpe, she lookes upon me, to say truth, I am but a
bashfull puppy.
Thu.
Your worship is more than a puppy.
Sim.
I, I know I am an old dog at her mother, but and I
should be hang'd, I have not impudence enough to speak to
her: does not that Gentleman laugh at mee?
Thu.
He is very merry with her father.
Sim.
'Tis very suspitious, would I had a good jest to get of
withall.
Au.
You shall command the duty of a daughter,
But I hope mother, you will give me leave
To love before I marry. I have yet
No argument of his affection,
But what you please to bring me, it becomes not
My modesty to court him, and give up
My heart before I heare him say, he meanes
10
Mis.
'Tis a fault, and I must blame him, that he is no forwarder.
Ca.
I will accuse him?—
Gol.
Doe so.
Au.
Love, forgive me this excuse, my heart is fixt,
I finde another written here.
Ca.
I doe salute you, venerable
Sir.
Sim.
You may salute me at your pleasures, but you
are mistaken, I am no more venerable than your selfe; my
name is Sir Gervace Simple.
Thu.
And I am one of his Gentleman
Vshers, Sir, that follow him.
Ca.
Heroick Sir, I doe
adore your physnomy. Now by the dust of my Progenitors—
Sim.
There's a fine oath!
Ca.
You looke like the Nine
Worthies.
Sim.
I have been taken for 'em a hundred times.
Cap.
Fairer than Plutos selfe king of the shades.
Sim.
That King was a poore kinsman of mine, and indeed
Wee had one complexion.
Ca.
The Divell you had?
Sim.
Sir, I am sorry, I cannot stay wi'y, but pray if you
meete any of the nine Worthies, or my Cosen Pluto, commend
me to 'em, I shall be glad to meete you, or them, at any
Taverne, betweene Cheape and Charingcrosse, and so I remaine
yours, or not his owne, sau's complement.
Mis.
When will you please Sir Gervace, to visit us agen?
Nay, it shall be yours.
He complements,
Sim.
Now my foot's in.
Exeunt.
Ca.
But that I see't, I should not have beleeved there were
such a foole in nature.
Ge.
In this variety of servants, I
Acknowledge you greatly honour me, and in the presence
Of both your parents to vouchsafe this favour,
Doubly obliges me.
Ch.
You are most welcome.
Au.
You may beleeve my sister, she n'er speakes
But by direction of her heart.
Ger.
I am confident,
Nor hath she any vertue, which you doe not
Divide with her; your twins in birth and goodnesse!
Au.
Y'are bountifull in character.
Gol.
Ile not oppose you Sir, and you can winne their opinion.
Cap.
'Tis enough, I shall be proud to serve you;
But at this present, with your noble licence,
I take my leave, there is a Lord expects
11
Fourscore and nineteene mile, to heare an elegy of
My composition
Gol.
He deserves to enjoy you.
Cap.
Ile attend the Ladies, when my starres will be more
propitious, ith'interim wearing your beautifull figures in
my heart, I kisse your white hand—
Exit.
Ger.
I thinke the stocke of his discourse be wasted,
And he returnes to take up more on's credit,
Vntill he breake agen, the Towne is full
Of these vaine glorious flashes.
Gol.
Chrisolina,
You see what store of servants yee attract,
Plenty of louers but I hope you will
Be ruld, and take my counsell: which of all
And be plaine wi'mee, hold you best opinion of?
Ch.
You will not Sir, be angry, if I answer you justly.
Gol.
No no, tell me.
Ch.
I confesse,
I now doe feele the power of love, untill
That Gentleman—
Gol.
Which, which Gentleman?
Ch.
By his faire merit, won my hearts consent,
I had my freedome.
Gol.
Master Gerard?
Ch.
The same, oh Sir, there's no comparison
With him and those that proffer us their service:
Sir Gervace is but title, tother noise,
Empty of all reality and worth,
There is my choise, more pretious to my thoughts,
Pointing to Ger.
Than all mankind without him, and I hope
You will be kind in your allowance Sir.
Gol.
You might have us'd lesse haste in your election,
Or first acquainted me, you shall doe well
To keepe possession of your heart awhile;
But Ile consider; send your sister to me:
What say you daughter to Sir Gervace?
Au.
Nothing, as much as he hath said to me.
I affect worth, not shew; and in my choise
I hope your judgement Sir will meete.
Gol.
I like this well,
be obedient.
Au.
What thinke you Sir, of Master Gerard?
Gol.
You doe not love him?
Au.
I should then bely
12
He needes not boast his worth, like those whom Nature
And Art have left unfurnish'd, hee's a man
For birth, for education, for his fortune,
Worthy a nobler wife, than shee that now
Commends him to you.
Gol.
Would you marry him?
Au.
I know not that man in the world beside,
I would call husband, in my soule I am
Already his, and if you will not be
Held cruell to your daughter—
Gol.
How's this?
Both in love with the same man? my care will be
To a great purpose, this is very strange;
Send your sister to me; come hither, come hither,
You are not yet contracted to that Gentleman.
Ch.
No such thing has past.
Go.
But you are content to
take him for your bridegroome, I meane Master Gerard.
Ch.
And call it happinesse;
Go.
Your mother calls: so, so,
doe you heare? Aurelia, doe you love that Gentleman?
Au.
Yes.
Gol.
Very good, when your wedding clothes
come home, pray give me leave to pay for 'em, and the dinner
too. I say nothing of a portion, goe after your sister:
hum, this is very pretty, faith, let me be bold to aske you a
question Sir.
Ger.
My answer shall be just, and free.
Gol.
Which of my daughters doe you love best?
As y'are a Gentleman the truth, if you affect either, it
Is quickly answered.
Ge.
The truth is, as you aske, I love neither.
Gol.
How, doe you love none of 'em both, they are very
well rewarded.
Ge.
Love neither of them best, they are
so equall in beauty, and desert, by both I sweare, I cannot
preferre any.
Gol.
You'd not have two wives against the
Statute?
Ge.
When I have the happinesse to speak with one alone,
Theres so much sweetnesse in her, such a troope
Of graces waiting on her words and actions,
I love her infinitely, and thinke it blessing
To see her smile, but when the tother comes
In presence, in her eie she brings a charme
13
And like the trembling Needle of a Dyall,
My heart's afraid to fixe, in such a plenty
I have no starre to sayle by.
Gol.
This is stranger.
Than all the rest, but doe you love e'm both?
Ger.
I dare not call it my misfortune Sir,
And yet I know not.—
Gol.
What will become o'this?
I'st possible? My daughter will be mad if this humor
Hold, and I am little better while I thinke on't.
Ile to e'm agen.
Exit.
Ger.
On whom shall I complaine for my hard fate?
Love is not innocent enough to bee
A child, yet Poets give him Deity,
Fond men! prove it in me, thou quiverd Boy,
That love with equall flame two Mistresses,
I will beleeve thee a god, and kisse thy dart,
Furnish my bosome with another heart.
Exit.
| Changes : Or, Love in a Maze | |