 | Hollands Leagver |  |
Scen. 3.
Agurtes, Autolicus, Margery.Agur.
Margery , goe call your Mistris.
Autol.
What is shee?
Agu.
My daughters maid, a wench fit for the purpose,
Cunning as a Whore: besides, I haue prouided
A bed, and hangings, and a casting bottle,
And once a day a Doctor to visit her.
Enter Millescent.
Millescent come hither, know this Gentleman.
Captaine, here lyes our venter, this is shee,
The rich Antonio's daughter, the great heire,
And Neece to the grand Sophies of the City;
That has beene woed and sued to by great Lords,
Aldermans sonnes, and agents of all sorts.
Thus we haue spoke thy prayse, wench, has not seene
The man she likes yet, but her fortunes may
Ordaine her to some better choyce, to the making
Of some deseruing man, which must needs be
Trimalchio, and no other; how lik'st thou her?
Autol.
Hang me, so well, I thinke you may goe on,
In a right line, she is worthy of a better.
Few of your moderne faces are so good.
Agur.
That's our comfort, shee may put a good face on't.
Let me alone, Sir, to be impudent,
To laugh them out of countenance, looks skirvy,
As a Citizens daughter new turn'd Madam.
Marg.
I warrant yon, Sir, my Mistris, and I,
Haue practised our Lirripoope together.
Agur.
Thou must insinuate strange things into her
Both of her vertue and Nobility,
The largenesse of her dowry, besides Iewels,
Th'expected death of her old grandmother,
That has a blessing for her, if she marry
According to her minde, keepe him at distance,
Make him beleeue, 'tis hard to haue accesse,
And wait the happy houre, to be let in
At the backe doore.
Marg,
I, and the fore-doore too.
Autol.
Thou hast a noble wit, and spirit, wench,
That neuer was ordaind for any skinkard
T'ingender with, or mechanick Citizen,
Vnlesse it were to Cuckold him, thou shalt
Be still i'th front of any fashion,
And haue thy seuerall Gownes and Tires, take place,
It is thy owne, from all the City wires,
And Summer birds in Towne, that once a yeare
Come up to moulter, and then go down to'th Country
To jeere their neighbours, as they haue beene seru'd.
Agur.
Nay more, if you can act it handsomely,
You'll put a period to my undertakings,
And saue me all my labour of proiecting,
As putting out my monie on returne,
From aqua pendente, or some unknowne place,
That has as much a doe to get a roome
I'th Map, as a new Saint i'th Kalender.
'Twill dead all my deuice in making matches,
My plots of Architecture, and erecting
New Amphitheaters, to draw the custome
From Play-houses once a weeke, and so pull
A curse upon my head from the poore scoundrels
'Twill hinder to the gaine of Courtiers,
To haue a sixt share in the businesse,
Nor need I trample up and downe the Country,
To cheat with a Polonian, or false rings,
Nor keepe a tap-house o'th Banke side, and make
A stench worse then a Brew-house, 'mongst my neighbours,
Till I am growne so poore, that all my goods
Are shipt away i'th bottome of a Sculler,
And then be driven t'inhabit some blind nooke
I'th Suburbs, and my utmost refuge be
To keepe a bawdy house, and be carted.
Milles.
Nere feare it Sir.
Agur.
'Tis well, speake for thy selfe, Girle.
Milles.
If I doe not, let me be turnd to ashes,
And they be buried in an vrne so shallow,
That boyes may pisse into it, let me deale
In nothing else but making Sugar Cakes,
Oyntments, and Dentifrices: Let me serue
Seven yeares Apprentiship, and learne nothing else,
But to preserue and candy. Let me marry
With a Pedant, and have no other dowry
Than an old cast French-hood. Let me liue
The scorne of Chambermaids, and after all,
Turne a dry-nurse.
Autol.
You shall haue trophies, wenches,
Set up for you, in honour of your wits,
More then Herculean pillers, to advance
Your Fame to a non ultra, that who euer
Shall read your history, may not attempt
To goe beyond it.
Agur.
Well, prepare your selues
To entertaine him.
Autol.
Faith you need not doubt them,
To manage the businesse.
Milles.
Let us alone.
Agur.
We leaue the charge to your discretion.
| Hollands Leagver | |