 | A Fine Companion |  |
Actvs IIII:
Scena I.
Carelesse, Captaine, Lieutennant, Lackewit, foure Wenches.Care.
Come my voluptuaries, my sonnes of comfort,
That know no sorrow, sing like Grasse-hoppers,
And feare no winter, nor no poverty;
Leade on my moving pillars of delight,
My Alchymists of pleasure, that convert
All like your selves: can make old Cato dance,
And turne Fabricius to an Epicure,
Should he behold you.
Cap.
Thou sayst right Telemachus;
Tis wine, and mirth that breed these raptures in thee.
Body of Iove, there's nothing but a rabble
Of leane and stary'd imaginations
Accompany sobriety: Some wine there,
That I may court my Cockatrice.
Care.
Good Captaine
Bid our noble friend welcome.
Cap.
You know my humour,
To men of ordinary pretence, I seldome
Vse to debase my selfe below the Nod
Of salutation, but for your sake
I receive him as a man deserving.
Give me thy hand Cadmus.
Lack.
I desire sir to incorporate my selfe into your acquaintance.
Car.
Tis well said, doe the like noble office to our friend
here sweet Lievtennant.
Lieve.
Sir he shall command my heart and hand on his
occasions, Ile as soone draw in his quarrell, as to pisse against
a wall.
Care.
These are the mirrours of the time old boy, that
shall shew you how to adorne your behaviour, that you may
passe in all company with confidence of approbation.
Cap.
And not erre the breadth of a naile.
He shall be able to passe through the needles of all
occurrences.
Lack.
And they would but learne me to sweare and take
Tobacco, tis all I desire.
Care.
Come they shall doe it, and I must tell you, these
suggestions in you are arguments of a generous disposition,
whence doe they flow I wonder?
Lack.
That mother wit that put them in my head, has
put money in my purse, and as farre as that money will leade
me, I will be bold and wise: I have my humours, and I scorne
the pollution of the Mechannicks.
Care.
How doe you like these replyes Captaine?
Cap.
Very well, by the faith of a souldier, excellent well,
they are good rellishing answers, and expresse an ebullition
in his nature, swelling to conformity.
Lack.
What, I will beare my selfe like a Gentleman.
Cap.
I, and the way to beare your selfe like a Gentleman,
is sometimes not to be able to beare your selfe at all. Lievetennant,
what say you?
Liev.
I say by Hermes, he that has a fortune,
And power to acquaint the world with his perfections,
And seekes to smother them, let him dye wretched.
Care.
You have no other way then this, to render you
worthy of society.
Cap.
What, he may turne stinkard, and live in the Country
with rootes and bacon, and not drinke a cup of good wine
in a twelve-moneth, nor know how the yeare goes about,
but by observation of Husbandry. He may keepe two
couple of dogs and a Sparrow-hawk, and levell his discourse
by them. He may be stil'd a civill Gentleman, ten sphæres
below a foole: He may marry a Knights daughter, a creature
out of fashion, that has not one commendable quality, more
then to make a corner pye and a sallad, no manner of courtship,
but two or three dances, as old as Mounsier, and can
play a few Lessons on the Virginalls that she learnt of her
Grandam: besides she is simple, and dull in her dalliance.
Care.
He tells thee right my brave Frisker, they are lumpish
girles, heavy in their sport, and cannot move with art.
Cap.
There's a wench, has her Suburb trickes about her I
mount her like Phlegon.
Lack.
Now doe I want some two or three good oaths, to
expresse my meaning withall.
Liev.
Captaine, what thinke you, shall he be a brother?
Care.
Yes he deserves it, let him be a brother.
Give him the principles of the brotherhood.
Cap.
Are you resolved to be a brother sir?
Lack.
Any thing I, you shall make a blowing horne, or
what you list of me.
Cap.
Nothing can be suddenly perfect, but must aspire by
progression, he must be practised in certaine duties, before he
can be an ingrafted member of the fraternity.
Care.
He shall doe any thing that is requisite.
Cap.
Well then, for the first two moneths we must dine
every day at a Taverne, where it shall be lawfull for any brother
to bring his shadow with him; and besides the full income
of wine and provision, to bespeake any superfluous dish
that he affects: but that which shall most commend the discretion
of your worth, is, that after the dissolution of the
Feast, no man besides your selfe must know what's to pay,
or take notice of the reckoning
Lack.
I must pay all, must I?
Cap.
You understand me rightly, and I applaud your capacity;
from thence, we must have a Coach attend at the
doore, to carry us to a Play, and at night to a Bawdy-house.
Lack.
And all at my charges?
Cap.
What else? And if any brother need a Cloake, or a
Sute, or so, you must not stay till he publish or intimate his
wants; but presently, by the strength of your owne Minerva,
picke out the meaning, and take order to supply him: have
you any credit with the Tradesmen?
Lack.
Yes, I have a Taylor that will trust mee for any
thing that Ile have him.
Cap.
That Taylor shall have custome, tell him so; and one
thing more, now brother, for so I must call you, we must
have all things in common, no difference in the possession of
any thing.
Lack.
Pray explain that rule to me, I do not understand you.
Why thus; this Hat is mine, and that yours, as you
conceive now, but they are neither mine nor yours upon the
premises: but may be transferr'd upon occasion to either, as
thus, doe you conceive me? Tis usuall amongst us.
Lack.
Tis very well, is this all?
Cap.
Ile make but one experiment more of your apprehension,
and have done. Looke you.
They shift cloakes.
Lack.
O I shall doe this to a haire, and by the same consequence
I shall be a Captaine somtimes: shall I not?
Cap.
Yes, when the date of your taske is accomplisht,
you shall be any thing.
Care.
Tis enough, this once a weeke will render him exact.
Shall's haue a song and a dance Captaine?
Cap.
Hang a Song, you see what little roome wee have
for our mirth, and you would fill it up with aire, would
you?
Care.
Nay, but by that aire, I hold a Song very delightsome,
the very place, as a man would say, and superficies of
pleasure.
Cap,
Prithee let it alone, by that element it charmes me
into melancholly.
Lack.
Then good Captaine let's have a Dance, for these
Gentlewomens sakes; besides there be many that come to
see nothing else.
Cap.
Why can you dance?
Lack.
What a question is there to a man of quality?
Yes I can dance, and that some that are here shall see and feele
before we part; for I meane to shake my heeles with that
fervour, that it shall strike them into a fit of my love, shall
be worse then any ague to them.
Cap.
Say you so? Wee'l try that ifaith. Come on Squeakers,
racke up our feet and eares to your Instruments.
Lack.
What tune Captaine?
Cap.
Play us the fine Companion.
The Dance.
Well said my effeminate Varlets, this was auspiciously performed.
I am afraid this dancing will breed spavins in my
legs, this caper has put me in remembrance of a cricke in my
back, I got at my last vaulting.
Cap.
No thou art deceiv'd my noble Hyacinth, tis a mystery
will exalt thee Hylas, 'twill make thee rise I say, and
put gold in thy purse, thou shalt follow the Court like a Baboone,
when a thousand proper fellowes shall sherke for
their ordinary; 'twill make thee conversant with Ladies, and
they shall give thee Diamonds to pawne, and thou shalt ride
up and downe in thy foot-cloth my little Dolphin. Some
wine there Tony: I call'd for wine an houre agoe, and could
get none.
Enter Drawer.
Fill out sirrah. What's here the Epitome of a glasse? By the
wombe of Bacchus, a score of them are too little for a
draught.
Lack.
O Lord Captain, nine such hornets are able to sting.
a man to death.
Liev.
By Saint George he that dyes so, dyes valiantly.
Cap.
What my bold Bravo, be not afraid, and thou wert
dead 'twere nothing, Ile come but with a troope of Wenches:
and a noyse of Fidlers, and play thee backe like Orpheus.
What's to pay Drawer?
Draw.
Sir you have built a sconce since you came in of
thirty pounds, and before you have any more, my Master intends
to be satisfyed.
Cap.
What money have you brother?
Lack.
Who I? O Lord brother Captaine, I have not the
third part of it.
Cap.
No matter, I nere thinke upon such transitory reckonings:
come, lets have a health, and my brother Lackwit
shall beginne it. Reach three Ioynt stooles hither Drawer.
Lack.
What to doe Captaine?
Cap.
Ile shew you, you shall ascend here, and be Captaine
of this Fort: Ile insconce you; come intrench your selfe,
and play from your Battery, and so every man round, there
take your Lintstocke in your hand, and give fire, now every
man as farre off as he can from the command of his Ordinance.
Farewell brother.
Exeunt.
Why Gentlemen, I hope you will not use me so,
I am your brother, why Gentlemen.
Cap.
There Drawer, take him for a pawne, tell him when
he has no money he must be serv'd so, tis one of his chiefe
articles.
Enter Crotchet.
Cro.
How now, what are you preaching ore your cups?
Now you are in your Pontificalibus indeed.
Lack.
Good Crochet helpe me downe, I shall breake my
necke else.
Cro.
How came you there?
Lack.
I know not, an ill houre of the brotherhood, Ile
after them with a vengeance.
Draw.
You must stay and pay the reckoning first, besides
the Musicians expect somthing.
Lack.
Who I pay the recknoning? 'Slight I came but
now in.
Draw.
That's all one, you were all of a nest, they are
flowne away, and there's none left but your selfe.
Lack.
S'death the Captaine is gone away with my Hat,
and my cloake too, I tell thee Ile pay no reckoning.
Draw.
Tis all one to me, if you can satisfy my Master so.
Lack.
What shall I doe Crochet?
Cro.
Give him what you have, and if he will take your
word for the rest, Ile excuse your Hat and cloake, and say
you lost them in a skirmish; you must scratch your hands in
halfe a dosen places with a pin.
Lack.
I so I will, come sir, Ile goe in and talke with your
Master.
Cro.
Besides, I have another businesse I came to tell you
of, that you and I must doe together, you shall reape the
whole credite on't your selfe, if you can manage it handsomly,
'twill gaine you that reputation with your Father, that
you shall never loose your selfe while you live againe.
Lack.
What is't Crochet?
Cro.
Goe in and Ile tell you.
Exeunt.
Scena II.
Aurelio, Spruse.Aur.
You much amaze me.
Spr.
Sir perhaps I might
With better judgement, and more thankes conceale
So great a wickednesse, but my true love to you
Could not withhold it, you have read some stories,
And these are things not unheard of in nature,
No newnesse at all, the selfe same lust and pride,
As well rules her that treads upon the flint,
As her that rides upon the necks of slaves.
Aur.
Stay let me pause awhile; she is a woman,
Whose age and forme might tempt me to distrust her,
But yet her manners forbid me to beleeve it.
Spr.
Beleev't? She is a close Adulteresse,
Of most strange exercise, a Fricatrice
Insatiable: and has she none but you,
That she can find to bayt with her allurements,
To cover her lewd projects? This moved me,
I'd not have medled else.
Aur.
O doe not wrong her,
Good sir doe not wrong her, it cannot be.
Spr.
You have bin still kept ignorant, for my part,
I never yet expected better from them
I count them but as ordinary chances,
Triviall, and drawne out from the lap of Fortune.
Beleeve me sir, there is no day so holy,
That ceases to betray a womans falsehood,
My medicine workes, I shall be even with her.
Aur.
I sought at first to make her mad in jest,
But now Ile make her mad in earnest: yet
Tis not good to be too credulous; a word sir.
I must have better proofes then your bare word,
To justify this accusation;
Her vertue must not stumble at a straw.
Spr.
Sir tis not threats that can extort from me,
More then I list to speake: I see you troubled,
Know that I made my selfe experiment.
He shewes the Ring.
For all let this confirme you: this she gaue me
Vpon the premises.
Aur.
O I shall burst:
Here is a sight to make the Sun run backeward;
Good sir forgiue me, that I prest you so,
Consider't as your owne case: were you bee,
That put your confidence, your happinesse,
All in a womans loue, and found her false?
Spr.
I must confesse I thinke it would afflict me:
Ile leaue you sir, I haue discharg'd my conscience,
But of more ill, then she has goodnesse in her.
Exit Spruse.
Scena. III.
Fido, Aurelio.Fid.
How now what Planet strucke? how doe you sir?
This tis to be in loue: what alterations
It breeds? it makes a man forget his friends.
Come sir be merry, your project has tooke.
She fell into her fit, soone as she read it,
And tore the papers and talkt idly, and shew'd
The symptomes of the prettiest lunacie.
What haue you lost your speech? those folded armes,
And frownes, expresse a sorrow, more then loue.
His eyes, though fixt upon their object, shew
The wandring spheare of his disturbed mind,
Is whirld about in error. Pray looke up sir.
Aur.
I am not dumbe, I haue a care within me,
Speakes to my troubled soule.
Fid.
Why whats the matter?
Aur.
O heare it then, and witnesse it for ever.
When ere thou seest a woman, in whose brow,
Are writ the characters of honesty,
And cals the gods to iustifie her truth,
Sweare shee's a Syren, and a Crocodile.
Conclude her false, it is enough shee vowes,
Straight to disperse her oaths.
Fid.
You doe but jest sure
Aur.
There is not one of them, that is the same
She would appeare to be; they all are painted.
They haue a Fucus for their face, an other
For their behaviour, their words, and actions.
Fid.
Come come, these are but qualmes of jealousie.
Aur.
Giue no faith to their brow: for in that greene
And flourishing field of seeming vertue, lurkes
A Snake of lust, in whose voluminous wreaths,
Are folded up a thousand treacheries,
Plots, Mischiefes, and dissimulations,
That man nere thought of. For in wickednesse,
The wit of woman was nere yet found barren.
Fid.
I thinke he meanes to be mad himselfe too:
Your reprehensions are too generall:
For by these words your owne Valeria suffers.
Aur.
Why there's the summe of all that I haue spoke,
The abstract of all falshood. Tis a name, will
Blister the tongue of fame, in her report
Is drown'd the memory of all wicked women.
Fid.
Is your Valeria false?
Aur.
Once my Valeria, but now mine no more,
(For they are perisht that haue lost their shame)
Is falne from vertue past recovery.
The golden Organs of her innocence
Are broke, not to be solderd
Fid.
In my conscience
You wrong her, this is nothing but th'abundance
Of loue; will you goe and sup with the Captaine?
And driue away melancholy.
Aur.
O no, my heart
Is shut against all mirth.
Fid.
Then Ile goe seeke
Your brother out, and he shall goe along with me:
Ile shew him with a perspectiue ifaith,
What a braue Captaine he has: hee shall be
In a disguise, as my Companion,
That he is either valiant, or honest,
Ile be made the scorne of their company.
Aur.
But my fate guids me to the contrary:
For if my Mistresse doe not honest proue,
She has put a period to my life and loue.
Scena IIII.
Lackwit, Crotchet.Crot.
Come, be not dismaid, what ere you say,
Ile sweare it: you must affirme you lost your hat
And cloake in a skirmish.
Lack.
So I will Crotchet.
Masse thou wert not with us at the first neither.
Crot.
Why what if I had sir?
Lack.
Thou mightst haue carried
Away two or three of the Captaines oaths with thee.
Crot.
I can coyne them my selfe without any treason I
warrant you.
Lack.
Oh Crotchet, I am thinking now, how brauely ile
liue, when my father is dead.
Crot.
Yes, pray let me heare you.
Lac.
I haue drawne the map of it already: Ile goe every
day in my cloake lind with plush, and my bever hat, Ile keepe
my whores, and my running horses, and ile maintaine thee in
as good a pyed livery, as the best footman of them all goes in.
Enter Littlegood.
Lit.
You will sir, what ungratious villaine could haue
said this? where's your cloake and your hat? yes you shall
haue money to spend an other time.
Enter Fondling.
Fond.
How now what's the matter?
Lit.
Looke you, doe you know this Gentleman?
Fond.
How comes this about?
Crot.
Nothing but the fortune of the warres forsooth:
my young master has beene in as stout a fray as ever the Genius
of Fleetstreet trembled at.
Fond.
How was it sonne?
Let Crochet relate. I scorne to be the trumpet of
mine owne valour, I.
Fond.
Doe, tell the story, Crochet.
Cro.
Indeede hee made them all runne away, that I am certaine
of.
Fond.
Nay but shew vs the manner of it.
Cro.
Why forsooth I came at the latter end of the feast,
and the beginning of the fray, and there my young Master
was got aboue them all, and stood vpon his Guard, and held
his weapon in his hand so dreadfully, as if he would haue
powred downe his fury vpon any man that should come
neere him.
Fond.
And will you be angry with him for this? 'twas
well done, take no wrong of them, better loose all the cloathes
off from his backe, then to keepe a cloake for his cowardise.
Cro.
Now is the time to moue the other businesse.
Lack.
Well mother, if you will giue mee twenty pound
more, Ile doe you such a peece of service, that you shall thanke
mee for it as long as you live.
Fond.
What is it sonne?
Lack.
Nay you shall not know, before it be done: the
conclusion shall crowne it.
Fond.
Well husband, giue it this once, and Ile vrge you no
more, lets see how the Boy will imploy it.
Lit.
Yes, send one arrow after an other and loose both.
Fond.
Nay, but giue it him for my sake, I am confident he
has a good project; you have example for it in your trade.
How many haue you, that breake dayly, and yet their freinds
set them vp two or three times one after an other?
Lit.
Once more you shall prevaile with mee. Here hold,
but if this miscarry, nere aske mee for a penny againe.
Lack.
I warrant you, come Crochet.
Fond.
Must Crochet goe with you?
Lack.
Yes, tis a businesse that can not be done by one alone.
Cro.
Well Mistresse, pray throw an old shooe after vs.
Scena V.
Fido, Carelesse disguised, Captaine.Cap.
Gentleman you are very welcome. What Hostesse,
come hither good Hostesse.
Enter Hostesse.
Fid.
You haue a good handsome Hostesse, I perceiue
Captaine.
Cap.
She is cleanly and good condition'd that's my comfort;
and by the power of beauty, if a man were combustide, hee
might find in her eyes, that would kindle a conflagration.
Host.
What Gentlemen be these Captaine?
Cap.
Peace good Hostesse, I would not willingly proclaime
their disgrace: one of them is a Gentleman, that I bastinadoed
the other day; and now he is come to giue me a Supper, to
be reconcil'd to me, but take you no notice.
Fid.
Captaine here is a friend, that I would willingly commend
to your acquaintance.
Cap.
Sir as I am a true souldier, I embrace your loue in
him, and thats as much as I can say. Hostesse these are not
ordinary guests with you; therefore you must be respectfull:
and faith if you say the word Gentlemen, one of these nights,
wee'l every man procure as many of our acquaintance as we
can, and be merry here at Supper for crownes a peece. What
thinke you?
Fid.
This is not the busines wee come about sir.
Cap.
I know it well enough. Hostesse, prethee good
sweet, honey Hostesse, step and buy us a joynt or two of good
meate, and a Capon, and lay it to the fire presently.
Host.
Where's the money?
Cap.
Death to my honour, doe not question it, but doe as
I bid you.
Host.
I haue not six-pence in the world, the Cobler had all
I had, for mending of your boots.
Cap.
Goe you must make shift, and get more then.
Host.
Why if these Gentlemen come to bestow a Supper
on you, let them giue me money aforehand.
Cap.
Speake lower woman, art mad?
Host.
I tell you I haue not a penny in the house.
Speake lower I say. Goe borrow it of thy neighbours,
Ile see it payd.
Host.
Yes and turne mee behind the dore for my reckoning;
You haue serv'd me so I know not how often, no I haue trusted
you too much already: you haue not payd me a penny for
your lodging, since you came to my house, besides what I
haue lent you out of my purse.
Cap.
Bane to my credit, you will exile mee beyond the
Confines of reputation: goe pawne some Pewter, or one of
thy brasse pots. S'light doe not disgrace mee, doe any thing
rather, take the sheets off from my bed.
Host.
Yes, you care not what becomes of any thing. Why
can you not aske them for money?
Cap.
S'life, a man may plot till his heart ake, and you still
seeke to crosse mee, you will vndoe me in my designes.
Host.
You haue more signes in your head, then hang at all
the Alehouses in towne againe.
Cap.
Prethee woman, heare mee what I say. I know they
come to spend vpon mee, and will crouch, and doe any
thing, yet when I out of my noblenesse, and beyond expectation,
shall vse them so curteously, 'twill be such an ingagement,
that I can borrow ten or twenty peeces of them at my
pleasure.
Host.
I tell you I can not doe it, nor I will not.
Cap.
Faith Gentlemen I must entreat you to excuse mee,
my Hostesse is not very well shee tells mee, and I thinke shee
is not so well stor'd with necessaries to entertaine you, as I
could wish; and indeed shee has nere a spitt in the house,
therefore wee'l deferr it till to morrow night, when 'twill
be more convenient at a Taverne.
Fid.
Well sir, your excuse shall prevaile, wee are not inexorable
vpon extremity.
Cap.
In his you haue wonne mee to your observance
for ever.
Fid.
Captaine I haue another thing to propound to you,
heere is a friend of mine has lately receiu'd injury from one
Gentleman is so apprehensiue of his disgrace, that he can not
possible put it vp with safety of his reputation, and therefore
desires to haue it determined in plaine field. Now as hee is informed,
his adversary accepts of it, and has chosen you for
his patron in the quarrell.
Cap.
By the shine of Phœbus, I wonder what strange impudence
has possest him. As I am a man to honour, I haue
brought him successiuely off from a hundred of these, to the
perrill of my life, and yet am dayly obnoxious to new assaults
for him.
Fid.
Then you disclaime to haue any hand in the action.
Cap.
By the passion of valour, Gentlemen Ile tell you, I
loue a noble imployment with my life, but for such a pittifull,
drunken, shallow coxcombe, I hate to be seene in such a businesse.
Fid.
Doe you thinke no better of him, Captaine? if he
be so vnworthy, I would advise you not to meddle with him.
Cap.
By the faith of a Soldier, if he haue any care of his
credit, let him not deale with him, he will but defile himselfe
with such an abject: I hold him to be so poore condition'd, I
would not enter a Countrey Gentleman vpon him.
Fid.
Yet you keepe him company, Captaine.
Cap.
I confesse I haue done, and my intendments were
good in it; I saw him so raw, and young, I was induc'd to
beleeue there might be some hopes of him: but after much
impulsion, when I found him so vnapt, and indocile in his
owne nature, I gaue him lost, and so I esteeme of him, by
my life.
Carelesse puts off his disguise.
Car.
Oh thou trecherous villaine, dost thou betray mee
to my selfe, and belye mee to my face? how many quarrels
haue you brought mee off from?
Cap.
Never none by Ioue.
Car.
I will not raile at you, but I will cudgell you, and
kicke you, you man of valour.
Cap.
Hold as thou art a man of renowne, thou wilt strike
thy foote into mee else, my body is as tender as a bogg.
Thou cowardly perfidious rascall: haue I for this
made thee my associate, payd for thy swaggerings, and breaking
of Tapsters, and Ostlers pates, fed thee at a charge a
man might haue built an Hospitall; drencht thee with Sacke,
and Tobacco, as thy face can witnesse?
Cap.
Oh hold as thou art worshipfull.
Car.
Come sir surrender your robes, that you haue polluted
with cosenage. Here Fido, take this hat and cloake: I
will not leaue him a covering for his knavery: these are the
trophies of your treachery, these.
Cap.
Nay good sir doe not pillage mee of all, stay till I get
my owne againe.
Car.
If Lackwit will restore them he may, else you must resolue
to goe bareheaded before your right worshipfull fortune,
with a truncheon in your hand like a Verger, and so I
leaue you. Come Fido now for my Mistresse.
Cap.
Well, those good qualities that are bred in a man,
will never out of him thats my comfort.
Ile seeke a better and more thriving trade.
Scena. VI.
Aurelio, Spruse.Aur.
Come sir, now I haue found you, not the power,
And strength of fate, shall pull you from my vengeance.
And though I know thy life too meane a ransome
For the redeeming of the pricelesse losse
Of her abused honour, Yet what Nature
Enables thee to pay, Ile take in part,
And leaue the execution of the rest
Vnto Hels iustice.
Spr.
What doe you intend sir?
Aur.
Looke you: t'unfold your heart sir with this sword,
And reade the falshood that is written in it.
Come I must know the truth, and reason too,
If there be reason for a wicked act.
Spr.
You meane about Valeria?
Aur.
The same.
And sends forth many a scowling, fearfull looke,
To descry danger; if he stand confident,
And justify it to the face of terrour,
Then she is false.
Spr.
I heare she is runne mad.
Aur.
Is, and the cause of her distemperature
Is the reproach you put upon her honour.
Spr.
The wound then is too deepe, and an ill Fate
Has driven the shaft of my intended malice
Beyond the scope I aim'd at.
Aur.
Was it malice?
That word has strooke me both with joy and anger,
Both in suspence, which should weigh downe the scale
Of my deep burdned mind. What horrid basenesse
Durst so attempt to prophane innocence?
Spr.
It was my love to her.
Aur.
What is his hate,
Whose love has prov'd so ominous?
Spr.
That love
Being wrong'd, begot that hate.
Aur.
Thou hast done ill.
And like a foolish and young Exorcist,
Hast conjur'd up a spirit of that fury,
Thy art cannot allay.
Spr.
Repentance may.
I only meant to give her name a gash,
That might be heal'd againe without a scarre,
Or any spreading playster of wide rumour,
With helpe of her compurgators, but only
To vexe her.
Aur.
What's the offence that did provoke
This imputation? Did she ever wrong you?
Maligne your wit? Disgrace you before your Mistris?
Disparage your behaviour? Had she done so,
Yet this revenge were disproportionate.
Spr.
Vrge me no more, I cannot looke on her
Without such a reflection of my crime,
As must give shame a lustre; there's no man
Nay perhaps contrary: this is a deed
I must abhorre to justify.
Aur.
You have given
Almost a satisfaction.
Spr.
Twas a scandall,
Arose from my repulse, and has no witnesse
Besides your eares; if it were silenc'd there,
The world were ignorant of it; I heare
She is runne mad upon the griefe, I am sorry
Her punishment has outstript my desires.
Ile undertake, what ere you shall propose,
For the recovery of her wits, or honour.
Aur.
And Ile make use of your kind profer sir.
Spr.
I will resigne her where she most affects,
And give you all assistance to obtaine her.
Aur.
You speake honestly, I shall imploy you;
I know you have that credite with her father,
You may advise him in a thing that reason
Shall seeme to second; bring but this to passe,
You have made requitall for all injuries.
Spr.
Shew me the way, Ile do't; be you the mover,
Ile be the instrument.
Aur.
You are my Genius,
My hope, my opportunity, my Fate;
And in effecting this you cannot erre,
To make me happy, and recover her.
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