University of Virginia Library

Actus Quintus.

Matilda, Theodore.
Mat.
I'll not refuse my Uncles courtesie,
But go and see his House; I should before
Have done that duty to him, but I thought
My visits were not welcom, since he liv'd
So close and privately.

Theod.
Sweet Coz', you'll finde
A happy alteration in my Father,
And that there dwels a kinde and honest soul
Within his brest; though wretched Avarice
The usual fault of age, have heretofore
Too much kept back the good expressions
Of suchlike thoughts, he now will make a mends
To all the world, and has begun already
With his poor Neighbours.

Mat.
Cozen, I shall be
Too bad a Guest at this sad time, and bring
Nothing but sorrow to my Uncles house.

Theod.
You'll be your self a welcom Guest to him;
And I shall think our roof exceeding happy
If it may mitigate that killing grief
Which your so solitary life too much
Has nourish'd in you Cozen, feed it not;
'Tis a disease that will in time consume you.
I have already giv'n the best advice
That my poor knowledge will afford, to ease
Your troubled thoughts If time which heaven allows
To cure all grief, should not have power to do it;
If death of Father, Mother, Husband, Wife,
Should be lamented still, the world would wear
Nothing but black. Sorrow alone would reign
In every Family that lives, and bring
Upon poor Mortals a perpetual night.
You must Forget it, Cozen.

Mat.
Never can I
Forget my love to him.

Theod.
Nor do I strive
To teach you to forget that love you bear
To his dear memory, but that grief which lies
Wrapt in amongst it, and turns all to Poyson;
Making it mortal to that soul that tastes it.
'Tis that, sweet Cozen, which I hope that time
May by degrees extinguish. Will you please
To walk along? my Father long ere this
Expects us I am sure, and longs to see you.

Exeunt.
Eugeny in the Officers Hands.
Eug.
I blame you not at all, that by the Law
And vertue of your places, are requir'd
To apprehend me.

Offi.
We are sorry, Sir,
We were inforc'd to see you.

Eug.
But I wonder
What curious eye it was that search'd so far
Into my secret walks, that did discover
This dark abode of mine, and envy'd me
My solitary sorrow; such a life
As I enjoy'd, a man might well afford
To his most great and mortal Enemy.

Offi.
'Twas a plain fellow, Sir, that brought us hither,
In the Kings name, and left us when we had you.
But Sir, we wish you all the good we may

Eug.
I thank you Friends; I cannot tell at all
Whom to suspect, nor will I further vex
My thoughts in search of such a needless thing.
I call to minde what once my Theodore
Told me by way of a surmise, but sure
It cannot be so foul; shall I entreat you
To carry me to old Sir Argent Scrape
My Kisman? I would onely speak with him
Before I go to prison; And let one,
If you can spare a man, go run for me
To Mr. Earthworm's house, and bid his son
Meet me with old Sir Argent; he lies now
At my Lady Covets house: I have about me
What will reward your pains, and highly too.

Offi.
It shall be done as you would have it, Sir.

Eug.
I dare not send to fair Artemia:
The sight of her, and of so dear a sorrow
As she would shew, would but afflict me more.
Perchance I may come safely off; till then
I would conceal this accident from her.
But Fame is swiftest still when she goes laden
With news of mischief. She too soon will hear,
And in her sorrow I shall doubly suffer.
Thus are we Fortunes pastimes, one day live
Advanc'd to Heaven by the peoples breath,
The next hurl'd down into th'Abyss of death.

Enter Euphues, Artemia.
Euph.
But are you sure 'tis hereabouts he lives?
Ha! who is that? 'tis he, and in the hands
Of Officers; Cozen, the mischief's done
Before we come.

Art.
O my dear Eugeny!

Eug.
Artemia too? Ay me! she swoons: help, help!
Look up, my Love; there is no fear at all
For me; no danger, all is safe, and full
Of hope and comfort.

Euph.
She begins to come
Unto her self again.

Eug.
But pray Sir, tell,
How came you hither, Noble Euphues?

Euph.
I never knew the place; but now by her
Instructions found it out: I came to bear
Her company; and her intent of comming
Was to inform you of a danger neer,
Of such a monstrous mischief, as perchance
You scarce can credit; old Sir Argent Scrape
By me, and by another Gentleman,
Was overheard to say, That he had Scouts,
And had laid certain plots to apprehend
His Kinsman Eugeny just before th'Assizes,
Besides what further means he did intend
Closely to work your death, he then declar'd
To the old covetous Lady, whom he came
A Suiter to.

Eug.
Prophetick Theodore,
How right thou wert!

Euph.
This thing when I had heard,
I told it her; and we with speed made hither,
But ere we came, the mischief was fulfil'd.

Eug.
I thank you, Sir, for this discovery:
How ere I speed, I pray pardon me, if I
Shall by the Hand of Justice, die your Debtor.
How soon from Vertue, and an honoured Spirit,
Man may receive what he can never merit!
Be not thou cruel, my Artemia;
Do not torment me with thy grief, and make
Me die before my time; let hope a while
Suspend thy sorrow; if the worst should fall,
Thy sorrow would but more enfeeble me,
And make me suffer faintly for thy sake.

Art.
If worst should fall, my Love (which Heaven forefend)
How could I chuse but suffer?

Euph.
I will hope
Your safety yet may well be wrought, and knowing
Sir Argent's minde, you know what wayes to trust.

Art.
Good Cozen help us with thy counsel now,
If thou do'st love my life.

Euph.
Fear it not Coz';
If I may aide you, Sir, in any thing,
You shall command it.

Eug.
Sir, I cannot thank you
So much as it deserves; this timely favour,
If not in life, yet shall at least in death
Endeare me to you.

Art.
Do not name that word,
My dearest love.

Euph.
You must be speedy, Sir,
In all your courses now.

Eug.
Then let me begge
That you would meet me at my Lady Covets.
Ile ring Sir Argent Scrape so loud a peale,
As shall perchance awake his bedder'd soule,
And rowze it, though so deepely sunke in drosse,
Drown'd and orewhelm'd with mucke. Goe you together,
And leave me to my way.

Art.
Farewel deare love.

Exeunt.
Enter Barnet. Lady Whimsey.
Bar.
Madam, 'tis sure; I know your Ladyship
Is so possest.

La. Whim.
I think he loves me well,
And will not now start backe from marrying me.

Bar.
That is the happy hour he only longs for,
But if so strange a thing should come to passe,
(Which yet I think impossible) that this
Your marriage should break off; I will give backe
Into your hand this bond which I receiv'd;
And 'tis worth nothing, Madam, as you know
By the condition.

La. Whim
True, I fear it not;
But I durst trust you if 'twere otherwise.

Bar.
He waits the hour when you will please to ty
The happy knot with him.

La. Whim.
He shall no longer
Waite for it now; Ile goe confirme him.

Bar.
But think not, Gentle-Madam, that I sharke,
Or cheat him in it; I have to a sum
Greater then this from him as good a title
As right can give; though my unhappy fortunes
Made me forbeare the tryal of my title
Whiles his old crafty father was alive;
He held from me a farme of greater value,
As all the Neighbours know; I then forbore it,
And will do still, since by an easyer way
I may have satisfaction. But here comes
Enter Trusty. Lady Covet.
One that has lost a marriage.

La Cov.
Tell me, Trusty,
What say the feoffees?

Tru.
They'll say nothing, Madam,
Make me no answer, but that they know how
To manage their own fortunes.

La. Cov.
All the world
Conspires against me; I am quite undone.

Tru.
I promise you truly, Madam, I believe
They meane little better then plain knavery.

La. Cov.
I, 'tis too true.

La. Whim.
How does your Ladyship?
I was in hope to day we should have seen you
A joyful Bride.

Cov.
Ah Madam, 'twas my folly
To dream of such a thing; 'tis that has brought me
To all this sorrow, and undone me quite.

Whim.
I hope not so. But, Madam, I confesse,
The marriage could have done you little good;
One of your years, and then a man so old.

Cov.
Oh do not mention it; I am justly punish'd.

Whim.
Pardon me, Madam, I must make so bold
As leave you for a while. Come Mr. Barnet,
Shall we goe see the party? I wait you, Madam.

Exeunt.
Cov.
My sorrow will not leave me. But, alas!
'Tis a deserved punishment I suffer
For my unjust oppressions; I detain'd
Scudmore's estate injuriously, and had
No conscience to restore what was not mine:
And now all's tane away; what then I would not,
I cannot now performe, though I desire.

Enter Freeman. Artemia.
Free.
Feare not, Artemia, there shall no meanes
Be left untry'd to save the Gentleman
I did approve thy choice, and still will do,
If fortune will consent. My Lady Covet,
Are you sad still?

Cov.
Never had any woman
A greater cause of sorrow, Mr. Freeman,
For I protest it does not trouble me
So much, that by this cheat I lose the power
Of my estate, as that I lose all meanes
Of charity, or restitution,
To any person whom I wrong'd before.

Free.
Why then you make a true and perfect use
Of such a crosse, and may hereafter take
True comfort from it.

Cov.
If my conscience
Were satisfi'd, I could forsake the rest.

Enter Euphues.
Euph.
My Cozen I perceive has made more hast
Hither then I; but I have seen a pageant
That in the saddest time would make one laugh.

Free.
What, prethee?

Euph.
I have seen your neighbour Earthworm
In such a mood as you would wonder at,
And all that ever knew him heretofore.
He is inveighing 'gainst Sir Argent Scrape
For being so basely covetous, as thus
For hope of lucre to betray his kinsman;
A thing that he himself would scorne as much,
He does protest, as can be.

Free.
I have known
It otherwise; what may not come to passe
When Earthworm is a foe to avarice?

Euph.
But he they say has made it good in deedes.

Free.
He has been so exceeding bountiful
Now to our poore, and vowes to be so still,
That we may well beleeve he is quite chang'd,
And strives to make amends for what is past.
He has they say a brave and vertuous sonne
Lately come home, that has been cause of all.

Euph.
It well may be; I know yong Theodore;
Uncle, he is of strange abilities,
And to convert his father was an act
Worthy of him.

Enter servant, and Sir Argent in his chaire.
Serv.
Madam, Sir Argent Scrape would take his leave
Of you.

Cov.
When it please him.

Arg.
Get me my litter
Ready presently, I will be gone, Madam,
I now am come to give you loving thanks
For my good cheare, and so bid you farewel:
But let me tell you this before we part,
Things might have been carryed another way
For your own good; but you may thank your self
For what has happen'd now.

Cov.
If you suppose
It had been for my good to marry you,
You are deceiv'd, for that in my esteem
(Though once I was so foolish to give way
To that ridiculous motion) had brought with it
As great a misery as that which now
Is fall'n upon me.

Arg.
How, as great a misery
As to be begger'd?

Cov.
Yes Sir, Ile assure you
I am of that opinion, and still shall be:
But know, Sir Argent, though I now want power
To give you that which you still gap'd for, wealth,
I can be charitable, and bestow
Somewhat upon you that is better farre.

Arg.
Better then wealth? what's that?

Cov.
Honest counsel:
Let my calamitie admonish you
To make a better use of your large wealth,
While you may call it yours: things may be chang'd:
For know, that hand that has afflicted me,
Can find out you: you do not stand above it.

Arg.
I hope I shall know how to keepe mine own.

Euph.
I do begin to pity the poore Lady.

Free.
This has wrought goodness in her. Who are these?
Enter Earthworm and Theodore.
My neighbour Earthworm? Lord! how he is chang'd.

Earth.
'Twas basely done, and like a covetous wretch,
Ile tell him to his face: what care I for him?
I have a purse, as well as he.

Euph.
How's this?

Earth.
Betray a kinsmans life to purchase wealth?
Oh detestable!

Euph.
Oh miraculous change!
Do you not heare him Uncle?

Earth.
Mr. Freeman,
Happily met.

Free.
Sir I am glad to see you.

Earth.
I have been long your neighbour Sir, but liv'd
In such a fashion as I must indeavour
To make a mends hereafter for, and strive
To recempence with better neighbourhood.

Free.
It joyes me much to see this change in you.

Earth.
Pardon my boldness, Madam, that I make
This intrusion.

Cov.
Y'are welcome, Mr. Earthworm.

Euph.
Let me be bold then, noble Theodore,
To claime our old acquaintance.

Theod.
I shall think it
My honour, worthy Sir, to hold that name.

Earth.
Is that Sir Argent Scrape in the chair yonder?

Free.
Yes, Sir.

Earth.
Oh fy upon him: but soft,
Eugeny brought in.
He will be told on't now.

Arg.
Ha! Eugeny,
Why have they brought him hither?

Eug.
I am come:
Me thinks these looks of mine, inhumane wretch,
Though I were silent, should have power to pierce
That treacherous breast, and wound thy conscience
Though it be hard, and senseless, as the idol
Which thou ador'st, thy gold.

Arg.
Is this to me,
Kinsman, you speak?

Eug.
Kinsman? do not wrong
That honest name, with thy unhallowed lips.
To finde a name for thee, and thy foule guilt,
Has so farre pos'd me, as I cannot make
Choice of a language fit, to tell thee of it:
Treacherous bloody man, that hast betray'd
And sold my life to thy base avarice.

Arg.
Who, I betray you?

Eug.
Yes, can you deny it?

Cov.
Ile witness it against him, if he do.
'Twas his intent I know.

Euph.
And so do I,
I overheard his counsels.

Earth.
Out upon him,
Unworthy man.

Euph.
I could e'ene laugh to heare
Old Earthworm chide.

Eug.
But think upon the deed,
Think on your own decrepid age, and know,
That day by natures possibilitie
Cannot be farre from hence, when you must leave
Those wealthy hoords that you so basely lov'd,
And carry nothing with thee, but the guilt
Of impious getting; then if you would glve
To pious uses what you cannot keep,
Think what a wretched Charity it is;
And know, this Act shall leave a greater stain
On your detested memory, then all
Those seeming deeds of Charity can have
A power to wash away; when men shall say,
In the next age, This goodly Hospital,
This house of Alms, this School, though seeming fair,
Was the foul issue of a cursed murther,
And took foundation in a Kinsmans Blood.
The priviledge that rich men have in evil,
Is, that they go unpunish'd to the Devil.

Arg.
Oh! I could wish the deed undone again:
Ah me! What means are left to help it now?

Free.
Sure the old man begins to melt indeed.

Eug.
Now let me turn to you, my truer Friends,
Enter Fruitful & Trusty.
And take my last farewell.

Euph.
My noble Chaplain,
What pranks comes he to play now? I had thought
His business had been done.

Fruit.
Health to you Madam.

Cov.
How can you wish me health, that have so labour'd
To ruine me in all things?

Fruit.
No, good Madam,
'Twas not your ruine, but your good I sought.
Nor was it to deprive you of your means,
But onely rectifie your conscience.

Fcee.
How's this?

Euph.
Another fetch; this may be worth
The hearing.

Fruit.
Madam, you convey'd away
To three good Honest men, your whole Estate.

Cov.
They have not prov'd so honest; I had thought
I might have trusted them.

Fruit.
Then give me hearing:
They by the vertue of that Deed possest,
Have back again convey'd it all to you.

Cov.
Ha?

Fruit.
Madam, 'twas done before good Witnesses,
Of which your Steward here, was one.

Trust.
Most true.

Fruit.
And all the other are well known to you;
Here is the Deed.

Free.
Let me peruse it Madam.

Cov.
Good Mr Freeman do.

Euph.
What plot is this?

Freeman reads it to himself
Fruit.
One Mannor onely they except from hence,
Which they suppose you did unjustly hold
From the true Heir; his name was Scudmore, Madam.

Cov.
I do confess I did unjustly hold it,
And since have grieved much, that while I might,
I made not restitution.

Fruit.
He was poor,
And by the Law could not recover it,
Therefore this means was taken; by this Deed
They have convey'd it hither, where it ought
Of right to be: are you content with this?
And all the rest of your Estate is yours.

Cov.
With all my heart.

Free.
Madam, the Deed is good.

Cov.
For that Estate which justly is pass'd over
To Scudmores Heir, I am so well content,
As that, before these Gentlemen, I promise
To pay him back all the Arrearages
Of whatsoever profits I have made.

Fruit.
I thank your Ladyship; Now know your Chaplain
That wanted Orders.

Cov.
Mr. Scudmore living!

discovers himself.
Euph.
My Friend, how could'st thou keep conceal'd so long
From me?

Scud.
Excuse it, noble Euphues.

Arte.
Oh happiness! beyond what could be hop'd!
My Eugeny is safe, and all his griefs
At quiet now.

Eug.
Is this a vision,
A meer fantastick shew? or do I see
Scudmore himself alive? then let me beg
Pardon from him.

Scud.
Long ago 'twas granted;
Thy love I now shall seek: but though a while
For these my ends I have conceal'd my self,
I ever meant to secure thee from danger.

Eug.
What strange unlook'd for happiness this day
Has brought forth with it!

Scud.
To tell you by what means
I was most strangely cur'd, and found a way
How to conceal my life, will be too long
Now to discourse of here, I will anon
Relate at large; but one thing much has griev'd me,
That my too long concealment has been cause
Of so much sorrow to my constant Love,
The fair Matilda. Sir, she is your Neece,
Let me intreat my pardon, next to her,
From you.

Earthw.
You have it: Go, good Theodore,
And bring her hither, but prepare her first:
Too sudden apprehension of a joy
Is sometimes fatal.

Theod.
I'll about it gladly.

Exit.
Euph.
Dear Cozen Eugeny, if I yet may be
Thought worthy of that name, pardon my crime,
And my whole life, how short soere it be,
Shall testifie my love to be unfained.

Eug.
I do forgive you freely Now to you
Grave Sir, in whose rich bounty it must lie,
To make me happy, in conferring on me
So bright a Jewel as Artemia,
'Tis your consent I beg.

Free.
You have it freely;
Her heart I know, she gave you long ago,
And here I give her hand.

Eug.
A richer gift
Then any Monarch of the world can give.
Blest happyness! gently my joyes distil,
Lest you do break the vessel you should fill.

Enter Barnet, Dotterel, Whimsey.
Euph.
Here comes another couple to make up
The dayes festivitie. Joy to you, Madam.

Whim.
Thanks noble Euphues.

Dot.
We have ty'd the knot
That cannot be undone: this Gentleman
Is witness of it.

Bar.
Yes, I saw it finisht.

Whim.
Mrs. Artemia, as I suppose,
I may pronounce as much to you.

Art.
You may
As much as I shall wish your Ladyship.

Enter Theodore and Matilda.
Scud.
Here comes the dearest object of my soule,
In whom too much I see my cruelty,
And chide my self; Oh pardon me, deare Love,
That I too long a time have tyranniz'd
Over thy constant sorrow.

Mat.
Dearest Scudmore,
But that my worthy Cozen has prepar'd
My heart for this, I should not have believ'd
My flattering eyes.

Scud.
To know brave Theodore,
Next to enjoying thee, was my ambition;
Which now affinity hath blest me with.

Eug.
His friendship, worthy Scudmore, is a treasure.

Theod.
I shall endeavour to deserve your loves.

Earth.
Come, leave your complements, at all hands now,
And hear an old man speak; I must entreat
This favour from all this noble company,
Especially from you good Mr. Freeman,
Although this be your Daughters wedding-day,
That you would all be pleas'd to be my Guests,
And keep with me your marriage-festivals.
Grant my request.

Free.
'Tis granted, Sir, from me.

Eug.
And so I think from all the company.

Earth.
Then let's be merry, Earthworme's jovial now,
And that's as much as he desires from you.