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The fifth Scœne.
Enter young Worthy by the middle Scœne.Y. Wor.
Is't possible such shew of resolution
Should appeare in Cowards! I'le make them friends.
And that being done mine owne intentions
Must be pursu'd to finde that Gentleman
Courted my Sister. Love of all sorts bends
It selfe to courses for it's severall ends.
Dobs.
Now for a daring Constable.
Ralph.
Without his staffe of authoritie, or a fortification
of Sack. A Constable may be valiant when hee commands
others what he cannot doe himselfe.
Y. Wor.
What! my paire of valiant Cowards! friends
already.
Dobs.
How! Cowards! swallow that word, or it shall
choake thee.
Y. W.
These fellowes have out gone their Commission
and rob'd them: I was a wise man to come abroad without
a sword.
Ralph.
Hee hath never a sword. Sirrah, thou man of
presumption, that hast profan'd our incomparable valour,
redeeme thy forfeited life of our mercie with some gold
or silver pictures out of thy silken pockets.
Y. Wor.
They'l rob me too: Why, Gentlemen, silke
clothes have not money in them at all times.
Ralph.
He lookes terribly Dobson. Call upon Sack.
Dobs.
I will cleave him at one stroke.
Y. W.
Doe you meane to murther a Gentleman?
Artl.
Murder a Gentleman the voyce came thence.
Ile rescue him, though danger and destruction
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Y. W.
You have done a benefit I must acknowledge.
Artl.
That's to reward it sir; from which base ends
Good actions should be free. I'de gladly heare
A short relation of the Accident.
Dobs.
Why dost thou quake so Ralph?
Ralh.
Why dost thou tremble so Dobson? I dare bee
whipt if these bee not some kin to the Gentlewoman that
sent us hither from the thing at yonder house.
Y. W.
Were you sent to rob or kill me?
Dobs.
Alas Gentlemen, we are very ingrums.
Ralph.
Meere Country Animals. Wee have valour to
steale a May-pole, or rob the Parsons Hens-nest: but to
kill a man as far from our intents or daring, as pittie from
an Executioner, or bashfulnesse from a Jingo.
Y. W.
Forbeare the rest. This affords me matter: Returne
to that house, there leave your bootie and receive
your reward; onely this I'le keepe.
Ralph.
With all our hearts: wee had rather any body
should have them, then the hangman both them and us
for them. Come Dobson, we have got the money yet; and
a little sack will animate us againe. My soul's under foot;
I must raise it: But if ever I quarrell againe by Moone-shine
unlesse I am drunk, valour forsake me.
Goe forth by the left Scœne.
Y. W.
Blest Accident I 'tis surely the same.
After a stricter view, my memory
Vnlesse it erres, tells me I have seene your person
Before this at my fathers.
Artl.
If you are the son of Sir Generous Worthy.
Y. H.
It was the blessing
Nature and Fortune did bestow on me.
Art.
It is indeed a blessing, when the vertues
Of noble Races are hereditary;
And doe derive themselves from th'imitation
Of vertuous Ancestours. You have a faire Sister.
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Her beautie is not worth your commendations.
Artl.
Your modestie is too severe
In your restraint from praising her pure excellence,
Which should be Poets studie; not with fiction,
And common figures, but diviner attributes:
Then they must call it nothing but it selfe.
Y. W.
Have I found you? I shall search you deeper.
Artl.
The subjects weight would make a Poem weighty;
And take away the imputation
Which seeming solidnesse would throw upon't
Of a light fancie.
Y. W.
It seemes you love my Sister?
Artl.
He were a Divell did not love such goodnesse.
It is the onely vertue frailty boasts of,
To love faire sensuall objects: but my soule
Hath noted inward beauty in her mind,
Which makes me glory (though it be presumption)
That I doe love her.
Y. W.
Cal't not presumption sir, you doe deserve her,
In that you have indear'd me for my life
Who am her Brother. And I commend your wit,
Which I presume my Sisters love hath whetted.
'Twas a quaint Plott. Were th'Actors here againe,
I'd pay their wages.
Artl.
Your Riddle needs some Oedipus to solve it.
Y. W.
Why sir, ridiculous fables
May sometimes serve for imitation.
Though twere a meere appointment in this rescue,
To shew your love and valour.
Artl.
What base suspition
Poysons his jealous thoughts! 'Tis injurie
Beyond all patience.
Y. W.
Alas sir, you are mov'd?
Art.
Yes, to an indignation, whose just heat
Burnes me almost to rage. But there are charmes
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You are her Brother.
Young. Wor.
It seemes your guilt dare not denie the truth?
Artl.
Dare not denie it!
Were thy hands armd with Thunder;
Hadst thou a Gorgons looke, wer't not her Brother,
Ring'd in the terror of a thousand Jibbets
And executioners, I have a point
Should finde thy hart out.
Y. W.
But I must tell you sir,
Seldome high spirits that pursue their honours,
With earnest flights, will stoop at weake respects:
But prey upon th'opinion of those men
That scan their actions; tearing their reputations
Out of suspitions bowels. Hee's not a Gentleman
Will not preserve his honour.
Artl.
Your speech, Sir,
Savours of strange severity. My honour
Is that part of my selfe, without which
The man that's in me can have no subsisting.
Honour's the greatest of exteriour goods,
And must be still pursu'd as the reward
Due unto vertue, through the greatest dangers.
Yet fortitude is not the appetite
Of formidable things, nor inconsult
Rashnes; but vertue fighting for a truth;
Deriv'd from knowledge of distinguishing
Good or bad causes. Thinke me not a Coward
Because I am not rash: nor through defect
Of better counsell, doe not resist the force
Of will or passion; howsoe're your jealousie
Proceeding from our better thoughts infection
Hath beene a provocation. And perhaps
The love I beare your Sister, will appeare
Your chiefest safety.
Y. Wor.
In an attempt of right
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Can arme me with But if you love my Sister,
It must be honourable and not wanton:
She will finde Champions else.
Artl.
It must be honourable!
Those words include a doubt works strangely in me.
Love must not wrack my reputation.
Sir, I begin to scan the circumstance,
And conster your intention. You would trie me:
But your temptations have beene too abusive.
And now my resolution is prepar'd
To doe my credit justice.
Y. W.
You will not fight with me that am her Brother?
Artl.
There's Magick in those words.
Y. W.
I doe presume my Sister will reward you
For these expressions. She is free to pay
Her servants promis'd wages; be it kisses,
Or any other dalliance.
Artl.
What a prophane breath from his blacke mouth flies,
Would poison all the idolatrous religions
That e're aw'd wicked mortalls.
He is not sure her brother, but some impostor,
That onely counterfeit's his worthier person.
I could be patient at the lye, or Coward,
Or any thing that can make passion violent.
But her bright honour staind's a cause of justice
To arme a Nation. Draw, if th'art a man;
And with the plea of valour, (if th'ast any)
Defend thy errours: Draw thy sword.
Y. W.
Not against him that loves my Sister.
Artl.
Is my just anger mock't! love made ridiculous!
Draw; lest I make my selfe an Executioner.
And doe an act of justice on thy guilt.
Y. W.
Never against your bosome, where a spirit
So truely noble dwel's, that hath converted
All my faign'd jealousies to usefull love.
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I am confounded to amazement.
Y. W.
Pray reconcile all your distractions.
Let not the least distrust abuse your confidence
Of what I undertake. My Sister's yours,
If the advise of me that am her Brother,
And interested in her good or ill,
Can be prevailing.
Artl.
Then requesting Sir,
That you'l presume no more upon the priviledge
Of that pure love I beare your vertuous Sister
T'admit a jealousie of any action,
Or thought of mine which tends not unto noblenesse,
Next unto her my bosome holds you deare,
And shall doe ever.
Y. W.
So mine the like. Thus noble causes
Put fire into the spirits of full men.
Though sometimes seeming valour may arise
Through lust or wine, from hatefull cowardise.
Goe forth by the left Scœne.
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