University of Virginia Library

The third Scœne.

Enter Sir Generovs Worthy, Ierker, Artlove, Y. Worthy, Svsan, Ieffrey, by the middle Scœne.
Sir Gen.

I have brought you some guests Wife. Send
your entertainment be worth their labour.

Lady.

I could wish it much better for Master Ierkers
sake.

Sir Gen.
I feare you are too free that way.
I am yet a man, and my declining age
Hath not so weakened judgement in me,
That passion should betray my jealous thoughts.
Nor can I but suspect, and must be satisfied.
Her woman is the instrument. Mris. Susan.

Y. W.
Pray Sir, let me prepare her. No more will I
In the severer Person of a counsellour
Instruct your care. But since by curious search
I have inform'd my knowledge
Even to satisfaction of his worth,
Let me commend this noble gentleman
Vnto your best desires; let him possesse them.

Dorot.
Brother, without mature consideration
I dare not doe an act; on which depends
Such dangerous events.

Y. W.
My love's your warrant.
Have not I searchd him throughly? have not I
Found him deserving all that's due to man,
Though malice were his judge. View but his person,
Art could not shape a more exact proportion:
And through his Christall bosome read his heart
Wherein such noble thoughts are character'd—

Susan.

You shall command a poore Gentleuman any
thing; neither doe I expect reward. I onely desire you
will accept it as an act of my love. But why should you
be jealous of my Lady.

Sir Gen.

Aske me no idle questions, but doe it. Thou
mayst bee a Lady thy selfe, if it lie in my power to raise
thee.

Susan.
Alas Sir, an old man raise a Gentleuman.

Dorot.
We have a father (Brother) to whose care
We owe another dutie, then that onely
Which Nature hath injoyn'd us for receiving
Our beings from him. Let not our rash wills
Sway'd onely by desire, run any course
Agrees not with his liking: Yet I'le tell
The Gentleman how much he owes your love
For thus commending him.

Lady.
How now Sir Generous?
Courting my woman? am not I warme enough
To thaw your frozen appetite?

Susan.

Truly Sir, if my Lady knew how much I lov'd
you, 'twould make her jealous.

Lady.
Indeed it would not.
Revenge should be a remedie.

Sir Gen.
That's my feare.

Lady.
Nay, to her againe; you are not the first
That hath abus'd his Lady.

Sir Gen.

Wife, forgoe these fond thoughts, and with
care apply your selfe to entertain these gentlemen.
I'le to my closet.

goes forth.
Lady.
I want but th'opportunity of their absence,
Which I must straight contrive.

Artl.
I am now animated
To come the neerest way without more circumstance;
And tell you how your beauty and your vertues
Have won on my desires to make them yours.

Dorot.
I thanke you Sir, and could mine owne eyes see
But halfe that worth my Brother sayes is in you,
My equall thoughts should answer.

Y. W.
What said she Sir?

Artl.
It seemes you did commend me!

Y. W.
Yes by my hopes of good, no otherwise
Then I desire to have my selfe commended
Vpon the like occasion.

Artl.
I must thanke you Sir.

Y. W.
I doe interpret it; and have thought upon
Another tryall. Let me intreat you Sister
To conster my intentions right. Though I
Commended him, 'twas onely to distinguish
Your passion and your reason. Now I find
The latter strongest, that you refuse the love
Of one so much defective.

Dorot.
How! defective!
Brother, my judgement hath as searching eyes
Can see the fulnesse of his manly worth
Through all the vailes of your detraction.
And now to shew how much I doe prefer
The freedome of my will before your counsell;
I'le tell him I doe love him.

Y. W.
Sister, I hope
You are not earnest!

Dorot.
As earnest as my love;
Which since I first beheld him tooke possession
Of all my thoughts, though customary nicenesse
Restraind me from discovering them; but now—

Lady.
Pray daughter oversee the servants.

Exit Dorothy.
Y. W.

Mother beshrew your heart, she was in a good
veine. But come sir, wee'l pursue it.

Exeunt young Worthy, and Artlove.
Ieffr.

It hath beene no small punishment for mee to

hold my peace all this while. My Cousin is morall before
companie and counsel's my manners. But now I hope
my tongue shall have libertie; and her's my Ladies gentleuman
to exercise it with.

La.
Your little Cousin may stay. How like you the plot?

Ierk.
As the end proves it. And since your constancie
Hath held out 'gainst my leud temptations,
Which have as well beene tryals of your vertues
As acts of wantonnesse, I here desist.
Henceforth my tongue shall never utter sound
Offensive to your modestie.

Lady.
Pray let's sit,
And enter on the project, though it benice
When wit masks vertue in a cloke of vice.

Susan.

They are going to it, and heer's a little one will
tell. Pray sir, can you keepe counsell?

Ieffr.

As well as a woman.

Susan.

Indeed they and children are kin.

Jeffr.

You need not feare your secrets.

Susan.

Then I shall love you heartily. But pray Sir, no
medling with a gentleumans apron. Here's that will helpe
your growth: please you to partake.

Ieffr.

She abuseth me, I must fit her. What is't Mistris?

Susan.

Sack I assure you Sir; and I hope you will love
a poore gentleumans as she loves you.

Ieffr.

If the Butler be not too deeply interested.

Lady.

Secretarie.

Susan.

Madame.

Lady.

You forget your imployment.

Susan.

I saw your Ladiship doe nothing yet.

Lady.

Doe we not kisse!

Susan.

I runne then, and dare not looke backe for feare
of blushing.

Exit.
Ieffr.

What strange contrivement's this?