University of Virginia Library

The third Scœne.

To them Franke, Ciceley, Stitchwell, Wife, Bellamie, and George behind the women.
Frank.
The room's possest.

Sam.
You may command a resignation.

Iam.
Please you t'admit us; we would faine partake
Your worth and company.

Frank.
Your friends Will Changelove?

Chang.
Yes, noble sir.

Frank.
They'r welcome to my knowledge.
Numbers addition will increase our mirth,
And swell it to more height.

Bella.
Arme me now confidence,
And teach my tongue, that never spake untruth
From a consideration, practise lying,
And the denyall of my proper selfe.
It is my brother, hee'l discover me.

Sam.
'Tis surely she: they'r all her lineaments.
Had I ne're seene her; had not knowing sense
Power to distinguish, naturall instinct
Would tell me 'tis my sister. Why disguis'd?
And why come hither? it hath wrapt my reason
In mists of wonder. Yet I cannot feare
She hath betray'd her honour to base wantonnesse.
She had a guard of vertues; else hypocrisie
Taught her to seeme a Saint, and paint that goodnesse
With a false colour. Know you not my sweet heart?

Bella.
No indeed sir.

Sam.
Is not your name Bellamie?

Bella.
Neither sir.

Sam.
Deny's her selfe.
There's something in't above my reach of feare.
Passion forbeare me, and I'le worke with policie,
To find the scope of all.

Cice.
A sweet young Gentleman.
Is this your sweet-heart maid?

Sam.
Is she your servant?
I woud have cal'd her kinswoman for resemblance
She hath with one of mine.

Cice.
Your Aunt or Cousin?

Sam.
Meanes she in the mysticall sense of ill?

Iam.

Shall we dance gentlemen? Musicknesse, and let
activenesse freeze! Shall I use you sweet Mistris?

Wife.

Kindly sir, or I am waspish. A waspe you know
hath a sting.

Iam.
Please that grosse gentleman?

Wife.
By no meanes sir: dancing will hurt his Sciatica.

Iam.
Doe you know him then?

Wife.
Yes, and will know him better if he come neere me.
He is one into whom the spirit of Swetnam's crept.
I hope sir you are of a kinder disposition to our sexe.

Iam.
You see Mistris I am for their company any way.

Stitch.
Pray sir let's goe neerer the women.

Geor.
Pray sir forbeare: you'l not compell me rudely.
Perhaps ther's an aversion in my nature.
The company of women's mine affliction.

Stitch.
My wife shall vexe you then.

Chang.
And I love Mans societie: solid soules,
Void of all light impressions; whose discourse
Tends not to superficiall complement,
But hath more sense then sound.

Fran.
You are for dancing;
Possesse my roome.

Chang.
The womens creature sir.
There's Magick in their company that charmes
All masculine affections, but of pleasure
In their enjoying. I'le spin or threed their needles;
Read Spenser and th'Arcadia for their company.

Wife.
I'le dance with you Mr. Changelove.

Stitch.
One cup more, Ile be for the exercise.

Wife.

You'l have more anon husband, then your head will
well carry.

Geo.
She meanes hornes.
Which if I fayle to give her, may I turne
Chastities convert, and be mortifi'd
From my concupiscence with hourely discipline.

They dance.
Wife.
Why how now husband? you'l be tippled presently.

Stit.

Hold good wife, before strangers? T'other dozen,
and then I'm gone.

Wife.

I would you were gone once for me.

Geor.

So would I.

Stit.

Gentlemen, a health to—

Fran.

Whom sir?

Stit.

All the Cuckolds in the strand.

Wife.

Fye husband, you forget your selfe. Nay, gentlemen
hee is such another man; when hee hath got a cup or two
hee'l not stick to abuse his betters. I beseech you beare with
him, I shall be ready to beare with any of you.

Stit.

Wife, you shall drinke a health to all the Cuckoldmakers
in Cornwall.

Wife.

You meane wrestlers sweet-heart; you are so taken
with your Cornish Prentice. I tell yee gentlemen, hearing
him talke the other day of the hugge, I wisht him to
shew me what 'twas: the stiffe knave presently gives me a
fall: but it was upon a soft bed.

Frank.
Otherwise there had beene danger.

Iam.
Come sweet Mistris, the other dance.

Cice.
Will you make one sir?

Geo.
Alas faire Mistris, my grosse body wants
A mimick activenesse.

Cice.
But you can move sir?

Wif.

Bestir your stumps a little sir. Are women such bugbears,
especially handsome ones? for I have been flatter'd.

Stit.

Well said Wife; to him Wife.

Wif.

I durst undertake yet, had you one of us in a corner.

Geo.

How she instructs me! nay then.

Exit.
Fran.

Will you be gone George?

St.

After him Wife, put him too't, and tickle him home.

Wif.

Ile warrant husband Ile bring him into play.

Exit.
Iam.

It seemes this gentleman loves not the company
of women.

Chang.
At least wise tis pretended. Wer't a plot
To gull her husband, I should love it dearely.
Why did not I attempt it, that have had
More opportunities then ever made
Sinne fruitfull in the pleasure? If't be so,
The next share shall be mine. I love a wench
As well as he or any.

Stit.
T'other health, and then farewell,

Fran.
Mr. Stitchwell is your name?

Stit.

A Taylor in the Strand; and I am as good a man
there as Deputy Tagg in the City, though he thinke himselfe
an Aldermans fellow, and no Cuckold.

Fran.

You mind Cuckolds much: good sir remember
your selfe.

St.

By your leave then; I must, and I will, I will and I must.

Fran.

What must you sir?

Stit.

Why, you may doe what you will; and I will doe
what I list.

Exit.
Iam.

The Taylor's paid.

Chang.

By your favor, 'tis a lye.

Fran.

And his Wife too by this. Follow mee gentlemen,

and if hee prevent it not, wee'l share some pastime.
Sweet, I'le returne presently.

Exeunt men.
Cice.
Can my chast thoughts within their spotles circuit
Retaine a good opinion of this gentleman,
Who gives free scope to his libidinous will
In actions that staine conscience?

Bella.
Can my ills
Grow to a greater heighth? my honours danger
Runs equall with my persons.

Cice.
He hath courted
Almost beyond resistance, (had not goodnesse
Preserv'd me white) to sully me with lust;
And failing offer'd marriage.

Bell.
Can a Brother
Conster this place, disguise, and company
Lesse then a lapse from vertue in a Sister,
Who labour'd more to be good really,
Then ever hypocrite did to appeare so.

Cice.
I must not trust. Besides, mine eye hath seene
An object that delights it; and desire
Begins to burne my bosome with new flames
I yet ne're felt. 'Tis an ambitious love,
And must be check't. Why? sure my Birth's more noble:
My spirit argues it, which never yet
Harbour'd a common thought; but all above
The lownesse of my fortune. How now Mistris?

Bella.
Distrest beyond recovery. 'Twas my brother;
Whose eye no sooner found me, but his lookes
Exprest a troubled soule: but when he heard
My tongue deny my selfe; what passions then
Possest him, may be thought.

Cice.
Is he your Brother?
Feare not to be discover'd: I have plots
To circumvent him, and prepare his temper
For mild impressions.
Enter Tapster.
Prethee Friend shew us a private roome.

Tapst.
With convenience Mistris.

Cice.
For a retirement.

Tapst.

This way Mistris. I smell the reward of a knaves
office: howsoever sinne thrives by wickednesse. Froth-fill'd
Cans and over-reckonings will hardly raise a stock to
set up with. Now will I informe the Gallants.

Exit.