 | The Bride |  |
The second Act
the first Scene.
Squirrell, and after him a Drawer.Squir.
Your deligence knaves, or I shall canvase your pole
davyes, deafen not a gallant with your anon anon sir, to make
him stop his cares at an over-reckoning. Can a mansion purchased
and subsist without commings In and goings Out? Now sir what
say you?
Dra.
The reconing sir for Mr. Serge the Mercer, and the Scriveners
wife, that have been these two houres in the yellow bed-Chamber.
Squi.
And what had they?
Dra.
A dish of collops and egges, and wine.
Squi.
Sixteen shillings! 'tis well.
Dra.
But her husband had half a quire of paper and bastard by
himself in the Buls-head: which would hardly keep him emploi'd
below stayres; he was going up to peep through the key hole.
Squi.
Sawcy Scrivener! peep through a key hole! shouldst
have had him by the eares.
Dra.
His peeping through a hole cost them long since.
Squi.
And this came freely!
Dra.
He woundred sir it was no more.
Squi.
Go carry the blades in the Lion a pottle of sack from
me: their roaring must be maintain'd out of my profit. They
are good procurers; and help now and then to stane of an over
heated Cittizen that persues his game, too eagerly. Though my holy-day
squires of the city bring me in most gain, my free Knights
of the suburbs, the erants of Lincoln-Inn fields, where their randevous
makes the gunpowder house terrible, and the smock tribute
due to their order is daily and nightly exacted: these I say are
the best mainteiners of my profits occasion; and Squirrell must
venter cracking to maintaine them whilst his sign and bush lasts.
The second Scene.
To him Theophilus and Bride.Y'are welcome sir.
The.
The Master of the house!
Squi.
The poore owner of some goods and chattels; moveables
and immoveables, with a small stock to drive a trade.
The.
We would desire the use of a roome.
Squi.
You shall be accommodated.
We expect a frieind; 'till he comes this may serve.
Squi.
What you please sir. A towell sirrah quickly.
Exit.
Bri.
Thou seem'st sweet hart as if th'hadst feares within thee.
We may securely now discourse our loves,
And weary time with words, 'till we are fit
To act our wishes.
The.
The fulnesse of my joyes
Happ'ning so suddaine ere I was prepar'd
To taste them with an appetite, hath bred
A surfet in me.
Bri.
Now you smell of flattery
I would not have you court what you possesse
with any attribute above its merit.
If my being yours you count your happinesse,
Let us be suddain to confirme our selves
Mutually happy, e're our parents rage
Can reach us to prevent it.
The.
That word parents.
Makes me reflect on my ingratitude:
Being greater far then infamous recordes
Did ever punish; and like pleasant dreames
My joyes are chang'd to nothing.
Bri.
Suddaine dumbs:
Whence are they? to my selfe I am not guilty
Of a behaviour that should merrit this.
I prethee let me blush, and kisse away
The clowdes hang on thy brow. No discontent
Should interpose where equall love hath mixt
Equall desires; and for the noble end
No base dependance. For could I but think
Thy soule did harbor any bastard thought
Which goodnesse might not father, I would back
To my disgrace; and confidently meet
My parents anger; all th'affronts of rumor;
And what the rabble pleas'd rather then stay
To nurse it to a growth.
The.
Then pray' return;
But not to your disgrace; all shall be thrown
Upon my guilt. And though my love (unstain'd
Gave th'act allowance, I'le belye my self,
And say I did enforce you; which the law
May punish with my life. I'le give it up,
To end th'affliction of my soule; divided
'Twixt love to you, and duty to that man
I have so wrong'd.
Bri.
Can love admit such scruples?
Or is't thy coldnesse? I was too too credulous.
But the necessity deny'd more tryall.
Here's a pretence indeed.
The.
Can there be greater?
Ingratitude's a monster. Shall I then
Repay that man with injurie, that gave
My almost starv'd life warmth, and made me breathe
Though to be miserable
Bri.
Thou dost surely
Want the best part of man, and art not capable.
Of resolution. Such a coward spirit
Lodgeth not here. I now suspect thy worth,
And blame my rashnesse.
The.
Why should I be taxt
With such defect? Know then I dare deserve you
By any enterprize that may be credible.
Invention cannot fancy an employment
I would not manage to confirm my love
Worthy your best opinion, only this
My conscience frights me from.
Bri.
Why then farewell.
Passion will guide me some where, goodnesse guard me
From a despaire; and whatsoever end
I am dispos'd for, I'le remember thee
Deny'st thy self good in denying me.
Offers to go away.
The third Scene.
To them the Drawer with a towell.Dra.
What's your wine sir?
The.
Presently. Stay.
Puls back bride.
Dra.
Your pleasure sir.
Bride weepes.
The.
I meane not you.
Dra.
I know your meaning sir.
Exit. Drawer.
The.
Why should those pearles be wasted,
Till they enrich my funerall? Distraction
Hurries my thoughts, and hindreth them from ord'ring
Any resolve. Have I proceeded hitherto?
And shall I now give back? The infamy
Sticks on my name already; and the stain
Thrown on it by the black mouth'd multitude
For being ingratefull, by bare satisfaction
Cannot be washt away. Her vertue likewise
will be suspected. I must therefore on
Since reason prompts me to it. Love shall excuse
The act, and my neglect of other dues.
Sweet I am now resolv'd.
Bri.
Resolv'd! to what?
The.
To consummate our wishes.
Bri.
Now I think on't
'Tis better not. I find my flame abated:
My lov's not half so violent, I can stay,
And try you first.
The.
How's this? why will you now
Change your intent that seem'd so resolute?
'Twill make us be the subject of discourse,
And libelling ballads; every goships feast
Will make mirth from our shame.
Bri.
No matter for't
I now begin t'examine what's in you
So taking. An indifferent handsome frame;
In it should dwell a soule rich as the building
Doth promise to the eye; but I suspect it.
Thy actions suite not with a noble spirit.
Thy lov's but wanton passion, not the vertue
Should give it warrant. He that would be mine,
Must in his mind as well as outward shine.
Agen farewell.
Offers again to go.
The.
Stay: I have fool'd my selfe
Into a maze of errors, and do want
M' instructive part to guide me. All my faculties
Of soule are puzled, and at every turning.
Do mate themselves with doubts. Why should you feigne
This cruelty to kill me, when my joyes
Were almost strengthned in the life you gave them,
So far as not to feare a new relaps?
Having corrected all the accidents
Of my diseas'd love, will you now desist
To make a perfect cure?
Bri.
Medicines apply'd
To an unwilling or distrustfull patient
Their working's hindred. You have ill receiv'd
The meanes; and what succedes, your selfe is guilty of;
No cruelty of mine.
The.
Are you resolv'd then
To send me back to my first misery?
And anew make me wretched?
Bri.
'Till confirm'd
Ther's merit in you.
The.
Is my want of that
Onely suspected by you? Heare me first,
And then farewell. May I be curst beyond
Recovery by my penitence; let heaven
Ne're make me master of a wish that may
Include my least good, if I marry you—
Bri.
How's this?
The.
Untill your parents free consent,
And the good liking of that injur'd man
Bri.
Thou canst not
Figure a more impossibility.
It must be never then. Call in thy vow;
The rashnesse will dispense with't
The.
That might give
A new occasion for your cruell wit
To tax me with new weaknesse. Know I can
Be man as well as lover; and am fixt
In my resolve, beyond the power of change
By any passion.
Bri.
I have play'd too long
With the false shaddow of my happinesse,
And mockt away the substance. By my love
Zealous as ever kindled a chast flame
In any maidens brest, I but dissembled
To try thy patience, and beget discourse.
I am so well confirm'd in my opinion
Of thy desert, that should a thousand tongues
Swoln with detraction, break their tum'rous bags,
Venting from thence the most corrupted malice
That ever made man infamous to me
It should be flatt'ring praise.
The.
Did you dissemble?
Could she who through her eyes conveigh'd her heart,
And the assurance of her best desires
When other meanes were silenst; shee that taught
My equall passion to interpret lookes,
Teares, smiles, and read in those dumb characters
Her soule, dissemble? or with any counterfet
Disturb his joy that only from her truth
Derives it true possession? Jealousie
May then be warranted, since 'tis a vertue
Noble and masculine when justly grounded.
Was not your love dissembled? meant you not
To make a property of these proceedings
For some ends of your own? Dispose your self
As your will guides you; 'twill but make my life
Besides whom I renounce all woman kind.
Bri.
I man besides thee. Do not tempt thy fate
Too far beyond a reconciliation
With opportunity; as yet it serves.
If this day give thee not possession of me
Never expect it. I shall find a place
To keep out shame. In some chast fellowship
I'le learn to pay religious vows to heaven.
And pray since here we cannot, we may be
Happy heareafter in eternity.
weeps.
The.
Dissolve not with those teares my passive heart
That weeps within me. They will almost tempt me
To worse then sacrilege. Anon we will
Consult and practice something.
The fourth Scene.
To them Squirell. After him Raven.Squi.
By the description he makes of you a gentleman below
enquires for you. I was not curious to aske your name, but I
know his.
The.
My cosin Raven!
Squi.
The same sir.
The.
Pray' direct him to us.
Squi.
What's your wine sir?
The.
When he comes.
Squi.
This is sure some hide-bound student, that proportions
his expence by his pension; and wencheth at Tottenham court
for stewed prunes and cheescakes. Hee's not acquainted with
the generous way, and I shall have the lesse scruple to cosin
him.
Exit.
The.
Be not so clowdy sweet; our sun of joy
May shine at full, and cleere those dusky mists;
Obscure it for a season. Welcome Cosin
Unto our expectation.
The wine boy.
within.
Anon anon sir: by and by.
The.
Cosin the news? how go matters?
Rav.
The tempest's layd, but they are scatter'd by it.
Some to the Tower; to Pancrace others run.
Noise fils the roomes within, and in the street
The rabble is convented; where a jury
Of wide mouth'd oyster wives, to whom the foreman
A one legg'd ballad singer opens tunably
The merry case, not onely do acquit you,
But prayse the act; and sweare a ballad of it
Would out sell all the libells ever yet
M. P. subscrib'd to.
The.
'Tis an act indeed
Drawer enters with wive and Exit.
Deserves reproach
Rav.
Deserves a Chronicle
A legend of delight. Which when 'tis read
By the learn'd youth of Hogsden after supper,
Shall cause such laughter 'mongst th'attentive family,
That cheap-side wives shall curse the noise, for sowring
The market womens creame and buttermilke.
The.
Y'are very pleasant Cousin. Some mans jelousy.
Would soone interpret it to be but scorn.
What you intend it—
Rav.
Cosin it is my zeale
Makes me thus light and ayery; yet rather
Then my behaviour should give way unto
The least suspition, I'le put on a shape
Of like dejectednesse, as seems to cloath
Your melancholick Bride; But how 'twould show
Th'occasion makes it doubtfull. If shee'l weep
Upon her wedding day, let it not be
But that shee apprehends th'ensuing night
Brings on her joyfull feares. Cosin lets drink
A health to the effect: a jolly boy
Will follow feare not.
Drinkes
Bri.
Yet the cause is hindred.
Pray' let your counsailes in our danger be
Our peace is not yet settled; and we doubt
What the successe may be which our proceedings
Are destin'd to.
Rav.
Successe! the best that time,
And th'application of endeavours can
Crown your desires with. Yet I must confesse
Your parents storme, and threaten death if law
By any trick can urge it. But the old man
Seems to forgive you; onely his intent
Is to dispose his state some other way
Then leave the least part yours. Which to comply for
With any least submission I should rather
Banish my self his fight, and cancelling
All th'obligations of indebted duty,
Scorn to be flatter'd into payment of it.
Cosin be rul'd by me; confirme yourself
In this possession. You may find delights
Enjoying one another though restrain'd
A generall liberty. Get into the Country
Remote enough, but where you may receive
Weekly intelligence and meanes from me;
Which I'l supply you with in a proportion
For moderate expence. As things grow ripe
I can informe you. As it hath been ever,
It shall be still my care to do you offices
(For mine own ends.)
The.
You have my deerest cosin
Given large testimony of your love;
Requitall must be studied. But for this
You have advis'd to, a quite different course
Is here resolv'd on, and my vow hath seal'd it.
I must returne to labor a consent
From those I have so wrong'd; which if deny'd me,
I never must enjoy what I desire
Above my self.
Rav.
Consent! 'twould soone be had,
If I prevent it not.
A noise within.
What noise is that?
Her's an inner roome.
Puts them into another roome.
The fifth Scene.
To him Squirell peeping.Squi.
So, so, this is right gentlemen; one for another. Yet
shee lookes not like carrion of Mr. Ravens leaving; I have seldome
known him turn over any flesh to another that hath not
been sufficiently tainted.
Rav.
This accident what ere it was hath gain'd me an opportunity.
Squirell thou must be intelligent and trusty. Hast
observ'd?
Squi.
Why is she a wench?
Rav.
Ther's a question now to bring thy wit in question, and
condemn thee for a puny politick in the smock state.
What blades are in the house?
Squi.
Rashbe, Spilman, Poinard, and others.
Rav.
And they made the noise?
Squi.
Right sir.
Rav.
Will they attempt?
Squi.
Any thing for you sir. Shall it be an affront?
Rav.
More, more: send them up; and applye thy self with
cunning as thou expectest ever to thrive by the chostly sins of
wenching.
Squi.
I have known you Mr. Raven a bird of the flesh these
many yeares, and if I should not respect an old standard.
Exit.
Rav.
Away then to the execution.
Cosin our feares was causelesse.
Theo. and Bride come forth againe.
The.
Had they been
Such as it spake them, we might well have staid
And yeelded to them. We had only seem'd
Compell'd to what we freely must performe.
The sixth Scene.
To them the Blades.Rav.
Have you businesse with any here sir?
1 Bla.
I do not use to answer sir. Sweet Lady.
The.
What fellow's this?
1 Bla.
Fellow? one that will admit no fellow sir. Fellow!
Fellow your selfe.
The.
More! I suspect some rudenesse. Pray Cosin call the
Master of the house.
2 Bla.
The Master of the house is the master of the house; but
we will master both him and you unlesse you deliver.
The.
My purse?
3 Bla.
Your she familiar sir; we would be familiar with her.
The.
You are foule mouth'd
1 Bla.
How sir Cittizen! do you think e're you are quite
fledge in the nest, with the shell of your cuckows egs upon your
head to confront us? We are blades; and blades must be scoured.
Bri.
What meane you sir?
2 Bla.
Your servant sweet Lady.
The.
She is none of your pleasure Ladies, 'tis a wrong direction
of your base thoughts.
3 Bla.
Base! Cit. thou deserv'st the cane: but this Ladies goodnesse
commands thy pardon.
Bri.
You are mistaken sir, I have no skill
In th'art of prostitution.
1 Bla.
You shall be instructed Lady; 'tis the Blades profession.
The.
Forbear your rudenesse; if you must be wicked.
Let your temptations be directed where
The sin is grown to custome. Her chaste eares
Never receiv'd such sounds.
2 Bla.
Come come, you must sweet Lady.
Bri.
What sir?
1 Bla.
Along with us: we are company indeed. Who would
let a Cit. (whose teeth are rotten out with sweet meates his mother
the promise of a dry neats tongue and a pottle of Rhenish at
the stillyard, when she may command a Blade to toss and tumble
her? and (if she should pawn a petticoat) beat such a fellow
as this is till he hath redeem'd it.
The.
Advantage may do much; but I would wish ye
Desist, and be more civill: 'tis not th'odds else
Shall fright me from attempting to correct you.
2 Bla.
Correct us! nay then along Lady.
One drawes & stands at the door, whilst the other carry her away.
Bri.
Help me sweet heart, will ye use violence?
The.
Ye cowards, 'gainst an unarm'd man!
Rav.
May not I passe?
3 Bla.
Not through me sir, unlesse you were a Blade; the fraternity
may claime some privildege.
The.
Then arme me Justice.
Theo. throwes his cloake on the others point; gets within him and takes away his sword.
3 Bla.
Hold, for heavens sake hold.
The.
Thy life! I scorn it: 'tis too base to pay
A satisfaction; she must be redeem'd
At a far higher rate.
Exit.
Rav.
My wishes issue
In all things yet. Are you much hurt sir?
3 Bla.
A scratch or so. If the rest scape no better, I shall beleeve
there is more valour in some, then what's onely shown at a
Finsbury muster.
Exit. Ent. Squi. hastily.
Squi.
Your ayd master Raven, or we shall have murder done.
The young gentleman sir, the young gentleman—
Exit.
Rav.
I hope so, if my plot succeeds.
This was an unlookt businesse thrust upon me.
But I must practise my hipocrisie
With best art; else suspition may discover
The guilt that's in me. Sure he's dead by this time,
Unlesse his skin be proof against their points.
If one of them should fall, and he escape
The rest I will suborne to make his life
The lawes. Thus villany like a pregnant mother
From the successe of one begets another.
Exit.
| The Bride | |