University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—The interior of Scroope's house—A parlour neatly furnished and bearing every mark of wealthy comfort—Books, paintings, musical instruments, &c.
Flaw and Mariana.
FLAW.
Tush, my fair mistress, I am not that dull ass—
A studious lawyer.

MARIANA.
I wrong'd you not so much, sir.

FLAW.
It were a wrong, indeed—Old musty Lyttleton
May grow yet mouldier for me—I'm not
A shelf to carry folios—I but study
As much law as will pass with my old uncle—

MARIANA.
To make his will, sir?

FLAW.
If 'twere in my favour
I would not draw it up myself—No, lady—
I'm for the stirring humours of the times—
The ordinaries, plays, the bear-garden.
Now of all things I love a bear-garden,
Unless 'tis poetry.

MARIANA.
Ay, sir, 'tis difficult
To choose between them.

FLAW.
Then there are the roarers,
The brave Alsatians that despise the law
And such weak cobwebs—

MARIANA.
And you know them too, sir?

FLAW.
Ay, marry, and have led them in some rambles.
There was the last great robbery, of the plate

MARIANA.
Why, surely, sir

FLAW.
Nay, nay, I would not boast—
But he's no lad of spirit and true mettle
That hasn't seen the world—Why, there's Will Shakspeare
In his last play of Falstaff, makes a king's son
Turn highwayman for true sport—and they say, too,
And I have heard him jest on't o'er his cups,
That he once stole a deer.

MARIANA.
Then you know Shakespeare?

FLAW.
Know him—I've heard him swear 'tis such as I
That he most loves to talk with—and I've seen
A thing or two I've said in print—but car'd not
To challenge it. Here comes your uncle, lady.
Enter Scroope.
And I had much to say to you.

SCROOPE.
Say on, sir—
I'll listen to you, too.

MARIANA.
Or Master Flaw
Can speak with you alone, sir.

FLAW.
What! already!
I've made short work of it. (Aside.)


SCROOPE.
My girl, I'll spare you
The pains of hearing him (aside to her.)
Go, Mariana,
And bid Will wait me in the counting-room
With the account 'twixt me and Master Goldlove;
He will be here anon.

MARIANA.
I shall, dear uncle.

[Exit.
FLAW.
And ere my uncle Goldlove come—I'd beg, sir,
Your ear to a proposal—

SCROOPE.
Come, speak out, sir—
My niece—

FLAW.
Sooth, sir, if I can guess her mind,
She hath left us here together that I may
Speak her desires as well as mine—I love her.

SCROOPE.
And think you she returns your passion?

FLAW.
Nay.
I know not yet—love hath its ceremonies,
Its toys and trifles, serenades, love verses—
Then come the walks to Moorfields, progresses
By water down to Greenwich; all which duties
I long to pay her.

SCROOPE.
Well, sir,—win and wed her.
Her answer's mine—but to pursue such wooing
Must to a young man, Master Goldlove's heir,
Who's not profuse in his allowance to you,
As I should guess, be somewhat chargeable;
I have a hundred marks now unemployed,
Which if you choose to borrow—

FLAW.
I could pay it
Upon my marriage or my uncle's death,
Or any other fortunate time—

SCROOPE.
True, true, sir.

FLAW.
And 'tis an omen, sir, of your good wishes.
I hope for my acceptance with your niece.

SCROOPE.
Whatever it is I lend it freely, sir.

FLAW.
Whate'er interest?

SCROOPE.
Seal me but your bond
For the repayment when I call on you;
I am no usurer, and lend the money
In hope of no such profit. Pray you step
Into my counting-room, and bid my clerk
Prepare the writing and tell out the gold.

FLAW.
I'll do it gladly, sir.

[Exit.
SCROOPE.
So, he is mine.
Enter Bridget.
Come hither, Bridget; thou for fifteen years
Hast been a faithful servant.

BRIDGET.
Ay, sir—faithful
To a kind master.

SCROOPE.
Good, then! Tell me, Bridget,
What suitors hath my niece, besides the three
That have been here this morning?—as I think
Goldlove, or Flaw, or Parallel, could never
Call blushes on her cheek—unthought-of tears
Within her downcast eye; unconscious sighs,
And that soft, gentle, happy melancholy
That links all joys and sufferings of our thoughts
In love.

BRIDGET.
I should not tell, perhaps.

SCROOPE.
I ask not
For what in delicate and womanly feeling
She may have trusted to thee; I but ask
Of my old servant that which her fidelity
To me requires she should tell me. Fear not;
I think you've never known me use authority
Cruelly to any; and my niece—

BRIDGET.
The young Beaufort
Hath spoken to her.

SCROOPE.
Ay, she told me so,
Yet neither proudly nor yet timidly.
Young Beaufort—'tis a name I love not—but
If 'twere so, it might be a noble cause
To arouse the charity I scarcely owe
To that proud house.

BRIDGET.
Then—but I fear you'll chide her—
She hath conversed, and more than once, with Richard,
Lord Beaufort's page—Richard Fitz-Allan—

SCROOPE.
Wherefore
Should I chide, Bridget?

BRIDGET.
He's so gay and wild—
Thoughtless and kind too.

SCROOPE.
Happy, happy youth!
Fervid and generous youth! Shall our age dare
To envy and condemn thee? I have been young,
Though my life had but little youth in it.

BRIDGET.
But he's so poor—I thought—

SCROOPE.
And I so rich,
Have such a weight of needless wealth.

BRIDGET.
And he's
Somewhat improvident.

SCROOPE.
What hath he had
To make him provident? Improvident
Of my Lord Beaufort's pittance!—A just prudence
Comes oft with means of prudence.

BRIDGET.
You're not angry
For that they've met?

SCROOPE.
No. I would but secure
Her in a state as near to happiness
As earth may grant—content, or peace, or ease,
Whate'er it may be. Once I had belief
In happiness, and though for me 'twas madness,
Yet I'd resign the wisdom of experience
To hope she might be happy.

BRIDGET.
The young Beaufort—

SCROOPE.
A hornet! I'll enmesh him—gold—gold—gold!
And thinks't thou he or Richard?—

BRIDGET.
That I know not.
A lord's son—and to be my Lady Beaufort—

SCROOPE.
Are prizes to most women—toys to her;
At least if I can judge her. Stay!—no matter,
I must not bribe fidelity. I'll pay it
Some other time (aside.)
Go to your mistress, Bridget,
And no word of our talk.

BRIDGET.
I shall observe, sir.

[Exit.
SCROOPE.
Yes, all!—the hornet, Beaufort, and the bee,
Young Richard—all!—I'll play the spider with:
But with no venom'd sting. Young Beaufort's needs
Are open: I can buy him cheap. I have
This first care of my life despatch'd and clear;
The full account of my affections closed
With Mariana's marriage. Then for Beaufort.
Lord Beaufort—the proud nobleman: his mortgage
Expires to-day. His houses, lands, himself,
All are within my grasp. Let but my heart
Pour out its charities on Mariana,
Then for a sterner and a stricter audit—
Severe and equal justice with Lord Beaufort.

[Exit.