Would relish of gross flattery-I am forced, Against my confidence of your worth and virtues, To doubt, nay, more, to fear.

Lov. So young, and jealous!

Aliw. Were you to encounter with a single foe, The victory were certain: but to stand The charge of two such potent enemies, At once assaulting you, as wealth and beauty, And those two seconded with power, is odds Too great for Hercules.

Lov. Speak your doubts and fears,

Since you will nourish them, in plainer language, That I may understand them.

Allw. What's your will,

Though I lend arms against myself, provided
They may advantage you, must be obeyed.
My much-loved lord, were Margaret only fair,
The cannon of her more than earthly form,
Though mounted high, commanding all beneath it,
And ramm'd with bullets of her sparkling eyes,
Of all the bulwarks that defend your senses,
Could batter none, but that which guards your
sight.

But, when the well-tun'd accents of her tongue
Make music to you, and, with numerous sound,
Assault your hearing, (such as Ulysses, if he
Now lived again, howe'er he stood the syrens,
Could not resist,) the combat must grow doubtful
Between your reason and rebellious passions.
Add this too: When you feel her touch, and
breath,

Like a soft western wind, when it glides o'er
Arabia, creating gums and spices;

And in the van the nectar of her lips,
Which you must taste, bring the battalia on,
Well-arm'd, and strongly lined with her discourse,
And knowing manners, to give entertainment;
Hippolytus himself would leave Diana,
To follow such a Venus.

Lov. Love hath made you

Poetical, Allworth.

Alle. Grant all these beat off,
Which, if it be in man to do, you'll do it,
Mammon, in sir Giles Overreach, steps in
With heaps of ill-got gold, and so much land,
To make her more remarkable, as would tire
A falcon's wings in one day to fly over.

Oh, my good lord! these powerful aids, which would

Make a mis-shapen negro beautiful, (Yet are but ornaments to give her lustre, That in herself is all perfection) must Prevail for her: I here release your trust; 'Tis happiness enough for me to serve you, And sometimes, with chaste eyes, to look upon her.

Lov. Why, shall I swear?

Alla. O, by no means, my lord;

And wrong not so your judgment to the world,
As from your fond indulgence to a boy,
Your page, your servant, to refuse a blessing
Divers great men are rivals for.

Lov. Suspend

Your judgment till the trial. How far is it To Overreach's house?

Greedy. Store, indeed, is no sore, sir.
Over. That proverb fits your stomach, Master
Greedy.

And let no plate be seen but what's pure gold,
Or such, whose workmanship exceeds the matter
That it is made of; let my choicest linen
Perfume the room; and when we wash, the water
With precious powders mix, to please my lord,
That he may, with envy, wish to bathe so ever.
Mar. "Twill be very chargeable.
Over. Avaunt, you drudge!

Now all my laboured ends are at the stake,
Is't a time to think of thrift? Call in my daughter.
[Exit MARRALL.

And, master justice, since you love choice dishes, And plenty of them

Greedy. As I do, indeed, sir,

Almost as much as to give thanks for themOver. I do confer that providence, with my power

Of absolute command to have abundance,
To your best care.

Greedy. I'll punctually discharge it, And give the best directions-[OVERREACH retires.]-Now am I,

In mine own conceit, a monarch; at the least Arch-president of the boiled, the roast, the baked ; For which I will eat often, and give thanks, When my belly's braced up like a drum, and that's pure justice. [Exit.

Over. It must be so. Should the foolish girl
prove modest,

She may spoil all; she had it not from me,
But from her mother: I was ever forward,
As she must be, and therefore I'll prepare her.
Enter MARGARET and MARRALL.
Alone, and let your women wait without.
[Exit MARRALL.

Marg. Your pleasure, sir?
Over. Ha, this is a neat dressing!
These orient pearls, and diamonds well placed,

too!

The gown affects me not; it should have been
Embroidered o'er and o'er with flowers of gold;
But these rich jewels and quaint fashion help it.
And how below? since oft the wanton eye,
The face observed, descends unto the foot,
Which being well proportioned, as yours is,
Invites as much as perfect white and red,
Though without art.

How like you your new woman, the lady Down

fallen?

Marg. Well for a companion:

Not as a servant.

Over. Is she humble, Meg,

And careful, too? her ladyship forgotten?
Marg. I pity her fortune.

Over. Pity her! trample on her.

I took her up in an old tamin gown,

E'en starved for want of twopenny chops, to serve thee;

And, if I understand she but repines

To do thee any duty, though ne'er so servile, I'll pack her to her knight, where I have lodged him,

Into the Counter; and there let them howl together.

Marg. You know your own ways; but, for me, I blush

When I command her, that was once attended With persons not inferior to myself

In birth.

Over. In birth! Why art thou not my daughter, The blest child of my industry and wealth? Why, foolish girl, was't not to make thee great, That I have run, and still pursue those ways, That hale down curses on ine, which I mind not? Part with these humble thoughts, and apt thyself To the noble state I labour to advance thee; Or, by my hopes to see thee honourable, I will adopt a stranger to my heir,

And throw thee from my care; do not provoke me. Marg. I will not, sir; mould me which way you please.

Enter GREEDY.

Over. How, interrupted?

Greedy. 'Tis matter of importance. The cook, sir, is self-willed, and will not learn From my experience. There's a fawn brought in, sir,

And, for my life, I cannot make him roast it With a Norfolk dumpling in the belly of it: And, sir, we wise men know, without the dumpling

'Tis not worth three pence.

Over. Would it were whole in thy belly, To stuff it out! cook it any way; prithee, leave

Enter GREEDY.

Greedy. I'll resign my office,

If I be not better obeyed.

Over. 'Slight, art thou frantic?

Greedy. Frantic! 'twould make me frantic
and stark mad,

Were I not a justice of peace and quorum, too,
Which this rebellious cook cares not a straw for;
There are a dozen of woodcocks-
Over. Make thyself

Thirteen, the baker's dozen.

Greedy. I am contented,

So they may be dressed to my mind: he has found

out

A new device for sauce, and will not dish them
With toasts and butter: my father was a tailor,
And my name, though a justice, Greedy Wood-
cock;

And, ere I'll see my lineage so abused,
I'll give up my commission.

Over. Cook, rogue, obey him.

I have given the word; pray you, now, remove yourself

dinner.

To a collar of brawn, and trouble me no farther. Greedy. I will, and meditate what to eat at [Exit GREEDY. Over. And, as I said, Meg, when this gull disturbed us,

This honourable lord, this colonel,

I would have thy husband.

Marg. There's too much disparity

Between his quality and mine to hope it.

Over, I more than hope, and doubt not to ef-. fect it.

Be thou no enemy to thyself; my wealth
Shall weigh his titles down, and make you equals.
Now for the means to assure him thine, observe

me;

Remember he's a courtier and a soldier,
And not to be trifled with; and therefore, when
He comes to woo you, see you do not coy it.
This mincing modesty hath spoiled many a match
By a first refusal, in vain after hoped for.

Marg. You'll have me, sir, preserve the distance that

Confines a virgin?

Over. Virgin me no virgins!

I must have you lose that name, or you lose me.
I will have you private; start not, I say private;
If you are my true daughter, not a bastard,
Thou wilt venture alone with one man, though
he came

Like Jupiter to Semele, and come off too.
And therefore, when he kisses you, kiss close.
Marg. I have heard this is the strumpet's fa-
shion, sir,

Which I must never learn.

Over. Learn any thing,

And from any creature, that may make thee great; From the devil himself.

Marg. This is but devilish doctrine!

Over. Or if his blood grow hot, suppose he

offer

Beyond this, do not stay till it cool,

Lov. Your hand, good sir.

But meet his ardour; if a couch be near,

Sit down on't, and invite him.

Marg. In your house,

Your own house, sir! for heaven's sake, what are you then?

Or what shall I be, sir?

Over. Stand not on form;

Words are no substances.

Marg. Though you could dispense

With your own honour, cast aside religion,

The hopes of heaven, or fear of hell; excuse me, In worldly policy this is not the way

To make me his wife; his whore, I grant, it may do.

My maiden honour so soon yielded up,
Nay prostituted, cannot but assure him,
I, that am light to him, will not hold weight
Whene'er tempted by others; so, in judgment,
When to his will I have given up my honour,
He must and will forsake me.

Over. How! forsake thee?

Do I wear a sword for fashion? or is this arm
Shrunk up, or withered? does there live a man
Of that large list I have encountered with,
Can truly say I e'er gave inch of ground,
Not purchased with his blood, that did oppose
me?

Forsake thee when the thing is done! he dares not.

Give me but proof he has enjoyed thy person,
Though all his captains, echoes to his will,
Stood armed by his side to justify the wrong,
And he himself in the head of his bold troop,
Spite of his lordship, and his colonelship,
Or the judge's favour, I will make him render
A bloody and a strict account, and force him,
By marrying thee, to cure thy wounded honour!
I have said it.

Over. Room for my lord.

Lov. I miss, sir, your fair daughter

To crown my welcome.

Over. May it please my lord

[Aside.

To taste a glass of Greek wine first, and suddenly

She shall attend my lord..
Lov. You'll be obeyed, sir.

[Exeunt omnes, præter OVER. Over. 'Tis to my wish; as soon as come, ask for her!

Why, Meg! Meg Overreach!

Enter MARGARET.

How! tears in your eyes?

Hah! dry them quickly, or I'll dig them out.
Is this a time to whimper? Meet that greatness
That flies into thy bosom; think what 'tis
For me to say, my honourable daughter:
And thou, when I stand bare, to say, put on,
Or, father, you forget yourself.

No more, but be instructed, or expect―
He comes.

Enter LOVELL, GREEDY, MARRALL, and ALL

WORTH.

A black-browed girl, my lord.

Lov. As I live, a rare one!

Allw. He's ta'en already: I am lost.
Over. That kiss

Came twanging off; I like it; quit the room.
[Exeunt ALLWORTH, MARRALL, and GREEDY.]
A little bashful, my good lord; but you,
I hope, will teach her boldness.

Lov. I am happy

In such a scholar: but

Over. I am past learning,

And therefore leave you to yourselves; remem

ber.

[Exit OVER.

O my good lord, I could say more, but that
I dare not trust these walls.

Lov. Pray you, trust my ear then.

Enter OVERREACH, listening.

Over. Close at it! whispering! this is excellent!

And, by their postures, a consent on both parts. Enter GREEDY.

Greedy. Sir Giles! Sir Giles!

Over. The great fiend stop that clapper! Greedy. It must ring out, sir, when my belly rings noon.

The baked meats are run out, the roast turned

Your slaves for ever.

Lov. I am in the act rewarded,

Since it is good; howe'er you must put on An amorous carriage towards me, to`delude Your subtle father.

Marg. I am prone to that.

[Salutes him.

ill,

You'll dine no more with me?
Greedy. I will when you please,
And it like your ladyship.

Lady. When you please, Master Greedy;
If meat can do it, you shall be satisfied :
And now, my lord, pray take into your know-

ledge

This gentleman; howe'er his outside's coarse,
[Presents WELLBORN.

His inward linings are as fine and fair
As any man's. Wonder not I speak at large:
And howsoe'er his humour carries him
To be thus accoutred; or what taint soe'er
For his wild life have stuck upon his fame;

He may, ere long, with boldness, rank himself With some that have condemned him. Sir Giles Overreach,

If I am welcome, bid him so.

Over. My nephew!

He hath been too long a stranger: 'faith you have, Pray, let it be mended.

[LOVELL conferring with WELLBORN. Mar. Why, sir, what do you mean? This is rogue Wellborn, monster, prodigy,

And all her compliments applied to Wellborn!
The garments of her widowhood laid by,
She now appears as glorious as the spring.

worship,

Much less your nephew.

Over. Well, sirrah, we shall reckon

For this hereafter.

Mar. I'll not lose my jeer,

Though I be beaten dead for it

Well. Let my silence plead

In my excuse, my lord, till better leisure Offer itself to hear a full relation

Of my poor fortunes.

Lov. I would hear and help them. [Bell rings.
Over. Your dinner waits you.
Lov. Pray you lead, we follow.
Lady. Nay, you are my guest; come, dear Mr
Wellborn. [Exeunt. Manet GREEDY.
Greedy. Dear Mr Wellborn! so she said;
Heaven! Heaven!

If my belly would give me leave, I could ruminate
All day on this: I have granted twenty warrants
To have him committed, from all prisons in the
shire,

To Nottingham jail! and now, dear Mr Well

born!

He being her pledge, she sends him burning

kisses,

And sits on thorns till she be private with him.
She leaves my meat to feed upon his looks;
And, if in our discourse he be but named,
From her a deep sigh follows. But why grieve I
At this? It makes for me; if she prove his,
All that is hers is mine, as I will work him.
Enter MARRALL.

Mar. Sir, the whole board is troubled at your rising.

Over. No matter, I'll excuse it: prithee, Mare rall,

Watch an occasion to invite my nephew
To speak with me in private.

Mar. Who? the rogue,
The lady scorned to look on?
Over. You are a wag.

Enter Lady and WELLBORN. Mar. See, sir, she's come, and cannot be without him.

Lady. With your favour, sir, after a plenteous

dinner,

I shall make bold to walk a turn or two
In your rare garden.

Öcer. There's an arbour, too,
If your ladyship please to use it.
Lady. Come, Mr Wellborn.

[Exeunt Lady and WELL. Over. Grosser and grosser!-now I believe the poct

Feign'd not, but was historical, when he wrote Pasiphae was enamoured of a bull:

This lady's lust's more monstrous. My good lord, Excuse my manners.

Enter LOVELL, MARGARET, and ALLWORTH. Lov. There needs none, Sir Giles;

I may, ere long, say father, when it pleases

My dearest mistress to give warrant to it. Over. She shall seal to it, my lord, and make me happy.

Marg. My lady is returned.

Enter WELLBORN and Lady.

Lady. Provide my coach,

I'll instantly away: my thanks, sir Giles,

For my entertainment.

Over. 'Tis your nobleness

To think it such.

Lady. I must do

a farther wrong,

you a

In taking away your honourable guest.