have all the world bound to the peace besides the bushes and the phanes of houses every thing that moves he goes in fear of 's life on A furr-gown'd Cat and meet her in the night she stares with a Constables eye upon him and every Dog a Watch-man a black Cowe and a Calf with a white face after her shows like a surly Justice and his Clerk and if the Baby go but to the bag 't is ink and paper for a Mittimus Sure I shall never thrive on 't and it may be I shall need take no care I may be now at my journeys end or but the Goals distance and so to ' th t' other place I trust a woman with a secret worth a hanging is that well I could finde in my heart to run away yet And that were base too to run from a woman I can lay claim to nothing but her Vows and they shall strengthen me Enter Annabel Anna. See sir my promise there 's twenty Pieces the full value I vow of what they cost Roch. Lady do not trap me like a Sumpter-horse and then spur-gall me till I break my winde if the Constable be at the door let his fair staff appear perhaps I may corrupt him with this Gold Anna. Nay then if you-mistrust me Father Gentlemen Mr. Raymond Eustnce Enter all as before and a Saylor Wood. How now what 's the matter Girl Anna. For shame will you bid your Kinsman welcome No one but I will lay a hand on him Leave him alone and all a revelliâ—â— Wood. Oh is that it Welcome welcome heartily I thought the Bridegroom had been return'd But I have news Annabel this fellow brought it Welcome Sir why you tremble methinks Sir Anna. Some agony of anger 't is believe it his entertainment is so cold and feeble Raym. Pray be cheer'd Sir Roch. I 'm wondrous well sir 't was the Gentlemans mistake Wood. 'T was my hand shook belike then you must pardon Age I was stiffer once But as I was saying I should by promise see the Sea to morrow 't is meant for Physick as low as Lee or Margets I have a Vessel riding forth Gentlemen 't is called the God-speed too â—hough I say 't a brave one well and richly fraughted and I can tell you she carries a Letter of Mart in her mouth too and twenty roaring Boys on both sides on her Star-board and Lar-board What say you now to make you all Adventurers you shall have fair dealing that I le promise you Raym. A very good motion sir I begin there 's my ten pieces Eust I second 'em with these Grov My ten in the third place Roch. And Sir if you refuse not a proffet'd love take my ten Pieces with you too Wood. Yours above all the rest Sir Anna. Then make 'em above venter ten more Roch. Alas Lady 't is a younger brothers portion and all in one Bottom Anna. At my encouragement Sir your credit if you want Sir shall not sit down under that sum return'd Eoch With all mâ— heart Lady There Sir So she has fisht for her Gold back and caught it I am no thief now Wood. I shall make here a pretty Assurance Roch. Sir I shall have a suit to you Wood. You are likely to obtain it then Sir Roch. That I may keep you company to Sea and attend you back I am a little travell'd Wood. And heartily thank you too sir Anna. Why that 's well said Pray you be merry though your Kinsman be absent I am 〈◊〉 the worst part of him yet that shall serve to give you welcoâ—e to morrow may show you what this night will not and be full assured Unless your twenty Pieces be ill â—ent Nothing shall give you cause of Discontent There 's ten more Sir Roch. Why should I fear Fouter oâ—'t I le be merry now spite of the Hang-man Exeunt Finis Actus secundus ACT 3. SCENE 1. Enter Lessingham and Bonvile Bon. WE are first i' th field I think your Enemy is staid at Dover or some other Port we hear not of his landing Less I am confident he is come over Bon. You look methinks fresh coloured Less Like a red Morning friend that still foretels a stormy day to followâ— But methinks now I observe your face that you look pale there 's death in 't already Bon. I could chide your error do you take me for a Coward A Coward is not his own friend much less can he be another mans Know Sir I am come hither to instruct you by my generous example to kill your enemy whose name as yet I never question'd Less Nor dare I name him yet for dâ—-heartning you Bon. I do begin to doubt the goodness of your Quarrel Less Now you hav 't for I protest that I must fight with one from whom in the whole course of our acquaintance I never did receive the least injury Bon. It may be the forgetful Wine begâ—t some sudden blow and thereupon 't is Challenge howe're you are engaged and for my part I will not take your course my unlucky friend to say your Conscience grows pale and heartless maintaining a bad Cause fight as Lawyers plead who gain the best of reputation when they can fetch a bad Cause smoothly off you are in and 〈◊〉 through Less Oh my friend the noblest ever man had when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 threw me upon this business I made trrâ—d of divers had pâ—â—â—est to me much love and found their friendship like the effects that kept our company together Wine and Riot giddy and sinking I had found 'em oft brave Seconds at pluralities of Healths but when it came to 'th proof my Gentlemen appeared to me as promising and failing as cozening Lotteries but then I found this Jewel worth a thousand Counterfeits I did but name my Engagement and you flew unto my succor with that chearfulness as a great General hastes to a Battel when that the chief of the adverse part is a man glorious but of ample fame you left your Bridal-bed to finde your Death-bed and herein you most nobly exprest that the affection 'tween two loyal friends is far beyond the love of man to woman and is more near allied to eternity What better friends part could be showed i' th world it transcends all My father gave me life but you stand by my honor when 't is falling and nobly under-propt it with your sword But now you have done me all this service how how shall I requite this how return my grateful recompence for all this love For it am I come hither with full purpose to kill you Bon. Ha Less Yes I have no opposite i' th would but your self There read the Warrant for your death Bon. 'T is a womans hand Less And 't is a bad hand too the most of 'em speak fair write foul mean worse Bon. Kill me away you jest Less Such jest as your sharp-witted Gallants use to utter and loose their friends Read there how I am
your friend for my sake Less A most sad truth Clare And your best friend Less My chiefest Clare Then of all men you are most miserable nor have you ought further'd your suit in this though I enjoyn'd you to 't for I had thought that I had been the best esteemed friend you had i' th world Less Ye did not wish I hope that I should have murder'd you Clare You shall perceive more of that hereafter But I pray fit tell me for I do freeze with expectation of it it chills my heart with horror till I know what friends blood you have sacrificed to your fury and to my fatal sport this bloody Riddle who is it you have slain Less Bonvile the Bridegroom Clare Say Oh you have struck him dead thorough my heart in being true to me you have proved in this the falsest Traitor oh I am lost for ever yet wherefore am I lost rather recovered from a deadly witchcraft and upon his grave I will not gather Rue but Violets to bless my wedding strewings good sir tell'me are you certain he is dead Less Never never to be recovered Clare Why now sir I do love you with an entire heart I could dance methinks never did wine or muâ—â—ch stir in woman a sweerer touch of Mirth I will marry you instantly râ—arry you Less This woman has strange changes you are takne strangely with his death Clare I le give the reason I have to be thus extasied with joy know 〈◊〉 that you have slain my deerest friend and faralest enemy Less Most strange Clare 'T is true you have ta'ne a mass of Lead from off my heart for ever would have sunk it in despair when you beheld me yesterday I stood as if a Merchant walking on the Downs should see some goodly Vessel of his own sunk 'fore his face i' th Harbor and my heart retained no more heat then a man that toyles and vain'y labors to put out the flames that burns his house to 'th bottom I will tell you a strange concealement sir and till this minute never revealed and I will tell it now smiling and not blushing I did love that Bonvyle not as I ought but as a woman might that 's beyond reason I did doâ—t upon him tho he near knew of 't and beholding him before my face wedded unto another and all my interest in him forfeited I fell into despair 〈◊〉 that instant you urging your Suit to me and I thinkiâ—◠〈◊〉 I had been your onely friend i' th world I heartily did wish you would have kill'd that friend your self to have ended all my sorrow and had prepared it that unwittingly you should have don 't by poison Less Strange amazement Clare The effects of a strange Love Less 'T is a dream sure Clare No 't is real sir believe it Less Would it were not Clare â—hat sir you have done bravely 't is your Mistriss that tells you you have done so Less But my Conscience Is of Councel ' gainst you and pleads otherwise Vertue in her past actions glories still But vice throwes loathed looks on former ill But did you love this Bonvile Clare Strangely sir almost to a degree of madness Less Trust a woman never henceforward I will rather trust the winds which Lapland Witches sell to men all that they have is feign'd their teeth their hair their blushes nay their conscience too is feigned let 'em paint load themselves with Cloâ—h of Tissue they cannot yet hide woman that will appear and disgrace all The necessity of my fate certain this woman has bewitched me here for I cannot chuse but love her Oh how faral this might have proved I would it had for me it would not grieve me tho my sword had split his heart in sunder I had then destroyed oâ—e that may prove my Rival oh but then what had my horror bin my guilt of conscience I know some do ill at womens bidding i' th Dog-days and repent all the Winter after no I account it treble happiness that Bonvile lives but 't is my chiefest glory that our friendship is divided Clare Noble friend why do you talk to your self Less Should you do so you 'd talk to an ill woman fare you well for ever fare you well I will do somewhat to make as fatal breach and difference in Bonviles love as mine I am fixt in 't my melancholly and the devil shall fashion't Clare You will not leave me thus Less Leave you for ever and may my friends blood whom you loved so deerly for ever lye impostumed in your breast and i' th end choak you Womans cruelty This black and fatal thread hath ever spun It must undo or else it is undone Exit Clare I am every way lost and no meanes to 〈◊〉 â—â—e but blest repentance what two unvalued Jewels am I at once deprived of now I suffer deservedly there 's no prosperity settled Fortune plays ever with our good or ill Like Cross and Pile and turns up which she will Enter Bonvile Friend Clare Oh you are the welcomest under heaven â—essingham did but fright me yet I fear that you are hurt to danger Bon. Not a scratch Clare Indeed you look exceeding well methinks Bon. I have bin Sea-sick lately and we count that excellent Physick How does my Annabelâ— Clare As well sir as the fear of such a loss as your esteemed self will suffer her Bon. Have you seen Lessingham since he returned Clare He departed hence but now and left with me a report had almost kill'd me Bon. What was that Clare That he had kill'd you Bon. So he has Clare You mock me Bon. He has kill'd me for a friend for ever silenc't all 〈◊〉 between us you may now go and embrace him for he has fulfilled the purpose of that Letter Gives her a Letter Clare Oh I know 't She gives him anâ—ther And had you known this which I meant to have sent you an hour 'fore you mere married to your wife the Riddle had been constrâ—ed Bon. Strange this expresses that you did love me Clare With a violent affection Bon. Violent indeed for it seems it was your purpose to have ended it in violence on your friend the unfortunate Lessingham unwittingly should have been the Executioner Clare 'T is true Bon. And do you love me still Clare I may easily confess it since my extremity is such that I must needs speak or die Bon. And you would enjoy me though I am married Clare No indeed not I sir you are to sleep with a sweet Bed-fellow would knit the brow at that Bon. Come come a womans telling truth makes amends for her playing false You would enâ—oy me Clare If you were a Batchelor or Widower Afore all the great Ones living Bon. But 't is impossible to give you present satisfaction for my Wife is young and healâ—hful and I like the summer and the harvest of our Love which yet I have not tasted of so well that and you 'l
Sou-East Sou-West Nor-West then they were eight Of them Were begotten Nor-Nor-East Nor-Nor-West Sou-Sou-East Sou-Sou-West and those two So vs were Sou-East and Sou West Daughters and indeed there is a family now of 32 of 'em That they have fill'd every corner of the woâ—ld and yet for All this you see these baudy Bellows-menders when they Come ashoâ—e will be offering to take up Womens coats In the street Wife Still my husbands discretion Comp. So I say if your Land-men did understand that we send Windes from Sea to do our commendations to our wives they would not blame you as they do Wife We cannot help it Comp. But you shall help it Can you love me widow Wife If I durst confess what I do think sir I know what I would say Comp. Durst confess Why whom do you fear here 's none but honest Gentlemen my friends let them hear and Never blush for 't Wife I shall be thought too weak to yeild at first Ray. Tush that 's niceness come we heard all the rest The first true stroke of love sinks thee deepest If you love him say so Comp. I have a Boy of mine own I tell you that afore hand You shall not need to fear me that way Wife Then I do love him Comp. So here will be man and wife to morrow then what though We meet strangers we may love one another Ne'r the worse for that Gentlemen I invite You all to my Wedding Omnes We 'l all attend it Comp. Did not I tell you I would fetch it off fair let any Man lay a Cuckold to my charge if he dares now Ray. 'T is slander who ever does it Comp. Nay it will come to Pâ—â—ty Lassery at least and without Compass of the general pardon too or I 'le bring him to a Foul sheet if he has ne're a clean one or let me Hear him that will say I am not father to the childe I begot Eust None will adventure any of those Comp. Or that my wife that shall be is not as honest a woman as some other mens wives are Ray. No question of that Comp. How fine and sleek my brows are now Eust I when you are married they I come to themselves agen Comp. You may call me Bridegroom if you please now For the Guests are bidden Omnes Good Master Bridegroom Comp. Come Widow then ere the next Ebb and Tide If I be Bridegroom thou shalt be the Bride Exeunt Finis Actus quartii ACT. 5. SCENE 1. Enter Rochfield and Annabel Roch. BElieve me I was never more ambitious or covetous if I may call it so of any fortune greater than this one but to behold his face Ann. And now 's the time for from a much feared danger as I heard he 's late come over Roch. And not seen you yet 't is some unkindness Ann. You may think it so but for my part sir I account it none what know I but some business of import and weighty consequence more near to him then any formal Complement to me may for a time detain him I presume no jealousie can be asperst on him for which he cannor well â—â—ology Roch. You are a Creature every way compleat As good a Wife as Woman so whose sake As I in duty am endeer'd to you So shall I owe him service Enter Lessingham Less The ways to Love and Crowns lye both through blood for in 'em both all Lets must be removed it could be stiled no true ambition else I am grown big with proâ—ect Project said I Rather with sudden mischief which without A speedy birth fills me with painful throwes And I am now in labor Thâ—â—â—s occasion That givest me a fit ground to work upon It should be Rochfield one since our departure It seems ingrafted in this Family Indeed the Houses Minion since from the Lord To the lowest Groom all with unite consent Speak him so largely Nor as it appears By this their private Conference is he grown Least in the Brides â—â—inion A foundation On which I will erect â—â—rave Revenge Ann. Sir What kinde Offices lyes in your way To do for him I shall be thankful for And reckon them mine own Roch. In acknowledgement I kiss your hand so with a gratitude never to be forgot I take my leave Ann. I mine of you with hourly expectation Of a long-lookt for husband Exit Roch. May it thrive according to your wishes Less Now 's my turn Without offence Sir may I beg your name Roch. 'T is that I never yet denied to any nor will to you that seem a Gentleman 't is Rochfield Less Rochfield You are then the man whose nobleness vertue valor and good parts have voice'd you loud Dover and Sandwich Marget and all the Coast is full of you but more as an Eye-witness of all these and with most truth the Master of this house hath given them large expressions Roch. Therein his love exceeded much my merit Less That 's your modesty Now I as one that goodness love in all men And honoring that which is but found in few Desire to know you better Roch. Pray your name Less Lessingham Roch. A friend to Mr. Bonvile Less In the number of those which he esteems most dear to him he reckons me not last Roch. So I have heard Less Sir you have cause â—obleâ—s the lucky Planer Beneath which you were 〈◊〉 â—was a bright star And then shined cleâ—â— upon you for as you Are every way well parâ—ed so I â—old you In all designs mark't to be fortunate Roch. Pray do 〈◊〉 strâ—â—â—h your love to flattery 'T may call it then in question grow I pray you To some particulars Less I have observed but late your parting with the Virgin Bride and therein some affection Roch. How Less With pardon in this I still appâ—â—â—d your happiness and praise the blessed influence of your stars for how can it be possible that she unkindly left upon the Bâ—ide-day and disappointed of those Nuptial sweets that night expected but should take the occasion so fairly offered Nay and stand excused aswell in detestation of a scorn scarce in a husband heard of as selecting a Gentleman in all things so compleat to do her those neglected offices her youth and beauty justly challengeth Roch. Some plot to wrong the Bride and I now Will marry Craft with Cunning if he 'l bite I le give him line to play on wer 't your case You being young as I am would you intermit So fair and sweet occasion Less Yet mis-conceive me not I do intreat you To think I can be of that easie wit Or of that malice to defame a Lady Were she so kinde so to expose her self Nor is she such a creature Less On this foundation I can build higher still sir I beleiv't I hear you two call Cousins comes your kindred By the Woodreffs oâ— the Bonviles Roch. From neither 't is a word of courtesie Late interchanged betwixt us otherwise We are forreign as two
a Virgin of like Age and Fortunes correspondent apprehending time lost in her that 's in another gained may upon this For who knows womens thoughts grow into this deep sadness Raym. Like enough Less You are pleasant Gentlemen Or else perhaps though I know many have pursued her Love Grov And you amongst the rest with pardon Sir Yet she might cast some more peculiar eye On some that not respects her Enter Wayting-woman Less That 's my fear which you now make your sport Wom. A Letter Sir Less From whom Wom. My Mistriss Less She has kept her promise and I will read it though I in the same know my own death included Wom. Fare you well Sir Exit Less Prove all thy friends finde out the best and nearest Kill for my sake that Friend that loves thee dearest Her servant nay her hand and character All meeting in my ruine Read agen Prove all thy Friends finde out the best and nearest Kill for my sake that Friend that loves the dearest And what might that one be 'T is a strange difficulty And it will ask much councel Exit Less Raym. Lessingham hath left us on the sudden Eust Sure the occasion was of that Letter sent him Lyon 〈…〉 be it was some Challenge Grov Challenge never dream it Are such things sent by women Enter Woodroff Aâ—abel Bâ—â—vile Franckforâ— Luce and Nurse Raym. 'T were an Heresie To conceive but such a thought Lyon Tush all the difference Begot this day must be at night decided Betwixt the Bride and Bridegroom Here both come Wood. What did you call the Gentleman we met But now in some distraction Bon. Lessingham A most approv'd and noble friend of mine and one of our prime Guests Wood. He seemed to me Somewhat in minde distemper'd What concern Those private humors ours so publick Mirth In such a time of Revels Mistriss Clare I miss her too Why Gallants have you suffered her Thus to be lost amongst you Anna. Dinner done unknown to any she retir'd her self Wood. Sick of the Maid perhaps because she fees You Mistriss Bride her School and Play-fellow So suddenly turned Wife Franck. 'T was shrewdly guest Wood. Go finde her out Fie Gentlemen within The Musick playes unto the silent walls And no man there to grace it when I was young At such a Meeting I have so bestir'd me Till I have made the pale Green-fickness Girls Blush like the Rubie and drop pearls apace Down from their Ivory fore-heads In those days I have cut Capers thus high Nay in Gentlemen And single out the Ladies Raym. Well advised Nay Mrs. Bride you shall along with us for without you all 's nothing Anna. Willingly with Mr. Bridegrooms leave Bon. Oh my best Joy this day I am your servant Wood. True this day she his her whole life after so it should be onely this day a Groom to do her service for which the full remainder of his age he may write Master I haâ—â—â—â—e it yet and so I hope still shall do Sister Luce may I presume my brother Franckford can say as much and truly Luce. Sir he may I freely give him leave Wood. Observe that brother she freely gives you leave But who gives leave the Master or the servant Franck. You 'r pleasant and it becomes you well but this day most that having but one Daughter have bestowed her to your great hope and comfort Wood. I have one would you could say so Sister but your barrenness hath given your husband freedom if he please to seek his pastime elsewhere Luce. Well well brother though you may taunt me that have never yet been blest with issue spare my husband pray for he may have a By-blow or an Heir that you never heard of Franck. Oh fie wife make not my fault too publick Luce. Yet himself keep within compass Franck. If you love me Sweet Luce. Nay I have done Wood. But if he have not Wench I would he had the hurt I wish you both Prithee thine ear a little Nurse Your boy grows up and 't is a chopping Lad A man even in the Cradle Fran. Softly Nurse Nurse One of the forwardst infants how it will crow And chirrup like a Sparrow I fear shortly it will breed teeth you must provide him therefore a Corral with a Whistle and a Chain Fran. He shall have any thing Nurse He 's now quite out of Blankets Fran. There 's a Piece provide him what he wants onely good Nurse prithee at this time be silent Nurse A Charm to binde any Nurses tongue that 's living Wood. Come we are mist among the younger Frye Gravity oft-times becomes the sports of youth espeâ—ially At such Solemnities and it were sin Not in our Age to show what we have bin Exeunt Enter Lessingham sad with a Letter in his hand Less Amicitia nihil dedit natura ma us nec rarius So saith my Author If then powerful Nature in all her bounties showred upon mankinde found none more rare and precious than this one we call Friendship oh to what a Monster would this trans-shape me to be made that he to violate such goodness To kill any had been a sad Injunction but a Friend nay of all Friends the most approved A Task hell till this day could never parallel And yet this womaâ— ha's a power of me beyond all vertue vertue almost grace What might her hidden purpose be in this unless she apprehend some fantasi that no such thing ha's being and as kinred and claims to Crowns are worn out of the world so the name Friend 'T may be 't was her conceit I have tryed those that have professed much for coin nay sometimes slighter courtesies yet found 'em cold enough so perhaps she which makes her thus opinion'd If in the former and therefore better days 't was held so rare who knows but in these last and worser times it may be now with justice banisht th' earth I 'm full of thoughts and this my troubled brest distemper'd with a thousand fantasies something I must resolve I 'le first make proof if such a thing there be which having found 'Twixt Love and Friendship 't will be a brave Fight To prove in man which claims the greatest right Enter Raymond Eustace Lyonel and Grover Raym. What Master Lessingham You that were wont to be compos'd of mirth All spirit and fire Alacrity it self like the lustre of a late bright shining Sun now wrapt in clouds and darkness Lyon Prithee be merry Thy dulness sads the half part of the house And deads that spirit which thou wast wont to quicken And half spent to give Life too Less Gentlemen such as have cause for sport I shall wish ever To make of it the present benefit While it exists Content is still short breathed When it was mine I did so If now yours I pray make your best use on 't Lyon Riddles and Paradoxes Come come some Crotchers come into thy pate And I will know the cause on 't Grov So
fettered in a womans proud Command I do Love madly and must do madly deadliest Hellebore or vomit of a Toâ—d is qualified poyson to the malice of a woman Bon. And kill that friend Strange Less You may see Sir although the Tenure by which Land was held in Villenage be quite extinct in England yet you have women there at this day living make a number of slayes Bon. And kill that friend She mocks you upon my life she does Equivocate her meaning is you cherish in your breast either self-love 〈◊〉 pride as your best friend and she wishes you 'd kill that Less Sure her Command is more bloody for she loathes me and has put as she imagines this impossible task for ever to be quit and free from me but such is the violence of my affection that I must undergo it Draw your sword and guard your self though I fight in fury I shall kill you in cold blood for I protest 't is done in heart-sorrow Bon. I le not fight with you for I have much advantage the truth is I wear a privy Coat Less Prithee put it off then if then bee'st manly Bon. The defence I mean is the justice of my Cause that would guard me and fly to thy destruction what confideâ—â—e thou wearest in a bad cause I am likely to kill thee if I fight and then you fail to effect your Mrs. bidding or to enjoy the fruit of 't I have ever wisht thy happiness and vow I now so much affect it in compassion of my friends sorrow make thy way to it Less That were a cruel Murder Bon. Believ 't 't is ne're intended otherwise when 't is a womans bidding Less Oh the necessity of my fate Bon. You shed tears Less And yet must on in my cruel purpose a Judge methinks looks lovelyest when he weeps pronouncing of deaths Sentence how I stagger in my resolve guard thee for I came hither to do and not to suffer wilt not yet be perswaded to defend thee turn the point advance it from the ground above thy head and let it underprop thee otherwise in a bold resistance Bon. Stay Thy injunction was thou shouldst kill thy friend Less It was Bon. Observe me he wrongs me most ought to offend me least and they that study man say of a friend there 's nothing in the world that 's harder found nor sooner lost thou camest to kill thy friend and thou mayest brag thou hast don 't for here for ever all friendship dyes between us and my heart for bringing forth any effects of love shall be as barren to thee as this sand we tread on cruel and inconstant as the Sea that beats upon this Beach We now are severed thus hast thou slain thy friend and satisfied what the Witch thy Mrs. bad thee Go and report that thou hast slain thy friend Less I am served right Bon. And now that I do cease to be thy friend 〈◊〉 will fight with thee as thine enemy I came not over idly to do nothing Less Oh friend Bon. Friend The naming of that word shall be the quarrel What do I know but that thou lovest my wife and fâ—ind'st this plot to divide me from her 〈◊〉 and that this Letter here is counterfeit Will you advancâ— Sir Less Not a blow 't would appear ill in either of us to fight in you unmanly for believe it Sir you have disarmed me already done away all power of resistance in me it would show beastly to do wrong to the dead to me you say you are dead for ever lost on Callis-sands by the cruelty of a woman yet remember you had a noble friend whose love to you shall continue after death shall I go over in the same Barque with you Bon. Not for you town of Callis you know 't is dangerous living at Sea with a dead body Less Oh you mock me may you enjoy all your noble wishes Bon. And may you finde a better friend then I and better keep him Exeunt Enter Nurse Compass and his Wife Nurse Indeed you must pardon me Goodman Compass I have no authority to deliver no not 〈◊〉 let you see the Childe to tell you true I have command unto the contrary Comp. Command From whom Nurse By the father of it Comp. The father Who am I Nurse Not the father sure The Civil Law has found it otherwise Comp. The Civil Law why then the Uncivil Law shall make it mine agen I le be as dreadful as a Shrovâ—-tuesday to thee I will tear thy Cottage but I will see my Childe Nurse Speak but half so much agen I le call the Constable and lay Burglary to thy charge Wife My good husband be patient And prithee Nurse let him see the Childe Nurse Indeed I dare not the father first delivered me the Childe he pays me well and weekly for my pains and to his use I keep it Comp. Why thou white Bastard-breeder is not this the mother Nurse Yes I grant you that Comp. Dost thou and I grant it too And is not the Childe mine own then by the wifes Coppy-hold Nurse The Law must try that Comp. Law Dost think I le be but a Father in Law all the Law betwixt Black-wall and Tuttle-street and there 's a pretty deal shall not keep it from me mine own flesh and blood who does use to get my children but my self Nurse Nay you must look to that I ne're knew you get any Comp. Never put on a clean Bmock and try me if thou darest three to one I get a Bastard on thee to morrow morning between one and three Nurse I le see thee hangd first Enter Franckford and Luce. Comp. So thou shalt too Nurse Oh here 's the father now pray talk with him Franck. Good morrow Neighbor morrow to you both Comp. Both Morrow to you and your wife too Franck. I would speak calmly with you Comp. I know what belongs to a Calm and a Storm too A cold word with you You have tyed your Mare in my ground Franck. No t was my Nag Comp. I will cut off your Nags tayl and make his rump make Hair-buttons if e're I take him there agen Franck. Well sir but to the Main Comp. Main Yes and I le clip his Main too and crop his ears too do you mark and back gaul him and spur-gaul him do you note And slit his Nose do you smell me now Sir Unbritch his Barrel and discharge his Bullets I le gird him till he stinks you smell me now I 'm sure Franck. You are too rough neighbor to maintain Comp. Maintain you shall not maintain no childe of mine my wife does not bestow her labor to that purpose Franck. You are too speedy I will not maintain Comp. No marry shall you not Franck. The deed to be lawful I have repented it and to the Law given satisfaction my purse has paid for 't Bemp. Your purse 't was my wifes purse You brought in the Coin indeed but it was found base
credit me for me her days shall ne're be shortned let your reason therefore turn you another way and call to minde with best observance the accomplisht graces of that brave Gentleman whom late you sent to his destruction A man so every way deserving no one action of his in all his life time e're degraded him from the honor he was born too think 〈◊〉 observant he 'l prove to you in nobler request that so obeyed you in a bad one And remember that afore you engaged him to an act Of horror to the killing of his friend He bore his steerage true in every part Led by the Compass of a noble heart Clare Why do you praise him thus You said but now he was utterly lost to you now 't appears you are friends else you ' d not deliver of him such a worthy commendation Bon. You mistake utterly mistake that I am friends with him in speaking this good of him To what purpose do I praise him onely to this fatal end that you might fall in love and league with him And what worse office can I do i' th world unto my enemy than to endeavor by all means possible to marry him unto a Whore and there I think she stands Clare Is Whore a name to be beloved If not what reason have I ever to love that man puts it upon me falsely You have wrought a strange alteration in me were I a man I would drive you with my sword into the field and there put my wrong to silence Go y' are not worthy to be a womans friend in the least part that concerns honorable reputation for you are a Liar Bon. I will love you now with a noble observance if you will continue this hate unto me gather all those graces from whence you have faln yonder where you have left 'em in Lessingham he that must be your husband And though henceforth I cease to be his friend I will appear his noblest enemy and work reconcilement 'tween you Clare No you shall not you shall not marry him to a Strumpet for that word I shall ever hate you Less And for that one deed I shall ever love you Come convert your thoughts To him that best deserves 'em Lessingham It 's most certain you have done him wrong But your repentance and compassion now May make amends disperse this melancholly And on that turn of Fortunes Wheel depend When all Calamities will mend or end Exeunt Enter Compass Raymond Eustaco Lyonel Grover Comp. Gentlemen as you have been witness to our Divorce You shall now be â—â—â—dence to our next meeting Which I look for every minute if you please Gentlemen Ray. We came for the same purpose man Comp. I do think you 'l see me come off with as smooth A forehead make my Wife as honest a woman once more As a man sometimes would desire I mean of her 〈◊〉 And a teeming woman as she has been Nay surely I Do think to make the Childe as lawful a childe too As a couple of unmarried people can beget and let It be begotten when the father is beyond Sea as this Was do but note Enter Wife Eust 'T is that we 〈◊〉 for Comp. You have waiâ—â—d the good hour see she comes a little room I beseech you silence and observation Ray. All your own sir Comp. Good morrow fair Maid Wife Mistaken in both sir neither fair nor Maid Comp. No a married woman Wife That 's it I was sir a poor widdow now Comp. A widdow Nay then I must make a little bold with you ' 〈◊〉 a kin to mine own case I am a wiveless husband too how long have you been a widow pray nay do not weep Wife I cannot chuse to think the loss I had Comp. He was an honest man to thee it seems Wife Honest quoth a oh Comp. By my feek and those are great losses an honest man is not to be found in every hole nor every street if I took a whole parish in sometimes I might say true for stincking Mackarel may be cried for new Ray. Some what sententious Eust Oh silence was an Article enjoyned Comp. And how long is it since you lost your honest husband Wife Oh the memory is too fresh and your sight makes my sorrow double Comp. My sight why was he like me Wife Your left hand to your right is not more like Comp. Nay then I cannot blame thee to weep an honest man I warrant him and thou hadst a great loss of him such a proportion so limb'd so coloured so fed Ray. Yes faith and so taught too Eust Nay will you break the Law Wife Twins were never liker Comp. Well I love him the better whatsoever is become of him and how many children did he leave thee at his departure Wife Onely one sir Comp. A Boy or a Girl Wife A Boy Sir Comp. Just â—iâ—e one ease still â— my wife rest â—er soul left â—e a Boy too a chopping Boy I warrant Wife Yes if you call 'em so Comp. I mine is a chopping Boy I mean to make either a Cook or a Butcher of him for those are your chopping Boys And what profession was your husband of Wife He went to Sea sir and there 〈◊〉 his living Comp. Mine own faculty too and you can like a man of that pâ—ofession well Wife For his sweet sake whom I so deerly loved more deeâ—ly lost I must think well of it Comp. Must you I do think then thou must venter to Sea once agen if thouâ—'t be rul'd by me Wife Oh Sir but there 's one thing more burdensome to us then most of others wives which moves me a little to dâ—staste it long time we endure the 〈◊〉 of our husbands sometimes many years and then if any slip in woman be as long vacations may make Lawyers hungry and Tradesmen cheaper penny-worths afford then otherwise they would for ready coin scandals fly out and we poor souls branded with want on living and incontinency when alas consider can we do withal Comp. They are fools and not say 〈◊〉 that do not consider that I 'm sure your husband was not of that minde if he were like me Wife No indeed he would bear kinde and honestly Comp. He was the wiser alack your land and fresh-water men Never understand what wonders are done at Sea yet They may observe a shore that a Hen having tasted The Cock kill him and she shall lay Eggs afterwards Wife That 's very true indeed Comp. And so may women why not may not a man get two or three children at once One must be born before another you know Wife Even this discretion my sweet husband had You more and more resemble him Comp. Then if they knew what things are done at sea where The Winds themselves do copulate and bring forth issue As thus In the old woâ—ld there were but â—our in all As Nor East Sou and West these dwelt far from â—â—e another Yet by meeting they have ingendred Nor-East