You are my niece, and Valentine, the gentleman,

Has made you so by marriage.

L. Hea. Marriage?

Lov. Yes, lady;

And 'twas a noble and a virtuous part,
To take a falling man to your protection,
And buoy him up again to all his glories.

L. Hea. The men are mad!

Mer. What though he wanted
These outward things that fly away like shadows,
Was not his mind a full one, and a brave one?
You've wealth enough to give him gloss and out-
side,

And he wit enough to give way to love a lady.
Lov. I ever thought he would do well.
Mer. Nay, I knew

Howe'er he wheel'd about like a loose carbine,
He would charge home at length, like a brave

gentleman.

Heav'n's blessing o' your heart, lady? We're so bound to honour you;

In all your service so devoted to you

Lov. Don't look so strange, widow; it must be known;

Better a general joy. No stirring here yet?
Come, come, you cannot hide it.

L. Hea. Pray be not impudent:

These are the finest toys. Belike I am married then?

Mer. You are in a miserable estate i' th' world's account else:

I would not for your wealth it come to doubting.
L. Hea. And I am great with child?
Lov. No, great they say not,

But 'tis a full opinion you're with child;
And great joy among the gentlemen ;

Your husband hath bestirred himself fairly.

Mer. Alas, we know his private hours of entrance,

How long, and when he stay'd; could name the bed too,

Where he paid down his first-fruits.

L. Hea. I shall believe anon.

Lov. And we consider, for some private reasons, You'd have it private; yet take your own pleasure: And so good morrow, my best niece, my sweetest! L. Hea. No, no, pray stay.

Lov. I know you would be with him. Love him, and love him well!

Lance. Now could I fight, and fight with thee— Val. With me, thou man of Memphis ? Lance. But that thou art my own natural master. Yet my sack says thou'rt no man, thou art a Pagan, and pawn'st thy land, which is a noble cause.

Val. No arms, no arms, good Lancelot ; Dear Lance, no fighting here! We will have lands, boy,

Livings, and titles; thou shalt be a vice-roy !
Hang fighting, hang't; 'tis out of fashion.
Lance. I would fain labour you into your lands
Go to; it is behoveful.

Fran. Fie, Lance, fie!

[again.

Lance. I must beat somebody, and why not my master before a stranger? Charity and beating begins at home.

Val. Come, thou shalt beat me.

Lance. I will not be compelled, an' you were two masters: I scorn the motion !

Val. Wilt thou sleep? Lance. I scorn sleep! Val. Wilt thou go eat?

Lance. I scorn meat: I come for rompering; I come to wait upon my charge discreetly; for look you, if you will not take your mortgage again, here do I lie, St. George, and so forth.

[Lies down. Val. And here do I, St. George, bestride the Thus, with my lance[dragon!

Lance. I sting, I sting with my tail.
Val. Do you so, do you so, sir! I shall tail you

presently!

Fran. By no means; do not hurt him :

Val. Take his Nellson:

And now rise, thou maiden-knight of Malligo!
Lace on thy helmet of enchanted sack,
And charge again.

Lance. I play no more: you abuse me!
Will you go?

Fran. I'll bid you good morrow, brother; For sleep I cannot; I have a thousand fancies Val. Now thou'rt arrived, go bravely to the And do something of worth, Frank. [matter,

Lance. You shall hear from us.

[Exeunt LANCE and FRANCISCO. Val. This rogue, if he had been sober, sure, had He's the most tettish knave! [beaten me.

Enter LOVEGOOD, Merchant, and Boy, with a torch.

Lov. 'Tis he.

Mer. Good morrow!

Val. Why, sir, good morrow to you too, an you be so lusty.

Lov. You've made your brother a fine man; we met him.

Val. I made him a fine gentleman; he was A fool before, brought up amongst the midst Of small-beer brew-houses. What would you have with me?

Mer. I come to tell you your latest hour is come. Val. Are you my sentence?

Mer. The sentence of your state.

Val. Let it be hang'd then; and let it be hang'd I may not see it. [high enough,

Lov. A gracious resolution.

Val. What would you else with me? Will you go drink,

And let the world slide, uncle? Ha, ha, ha, boys!
Drink sack like whey, boys!

Mer. Have you no feeling, sir?
Val. Come hither, merchant!

supper,

Make me a

Thou most reverend land-catcher, a supper of Mer. What then, sir? [forty pounds!

Val. Then bring thy wife along, and thy fair

sisters,

Thy neighbours and their wives, and all their

My tenants are no subjects; they obey nothing, And they are people too were never christen'd; They know no law nor conscience; they'll devour thee,

An thou art mortal staple; they'll confound thee Within three days; no bit nor memory

Of what thou wert, no, not the wart upon thy nose there,

Shall be e'er heard of more! Go, take possession, And bring thy children down, to roast like rabbits; They love young toasts and butter, (Bow-bell suckers,)

As they love mischief, and hate law; they're can

nibals !

Bring down thy kindred too, that be not fruitful;
There be those mandrakes that will mollify 'em!
Go, take possession! I'll go to my chamber.
Afore, boy, go!
[Exeunt VAL. and Boy.

and court her.

Lance. Take her below the girdle; you'll ne'er speed else.

It comes on this way still. O that I had
But such an opportunity in a saw-pit!
How it comes on, comes on! 'tis here.
Fran. 'Tis she:

Fortune, I kiss thy hand!-Good morrow, lady!
Isab. What voice is that? Sirrah, do you sleep
As you go? 'Tis he: I am glad on't!-Why,
Shorthose!

Short. Yes, forsooth; I was dreamt I was going to church.

Lance. She sees you as plain as I do.
Isab. Hold thy torch up.

Short. Here's nothing but a stall, and a butcher's dog asleep in't. Where did you see the voice?

Fran She looks still angry.

Lance. To her, and meet, sir!
Isab. Here, here.

Fran. Yes, lady!

Never bless yourself: I am but a man.

And like an honest man, now I will thank you.

Isab. What do you mean? Who sent for you? Who desir'd you——

Short. Shall I put out the torch, forsooth?
Isab. Can I not go about my private medita-
tions, ha!

But such companions as you must ruffle me?
You had best go with me, sir!

Fra. It was my purpose.

Isab. Why, what an impudence is this? You had best,

Being so near the church, provide a priest,

And persuade me to marry you.

Fran. It was my meaning;

And such a husband, so loving and so careful!
My youth and all my fortunes shall arrive at-

Hark you!

Isab. 'Tis strange you should be thus unmannerly!

Turn home again, sirrah!-[To SHORT.] You had My man to lead your way!

[best now force Lance. Yes, marry, shall he, lady

Forward, my friend!

Isab. This is a pretty riot:

It may grow to a rape.

Fran. Do you like that better?

I can ravish you an hundred times, and never hurt

you.

Short. I see nothing; I am asleep still. When you have done, tell me, and then I'll wake, mistress. Isab. Are you in earnest, sir? Do you long to be hang'd?

Fran. Yes, by my troth, lady, in these fair tresses.
Isab. Shall I call out for help?
Fran. No, by no means;

That were a weak trick, lady: I'll kiss and stop your mouth.

Isab. You'll answer all these?
Fran. A thousand kisses more!
Isab. I was never abus'd thus !

[Kisses her.

SCENE IV.-VALENTINE's Bed-chamber. [Knocking within

Enter VALENTINE.

Val. Who's that, that knocks and bounces? What a devil ails you?

Is hell broke loose, or do you keep an iron mill?

Enter a Servant.

Serv. 'Tis a gentlewoman, sir, that must needs speak with you.

Val. A gentlewoman! what gentlewoman?With gentlewomen? [What have I to do

Serv. She will not be answer'd, sir.

Val. Fling up the bed, and let her in. I'll try How gentle she is. [Exit Serv.] This sack has fill'd my head

So full of baubles, I am almost mad.

What gentlewoman should this be? I hope she has
Brought me no butter-print along with her,
To lay to my charge: if she have, 'tis all one;
I'll forswear it.

Enter Lady HEARTWELL with the Servant.
L. Hea. Oh, you're a noble gallant!
Send off your servant, pray.

[Exit Serv.

Val. She will not ravish me? By this light, she looks as sharp-set as a sparrowWhat wouldst thou, woman? [hawk!

L. Hea. Oh, you have us'd me kindly, And like a gentleman! This 'tis to trust to you. Val. Trust to me! for what?

L. Hea. Because I said in jest once, You were a handsome man, one I could like well, And, fooling, made you believe I lov'd you, And might be brought to marry

Val. The widow's drunk too!

L. Hea. You, out of this (which is a fine discretion)

Give out the matter's done, you've won and wed

For now thy hopes and cares lie on thy husband, If e'er thou marriest more.

L. Hea. Have not you married me,

And for this main cause now as you report it,
To be your nurse?

Val. My nurse! Why, what am I grown to? Give me the glass! My nurse?

L. Hea. You ne'er said truer.

I must confess, I did a little favour you,
And with some labour might have been persuaded;
But when I found I must be hourly troubled
With making broths, and daubing your decays,

With swaddling, and with stitching up your ruins; For the world so reports-

Val. Do not provoke me!

L. Hea. And half an eye may see-
Val. Do not provoke me!

The world's a lying world, and thou shalt find it!
Have a good heart, and take a strong faith to thee,
And mark what follows. My nurse?
Yes, you
Widow, I'll keep you waking! [shall rock me:

L. Heu. You're disposed, sir.
Val. Yes, marry am I, widow; and you shall
feel it!

Nay, an they touch my freehold, I'm a tiger!

L. Hea. I think so.

Val. Come!

L. Hea. Whither?

Val. Any whither.

The fit's upon me now,

The fit's upon me now!

Come quickly, gentle lady,

The fit's upon me now!

The world shall know they're fools,

And so shalt thou do too;

Let the cobler meddle with his tools,

The fit's upon me now!

Take me quickly, while I am in this vein !

Fran. Yes, indeed will I; and get such blackLov. God-a-mercy, Frank! [eyed boys; Isab. This is a merry world! poor simple gentlewomen,

That think no harm, cannot walk about their business,

But they must be catch'd up, I know not how.
Fran. I'll tell you, and I'll instruct you too.
Have I caught you, mistress?

Isab. Well, an it were not for pure pity,

I would give you the slip yet; but being as it Fran. It shall be better. [is

Enter VALENTINE, Lady HEARTWELL, and RALPH, with a

Away with me; for if I have but two hours to con

sider,

All the widows in the world cannot recover me.
L. Hea. If you will go with me, sir-
Val. Yes, marry will I ;

But 'tis in anger yet! and I will marry thee:
Do not cross me! Yes, and I will lie with thee,
And get a whole bundle of babies; and I will kiss
thee !

Stand still and kiss me handsomely; but don't provoke me!

Stir neither hand nor foot, for I am dangerous!
I drunk sack yesternight: do not allure me!
Thou art no widow of this world! Come! in pity
And in spite I'll marry thee, (not a word more!)
And I may be brought to love thee.

SCENE V.-Another Street.

[Exeunt.

Val. Nay, you shall know I am a man.

L. Hea. I think so.

Val. And such proof you shall have!

L. Hea. I pray, speak softly.

Val. I'll speak it out, widow; yes, and you shall confess too,

I am no nurse-child: I went for a man,

A good one if you can beat me out o' th' pitL. Hea. I did but jest with you.

Val. I'll handle you in earnest, and so handle Nay, when my credit calls

L. Hea. Are you mad?

Val. I am mad, I am mad!

[you!

Enter Musicians, FOUNTAIN, Harebrain, and Bellamore. Val. What are you? musicians?

I know your coming! And what are those behind
Musi. Gentlemen
[you?

That sent us, to give the lady a good morrow.
Val. Oh, I know them.-Come, boy, sing the

song I taught you,

And sing it lustily 1-Come forward, gentlemen! You're welcome, welcome! now we are all friends. Go, get the priest ready, and let him not be long : We have much business.

Come, Frank, rejoice with me! Thou'st got the start, boy,

But I'll so tumble after !-Come, my friends, lead, Lead cheerfully; and let your fiddles ring, boys! My follies and my fancies have an end here.Display the mortgage, Lance! Merchant, I'll pay And every thing shall be in joint again. [you, Lov. Afore, afore!

Val. And now confess and know, Wit without Money sometimes gives the blow! [Exeunt omnes.

VANDUNKE, Burgomaster of Bruges, a Drunken Merchant, Friend to GERRARD, falsely called Father to BERTHA.

ARNOLD, of Benthuysen, disguised as a Beggar under the name of GINKS.

LORD COSTIN, disguised as a Beggar.

VANLOCK, and four other Merchants of Bruges.

SCENE,

HIGGEN,

PRIGG,

knavish Beggars.

SNAPP,

FERRET,

Clown.

Boors.

A Sailor. Servants. Guard.

SCENE I.-GHENT.-The Street.

Enter a Merchant and HERMAN.

Mer. Is he then taken?

Her. And brought back even now, sir.
Mer. He was not in disgrace?
Her. No man more lov'd,

Nor more deserv'd it, being the only man
That durst be honest in this court.

Mer. Indeed

We've heard abroad, sir, that the state hath suffer'd

A great change, since the countess' death.

Her. It hath, sir.

Mer. My five years absence hath kept me a stranger

So much to all th' occurrents of my country,
As you shall bind me for some short relation,
To make me understand the present times.

Her. I must begin then with a war was made,
And seven years with all cruelty continued
Upon our Flanders by the duke of Brabant.
The cause grew thus: During our earl's minority,
Wolfort, who now usurps, was employ'd thither,
To treat about a match between our earl
And the daughter and heir of Brabant: During
which treaty,

The Brabander pretends, this daughter was
Stol'n from his court, by practice of our state;
Tho' we are all confirm'd, 'twas a sought quarrel,
To lay an unjust gripe upon this earldom;
It being here believ'd the duke of Brabant
Had no such loss. This war upon't proclaim'd,
Our earl being then a child, altho' his father
Good Gerrard liv'd yet (in respect he was

Chosen by the countess' favour for her husband,
And but a gentleman, and Florez holding
His right unto this country from his mother)
The state thought fit, in this defensive war,
Wolfort being then the only man of mark,
To make him general.

Mer. Which place we've heard
He did discharge with honour.

Her. Ay, so long,

And with so bless'd successes, that the Brabander
Was forc'd (his treasures wasted, and the choice
Of his best men of arms tir'd, or cut off)
To leave the field, and sound a base retreat
Back to his country: But so broken, both
In mind and means, e'er to make head again,
That hitherto he sits down by his loss;
Not daring, or for honour or revenge,
Again to tempt his fortune. But this victory
More broke our state, and made a deeper hurt
In Flanders, than the greatest overthrow
She e'er received: For Wolfort, now beholding
Himself and actions in the flattering glass
Of self deservings, and that cherish'd by
The strong assurance of his pow'r (for then
All captains of the army were his creatures,
The common soldier too at his devotion,
Made so by full indulgence to their rapines,
And secret bounties ;) this strength too well known,
And what it could effect, soon put in practice,
As further'd by the childhood of the earl,
And their improvidence that might have pierc'd
The heart of his designs, gave him occasion
To seize the whole: And in that plight you find it.
Mer. Sir, I receive the knowledge of thus much,
As a choice favour from you.