CHLO. 'Sbodie, giue hufbands the head a little more, and they'll bee nothing but head Ihortly; whats he there? Mayd. 2. Who would you fpeake with, fir? Cris. I would fpeake with my coufin CYTHERIS. 80 MAYD. Hee is one forfooth would fpeake with his 85 coufin Cytheris. Chlo. Is fhe your coufin, fir? Cris. Yes in truth, forfooth, for fault of a better. Chlo. Shee is a gentlewoman? [288] Cris. Or elfe fhe fhould not be my coufin, I 90 affure you. Chlo. Are you a gentleman borne? Cris. That I am. ladie; you fhall fee mine armes, if't pleafe you. Chlo. No, your legges doe fufficiently fhew you are a gentleman borne, fir: for a man borne vpon little legges, is alwayes a gentleman borne. 95 CRIS. Yet, I pray you, vouchfafe the fight of my armes, Miftreffe; for I beare them about me, to haue 'hem feene: my name is Crispinvs, or Cri-spinas 100 indeed; which is well expreft in my armes, (a Face crying in chiefe; and beneath it a blouddie Toe, betweene three Thornes pungent.) Chlo. Then you are welcome, fir; now you are a gentleman borne, I can find in my heart to welcome 105 you: for I am a gentlewoman borne too; and will beare my head high inough. though 'twere my fortune to marrie a tradef-man. Cris. No doubt of that, fweet feature, your carriage fhewes it in any mans eye, that is carried vpon you 110 with iudgement. Hee is ftill going in and out. Albi. Deare wife, be not angry. Albi. Heare me but one thing; let not your maydes fet cufhions in the parlor windowes; nor in the dyning- 115 chamber windowes; nor vpon ftooles, in eyther of them, in any cafe; for 'tis tauerne-like; but lay them one vpon another, in fome out-roome, or corner of the dyning-chamber. Chlo. Goe, goe, meddle with your bed-chamber 120 onely, or rather with your bed in your chamber, onely; or rather with your wife in your bed onely; or on my faith, I'le not be pleas'd with you onely. Albi. Looke here, my deare wife, entertaine that gentleman kindly, I pre'thee;mum. CHLO. Goe, I need your instructions indeede; anger mee no more, I aduife you. Citi-fin, quoth'a! fhe's a wife gentlewoman yfaith, will marrie her felfe to the finne of the citie. 125 ALBI. But this time, and no more (by heauen) 130 wife: hang no pictures in the hall, nor in the dyningchamber, in any cafe, but in the gallerie onely, for 'tis not courtly elfe, o' my word, wife. Chlo. 'Sprecious, neuer haue done! Albi. Wife. CHLO. Doe I not beare a reafonable corrigible hand ouer him, Crispinvs? Cris. By this hand, ladie, you hold a moft fweet hand ouer him. Albi. And then for the great gilt andyrons?— CHLO. Againe! would the andyrons were in your great guttes, for mee. Albi. I doe vanifh, wife. 135 140 ALBIUS still going out and in. N prithee G, N Exit. Q. III S.D.] om. Q Re-enter ALBIUS. G 125 pr'y thee 1640, W pry'thee 1692, 1716 G, N 130 Alb. {re-entering.] G, N 135 Exit. Q, G, N 136 not] om. N 140 Alb. [re-entering.] G, N 143 Exit. Q,G,N CHLO. How fhall I doe, Mafter Crispinvs? here will bee all the braueft ladies in court prefently, to fee 145 your coufin Cytheris: 6 the [289] gods! how might I behaue my felfe now, as to entertayne them most courtly? Cris. Mary, ladie, if you will entertaine them moft courtly, you muft doe thus: as foone as euer your 150 maide, or your man brings you word they are come; you muft fay (A poxe on 'hem, what doe they here.) And yet when they come, fpeake them as faire, and giue them the kindeft welcome in wordes, that can be. Chlo. Is that the fafhion of courtiers, Crispinvs? 155 Cris. I affure you, it is, ladie, I haue obferu'd it. Chlo. For your poxe, fir, it is eafily hit on; but, 'tis not fo eafily to fpeake faire after, me thinkes? Albi. O wife, the coaches are come, on my word, a number of coaches, and courtiers. CHLO. A poxe on them: what doe they here? ALBI. come? How now wife! wouldft thou not haue 'hem 160 CHLO. Come? come, you are a foole, you: He knowes not the trick on't. Call Cytheris, I pray you: 165 and good mafter Crispinvs, you can obferue, you fay; let me intreat you for all the ladies behauiours, iewels, iefts, and attires, that you marking as well as I, we may put both our markes together, when they are gone, and conferre of them. CRIS. I warrant you, fweet ladie; let mee alone to obferue, till I turne my felfe to nothing but obferuation. Good morrow coufin Cytheris. Cyth. Welcome kind coufin. What? are they come? ALBI. I, your friend Cornelivs Gallvs, Ovid, Tibvllvs, Propertivs, with Ivlia the Emperors daugh152 ()] italics, Q 1640, 1692, 1716, W 161 italics, Q CYTHERIS. G, N 157 on] vpon Q 170 175 158 eafily] easie Q easy G, N 159 Alb. [re-entering.] G, N 164 [To CRISPINUS.] He N 172 Enter ter. and the ladie Plavtia, are lighted at the dore; and with them Hermogenes Tigellivs, the excellent mufician. CYTH. Come, let vs goe meet them, Chloe. Chlo. Obferue, Crispinvs. Cris. At a haires breadth, ladie, I warrant you. 180 H Gallvs, Ovid, Tibvllvs, Propertivs, Ealth to the louely Chloe: you muft pardon me, Cyth. I pardon, and praife you for it, fir; and I befeech your Excellence, receiue her beauties into your knowledge and fauour. Ivli. Cytheris, fhee hath fauour, and behauiour, that commands as much of me: and fweet Chloe, know I doe exceedingly loue you, and [290] that I will approue in any grace my father the Emperour may fhew you. Is this your hufband? ALBI. For fault of a better, if it pleafe your highneffe. Chlo. Gods my life! how hee fhames mee! 5 ΙΟ CYTH. Not a whit, Chloe, they all thinke you politike, and wittie; wife women choofe not hufbands for the eye, merit, or birth, but wealth, and foueraigntie. 15 SCENA SECVNDA. Q Art. . . Crispinvs.] As they are going out, enter Cornelius Gallus, OVID, TIBULLUS, PROPERTIUS, HERMOGENES, JULIA, and Plautia. G Enter GALLUS, PLAUTIA. N 13 Chloe. [Aside to OVID. Sir, we all come to gratulate, for the good report of you. Tibv. And would be glad to deferue your loue, fir. Albi. My wife will anfwere you all, gentlemen; I'le come to you againe prefently. Plav. You haue chofen you a moft faire companion here, Cytheris, and a very faire houfe. Cyth. To both which, you and all my friends, are very welcome, PLAVTIA. 20 25 Chlo. With all my heart, I aflure your ladifhip. IVLI. You muft needes come to court, ladie, yfaith, and there bee fure your welcome fhall be as great to vs. Ovid. Shee will well deferue it, Madame. I fee, euen in her lookes, gentrie, and generall worthineffe. Tibv. I haue not feene a more certaine character of an excellent difpofition. Albi. Wife. 30 CHLO. O, they doe fo commend me here, the courtiers! what's the matter now? 35 ALBI. For the banquet, fweet wife. Chlo. Yes; and I muft needs come to court, and bee welcome, the Princeffe fayes. Gall. Ovid, and Tibvllvs, you may bee bold to welcome your Miftreffes here. 40 OVID. We find it fo, fir. Tibv. And thanke Cornelivs Gallvs. Ovid. Nay, my fweet Sextvs, in faith thou art not fociable. 45 Prop. Infaith, I am not, Pvblivs; nor I cannot. Pray, let me leaue you; I offend you all, And my felfe most. 50 GALL. Stay, fweet Propertivs. 21 Exit. Q, G, N Albius. G, N 34 Alb. [re-entering.] G, N 41 Mistress 1716, G 39 [Exit with 48 prefent] lingring Q |