55 Will be a worke of time; she may be old
Before her husband rife to a chiefe Judge;
And all her flower be gone: No, no, a Lady
O' the first head I'ld have her; and in Court:
The Lady Silk-worme, a Diaphanous Lady :
60 And be a Vi-countesse to carry all

Before her (as wee fay) her Gentleman-usher:
And caft off Pages, bare, to bid her Aunt
Welcome unto her honour, at her lodgings.

Rut. You lay well, Ladies Gossip; if my Lady
65 Could admit that, to have her Neice precede her.

Lad. For that, I must consult mine owne Ambition,
My zealous Goffip. Pol. O, you shall precede her:
You shall be a Counteffe! Sir Diaphanous,
Shall get you made a Countesse! Here he comes;
70 Has my voice certaine : O fine Courtier !

To them.

O blessed man! the bravery prick't out,
To make my dainty charge, a Vi-countesse !
And my good Lady, her Aunt, Countesse at large!

Act II. Scene IIII.

Diaphanous. Palate.

Dia. I tell thee Parlon, if I get her, reckon
Thou hast a friend in Court; and shalt command
A thousand pound, to goe on any errand,

For any Church preferment thou haft a mind too.

5 Pal. I thanke your worship: I will so work for you,

As you shall study all the wayes to thanke me:

Ile worke my Lady, and my Ladies friends;
Her Gossip, and this Doctor; and Squire Needle,
And Mr. Compaffe, who is all in all:

70 certaine :] Enter behind sir Diaphanous Silkworm and Palate,

in discourse. G

Act... Palate.] om. G

4 too.] to 1692, f

The very Fly fhee moves by: Hee is one

That went to Sea with her husband, Sir Iohn Loadstone,
And brought home the rich prizes: all that wealth

Is left her; for which service she respects him :

A dainty Scholler in the Mathematicks;

ΤΟ

And one shee wholly imployes. Now Dominus Practise 15
Is yet the man (appointed by her Ladiship)

But there's a trick to fet his cap awry:

If I know any thing; hee hath confest

To me in private, that hee loves another,
My Ladies woman, Mrs. Pleasance: therefore
Secure you of Rivalship. Dia. I thanke thee
My noble Parfon: There's five hundred pound
Waites on thee more for that. Pal. Accoast the Neice :
Yonder fhee walkes alone: Ile move the Aunt:
But here's the Goffip: Thee expects a morfell.
Ha' you nere a Ring, or toy to throw away?

Dia. Yes, here's a Diamont of some threescore pound,

I pray you give her that. Pal. If shee will take it.
Dia. And there's an Emerauld, for the Doctor too:
Thou Parson, thou shalt coine me: I am thine.

Pal. Here Mr. Compa/le comes: Doe you see my Lady?
And all the reft? how they doe flutter about him!
Hee is the Oracle of the house, and family!
Now, is your time: goe nick it with the Neice:

I will walke by; and hearken how the Chimes goe.

20

25

30

35

Com. Nay Parson, stand not off; you may approach : This is no fuch hid point of State, wee handle,

To them.

But you may heare it for wee are all of Counsell.
The gentle Mr. Practise, hath dealt clearly,

5 And nobly with you, Madam. Lad. Ha'you talk'd with him? And made the overture? Com. Yes, first I mov'd The busines trusted to me, by your Ladiship,

I' your owne words, almost your very Sillabes: Save where my Memory trespass'd 'gainst their elegance : 10 For which I hope your pardon. Then I inlarg'd In my owne homely stile, the speciall goodnesse, And greatnesse, of your bounty, in your choice, And free conferring of a benefit,

So without ends, conditions, any tye

15 But his meere vertue, and the value of it,
To call him to your kindred, to your veines,
Insert him in your family, and to make him
A Nephew, by the offer of a Neice,

With fuch a portion; which when hee had heard, 2o And most maturely acknowledg'd (as his calling Tends all unto maturity) he return'd

A thankes, as ample as the Curtesie, (In my opinion) said it was a Grace,

Too great to be rejected, or accepted

25 By him! But as the termes stood with his fortune,
Hee was not to prevaricate, with your Ladiship,
But rather to require ingenious leave,

30

He might with the same love, that it was offer'd
Refuse it, since he could not with his honesty,
(Being he was ingag'd before) receive it.

Pal.

The fame he said to me. Com. And name the

party.

Pal. He did, and he did not. Com. Come, leave

your Schemes,

And fine Amphibolies, Parfon. Pal. You'll heare more.

31 name] nam'd, W named, G

party.] party? 1692, f

Pol. Why, now your Ladiship is free to choose, The Courtier Sir Diaphanous: he shall doe it,

Ile move it to him my felfe. Lad. What will you move to him?

Pol. The making you a Counteffe. Lad. Stint, fond woman.

Know you the partie Mr. Practise meanes?

Com. No, but your Parfon layes he knowes, Madam. Lad. I feare he fables; Parson doe you know Where Mr. Practile is ingag'd? Pal. Ile tell you! But under feale, her Mother must not know: 'Tis with your Ladiships woman, Mrs. Pleasance. Com. How! Lad. Hee is not mad. Pal. O hide the hideous secret

From her, shee'l trouble all elfe. You doe hold

35

To Compaffe.

40

45

A Cricket by the wing.
Are you fure Parfon?

Com.

Lad.

Did he name Pleasance?
O'tis true, your Mrs!

I find where your shooe wrings you, Mr. Compalle:
But, you'l looke to him there. Com. Yes, here's Sir

Moath,

Your brother, with his Bias, and the Partie

50

Deepe in discourse: 'twill be a bargaine, and sale;

I fee by their close working of their heads,

And running them together so in Councell.

Lad. Will Mr. Practise be of Councell against us?
Com. He is a Lawyer, and must speake for his Fee, 55
Against his Father, and Mother, all his kindred;

His brothers, or his fifters: no exception
Lies at the Common-Law. He must not alter
Nature for forme, but goe on in his path-

It may be he will be for us.

Doe not you

Offer to meddle, let them take their course:

53 Enter at a distance, in discourse, sir Moth Interest, Practice, and Bias. G

44 mad.] mad? 1716, f

60 he will]

60

Dispatch, and marry her off to any husband;
Be not you scrupulous; let who can have her:
So he lay downe the portion, though he gueld it:
65 It will maintaine the fuit against him: somewhat,
Something in hand is better, then no birds;

He shall at last accompt, for the utmost farthing,
If you can keepe your hand from a discharge.

Pol. Sir, doe but make her worshipfull Aunt a Countesse,

70 And she is yours: her Aunt has worlds to leave you!
The wealth of six East Indian Fleets at least!

Her Husband, Sir John Load/tone, was the Governour
O' the Company, seven yeares. Dia. And came there
home,

Six Fleets in seven yeares? Pol. I cannot tell,

75 I must attend my Gossip, her good Ladiship.

Pla. And will you make me a Vi-countesse too? For How doe they make a Countesse ? in a Chaire?

Or 'pon a bed? Dia. Both wayes, sweet bird, Ile shew you.

Act II. Scene VI.

Intereft.

Practife.

To them.

Bias. Compalle. Palate. Rnt.
Iron/ide.

Int. The truth is, Mr. Practile, now we are sure
That you are off, we dare not come on the bolder:
The portion left, was fixteene thousand pound,

I doe confesse it, as a just man should.

5 And call here Mr. Compalle, with these Gentlemen,

68 [Exit Lady L. G

76 For,] sir? G

69 Pol. [to Diaphanous.] G 75 [Exit. G 78 [Exeunt sir Diaphanous and Placentia. G Act. . . Ironfide.] om. G I Int.] Sir Moth. [coming forward.] G Rnt.] Rut. 1692—W