But I, who see all by the Glowormes light,

That creeps before. Pol. I knew the Gentlewoman; 15 Alderman Parrots Widow, a fine Speaker,

As any was i' the Clothing, or the Bevy;

She did become her scarlet, and black Velvet,

Her greene, and purple-. Rut. Save thy colours, Rainebow,

Or she will run thee over, and all thy lights.

Pol. She dwelt in Doo-little Lane, a top o' the hill

there;

I' the round Cage, was after Sir Chime Squirrell's.
Shee would eate nought but Almonds, I assure you.

20

Rut. Would thou had'st a dose of pilles, a double dose, O' the best purge, to make thee turne tale, tother way. 25 Pol. You are a foule mouth'd, purging, absurd Doctor; I tell you true, and I did long to tell it you. You ha' spread a scandall i' my Ladies house here, On her sweet Neice, you never can take off With all your purges, or your plaister of Oathes; Though you distill your Dam-me, drop by drop, I' your defence. That she hath had a Child, Here she doth spit upon thee, and defie thee;

Or I do't for her.

Rut. Madam, pray you bind her
To her behaviour. Tye your Gossip up,

Or fend her unto Bet'lem. Pol. Goe thou thither,
That better haft deferv'd it, fhame of Doctors:
Where could she be deliver'd? by what charme ?
Restor❜d to her strength so foone? who is the Father?
Or where the Infant? Aske your Oracle,

That walkes, and talkes in his sleepe. Rut. Where

is he? gone?

You ha' loft a fortune liftning to her, to her Tabour.

15 before. [Exeunt Needle, Chair, Keep, and Placentia. G 42 You ha' lost a fortune, list'ning to her tabor. W, f 42 [Aside

30

35

40

to sir Moth. G

Good Madam lock her up. Lad. You must give loofers Their leave to speake, good Doctor.

footing

Rut. Follow his

45 Before he get to his bed: This reft is loft else.

5

ΙΟ

15

Act V. Scene VI.

Compalle. Practife. Ironfide. Polish. Lady. Com. Where is my wife? what ha' you done with my wife,

Gossip o' the Counfels. Pol. I, fweet Mr. Compasse? I honour you, and your wife. Com. Well, doe so still. I will not call you Mother tho', but Polish.

Good Gollip Polish, where ha’

you hid my wife? Pol. I hide your wife? Com. Or fhe's run away. Lad. That would make all suspected, Sir, a fresh. Come we will find her, if she be i' the house.

Pol. Why should I hide your wife, good Mr. Com

palle?

Com. I know no cause, but that you are goo'dy Polish, That's good at malice; good at mischiefe; all

That can perplexe, or trouble a busines, throughly.

Pol. You may say what you will: yo' are Mr. Com

palle,

And carry a large fweep, Sir, i' your Circle.

Lad. Ile sweep all corners, Gossip, to spring this.
If't be above ground, I will have her cry'd,
By the Common-cryer, through all the Ward,
But I will find her. Iro. It will be an Act
Worthy your justice, Madam. Pra. And become
20 The integrity, and worship of her name.

45 [Exeunt Rut and sir Moth. G Compass, Practice, and Ironside. G

Act... Lady.] Enter 20 [Exeunt. G

Act V. Scene VII.

Rut. Intereft. Item. Needle.

Rut. 'Tis such a Fly, this Gossip, with her buz,
Shee blowes on every thing, in every place!

Int. A bufie woman, is a fearefull grievance !
Will hee not sleepe againe ?
Rut. Yes inftantly,
As foone as he is warme. It is the nature
Of the disease, and all these cold dry fumes,
That are melancholicke, to worke at first,
Slow, and insensibly in their ascent,

5

Till being got up, and then distilling downe

Vpo' the braine; they have a pricking quality

10

That breeds this restlesse rest, which we, the sonnes

Of Physick, call a walking in the sleepe,

And telling mysteries, that must be heard.

Softly, with art, as we were sowing pillowes
Vnder the Patients elbowes, elle they'd fly

Into a phrensie, run into the Woods,

Where there are Noises, huntings, fhoutings, hallowings,
Amidst the brakes, and furzes, over bridges

Fall into waters: Scratch their flesh: Sometimes

Drop downe a praecipice, and there be loft.

15

20

How now! what does her? Ite. He is up againe,

And 'gins to talke. Int. O' the former matter, Item? Enter Item. Ite. The treasure, and the Lady: That's his argument.

Int. O mee, happy man! he cannot off it.

I shall know all then. Rut.

With what appetite

Heare you Tim?

Ite.

Sir Diaphanous,

Our owne desires delude us!
Let no man interrupt us.
And Mr. Bias, his Court-friend's, defire

25

To kisse his Neices hands, and gratulate

30 The firme recovery of her good fame,

And honour- Int. Good, fay to 'hem, Mr. Item, My Neice is on my Ladies fide: they'll find her there.

I pray to be but spar'd for halfe an houre:

Ile fee 'hem presently. Rut. Doe, put 'hem off, Tim. 35 And tell 'hem the importance of the busines.

Here, he is come! footh; and have all out of him.

Nee. How doe you Lady-bird? so hard at worke,

still?

What's that you say? Doe you bid me walke, sweet Bird?

And tell our Knight? I will. How? walke knave,

walke?

4o I thinke y' are angry with me Pol. Fine Pol!
Pol's a fine bird! O fine Lady Pol!

Almond for Parrat; Parrat's a brave bird:
Three hundred thousand peeces ha' you stuck,
Edge-long into the ground, within the Garden?

45 O'bounteous Bird! Int. And me, most happy creature. Rut. Smother your joy. Nee. How? and drop'd twice fo many

Int. Ha! where?

Rut. Containe your felfe. Nee.

I'the old Well?

Int. I cannot, I am a man of flesh, and blood:
Who can containe himselfe, to heare the Ghost
5o Of a dead Lady, doe such workes as these?
And a Citie Lady too, o' the streight waste ?

Rut. Hee's gone. Nee. I will goe try the truth of it.
Rut. Follow him, Tim: See what he does; if he

bring you

A'llay of it now. Int. Ile fay hee's a rare fellow :

36 Enter Needle, talking as in his sleep. G 53 does; [Exit Item.] G

52 [Exit. G

And has a rare disease.

Rut.

And I will worke

How, good Doctor?

As rare a cure upon him. Int.

Rut. When he hath utter'd all, that you would know

of him;

Ile clense him with a pill (as fmall as a pease)

And stop his mouth: for there his issue lies,

55

Betweene the Muscles o' the tongue. Int. Hee's come. 60 Rut. What did he, Item? Ite. The first step he stept

Into the Garden, he pull'd these five peices

Vp, in a fingers bredth one of another.

The durt sticks on 'hem still. Int. I know enough.

Doctor, proceed with your Cure, Ile make thee famous, 65 Famous among the sonnes of the Physicians,

Machaon, Podalirius, Efculapius.

Thou shalt have a golden beard, as well as he had;
And thy Tim Item here, have one of silver:

A livery beard. And all thy 'Pothecaries
Belong to thee. Where's Squire Needle? gone?

Ite. Hee's prick'd away, now he has done the worke.
Rut. Prepare his pill, and gi' it him afore Supper.
Int. Ile fend for a dozen o' labourers to morrow,

To turne the furface o' the Gaiden up.

Rut. In mould? bruise every clod? Int. And have all fifted;

For Ile not loose a peice o' the Birds bounty,
And take an Inventory of all. Rut. And then,

I would goe downe into the Well- Int. My felfe;
No trusting other hands: Sixe hundred thousand,
To the first three; nine hundred thousand pound-

Rut. 'Twill purchase the whole Bench of Aldermanity,
Stript to their fhirts. Int. There never did accrew,
So great a gift to man, and from a Lady,
I never faw but once; now I remember,

70

75

80

85

60 tongue.] Re-enter Item. G

73 [Exit Item. G