Right honourable, which my lord can make her:
And, might I live to dance upon my knee
A young Lord Lovell, born by her unto you,
I write nil ultra to my proudest hopes.

[Paces into L. Corner. Lov. Are you not mov'd with the sad imprecations And curses of whole families, made wretched

By your sinister practices?

Sir G. Yes, as rocks are,

When foamy billows split themselves against

Their flinty ribs; or as the moon is mov'd,

When wolves, with hunger pin'd, howl at her bright

ness.

I'm of a solid temper, and, like these,

Steer on a constant course.

Nay, when my ears are pierc'd with widows' cries,
And undone orphans wash with tears my threshold,
I only think what 'tis to have my daughter
Right honourable; and 'tis a powerful charm
Makes me insensible of remorse, or pity,
Or the least sting of conscience.

Lov. I admire

The toughness of your nature.

Sir G. "Tis for you,

My lord, and for my daughter, I am marble;

Nay more, if you will have my character

In little, I enjoy more true delight

In my arrival to my wealth these dark

And crooked ways, than you shall e'er take pleasure In spending what my industry hath compass'd.

My haste commands me hence; in one word, therefore, Is it a match, my lord?

Lov. I hope that is past doubt now.

Sir G. Then rest secure; not the hate of all mankind here,

Nor fear of what can fall on me hereafter,

Shall make me study aught but your advancement
One story higher: an earl! if gold can do it.
Doubt not my honour, nor my faith to you;
Though I am borne thus headlong by my will,
You may make choice of what belief you please,
To me 'tis equal; so, my lord, good morrow.

[Exit SIR GILES, L. D. Lov. He's gone: I wonder how the earth can bear

him!

I, that have liv'd a soldier,

And stood the enemy's violent charge undaunted,
To hear this horrid monster, am all bath'd
In a cold sweat: yet, like a mountain, he
Is no more shaken, than Olympus is
When angry Boreas loads his double head
With sudden drifts of snow.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, M. D.-advances, R.
Lady A. Save you, my lord!
Disturb I not your privacy?

Lov. (L.) No, good madam;

For your own sake, I'm glad you came no sooner :
Since this bold, bad man, Sir Giles Overreach,
Made such a plain discovery of himself,

And read this morning such a devilish matins,
That I should think it a sin next to his
But to repeat it.

Lady A. (R.) I ne'er press'd my lord,

On others' privacy; yet, against my will,
Walking for health's sake, in the gallery here,

I was made,

So loud and vehement he was, partaker

Of his tempting offers.

But, my good lord, if I may use my freedom,
As to an honour'd friend-

Lov. You lessen else

Your favour to me.

Lady A. I dare, then, say thus:
However common men

Make sordid wealth the object and sole end
Of their industrious aims, 'twill not agree
With those of noble blood, of fame, and honour.
Lov. Madam, 'tis confess'd:

But what infer you from it?

Lady A. This, my lord:

I allow the heir of Sir Giles Overreach, Margaret,
A maid well qualified, and the richest match
Our north part can make boast of; yet she cannot,
With all that she brings with her, stop their mouths
That never will forget who was her father;

Or that my husband Allworth's lands, and Wellborn's
(How wrung from both, needs now no repetition),
Were real motives that more work'd your lordship
To join your families, than her form and virtues:
You may conceive the rest.

Lov. I do, good madam,

And long since have consider'd it.

And 'tis my resolution ne'er to wed

With the rich Margaret, Overreach's daughter.
Lady A. [Aside.] I'am glad to hear this.

Why then, my lord, pretend you marriage to her?
Dissimulation but ties false knots

On that straight line, by which you hitherto
Have measur'd all your actions.

Lov. I make answer,

And aptly, with a question. Wherefore have you,
That, since your husband's death, have liv'd a strict
And chaste nun's life, on the sudden given yourself
To visits and entertainments? Think you, madam,
"Tis not grown public conference; or the favours
Which you so prodigally have thrown on Wellborn,
Incur not censure?

Ludy A. I'm innocent here; and, on my life, I swear, My ends are good.

Lov. So, on my soul, are mine

To Margaret:

And, since this friendly privacy does serve

As a fair offer'd means unto ourselves

To search each other further-you having shewn
Your care of me, I, my respect to you-

Deny me not, I dare not yet say more,

An afternoon's discourse.

Lady A. Affected coyness might deny your suit; But, such your honour, frankness shall become me, And bid my tongue avow my honest heart:

I shall attend your lordship.

Lov. My heart thanks you.

[Exeunt LOVELL, L. LADY ALLWORTH, M. D.

SCENE II.-A Village.

Enter FROTH and TAPWELL, from the House, L. S. E. Tap. (L. c.) Undone, undone! This was your counsel, Froth.

Froth. (L.) Mine! I defy thee: did not master
Marrall-

He has marr'd all, I am sure-strictly command us,
On pain of Sir Giles Overreach's displeasure,
To turn the gentleman out of doors?

Tap. (R. C.) 'Tis true:

But now, he's his uncle's darling; and has got
Master Justice Greedy, since he fill'd his belly,

At his cominandment to do any thing.

Woe, woe to us!

Froth. (L. C.) He may prove merciful.

Tap. Troth, we do not deserve it at his hands. Froth. Then, he knows all the passages of our house; As the receiving of stolen goods, and so forth.

When he was rogue Wellborn, no man would believe him;

And then his information could not hurt us:
But now he is right worshipful again,
Who dares but doubt his testimony?
Tap. Undone, undone! Methinks
I see thee, Froth, already in a cart;
And my hand hissing,

If I 'scape the halter, with the letter R
Printed upon it.

Froth. 'Would that were the worst!

That were but nine days' wonder. As for credit,
We've none to lose ; but we shall lose his custom :
There's the devil on't.

Tap. He has summon'd all his creditors by the drum ; "Tis said, he has found such a new way

To pay his old debts, as, 'tis very likely,
He shall be chronicled for it.

Froth. But are you sure his worship

Comes this way to my lady's?—[Drum-and cry without of, L. U. E.]-Brave Master Wellborn!

Tap. Hark, I hear him.

Froth. Be ready with your petition, and present it To his good grace. [Drum-and cry again, L. U. E. Enter GREEDY, WELLBORN in a rich habit, MARRALL-VINTNER, TAILOR, with other CreditorsORDER, FURNACE, and AMBLE, L. U. E.-TAPWELL and FROTH, kneeling, deliver a Petition.

Well. (c.) How's this? petition'd too!
But note what miracles the payment of
A little trash, and a rich suit of clothes,
Can work upon these rascals. I shall be,
I think, Prince Wellborn.

Mar. (L. c.) When your worship's married,
You may be-I know; what I hope to see you
Well. Then look thou for advancement.
Mur. To be known

Your worship's bailiff, is the mark I shoot at.
Well. And thou shalt hit it.

Mar. Pray you, sir, dispatch

These needy followers: and for my admittance,
[TAPWELL and FROTH flattering JUSTICE
GREEDY, R.

Provided you'll defend me from Sir Giles,
Whose service I am weary of, I'll say something
You shall give thanks for.

Well. Fear not Sir Giles.

[WELL. and MAR, retire up on L. c. and converse apart.

Gree. [Bringing TAP. and FROTH to centre.] Who? Tapwell-I remember; thy wife brought me,

Last new year's tide, a couple of fat turkies.

Tap. (c.) And shall do, every Christmas, let your worship

But stand my friend now.

Grce. How! with Master Wellborn?

I can do any thing with him, on such terms.

[WELL. advances L.

See you this honest couple? [To WELL.] They're good

souls

As ever drew out spigot. Have they not

A pair of honest faces?

Well. I o'erheard you,

And the bribe he promis'd. You are cozen'd in 'em ;
For, of all the scum that grew rich by my riots,
This, for a most unthankful knave, and this,

For a base quean and thief, have worst deserv'd me ;
And therefore speak not for them. By your place,
You're rather to do me justice. Lend me your ear:
Forget his turkies, and call in his license,

And every season I will send you venison,
To feast a mayor and corporation.

[Goes a little up, and converses with MARRALL. Gree. (L. c.) I'm chang'd o' the sudden in my opinion.-Mum.

Come near; [To TAP. and FROTH.] nearer, rascal! And, now I view him better, did you e'er see

One look so like an arch knave? his very countenance, Should an understanding Judge but look upon him, Would hang him, though he were innocent.

Tap. and Froth. Worshipful sir

Gree. No; though the great Turk came, instead of turkies,

To beg my favour, I'm inexorable.

Thou'st an ill name: I here do damn thy licence,