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Dau, You have undone me. That which I have plotted for, and been maturing now these four months, you have blafted in a minute: Now I am loft, I may speak. This gentlewoman was lodg'd here by me o'purpofe, and to be put upon my uncle, hath profeft this obftinate filence for my fake, being my entire friend, and one that for the requital of such a fortune as to marry him, would have made me very ample conditions; where now, all my hopes are utterly miscarried by this unlucky accident.

Cler. Thus 'tis, when a man will be ignorantly officious, do fervices, and not know his why: I wonder what courteous itch poffefs'd you! You never did abfurder part i' your life, nor a greater trespass to friendship or humanity.

Dau. Faith, you may forgive it beft; 'twas your cause principally.

Cler. I know it; would it had not!

Enter Cutberd.

Dau. How now, Cutberd? what news? Cut. The best, the happiest that ever was, Sir! There has been a mad gentleman with your uncle this morning (I think this be the gentleman) that has almost talk'd him out of his wits, with threatening him from marriage

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Dau. On, I pr'ythee!

Cut. And your uncle, Sir, he thinks 'twas done by your procurement; therefore he will fee the party you wot of presently; and if he like her, he fays, and that she be fo inclining to dumb, as F have told him, he fwears he will marry her to-day, instantly, and not defer it a minute longer. Dau. Excellent! beyond our expectation! Tru. Beyond our expectation? by this light, I knew it would be thus.

Dau. Nay, fweet Truewit, forgive me.

Tru. No, I was ignorantly officious, impertinent: This was the abfurd, weak part.

Cler. Wilt thou afcribe that to merit now, was mere fortune?

Tru. Fortune! mere management. Fortune had not a finger in't. I faw it muft neceffarily in nature fall out fo: My genius is never false to me in these things. Shew me how it could be otherwise. Dau. Nay, gentlemen, contend not; 'tis well

now.

Tru. Alas, I let him go on with inconfiderate, and rash, and what he pleas'd.

Cler. Away, thou strange justifier of thyself, to be wifer than thou wert, by the event!

Tru. Event! by this light, I forefaw it, as well as the ftars themselves.

Dau.

Dau. Nay, gentlemen, 'tis well now: Do you two entertain Sir John Daw with discourse, while I fend her away with inftructions.

Tru. I'll be acquainted with her first, by your favour.

Cler. Mafter Truewit, lady, a friend of ours.

Tru. I am forry I have not known you fooner, lady, to celebrate this rare virtue of your filence. Cler. Faith, an you had come fooner, you should ha' feen and heard her well celebrated in Sir John Daw's madrigals, [Exe. Dau. Epi. and Cut,

Re-enter Daw.

Tru. Jack Daw, fave you; when faw you LaFoole?

Daw. Not fince last night, master Truewit. Tru. That's a miracle! I thought you had been infeparable.

Daw. He's gone to invite his guests.

Tru. God fo! 'tis true. What a false memory have I towards that man! I am one: I met him ev'n now, upon that he calls his delicate fine black horse, rid into a foam, with posting from place to place, and person to person, to give him the cue. Never was poor captain took more pains at a muster to fhew men, than he, at this meal, to fhew friends.

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Daw. Is miftrefs Epicone gone?

Cler. Gone afore, with Sir Dauphine, I warrant,

to the place.

Tru. Gone afore! that were a manifeft injury, a difgrace and a half; to refuse Sir John at fuch a festival time as this, being a bravery, and a wit too.

Cler. Tut, he'll fwallow it like cream: He's better read, than to esteem any thing a disgrace, is offered him from a mistrefs.

Daw. Nay, let her e'en go; fhe shall fit alone, and be dumb in her chamber a week together, for John Daw, I warrant her: Does the refufe me?

Cler. No, Sir, do not take it so to heart: Good faith, Truewit, you were to blame to put it into his head, that fhe does refufe him."

Tru. Sir, she does refuse him palpably, however you mince it. An I were as he, I would fwear to speak ne'er a word to her to-day for't.

Daw. By this light, no more I will not.
Tru. Nor to any body elfe, Sir.

Daw. Nay, I will not fay fo, gentlemen.
Cler. It had been an excellent happy condition
for the company, if you could have drawn him to it.
Daw. I'll be very melancholick, i'faith.

Cler. As a dog, if I were as you, Sir John. Tru. Or a fnail, or a wood-loufe: I would roll

myself

myfelf up for this day in troth, they should not unwind me.

Daw. By this pick-tooth, fo I will.

Cler. "Tis well done: He begins already to be angry with his teeth.

Daw. Will you go, gentlemen?

Cler. Nay, you must walk alone, if you be right melancholick, Sir John.

Tru. Yes, Sir, we'll dog you, we'll follow you afar off. [Exit Sir John,

Cler. Was there ever fuch a two-yards of knighthood measur'd out by time, to be fold to laughter?

Tru. A mere talking mole! hang him: No mushroom was ever so fresh. A fellow fo utterly nothing, as he knows not what he would be.

Cler. Let's follow him: But firft, let's go to Dauphine; he's hovering about the house, to hear what news.

Tru, Content.

Scene, the house of Morofe.

[Exeunt.

Enter Morofe and Mute, meeting Epicone and Cutberd.

Mor. Welcome, Cutberd; draw near with your fair charge: And in her ear, softly entreat her to unmask (—) So. Is the door shut? (

Enough.

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