Enough. Now, Cutberd, with the same discipline I ufe to my family, I will queftion you. As I conceive, Cutberd, this gentlewoman is fhe you have provided, and brought, in hope fhe will fit me in the place and person of a wife? (-) Very well done, Cutberd. I conceive befides, Cutberd, you have been pre-acquainted with her birth, education, and qualities, or elfe you would not prefer her to my acceptance, in the weighty confequence of marriage. This I conceive, Cutberd. () Very well done, Cutberd. Give afide now a little, and leave me to examine her condition, and aptitude to my affection. Give afide! [Cutberd retires.] She is exceeding fair, and of a special good favour; a fweet compofition, or harmony of limbs; her temper of beauty has the true height of my blood. [He goes about her, and views her.] The knave hath exceedingly well fitted me without: I will now try her within. Come near, fair gentlewoman. [At the breaks fhe curt'fies.] Let not my behaviour feem rude; though unto you, being rare, it may haply appear strange. (—————) Nay, lady, you may speak, though Cutberd and my man might not; for of all founds, only the fweet voice of a fair lady has the just length of mine ears. I befeech you, fay, lady; out of the first fire of meeting

eyes

eyes (they fay) love is ftricken: Do

you feel any -fuch motion? ha, lady? (—) Alas, lady, these answers by filent curt'fies are too courtless and fimple. Can you speak, lady?

Epi. Judge you, forfooth.

[She speaks foftly.

Mor. What fay you, lady? Speak out, I beseech

you.

Epi. Judge you,

forfooth.

Mor. O' my judgment, a divine foftnefs! Excellent! Divine! If it were poffible fhe fhould hold out thus! Peace, Cutberd; thou art made for ever, as thou haft made me, if this felicity have lasting: But I will try her further. And can you, dear lady, not taking pleasure in your tongue (which is woman's chiefest pleasure) think it plausible to answer me by filent gestures?

Epi. I fhould be forry else.

Mor. What fay you, lady? Good lady, fpeak

out.

Epi. I fhould be forry else.

Mor. That forrow doth fill me with gladness. Oh, Morofe! thou art happy above mankind! Pray that thou may'st contain thyfelf. But hear me, fair lady; I do alfo love to fee her whom I fhall chufe, to be the first and principal in all fashions; and how will you be able, lady, with this frugality

of

of fpeech, to give the manifold (but neceffary) inftructions, for thofe rofes, thefe fleeves, those gloves, thefe fans, that bodice, and this embroidery? Ha! what fay you, lady?

Epi. I'll leave it to you, Sir.

Mor. How, lady? Pray you rise a note.

Epi. I leave it to wifdom, and you, Sir.

Mor. Admirable creature! I will trouble you no more: I will not fin against so sweet a fimplicity, Let me now be bold to the feal of being mine. Cutberd, I give thee the lease of thy house free; thank me not, but with thy leg. (-) Go thy ways, and get me a minister presently, with a foft low voice, to marry us; away: foftly, Cutberd. [Exit Cutberd.] Sirrah, conduct your mistress into the dining-room, your now mistress. [Exeunt Mute and Epicone.

print on these divine lips

Manet Morofe.

Oh, my felicity! How fhall I be reveng'd on mine infolent kinsman, and his plots, to fright me from marrying! This night I will get an heir, and thrust him out of my blood, like a stranger. He would be knighted forfooth, and thought by that means to reign over me; his title muft do it: No, kinfman, I will now make you bring me the tenth lord's,

lord's, and the fixteenth lady's letter, kinfman; and it shall do you no good, kinfman. Your knighthood itself shall come on its knees, and it shall be rejected; it shall be sued for its fees to execution, and not be redeem'd; it fhall cheat at the twelvepenny ordinary, for its diet all the term time, and tell tales for it in the vacation to the hoftefs; it fhall fright all its friends with borrowing letters; it shall not have money to discharge one tavernreckoning, to invite the old creditors to forbear, or the new, that should be, to truft. It shall not have hope to repair itself by Conftantinople, Ireland or Virginia; but the best and last fortune to it knighthood fhall be, to make Doll Tearsheet, or Kate Common a lady, and fo knighthood may eat. [Exit.

Scene the freet.

Enter Truewit, Dauphine, Clerimont.

Tru. Are you fure he is not gone by?
Dau. No, I ftaid in the shop ever fince.

Cler. But he may take the other end of the lane. Dau. No; I told him I would be here at this end: I appointed him hither.

Tru. What a barbarian it is to stay then!

Dau. Yonder he comes.

Cler.

Cler. And his charge left behind him, which is a very good fign, Dauphine.

Enter Cutberd.

Dau. How now, Cutberd? fucceeds it or no? Cut. Paft imagination, Sir, omnia fecunda; you could not have pray'd to have had it fo well; Saltat fenex, as it is i' the proverb; he does triumph in his felicity, admires the party! He has given me the leafe of my house too; and I am now going for a filent minifter to marry 'em, and away.

Tru. 'Slight, get one of the filenc'd ministers; a zealous brother would torment him purely. Cut. Cum privilegio, Sir.

Dau. O, by no means! let's do nothing to hinder it now: When 'tis done and finished, I am for you, for any device of vexation.

Cut. And that fhall be within this half-hour, upon my dexterity, gentlemen. Contrive what you can in the mean time, bonis avibus.

[Exit.

Cler. How the flave doth Latin it! Tru. It would be made a jeft to pofterity, Sirs, this day's mirth, if you will affift.

Cler. Befhrew his heart that will not, I pronounce. Dau. And for my part. What is't? Tru. To translate all La-Foole's company, and his feast, thither to-day, to celebrate this bride-ale. Dau.