Dau. He has done it, Sir Amorous, moft maliciously and treacherously: but if you'll be rul'd by us, you shall quit him i'faith. La-F. Good gentlemen! I'll make one, believe it. How, I pray? like a Dau. Marry, Sir, get me your pheasants, and your godwits, and your best meat, and difh it in filver difhes of your cousin's presently, and say nothing, but clap me a clean towel about you, fewer; and bare-headed, march afore it with a good confidence ('tis but over the way, hard by). and we'll fecond you, where you fhall fet it o' the board, and bid 'em welcome to't, which fhall fhew 'tis yours, and difgrace his preparation utterly: And for your coufin, whereas fhe fhould be troubled here at home with making welcome, she shall transfer all that labour thither, be a principal gueft herself, and be honour'd, and have her health drunk as often, and as loud as the best of 'em. La-F. I'll go tell her prefently. It fhall be done, that's refolved. [Exit. Cler. I thought he would not hear it out, but 'twould take him. Dau. Well, there be guests, and meat now; how fhall we do for mufick? Cler. The fmell of the venifon, going thro' the ftreet, will invite one noise of fidlers or other. Dau. I would it would call the trumpeters thither. Cler. They have intelligence of all feasts. Twenty to one but he have 'em. Dau. "Twill be a moft folemn day for my uncle, and an excellent fit of mirth for us. Cler. Ay, if we can hold up the emulation betwixt Foole and Daw, and never bring them to expoftulate. Dau. Tut, flatter 'em both, (as Truewit says) and you may take their understandings in a purse net. Cler. See! Sir Amorous has his towel on already. Have you perfuaded your coufin? Re-enter La-Foole. La-F. Yes, 'tis very feasible: She'll do any thing, the fays, rather than the La-Fooles fhall be difgraced. Dau. She is a noble kinfwoman. It will be fuch a device, Sir Amorous! It will pound all your enemies' practices to powder, and blow him up with his own mine, his own train. La-F. Nay, we'll give fire, I warrant you. Cler. But you must carry it privately, without noife, and take no notice by any means. any Enter Enter Otter. Otter. Gentlemen, my princefs fays you shall have all her filver dishes, feftinate: And fhe's gone to alter her tire a little, and go with you. Cler. And yourself too, captain Otter. Otter. Yes, Sir, I do mean it: But I would entreat my coufin Sir Amorous, and you, gentlemen, to be fuitors to my princefs, that I may carry my bull and bear, as well as my horfe. Cler. That you fhall do, captain Otter. La-F. My coufin will never confent, gentle men. Dau. She must confent, Sir Amorous, to reafon. La-F. Why, fhe fays they are no decorum among ladies. Otter. But they are decora, and that's better, Sir. Dau. Where is your princefs, captain? Pray be our leader. Otter. That I fhall, Sir. Cler. Make hafte, good Sir Amorous. [Exeunt. Scene changes to the house of Morofe. Morofe, Epicone, and Cutberd. Mor. The ceremony, thank Heaven, is over.— Might not the ring bind, without idle difcourse? Give Give the priest an angel for himself, Cutberd, and a brace of angels for his cold. It is fit we fhould thank fortune, double to nature, for any benefit the confers upon us: Befides, it is his imperfection, but my folace. [Exit Cutberd.] How much happier am I than in old time, Pigmalion, poffeffing a statue, on whom Heaven hath already bestowed animation! Approach, thou living marble thou rich vein of beauty, approach! Grieve not that thou art poor, and thy friends deceased, love! Thou haft brought a wealthy dowry in thy filence; and in respect of thy poverty, I shall have thee more loving and obedient. Enter Truewit. Tru. Where's mafter Morofe? Mor. Is he come again? Lord have mercy upon me! Tru. Heaven fave you, Sir, and give you all contentment in your fair choice, here! Before, I was the bird of night to you, the owl; but now, I am the meffenger of peace, a dove, and bring you the glad wifhes of many friends to the celebration of this good hour. Mor. What hour, Sir? Tru. Your marriage-hour, Sir. I commend your refolution, that (notwithstanding all the dangers I laid afore you, in the voice of a night-crow) would yet go on, and be yourself. It fhews you are a man constant to your own ends, and upright to your purposes, that would not be put off with left handed cries. Mor. How fhould you arrive at the knowledge of fo much? Tru. Why did you ever hope, Sir, committing it to a priest, that lefs than the whole town fhould know it? The peal of bells fhall fill the air with it; the drums fhall reverberate the happy tidings; and at length the cannon fhall bring you, like another Jove, in thunder to your Semele. There will be a troop of fafhionable ladies from the college to visit you presently, and their train of minions and followers. Mor. Oh, my torment, my torment! Tru. Nay, if you endure the first half hour, Sir, fo tedioufly, and with this irksomeness; what comfort, or hope, can this fair gentlewoman make to herself hereafter, in the confideration of fo many years as are to come? Oh, here are the ladies! Enter Daw, Haughty, Centaure, Mavis, and Trusty. Daw. This way, madam. Mor. Oh, the fea breaks in upon me! Another flood! |