Well. Scorn me not, good lady;

But, as in form you are angelical,

Imitate the heavenly natures, and vouchsafe
At the least awhile to hear me. You will grant
The blood that runs in this arm is as noble

As that which fills your veins: your swelling titles,
Your ample fortune, with your men's observance
And women's flattery, are in you no virtues ;
Nor these rags, with my poverty, in me vices.
You have a fair fame, and, I know, deserve it.
Yet, lady, I must say, in nothing more

Than in the pious sorrow you have shewn
For your late noble husband.

Ord. There he touch'd her.

[Aside.

Well. That husband, madam, was once in his fortune

Almost as low as I; want, debts, and quarrels,

Lay heavy on him: let it not be thought

A boast in me, though I say I relieved him.
"Twas I that gave him fashion; mine the sword
That did on all occasions second his ;

I brought him on and off with honour, lady;
And when in all men's judgments he was sunk,
And in his own hopes not to be buoy'd up,
I stepp'd unto him, took him by the hand,
And set him upright.

Fur. Are we not base rogues,

That could forget this?

Well. I confess you made him

[Aside to Servants.

Master of your estate; nor could your friends,

Tho' he brought no wealth with him, blame you for't:

For he'd a shape, and to that shape a mind

Made up of all parts, either great or noble ;

So winning a behaviour, not to be

Resisted, madam.

Lady A. "Tis most true, he had.

Well. For his sake, then, in that I was his friend,

Do not contemn me.

Lady A. For what's past excuse me :

I will redeem it.

[Offers him her Pocket-book.

Well. Madam, on no terms:

I will not beg nor borrow sixpence of you;

But be supplied elsewhere, or want thus ever.

One only suit I make; pray give me leave.

[LADY A. signs to the Servants, who retire to the top of Stage.

I will not tire your patience with relation

Of the bad arts my uncle Overreach

Still forg'd, to strip me of my fair possessions;
Nor how he now shuts door upon my want.
Would you but vouchsafe

To your dear husband's friend-as well you may,
Your honour still let free-but such feign'd grace,
As might beget opinion in Sir Giles

Of a true passion tow'rds me, you would see,

In the mere thought to prey on me again,

When all that's your's were mine, he'd turn my friend; And, that no rub might stay my course to you,

Quit all my owings, set me trimly forth,

And furnish'd well with gold :-which I should use,
I trust, to your no shame, lady; but live
Ever a grateful debtor to your gentleness.
Lady A. What! nothing else?

[Offers her Pocket-book again. Well. Nothing, unless you please to charge your

servants

To throw away a little respect upon me.

Lady A. All you demand is yours.

[She beckons the Servants, who advance a little, L. Respect this gentleman,

As 'twere myself. Adieu, dear Master Wellborn-
Pray let me see you with your oftenest means:

I am ever bound to you.

[Going, WELLBORN waiting on her.

Well. Your honour's servant.

All the Servants. [Coming up to and cringes.] Ah, sweet sir

[Kisses her hand. Exit LADY A. R.

WELL. with bows

Well. (L. C.) Nay, all's forgiven, all forgotten, friends: And, for a lucky omen to my project,

Shake hands, and end all quarrels in the cellar.

All the Servants. Agreed, agreed! Still merry, Mas-
ter Wellborn. [Exeunt all the Servants, L.
Well. (c.) Faith, a right worthy and a liberal lady,
Who can at once so kindly meet my purposes,
And brave the flouts of censure, to redeem

Her husband's friends !-When, by this honest plot,
The world believes she means to heal my wants
With her extensive wealth, each noisy creditor
Will be struck mute; and I, thus left at large
To practice on my uncle Overreach,
May work, perhaps, the measure to redeem
My mortgag'd fortune; which he stripp'd me of,

Fur. (L.c.) Let him; I'll be angry.

Amb. (R.) Why, fellow Furnace, 'tis not twelve o'clock yet,

Nor dinner taken up; then, 'tis allow'd,

Cooks, by their places, may be choleric.

Fur. You think you've spoken wisely, goodman Amble,

My lady's go-before.

Ord. Nay, nay, no wrangling.

Fur. Twit me with the authority of the kitchen!
At all hours, and at all places, I'll be angry:
And, thus provok'd, when I am at my prayers
I will be angry.

Amb. There was no hurt meant.

[Crosses to FURNACE, and shakes hands. Fur. (L. c.) I'm friends with thee; and yet I will be

angry.

Wat. (L.) With whom?

Fur. (c.) No matter whom: yet, now I think on't, I'm angry with my lady.

Amb. (R.) Heaven forbid, man !

Ord. What cause has she given thee?
Fur. Cause enough, master Steward,

I was entertain'd by her to please her palate.
And, till she forswore eating, I perform'd it.
Now, since our master, noble Allworth, died,

Though I crack my brains to find out tempting sauces,
When I am three parts roasted,

And the fourth part parboil'd, to prepare her viands,
She keeps her chamber, dines with a panada,
Or water-gruel, my sweat never thought on.
Ord. But your art is seen in the dining-room.
Fur. By whom?

By such as pretend love to her; but come
To feed upon her. Yet, of all the harpies
That do devour her, I am out of charity
With none so much as the thin-gutted squire
That's stolen into commission.

Ord. Justice Greedy?

Fur. The same, the same.

him;

Meat's cast away upon

It never thrives. He holds this paradox;
Who eats not well, can ne'er do justice well:
His stomach's as insatiate as the grave.

Wat. One knocks.

[A knocking without, L. [Exit WATCHALL, L.

Ord. Our late young master.

Enter WATCHALL and ALLWORTH, L. and salutes them alternately.

Wat. Welcome, sir.

Fur. You're welcome:

[ALLW. crosses to FUR.

[ALLW. crosses to ORD.

If you've a stomach, a cold bake-meat's ready.

Ord. His father's picture in little. [Crosses to AMB. Amb. We are all your servants.

Allw. At once my thanks to all.

This is yet some comfort. Is my lady
Ord. Her presence answers for us.

[Crosses to R. stirring ? [Retire up on R.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, ABIGAIL, and TABITHA, R. Lady A. Sort those silks well.

I'll take the air alone :

[Exeunt TABITHA and ABIGAIL, R.

And, as I gave directions, if this morning

I'm visited by any, entertain 'em

As heretofore: but say, in my excuse,

I'm indispos'd.

Ord. We shall, madam.

Lady A. (R.) Do, and leave me.

[Exeunt WATCHALL, FURNACE, ORDER, and
AMBLE, L.

Nay, stay you, Allworth.-Tell me, how is't with
Your noble master?

Allw. (L. c.) Ever like himself;

No scruple lessen'd in the full weight of honour.
He did command me-pardon my presumption-
As his unworthy deputy, to kiss

Your ladyship's fair hands.

Lady A. I'm honour'd in

His favour to me. Does he hold his purpose
For the low countries?

Allw. Constantly, good madam;

But will, in person, first present his service.

Lady A. And how approve you of his course? you're

yet,

Like virgin parchment, capable of any

Inscription, vicious or honourable:

I will not force your will, but leave you free
To your own election.

Allw. Any form you please

I will put on: but-might I make my choice

With humble emulation, I would follow
The path my lord marks to me.

Lady A. 'Tis well answer'd;

And I commend your spirit: your father, Allworth,
My ever-honour'd husband, some few hours
Before the will of heaven took him from me,
Did commend you, e'en by the dearest ties
Of perfect love between us, to my charge:
And, therefore, when I speak, you are bound to hear
With such respect, as if he liv'd in me.

Allw. I have found you,

Most honour'd madam, more than a mother to me;
And, with my utmost strength of care and service,
Will labour that you may never repent
Your bounties shower'd upon me.

Lady A. I much hope it.

These were your father's words:-If e'er my son
Follow the war, tell him, it is a school
Where all the principles tending to honour
Are taught, if truly follow'd: but for such
As repair thither, as a place in which

They do presume they may with license practice
Their lawless riots, they shall never merit
The noble name of soldiers.

To obey their leaders, and shun mutinies :
To bear with patience the winter's cold,
And summer's scorching heat;

To dare boldly

In a fair cause; and, for their country's sake,
To run upon the cannon's mouth undaunted;
These are the essential parts make up a soldier;
Not swearing, dice, or drinking.

Allw. There's no syllable

You speak, but is to me an oracle.

Lady A. To conclude:

Beware ill company; for, often, men

Are like to those with whom they do converse;

And from one man I warn you, and that's Wellborn:

Not, 'cause he's poor, that rather claims your pity:
But that he's in his manners so deprav'd,
And hath in vicious courses lost himself.
'Tis true, your father lov'd him, while he was
Worthy the loving; but, if he had liv'd

To've known him as he is, he had cast him off,
As you must do.

Somebody comes.

This way:

[Noise without, L.