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Epicoene; or, The Silent Woman, a play by Ben Jonson |
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Act 4 - Scene 4.2 |
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_ A LONG OPEN GALLERY IN THE SAME. ENTER LADY HAUGHTY, MISTRESS OTTER, MAVIS, DAW, LAFOOLE, CENTAURE, AND EPICOENE. HAU. We wonder'd why you shriek'd so, mistress Otter? MRS. OTT. O lord, madam, he came down with a huge long naked weapon in both his hands, and look'd so dreadfully! sure he's beside himself. HAU. Why, what made you there, mistress Otter? MRS. OTT. Alas, mistress Mavis, I was chastising my subject, and thought nothing of him. DAW. Faith, mistress, you must do so too: learn to chastise. Mistress Otter corrects her husband so, he dares not speak but under correction. LA-F. And with his hat off to her: 'twould do you good to see. HAU. In sadness, 'tis good and mature counsel: practise it, Morose. I'll call you Morose still now, as I call Centaure and Mavis; we four will be all one. CEN. And you will come to the college, and live with us? HAU. Make him give milk and honey. MAV. Look how you manage him at first, you shall have him ever after. CEN. Let him allow you your coach, and four horses, your woman, your chamber-maid, your page, your gentleman-usher, your French cook, and four grooms. HAU. And go with us to Bedlam, to the china-houses, and to the Exchange. CEN. It will open the gate to your fame. HAU. Here's Centaure has immortalised herself, with taming of her wild male. MAV. Ay, she has done the miracle of the kingdom. [ENTER CLERIMONT AND TRUEWIT.] EPI. But, ladies, do you count it lawful to have such plurality of servants, and do them all graces? HAU. Why not? why should women deny their favours to men? are they the poorer or the worse? DAW. Is the Thames the less for the dyer's water, mistress? LA-F. Or a torch for lighting many torches? TRUE. Well said, La-Foole; what a new one he has got! CEN. They are empty losses women fear in this kind. HAU. Besides, ladies should be mindful of the approach of age, and let no time want his due use. The best of our days pass first. MAV. We are rivers, that cannot be call'd back, madam: she that now excludes her lovers, may live to lie a forsaken beldame, in a frozen bed. CEN. 'Tis true, Mavis: and who will wait on us to coach then? or write, or tell us the news then, make anagrams of our names, and invite us to the Cockpit, and kiss our hands all the play-time, and draw their weapons for our honours? HAU. Not one. DAW. Nay, my mistress is not altogether unintelligent of these things; here be in presence have tasted of her favours. CLER. What a neighing hobby-horse is this! EPI. But not with intent to boast them again, servant. And have you those excellent receipts, madam, to keep yourselves from bearing of children? HAU. O yes, Morose: how should we maintain our youth and beauty else? Many births of a woman make her old, as many crops make the earth barren. [ENTER MOROSE AND DAUPHINE.] MOR. O my cursed angel, that instructed me to this fate! DAUP. Why, sir? MOR. That I should be seduced by so foolish a devil as a barber will make! DAUP. I would I had been worthy, sir, to have partaken your counsel; you should never have trusted it to such a minister. MOR. Would I could redeem it with the loss of an eye, nephew, a hand, or any other member. DAUP. Marry, God forbid, sir, that you should geld yourself, to anger your wife. MOR. So it would rid me of her! and, that I did supererogatory penance in a belfry, at Westminster-hall, in the Cock-pit, at the fall of a stag; the Tower-wharf (what place is there else?)-- London-bridge, Paris-garden, Billinsgate, when the noises are at their height, and loudest. Nay, I would sit out a play, that were nothing but fights at sea, drum, trumpet, and target. DAUP. I hope there shall be no such need, sir. Take patience, good uncle. This is but a day, and 'tis well worn too now. MOR. O, 'twill be so for ever, nephew, I foresee it, for ever. Strife and tumult are the dowry that comes with a wife. TRUE. I told you so, sir, and you would not believe me. MOR. Alas, do not rub those wounds, master Truewit, to blood again: 'twas my negligence. Add not affliction to affliction. I have perceived the effect of it, too late, in madam Otter. EPI. How do you, sir? MOR. Did you ever hear a more unnecessary question? as if she did not see! Why, I do as you see, empress, empress. EPI. You are not well, sir; you look very ill; something has distemper'd you. MOR. O horrible, monstrous impertinencies! would not one of these have served, do you think, sir? would not one of these have served? TRUE. Yes, sir, but these are but notes of female kindness, sir; certain tokens that she has a voice, sir. MOR. O, is it so? Come, an't be no otherwise--What say you? EPI. How do you feel yourself, sir? MOR. Again that! TRUE. Nay, look you, sir: you would be friends with your wife upon unconscionable terms; her silence-- EPI. They say you are run mad, sir. MOR. Not for love, I assure you, of you; do you see? EPI. O lord, gentlemen! lay hold on him, for God's sake. What shall I do? who's his physician, can you tell, that knows the state of his body best, that I might send for him? Good sir, speak; I'll send for one of my doctors else. MOR. What, to poison me, that I might die intestate, and leave you possest of all? EPI. Lord, how idly he talks, and how his eyes sparkle! he looks green about the temples! do you see what blue spots he has? TRUE. Ay, 'tis melancholy. EPI. Gentlemen, for Heaven's sake, counsel me. Ladies;--servant, you have read Pliny and Paracelsus; ne'er a word now to comfort a poor gentlewoman? Ay me, what fortune had I, to marry a distracted man! DAW. I will tell you, mistress-- TRUE. How rarely she holds it up! [ASIDE TO CLER.] MOR. What mean you, gentlemen? EPI. What will you tell me, servant? DAW. The disease in Greek is called mania, in Latin insania, furor, vel ecstasis melancholica, that is, egressio, when a man ex melancholico evadit fanaticus. MOR. Shall I have a lecture read upon me alive? DAW. But he may be but phreneticus yet, mistress? and phrenetis is only delirium, or so. EPI. Ay, that is for the disease, servant: but what is this to the cure? we are sure enough of the disease. MOR. Let me go. TRUE. Why, we'll entreat her to hold her peace, sir. MOR. O no, labour not to stop her. She is like a conduit-pipe, that will gush out with more force when she opens again. HAU. I will tell you, Morose, you must talk divinity to him altogether, or moral philosophy. LA-F. Ay, and there's an excellent book of moral philosophy, madam, of Raynard the fox, and all the beasts, called Doni's Philosophy. CEN. There is, indeed, sir Amorous La-Foole. MOR. O misery! LA-F. I have read it, my lady Centaure, all over, to my cousin, here. MRS. OTT. Ay, and 'tis a very good book as any is, of the moderns. DAW. Tut, he must have Seneca read to him, and Plutarch, and the ancients; the moderns are not for this disease. CLER. Why, you discommended them too, to-day, sir John. DAW. Ay, in some cases: but in these they are best, and Aristotle's ethics. MAV. Say you so sir John? I think you are decived: you took it upon trust. HAU. Where's Trusty, my woman? I'll end this difference. I prithee, Otter, call her. Her father and mother were both mad, when they put her to me. MOR. I think so. Nay, gentlemen, I am tame. This is but an exercise, I know, a marriage ceremony, which I must endure. HAU. And one of them, I know not which, was cur'd with the Sick Man's Salve; and the other with Green's Groat's-worth of Wit. TRUE. A very cheap cure, madam. [ENTER TRUSTY.] HAU. Ay, 'tis very feasible. MRS. OTT. My lady call'd for you, mistress Trusty: you must decide a controversy. HAU. O, Trusty, which was it you said, your father, or your mother, that was cured with the Sick Man's Salve? TRUS. My mother, madam, with the Salve. TRUE. Then it was the sick woman's salve? TRUS. And my father with the Groat's-worth of Wit. But there was other means used: we had a preacher that would preach folk asleep still; and so they were prescribed to go to church, by an old woman that was their physician, thrice a week-- EPI. To sleep? TRUS. Yes, forsooth: and every night they read themselves asleep on those books. EPI. Good faith, it stands with great reason. I would I knew where to procure those books. MOR. Oh! LA-F. I can help you with one of them, mistress Morose, the Groat's-worth of Wit. EPI. But I shall disfurnish you, sir Amorous: can you spare it? LA-F. O, yes, for a week, or so; I'll read it myself to him. EPI. No, I must do that, sir: that must be my office. MOR. Oh, oh! EPI. Sure he would do well enough, if he could sleep. MOR. No, I should do well enough, if you could sleep. Have I no friend that will make her drunk? or give her a little laudanum? or opium? TRUE. Why, sir, she talks ten times worse in her sleep. MOR. How! CLER. Do you not know that, sir? never ceases all night. TRUE. And snores like a porpoise. MOR. O, redeem me, fate; redeem me, fate! For how many causes may a man be divorced, nephew? DAUP. I know not, truly, sir. TRUE. Some divine must resolve you in that, sir, or canon-lawyer. MOR. I will not rest, I will not think of any other hope or comfort, till I know. [EXIT WITH DAUPHINE.] CLER. Alas, poor man! TRUE. You'll make him mad indeed, ladies, if you pursue this. HAU. No, we'll let him breathe now, a quarter of an hour or so. CLER. By my faith, a large truce! HAU. Is that his keeper, that is gone with him? DAW. It is his nephew, madam. LA-F. Sir Dauphine Eugenie. HAU. He looks like a very pitiful knight-- DAW. As can be. This marriage has put him out of all. LA-F. He has not a penny in his purse, madam. DAW. He is ready to cry all this day. LA-F. A very shark; he set me in the nick t'other night at Primero. TRUE. How these swabbers talk! CLER. Ay, Otter's wine has swell'd their humours above a spring-tide. HAU. Good Morose, let us go in again. I like your couches exceeding well; we will go lie and talk there. [EXEUNT HAU., CEN., MAV., TRUS., LA-FOOLE, AND DAW.] EPI [FOLLOWING THEM.]: I wait on you, madam. TRUE [STOPPING HER.]: 'Slight, I will have them as silent as signs, and their post too, ere I have done. Do you hear, lady-bride? I pray thee now, as thou art a noble wench, continue this discourse of Dauphine within; but praise him exceedingly: magnify him with all the height of affection thou canst;--I have some purpose in't: and but beat off these two rooks, Jack Daw and his fellow, with any discontentment, hither, and I'll honour thee for ever. EPI. I was about it here. It angered me to the soul, to hear them begin to talk so malepert. TRUE. Pray thee perform it, and thou winn'st me an idolater to thee everlasting. EPI. Will you go in and hear me do't? TRUE. No, I'll stay here. Drive them out of your company, 'tis all I ask; which cannot be any way better done, than by extolling Dauphine, whom they have so slighted. EPI. I warrant you; you shall expect one of them presently. [EXIT.] CLER. What a cast of kestrils are these, to hawk after ladies, thus! TRUE. Ay, and strike at such an eagle as Dauphine. CLER. He will be mad when we tell him. Here he comes. [RE-ENTER DAUPHINE.] CLER. O sir, you are welcome. TRUE. Where's thine uncle? DAUP. Run out of doors in his night-caps, to talk with a casuist about his divorce. It works admirably. TRUE. Thou wouldst have said so, if thou hadst been here! The ladies have laugh'd at thee most comically, since thou went'st, Dauphine. CLER. And ask'd, if thou wert thine uncle's keeper. TRUE. And the brace of baboons answer'd, Yes; and said thou wert a pitiful poor fellow, and didst live upon posts: and hadst nothing but three suits of apparel, and some few benevolences that lords gave thee to fool to them, and swagger. DAUP. Let me not live, I will beat them: I'll bind them both to grand-madam's bed-posts, and have them baited with monkies. TRUE. Thou shalt not need, they shall be beaten to thy hand, Dauphine. I have an execution to serve upon them, I warrant thee, shall serve; trust my plot. DAUP. Ay, you have many plots! so you had one to make all the wenches in love with me. TRUE. Why, if I do not yet afore night, as near as 'tis; and that they do not every one invite thee, and be ready to scratch for thee, take the mortgage of my wit. CLER. 'Fore God, I'll be his witness thou shalt have it, Dauphine: thou shalt be his fool for ever, if thou doest not. TRUE. Agreed. Perhaps 'twill be the better estate. Do you observe this gallery, or rather lobby, indeed? Here are a couple of studies, at each end one: here will I act such a tragi-comedy between the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, Daw and La-Foole--which of them comes out first, will I seize on:--you two shall be the chorus behind the arras, and whip out between the acts and speak--If I do not make them keep the peace for this remnant of the day, if not of the year, I have failed once--I hear Daw coming: hide, [THEY WITHDRAW] and do not laugh, for God's sake. [RE-ENTER DAW.]
TRUE. O, Jack Daw! I am glad I have met with you. In good faith, I must have this matter go no further between you. I must have it taken up. DAW. What matter, sir? between whom? TRUE. Come, you disguise it: sir Amorous and you. If you love me, Jack, you shall make use of your philosophy now, for this once, and deliver me your sword. This is not the wedding the Centaurs were at, though there be a she one here. [TAKES HIS SWORD.] The bride has entreated me I will see no blood shed at her bridal, you saw her whisper me erewhile. DAW. As I hope to finish Tacitus, I intend no murder. TRUE. Do you not wait for sir Amorous? DAW. Not I, by my knighthood. TRUE. And your scholarship too? DAW. And my scholarship too. TRUE. Go to, then I return you your sword, and ask you mercy; but put it not up, for you will be assaulted. I understood that you had apprehended it, and walked here to brave him: and that you had held your life contemptible, in regard of your honour. DAW. No, no; no such thing, I assure you. He and I parted now, as good friends as could be. TRUE. Trust not you to that visor. I saw him since dinner with another face: I have known many men in my time vex'd with losses, with deaths, and with abuses; but so offended a wight as sir Amorous, did I never see, or read of. For taking away his guests, sir, to-day, that's the cause: and he declares it behind your back with such threatenings and contempts--He said to Dauphine, you were the arrant'st ass-- DAW. Ay, he may say his pleasure. TRUE. And swears you are so protested a coward, that he knows you will never do him any manly or single right, and therefore he will take his course. DAW. I'll give him any satisfaction, sir--but fighting. TRUE. Ay, sir: but who knows what satisfaction he'll take? blood he thirsts for, and blood he will have: and whereabouts on you he will have it, who knows but himself? DAW. I pray you, master Truewit, be you a mediator. TRUE. Well, sir, conceal yourself then in this study till I return. [PUTS HIM INTO THE STUDY.] Nay, you must be content to be lock'd in: for, for mine own reputation, I would not have you seen to receive a public disgrace, while I have the matter in managing. Ods so, here he comes; keep your breath close, that he do not hear you sigh. In good faith, sir Amorous, he is not this way; I pray you be merciful, do not murder him; he is a Christian, as good as you: you are arm'd as if you sought revenge on all his race. Good Dauphine, get him away from this place. I never knew a man's choler so high, but he would speak to his friends, he would hear reason.--Jack Daw, Jack! asleep! DAW [within]: Is he gone, master Truewit? TRUE. Ay; did you hear him? DAW. O lord! yes. TRUE. What a quick ear fear has! DAW [COMES OUT OF THE CLOSET.]: But is he so arm'd, as you say? TRUE. Arm'd? did you ever see a fellow set out to take possession? DAW. Ay, sir. TRUE. That may give you some light to conceive of him: but 'tis nothing to the principal. Some false brother in the house has furnish'd him strangely; or, if it were out of the house, it was Tom Otter. DAW. Indeed he's a captain, and his wife is his kinswoman. TRUE. He has got some body's old two-hand sword, to mow you off at the knees; and that sword hath spawn'd such a dagger!--But then he is so hung with pikes, halberds, petronels, calivers and muskets, that he looks like a justice of peace's hall: a man of two thousand a-year, is not cess'd at so many weapons as he has on. There was never fencer challenged at so many several foils. You would think he meant to murder all Saint Pulchre parish. If he could but victual himself for half a year in his breeches, he is sufficiently arm'd to over-run a country. DAW. Good lord! what means he, sir? I pray you, master Truewit, be you a mediator. TRUE. Well, I 'll try if he will be appeased with a leg or an arm; if not you must die once. DAW. I would be loth to lose my right arm, for writing madrigals. TRUE. Why, if he will be satisfied with a thumb or a little finger, all's one to me. You must think, I will do my best. [SHUTS HIM UP AGAIN.] DAW. Good sir, do. [CLERIMONT AND DAUPHINE COME FORWARD.] CLER. What hast thou done? TRUE. He will let me do nothing, he does all afore; he offers his left arm. CLER. His left wing for a Jack Daw. DAUP. Take it, by all means. TRUE. How! maim a man for ever, for a jest? What a conscience hast thou! DAUP. 'Tis no loss to him; he has no employment for his arms, but to eat spoon-meat. Beside, as good maim his body as his reputation. TRUE. He is a scholar, and a wit, and yet he does not think so. But he loses no reputation with us; for we all resolved him an ass before. To your places again. CLER. I pray thee, let me be in at the other a little. TRUE. Look, you'll spoil all: these be ever your tricks. CLER. No, but I could hit of some things that thou wilt miss, and thou wilt say are good ones. TRUE. I warrant you. I pray forbear, I will leave it off, else. DAUP. Come away, Clerimont. [DAUP. AND CLER. WITHDRAW AS BEFORE.] [ENTER LA-FOOLE.] TRUE. Sir Amorous! LA-F. Master Truewit. TRUE. Whither were you going? LA-F. Down into the court to make water. TRUE. By no means, sir; you shall rather tempt your breeches. LA-F. Why, sir? TRUE. Enter here, if you love your life. [OPENING THE DOOR OF THE OTHER STUDY.] LA-F. Why? why? TRUE. Question till you throat be cut, do: dally till the enraged soul find you. LA-F. Who is that? TRUE. Daw it is: will you in? LA-F. Ay, ay, I will in: what's the matter? TRUE. Nay, if he had been cool enough to tell us that, there had been some hope to atone you, but he seems so implacably enraged! LA-F. 'Slight, let him rage! I'll hide myself. TRUE. Do, good sir. But what have you done to him within, that should provoke him thus? You have broke some jest upon him, afore the ladies. LA-F. Not I, never in my life, broke jest upon any man. The bride was praising sir Dauphine, and he went away in snuff, and I followed him, unless he took offence at me in his drink erewhile, that I would not pledge all the horse full. TRUE. By my faith, and that may be, you remember well: but he walks the round up and down, through every room o' the house, with a towel in his hand, crying, Where's La-Foole? Who saw La-Foole? and when Dauphine and I demanded the cause, we can force no answer from him, but--O revenge, how sweet art thou! I will strangle him in this towel--which leads us to conjecture that the main cause of his fury is, for bringing your meat to-day, with a towel about you, to his discredit. LA-F. Like enough. Why, if he be angry for that, I'll stay here till his anger be blown over. TRUE. A good becoming resolution, sir; if you can put it on o' the sudden. LA-F. Yes, I can put it on: or, I'll away into the country presently. TRUE. How will you get out of the house, sir? he knows you are in the house, and he will watch you this se'ennight, but he'll have you. He'll outwait a serjeant for you. LA-F. Why, then I'll stay here. TRUE. You must think how to victual yourself in time then. LA-F. Why, sweet master Truewit, will you entreat my cousin Otter to send me a cold venison pasty, a bottle or two of wine, and a chamber-pot? TRUE. A stool were better, sir, of sir Ajax his invention. LA-F. Ay, that will be better, indeed; and a pallet to lie on. TRUE. O, I would not advise you to sleep by any means. LA-F. Would you not, sir? why, then I will not. TRUE. Yet, there's another fear-- LA-F. Is there! what is't? TRUE. No, he cannot break open this door with his foot, sure. LA-F. I'll set my back against it, sir. I have a good back. TRUE. But then if he should batter. LA-F. Batter! if he dare, I'll have an action of battery against him. TRUE. Cast you the worst. He has sent for powder already, and what he will do with it, no man knows: perhaps blow up the corner of the house where he suspects you are. Here he comes; in quickly. [THRUSTS IN LA-FOOLE AND SHUTS THE DOOR.] I protest, sir John Daw, he is not this way: what will you do? before God, you shall hang no petard here. I'll die rather. Will you not take my word? I never knew one but would be satisfied.-- Sir Amorous, [SPEAKS THROUGH THE KEY-HOLE,] there's no standing out: He has made a petard of an old brass pot, to force your door. Think upon some satisfaction, or terms to offer him.
TRUE. You'll leave it to me, then? LA-F. Ay, sir. I'll stand to any conditions. TRUE [BECKONING FORWARD CLERIMONT AND DAUPHINE.]: How now, what think you, sirs? were't not a difficult thing to determine which of these two fear'd most. CLER. Yes, but this fears the bravest: the other a whiniling dastard, Jack Daw! But La-Foole, a brave heroic coward! and is afraid in a great look and a stout accent; I like him rarely. TRUE. Had it not been pity these two should have been concealed? CLER. Shall I make a motion? TRUE. Briefly: For I must strike while 'tis hot. CLER. Shall I go fetch the ladies to the catastrophe? TRUE. Umph! ay, by my troth. DAUP. By no mortal means. Let them continue in the state of ignorance, and err still; think them wits and fine fellows, as they have done. 'Twere sin to reform them. TRUE. Well, I will have them fetch'd, now I think on't, for a private purpose of mine: do, Clerimont, fetch them, and discourse to them all that's past, and bring them into the gallery here. DAUP. This is thy extreme vanity, now: thou think'st thou wert undone, if every jest thou mak'st were not publish'd. TRUE. Thou shalt see how unjust thou art presently. Clerimont, say it was Dauphine's plot. [EXIT CLERIMONT.] Trust me not, if the whole drift be not for thy good. There is a carpet in the next room, put it on, with this scarf over thy face, and a cushion on thy head, and be ready when I call Amorous. Away! [EXIT DAUP.] John Daw! [GOES TO DAW'S CLOSET AND BRINGS HIM OUT.]
TRUE. Faith, I have followed and argued with him hard for you. I told him you were a knight, and a scholar, and that you knew fortitude did consist magis patiendo quam faciendo, magis ferendo quam feriendo. DAW. It doth so indeed, sir. TRUE. And that you would suffer, I told him: so at first he demanded by my troth, in my conceit, too much. DAW. What was it, sir. TRUE. Your upper lip, and six of your fore-teeth. DAW. 'Twas unreasonable. TRUE. Nay, I told him plainly, you could not spare them all. So after long argument pro et con as you know, I brought him down to your two butter-teeth, and them he would have. DAW. O, did you so? Why, he shall have them. TRUE. But he shall not, sir, by your leave. The conclusion is this, sir: because you shall be very good friends hereafter, and this never to be remembered or upbraided; besides, that he may not boast he has done any such thing to you in his own person: he is to come here in disguise, give you five kicks in private, sir, take your sword from you, and lock you up in that study during pleasure: which will be but a little while, we'll get it released presently. DAW. Five kicks! he shall have six, sir, to be friends. TRUE. Believe me, you shall not over-shoot yourself, to send him that word by me. DAW. Deliver it, sir: he shall have it with all my heart, to be friends. TRUE. Friends! Nay, an he should not be so, and heartily too, upon these terms, he shall have me to enemy while I live. Come, sir, bear it bravely. DAW. O lord, sir, 'tis nothing. TRUE. True: what's six kicks to a man that reads Seneca? DAW. I have had a hundred, sir. TRUE. Sir Amorous! [RE-ENTER DAUPHINE, DISGUISED.] No speaking one to another, or rehearsing old matters.
TRUE. Nay, I told you, you should not talk. Come give him six, an he will needs. [DAUPHINE KICKS HIM AGAIN.] --Your sword. [TAKES HIS SWORD.] Now return to your safe custody: you shall presently meet afore the ladies, and be the dearest friends one to another. [PUTS DAW INTO THE STUDY.] --Give me the scarf now, thou shalt beat the other bare-faced. Stand by: [DAUPHINE RETIRES, AND TRUEWIT GOES TO THE OTHER CLOSET, AND RELEASES LA-FOOLE.] --Sir Amorous!
TRUE. I cannot help it, without I should take the quarrel upon myself. Here he has sent you his sword-- LA-F. I will receive none on't. TRUE. And he wills you to fasten it against a wall, and break your head in some few several places against the hilts. LA-F. I will not: tell him roundly. I cannot endure to shed my own blood. TRUE. Will you not? LA-F. No. I'll beat it against a fair flat wall, if that will satisfy him: if not, he shall beat it himself, for Amorous. TRUE. Why, this is strange starting off, when a man undertakes for you! I offer'd him another condition; will you stand to that? LA-F. Ay, what is't. TRUE. That you will be beaten in private. LA-F. Yes, I am content, at the blunt. [ENTER, ABOVE, HAUGHTY, CENTAURE, MAVIS, MISTRESS OTTER, EPICOENE, AND TRUSTY.] TRUE. Then you must submit yourself to be hoodwinked in this scarf, and be led to him, where he will take your sword from you, and make you bear a blow over the mouth, gules, and tweaks by the nose, sans nombre. LA-F. I am content. But why must I be blinded? TRUE. That's for your good, sir: because, if he should grow insolent upon this, and publish it hereafter to your disgrace, (which I hope he will not do,) you might swear safely, and protest, he never beat you, to your knowledge. LA-F. O, I conceive. TRUE. I do not doubt but you will be perfect good friends upon't, and not dare to utter an ill thought one of another in future. LA-F. Not I, as God help me, of him. TRUE. Nor he of you, sir. If he should [BLINDS HIS EYES.] --Come, sir. [LEADS HIM FORWARD.] --All hid, sir John. [ENTER DAUPHINE, AND TWEAKS HIM BY THE NOSE.]
TRUE. Good, sir John, leave tweaking, you'll blow his nose off. 'Tis sir John's pleasure, you should retire into the study. [PUTS HIM UP AGAIN.] --Why, now you are friends. All bitterness between you, I hope, is buried; you shall come forth by and by, Damon and Pythias upon't, and embrace with all the rankness of friendship that can be. I trust, we shall have them tamer in their language hereafter. Dauphine, I worship thee.--Gods will the ladies have surprised us! [ENTER HAUGHTY, CENTAURE, MAVIS, MISTRESS OTTER, EPICOENE, AND TRUSTY, BEHIND.] HAU. Centaure, how our judgments were imposed on by these adulterate knights! Nay, madam, Mavis was more deceived than we, 'twas her commendation utter'd them in the college. MAV. I commended but their wits, madam, and their braveries. I never look'd toward their valours. HAU. Sir Dauphine is valiant, and a wit too, it seems. MAV. And a bravery too. HAU. Was this his project? MRS. OTT. So master Clerimont intimates, madam. HAU. Good Morose, when you come to the college, will you bring him with you? he seems a very perfect gentleman. EPI. He is so, madam, believe it. CEN. But when will you come, Morose? EPI. Three or four days hence, madam, when I have got me a coach and horses. HAU. No, to-morrow, good Morose; Centaure shall send you her coach. MAV. Yes faith, do, and bring sir Dauphine with you. HAU. She has promised that, Mavis. MAV. He is a very worthy gentleman in his exteriors, madam. HAU. Ay, he shews he is judicial in his clothes. CEN. And yet not so superlatively neat as some, madam, that have their faces set in a brake. HAU. Ay, and have every hair in form! MAV. That wear purer linen then ourselves, and profess more neatness than the French hermaphrodite! EPI. Ay, ladies, they, what they tell one of us, have told a thousand; and are the only thieves of our fame: that think to take us with that perfume, or with that lace, and laugh at us unconscionably when they have done. HAU. But, sir Dauphine's carelessness becomes him. CEN. I could love a man for such a nose. MAV. Or such a leg! CEN. He has an exceeding good eye, madam. MAV. And a very good lock. CEN. Good Morose, bring him to my chamber first. MRS. OTT. Please your honours to meet at my house, madam. TRUE. See how they eye thee, man! they are taken, I warrant thee. [HAUGHTY COMES FORWARD.] HAU. You have unbraced our brace of knights here, master Truewit. TRUE. Not I, madam; it was sir Dauphine's ingine: who, if he have disfurnish'd your ladyship of any guard or service by it, is able to make the place good again, in himself. HAU. There is no suspicion of that, sir. CEN. God so, Mavis, Haughty is kissing. MAV. Let us go too, and take part. [THEY COME FORWARD.] HAU. But I am glad of the fortune (beside the discovery of two such empty caskets) to gain the knowledge of so rich a mine of virtue as sir Dauphine. CEN. We would be all glad to style him of our friendship, and see him at the college. MAV. He cannot mix with a sweeter society, I'll prophesy; and I hope he himself will think so. DAUP. I should be rude to imagine otherwise, lady. TRUE. Did not I tell thee, Dauphine? Why, all their actions are governed by crude opinion, without reason or cause; they know not why they do any thing: but, as they are inform'd, believe, judge, praise, condemn, love, hate, and in emulation one of another, do all these things alike. Only they have a natural inclination sways them generally to the worst, when they are left to themselves. But pursue it, now thou hast them. HAU. Shall we go in again, Morose? EPI. Yes, madam. CEN. We'll entreat sir Dauphine's company. TRUE. Stay, good madam, the interview of the two friends, Pylades and Orestes: I'll fetch them out to you straight. HAU. Will you, master Truewit? DAUP. Ay, but noble ladies, do not confess in your countenance, or outward bearing to them, any discovery of their follies, that we may see how they will bear up again, with what assurance and erection. HAU. We will not, sir Dauphine. CEN. MAV. Upon our honours, sir Dauphine. TRUE [GOES TO THE FIRST CLOSET.]: Sir Amorous, sir Amorous! The ladies are here. LA-F [WITHIN.]: Are they? TRUE. Yes; but slip out by and by, as their backs are turn'd, and meet sir John here, as by chance, when I call you. [goes to the other.] --Jack Daw. DAW. What say you, sir? TRUE. Whip out behind me suddenly, and no anger in your looks to your adversary. Now, now! [LA-FOOLE AND DAW SLIP OUT OF THEIR RESPECTIVE CLOSETS, AND SALUTE EACH OTHER.] LA-F. Noble sir John Daw, where have you been? DAW. To seek you, sir Amorous. LA-F. Me! I honour you. DAW. I prevent you, sir. CLER. They have forgot their rapiers. TRUE. O, they meet in peace, man. DAUP. Where's your sword, sir John? CLER. And yours, sir Amorous? DAW. Mine! my boy had it forth to mend the handle, e'en now. LA-F. And my gold handle was broke too, and my boy had it forth. DAUP. Indeed, sir!--How their excuses meet! CLER. What a consent there is in the handles! TRUE. Nay, there is so in the points too, I warrant you. [ENTER MOROSE, WITH THE TWO SWORDS, DRAWN IN HIS HANDS.] MRS. OTT. O me! madam, he comes again, the madman! Away! [LADIES, DAW, AND LA-FOOLE, RUN OFF.] MOR. What make these naked weapons here, gentlemen? TRUE. O sir! here hath like to have been murder since you went; a couple of knights fallen out about the bride's favours! We were fain to take away their weapons; your house had been begg'd by this time else. MOR. For what? CLER. For manslaughter, sir, as being accessary. MOR. And for her favours? TRUE. Ay, sir, heretofore, not present--Clerimont, carry them their swords, now. They have done all the hurt they will do. [EXIT CLER. WITH THE TWO SWORDS.] DAUP. Have you spoke with the lawyer, sir? MOR. O, no! there is such a noise in the court, that they have frighted me home with more violence then I went! such speaking and counter-speaking, with their several voices of citations, appellations, allegations, certificates, attachments, intergatories, references, convictions, and afflictions indeed, among the doctors and proctors, that the noise here is silence to't! a kind of calm midnight! TRUE. Why, sir, if you would be resolved indeed, I can bring you hither a very sufficient lawyer, and a learned divine, that shall enquire into every least scruple for you. MOR. Can you, master Truewit? TRUE. Yes, and are very sober, grave persons, that will dispatch it in a chamber, with a whisper or two. MOR. Good sir, shall I hope this benefit from you, and trust myself into your hands? TRUE. Alas, sir! your nephew and I have been ashamed and oft-times mad, since you went, to think how you are abused. Go in, good sir, and lock yourself up till we call you; we'll tell you more anon, sir. MOR. Do your pleasure with me gentlemen; I believe in you: and that deserves no delusion. [EXIT.] TRUE. You shall find none, sir: but heap'd, heap'd plenty of vexation. DAUP. What wilt thou do now, Wit? TRUE. Recover me hither Otter and the barber, if you can, by any means, presently. DAUP. Why? to what purpose? TRUE. O, I'll make the deepest divine, and gravest lawyer, out of them two for him-- DAUP. Thou canst not, man; these are waking dreams. TRUE. Do not fear me. Clap but a civil gown with a welt on the one; and a canonical cloak with sleeves on the other: and give them a few terms in their mouths, if there come not forth as able a doctor, and complete a parson, for this turn, as may be wish'd, trust not my election: and, I hope, without wronging the dignity of either profession, since they are but persons put on, and for mirth's sake, to torment him. The barber smatters Latin, I remember. DAUP. Yes, and Otter too. TRUE. Well then, if I make them not wrangle out this case to his no comfort, let me be thought a Jack Daw or La-Foole or anything worse. Go you to your ladies, but first send for them. DAUP. I will. [EXEUNT.] _ |
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