This is my only child: What she appears,
Your lordship well may see: for education, Beau-
melle
Follows not any: For her mind, I know it
To be far fairer than her shape, and hope
It will continue so: If now her birth
Be not too mean for Charalois, take her,
This virgin, by the hand, and call her wife,
Endowed with all my fortunes: Bless me so,
Requite me thus, and make me happier,
In joining my poor empty name to yours,
Than if my 'state were multiplied tenfold.
Char. Is this the payment, sir, that you ex-
pect?
Why, you precipitate me more in debt,
That nothing but my life can ever pay.
This beauty being your daughter (in which yours
I must conceive necessity of her virtue)
Without all dowry is a prince's aim.
Then, as she is, for poor and worthless me
How much too worthy! Waken me, Romont,
That I may know I dreamed, and find this va-
nished.
Roma. Sure I sleep not.
Roch. Your sentence-life or death.
Char. Fair Beaumelle, can you love me?
Beaumel. Yes, my lord.
Eater NovALL jun. PONTALIER, MALOTIN,
LADAM, and AYMER.-All salute.
Thus seal it in the sight of Heaven and men.
Your fingers tie my heart-strings with this touch,
In true-love knots, which nought but death shall
loose.
And let these tears (an emblem of our loves)
Like crystal rivers individually
Flow into one another; make one source,
Which never man distinguish, less divide!
Breath marry breath, and kisses mingle souls;
Two hearts and bodies here incorporate;
And, though with little wooing I have won,
My future life shall be a wooing time,
And every day new as the bridal one.
Oh, sir! I groan under your courtesies,
More than my father's bones under his wrongs.
You, Curtius-like, have thrown into the gulf
Of this his country's foul ingratitude,
Your life and fortunes, to redeem their shames.
Roch. No more, my glory! come, let's in, and
hasten
Romont, Malotin, Pontalier, and Beaumont.All fair bliss upon it.
[Exeunt Rochfort, Charalois, Romont, Beaumont, and Malotin.
Nov. jun. Mistress!
Beaum. Oh servant, virtue strengthen me! Thy presence blows round my affection's vane: You will undo me if you speak again.
[Erit Beaumelle. Lilad. Aym. Here will be sport for you. This works. [Exeunt Liladam and Aymer. Nov. jun. Peace! peace!
Pont. One word, my lord Novall!
Nov. jun. What, thou would'st money-there. Pont. No, I'll none, I'll not be bought a slave, A pandar, or a parasite, for all
Your father's worth; though you have saved my
life,
Rescued me often from my wants, I must not
Wink at your follies that will ruin you.
You know my blunt way, and my love to truth:
Forsake the pursuit of this lady's honour,
Now you do see her made another man's,
And such a man's! so good, so popular;
Or you will pluck a thousand mischiefs on you.
The benefits you've done me are not lost,
Nor cast away; they are pursed here in my
heart;
LI-Than to defend your vices, or to soothe them.
But let me pay you, sir, a fairer way
Nov. jun. Ha, ha, ha! what are my courses
unto thee?
Char. You need not question me if I can you. You are the fairest virgin in Dijon,
And Rochfort is your father.
Nov. jun. What's this change?
Rock. You met my wishes, gentlemen,
Rom. What make
These dogs in doublets here?
Beaumel. A visitation, sir.
Char. Then thus, fair Beaumelle! I write my faith,
Enter NovALL jun. and BELLAPERT.
Relish and taste, and make the banquet easy.
You say my lady's married-I confess it:
That Charalois hath enjoyed her 'tis most true:
That with her he's already master of
The best part of my lord's estate. Still better:
But that the first or last should be your hindrance,
I utterly deny: For, but observe me,
While she went for, and was, I swear, a virgin,
What courtesy could she with her honour give,
Or you receive with safety?
Nov. jun. But for her marriage.
Bella. 'Tis a fair protection
'Gainst all arrests of fear or shame for ever.
Such as are fair, and yet not foolish, study
To have one at thirteen; but they are mad
That stay till twenty. Then, sir! for the pleasure;
To say adultery is sweeter, that is stale.
This only-Is not the contentment more,
To say, this is my cuckold, than my rival?
More I could say-but, briefly, she doats on you;
If it prove otherwise, spare not, poison me
With the next gold you give me.
Beaumel. Stay, Bellapert.
Bella. In this I must not, with your leave,
obey you.
| Your taylor and your tire-woman wait without,
And stay my counsel and direction for
Your next day's dressing. I have much to do,
Nor will your ladyship now, time is precious,
Continue idle; this choice lord will find
So fit employment for you. [Erit BELLAPERT.
Beaumel. I shall grow angry.
Nov. jun. Not so; you have a jewel in her,
madam!
Beaumel. You come to chide me, servant,
bring with you Sufficient warrant. You will say, and truly, My father found too much obedience in me, By being won too soon: Yet, if you please But to remember all my hopes and fortunes Had reference to his liking, you will grant, That though I did not well towards you, I yet Did wisely for myself.
Nov. jun. With too much fervour
I have so long loved, aud still love you, mistress,
To esteem that an injury to me,
Which was to you convenient; that is past
My help, is past my cure. You yet may, lady,
In recompence of all my duteous service,
(Provided that your will answer your power)
Become my creditress.
Beaumel.. I understand you;
And for assurance the request you make
Shall not be long unanswered, pray you sit,
And by what you shall hear, you'll easily find,
My passions are much fitter to desire
Than to be sued to.
Enter ROMANT and FLORIMEL.
Flor. Sir, it is not envy
At the start my fellow has got of me in
My lady's good opinion, that is the motive
Of this discovery; but due payment
Of what I owe her honour.
Rom. So I conceive it.
Flor. I have observed too much, nor shall my silence
Prevent the remedy-yonder they are,
I dare not be seen with you. You may do
What you think fit, which will be, I presume,
The office of a faithful and tried friend
To my young lord.
Rom. This is no vision: Ha! Nov. jun. With the next opportunity. Beaumel. By this kiss, and this, and this. Nov. jun. That you would ever swear thus ! Rom. If I seem rude, your pardon, lady! yours I do not ask: Come, do not dare to shew me A face of anger, or the least dislike; Put on, and suddenly, a milder look; I shall grow rough else.
But any blemish in their lives to work on:
But I will be plainer with you: had the people
Been learnt to speak, but what even now I saw,
Their malice out of that would raise an engine
To overthrow your honour. In my sight,
With yonder painted fool I frighted from you,
You used familiarity beyond
A modest entertainment: you embraced him
With too much ardour for a stranger, and
Met him with kisses neither chaste nor comely:
But learn you to forget him, as I will
Your bounties to him; you will find it safer
Rather to be uncourtly than immodest.
Beaumel. This pretty rag about your neck
shews well,
And, being coarse and little worth, it speaks you
As terrible as thrifty.
Rom. Madam!
Beaumel. Yes.
And this strong belt, in which you hang your ho
Will outlast twenty scarfs.
Rom. What mean you, lady?
Beaumel. And all else about you cap-a-pee,
So uniform in spite of handsomeness,
Shews such a bold contempt of comeliness,
That it is not strange your laundress in the
Leaguer
Grew mad with love of you.
Rom. Is my free counsel
Answered with this ridiculous scorn?
Beaumel. These objects
Stole very much of my attention from me;
Who is your father, and whose wife you now are, Yet something I remember, to speak truth,
That I chuse rather not to understand
Your nasty scoff, than————
Beaumel. What, you will not beat me, If I expound it to you? Here's a tyrant Spares neither man nor woman.
Madam, deserve not this; nor do I stay
To be the whetstone of your wit: preserve it
To spend on such as know how to admire
buch coloured stuff. In me there is now speaks
As true a friend and servant to your honour,
And one that will with as much hazard guard it,
As ever man did goodness. But then, lady!
You must endeavour, not alone to be,
But to appear, worthy such love and service.
Beaumel. To what tends this?
Rom. Why, to this purpose, lady;
I do desire you should prove such a wife
To Charalois (and such a one he merits)
As Cæsar, did he live, could not except at,
Not only innocent from crime, but free
From all taint and suspicion.
Delivered gravely, but to little purpose,
That almost would have made me swear, some
Had stolen into the person of Romont,
And, in the praise of good-wife honesty,
Had read an homily.
Rom. By this hand-
Beaumel. And sword;
I will make up your oath, it will want weight else.
You are angry with me, and poor I laugh at it.
Do you come from the camp, which affords only
The conversation of cast suburb whores,
To set down to a lady of my rank
Limits of entertainment?
Rom. Sure a legion has possest this woman.
Beaumel. One stamp more would do well: yet
I desire not
You should grow horn-mad till you have a wife.
You are come to warm meat, and perhaps clean
linen:
Feed, wear it, and be thankful. For me, know,
That though a thousand watches were set on me,
And you the master-spy, I yet would use
Beaumel. They are base that judge me other- The liberty that best likes ine. I will revel,
Rom. But yet be careful!
Detraction is a bold monster, and fears not
To wound the fame of princes, if it find
Feast, kiss, embrace. Perhaps, grant larger fa
Yet such as live upon my means, shall know
They must not murmur at it. If my lord
A dower sufficient.
Rom. No doubt. But on.
Beaum. So fair, so chaste, so virtuous: indeed All that is excellent.
Rom. Women have no cunning to gull the world!
Beaum. Yet to all these, my lord,
Her father gives the full addition of
All he does now possess in Burgundy :
These writings to confirm it are new sealed,
And I most fortunate to present him with them;
I must go seek him out; can you direct me?
Rom. You will find him breaking a young horse.
Beaum. I thank you. [Exit Beaumont.
Rom. I must do something worthy Charalois'
friendship.
If she were well inclined, to keep her so
Deserved not thanks: and yet, to stay a woman,
Spurred headlong by hot lust to her own ruin,
Is harder than to prop a falling tower
With a deceiving reed.
Enter ROCHFort.
Roch. Some one seek for me,
As soon as he returns.
Rom. Her father! ha!
How if I break this to him? Sure it cannot
Meet with an ill construction. His wisdom,
Made powerful by the authority of a father,
Will warrant and give priviledge to his counsels.
It shall be so-my lord!
Roch. Your friend, Romont:
Would you aught with me?
Rom. I stand so engaged
To your so many favours, that I hold it
A breach in thankfulness, should I not discover,
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For what I must deliver, whispered only,
You will with too much grief receive.
Enter BEAUMELLE and BELLapert.
Beaumel. See, wench!
Upon my life as I forespake, he's now
Preferring his complaint: But be thou perfect,
And we will fit him.
Bella. Fear not me, pox on him!
A captain turned informer against kissing?
Would he were hanged up in his rusty armour!
But, if our fresh wits cannot turn the plots
Of such a mouldy murrion on itself,
Rich clothes, choice fare, and a true friend at a call,
Forsake us.
Roch. This in my daughter? Do not wrong her. Bella. Now begin.
The game's afoot, and we in distance.
Beaumel. Tis thy fault, foolish girl! pin on my veil,
I will not wear those jewels. Am I not
Already matched beyond my hopes? Yet still
You prune and set me forth, as if I were
Again to please a suitor.
Bella. 'Tis the course
That our great ladies take.
Rom. A weak excuse!
Beaumel. Those that are better scen, in what
A lady's honour and fair fame, condemn it.
You wait well in your absence, my lord's friend,
The understanding, grave and wise Romont-
Rom. Must I be still her sport?
Beaumel. Reproved me for it;
And he has travelled to bring home a judgment,
Not to be contradicted. You will say
My father, that owes more to years than he,
Has brought me up to music, language, court-
ship,
And I must use them. True, but not to offend,
Or render me suspected.
Roch. Does your fine story begin from this? Beaumel. I thought a parting kiss
From young Novall would have displeased no
Than heretofore it hath done; but I find
I must restrain such favours now; look, therefore,
As you are careful to continue mine,
That I no more be visited. I'll endure
The strictest course of life that jealousy
Can think secure enough, ere my behaviour
Shall call my fame in question.
Rom. Ten dissemblers
Are in this subtle devil. You believe this?
Roch. So far, that if you trouble me again With a report like this, I shall not only
That you, which are an honest man and worthy,
Should foster this suspicion. No man laughs,
No one can whisper, but thou apprehendest
His conference and his scorn reflects on thee.
For my part, they should scoff their thin wits out,
So I not heard them; beat me, not being there.
Leave, leave these fits to conscious men, to such
As are obnoxious to those foolish things
Enter Novall jun. MALOTIN, LILADAM, AY- As they can gibe at.
MER, and Pontalier.
Use any means to vex him,
And then with welcome follow me.
Nov. jun. You are tired
With your grave exhortations, colonel!
Liled. How is it? Faith, your lordship may do
well
To help him to some church-preferment: 'Tis
Now the fashion for men of all conditions,
However they have lived, to end that way.
Aymer. That face would do well in a surplice.
Rom. Rogues, be silent―or—
Pont. S'death! will you suffer this?
Rom. Well, sir?
Char. Thou art known
Valiant without defect, rightly defined,
Which is (as fearing to do injury,
As tender to endure it) not a brabbler,
A swearer.
Rom. Pish, pish! what needs this, my lord?
If I be known none such, how vainly you
Do cast away good counsel? 1 have loved you,
And yet must freely speak: So young a tutor
Fits not so old a soldier as I am.
And I must tell you, 'twas in your behalf
I grew enraged thus; yet had rather die
Than open the great cause a syllable further.
Char. In my behalf? Wherein hath Charalois
Rom. And you, the master rogue, the coward Unfitly so demeaned himself, to give
I shall be with you suddenly.
Nov. jun. Pontalier,
If I should strike him, I know I shall kill him :
And therefore I would have thee beat him, for
He is good for nothing else.
Appears to me, as it would tire a beadle.
And then he has a knotted brow, would bruise
A court-like hand to touch it.
The least occasion to the loosest tongue
To throw aspersions on him? Or so weakly
Protected his own honour, as it should
Need defence from any but himself?
They're fools that judge me by my outward
seeming;
Why should my gentleness beget abuse?
The lion is not angry that does sleep,
Nor every man a coward that can weep.
For God's sake speak the cause.
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