PROLOGU E.

EASURE attend ye, and about ye fit

PLEAS

The Springs of mirth, fancy, delight, and wit,
To fir you up; do not your looks let fall,
Nor to remembrance our late errors call,
Because this day we're Spaniards all again,
The flory of cur play, and our Scene Spain:
The errors too, do not for this caufe hate,
Now we prefent their wit, and not their fate.
Nor ladies, be not angry, if you fee
A young fresh beauty wanton, and too free,
Seek to abuse her husband, ftill 'tis Spain,
No fuch grofs errors in your kingdom reign;
You're Vetals all, and though we blow the fire,
We feldom make it flame up to defire;
Take no example neither to begin,
For fome by precedent delight to fin;
Nor blame the poet if he flip afide
Sometimes lafciviously, if not too wide.

But hold your fans clofe, and then fmile at eafe,
A cruel feene did never lady pleafe.

Nor, gentlemen, pray be not you difpleas'd,
Though we prefent fome men fool'd, fome difeas'd,
Some drunk, Jome mad: we mean not you, you're free,
We tax no farther than our comedy,

You are our friends, fit noble then and fee.

Dramatis

Rule a Wife, and have a Wife.

A

АС Т -I.

SCENE, a chamber.

Enter Juan de Caftro and Michael Perez.

MICHAEL.

RE your companies full, colonel?

Juan. No, not yet, Sir.

Nor will not be this month yet, as I reckon.
How rifes your command ?

Mich. We pick up ftill,

And as our monies hold out, we have men come.
About that time I think we shall be full too;
Many young gallants go..

Juan. And unexperienc'd.

The wars are dainty dreams to young hot fpirits,
Time and experience will allay thofe vifions.
• We have strange things to fill our numbers;'
There's one Don Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Commended to me from fome noble friends,
For my Alferes.

Mich. I've heard of him, and that he hath ferv'd before too.

Juan. But no harm done, nor ever meant, Don Michael, That came to my ears yet; afk him a question,

He blushes like a girl, and answers little,

To the point lefshe wears a fword, a good one, And good clothes too; he's whole-skinn'd, has no hurt yer,

• Good promifing hopes;' I never yet heard certainly Of any gentleman that faw him angry.

Mich. Preferve him, he'll conclude a peace if need be, Many as ftout as he will go along with us,

That fwear as valiantly as heart can wish,

A 3

Their

Their mouths charg'd with fix oaths at once, and whole

ones,

That make the drunken Dutch creep into mole-hills. Juan. 'Tis true, fuch we must look for: but, Michael Perez,

When heard you of Donna Margaritta, the great heirefs? Mich. I hear every hour of her, though I ne'er faw her, She is the main difcourfe. Noble Don Juan de Castro, How happy were that man could catch this wench up, And live at eafe! She's fair and young, and wealthy, Infinite wealthy, and as gracious too

In all her entertainments, as men report.

Juan. But he is proud, Sir, that I know for certain, And that comes feldom without wantonnefs;

He that fhall marry her, must have a rare hand.

Mich. Wou'd I were married, I wou'd find, that wisdom,
With a light rein to rule my wife. If e'er woman
Of the most fubtile mould went beyond me,

I'd give boys leave to hoot me out o' the parish.
Enter a Servant.

Ser. Sir, there be two gentlewomen attend to speak
with you.
Juan. Wait on 'em in.

Mich. Are they two handfome women?

Ser. They feem fo, very handfome, but they're veil'd, Sir.

Mich. Thou putteft fugar in my mouth. How it melts with me!

I love a fweet young wench.

fuan. Wait on them in, I fay.

Mich. Don Juan.

Juan. Michael, how you burnish?

[Exit fervant.

Will not this foldier's heat out of your bones yet?
Mich. There be two.

Juan. Say honeft, what fhame have you then?
Mich. I wou'd fain fee that;

I've been in the Indies twice, and have feen ftrange things,

But for two honeft women ;

Juan. Pr'ythee, be modest.

Mich, I'll be any thing.

-one I read of once.

Enter fervant, Donna Clara, and Efifania, veil'd.

Juan. You're welcome, ladies.

Mich.