Pleasure attend ye! and about ye sit young fresh beauty, wanton, and too free, Seek to abuse her husband; still 'tis Spain; No such gross errors in your kingdom reign: You're vestals all, and tho' we blow the fire, We seldom make it flame up to desire; Perez. I've heard of him, and that he hath serv'd before too. Juan. But no harm done, nor never meant, Don Michael, That came to my ears yet. Ask him a question, He blushes like a girl, and answers little, To the point less; he wears a sword, a good one, And good clothes too; he's whole-skin'd, nas no hurt yet; Good promising hopes; I never yet heard certainly Of any gentleman that saw him angry. Perez. Preserve him; he'll conclude a peace if need be. Many as strong as he will go along with us, That make the drunken Dutch creep into molehills. Juan. I shall do it ; I know the gentleman, a most worthy captain. [Exeunt JUAN and CLARA. Perez. I am no blaster of a lady's beauty, And with what guards it ought to be preserv'd, lady; Estif. You must excuse me, signior; I come not here to sell myself. I pray you be civil; I believe you'd see me, [me; Perez. I shall love you dearly; And 'tis a sin to fling away affection: I have no mistress, no desire to honour Any but you. Will not this oyster open? [Aside. I know not, you have struck me with your modestyShe will draw surefrom me -[Aside.]—so deep, and taken All the desire I might bestow on others—— Estif. Indeed, I dare not: But, since I see you're so desirous, sir, Perez. It must needs be excellent. Estif. And with what honesty you ask it of me ; When I am gone let your man follow me, And view what house I enter; thither come; For there I dare be bold to appear open, And, as I like your virtuous carriage, then I shall be able to give welcome to you Enter JUAN, CLARA, and Servant. She hath done her business; I must take my leave, sir. Perez. I'll kiss your fair white hand, and thank you, lady: My man shall wait, and I shall be your servant.— Sirrah, come near; hark! Serv. I shall do it faithfully. Juan. You will command me no more services? Clara. To be careful of your noble health, dear That I may ever honour you. [Whispers. [Exit. [sir, Juan. I thank you, Sanc. What, are you for the wars, Alonzo? It may be no; e'en as the humour takes me. Tho' we be shot sometimes, the shot's not mortal; Sanc. But it disables 'em; dost thou see how thou pull'st Thy legs after thee, as they hung by points? Alon. Better to pull 'em thus, than walk on wooden ones; Serve bravely for a billet to support me. Sanc. Fie, fie! 'tis base. Alon. Dost thou count it base to suffer? Suffer abundantly? 'tis the crown of honour. You think it nothing to lie twenty days Under a surgeon's hands, that has no mercy. Sanc. As thou hast done, I'm sure. But I perceive now Why you desire to stay; the Orient heiress, The Margarita, sir! Alon. I would I had her. Sanc. They say she'll marry. Alon. Yes, I think she will. Sanc. And marry suddenly, as report goes, too! She has a greedy eye, that must be fed Alon. 'Would she were mine! I'd cater for her well enough. But, Sanchio, There be too many great men that adore her; Princes, and princes' fellows, that claim privilege. Sanc. Yet those stand off i' th' way of marriage; To be tied to a man's pleasure is a second labour. Alon. She has bought a brave house here in town. Sanc. I've heard so. Alon. If she convert it now to pious uses, And bid poor gentlemen welcome! Sanc. When comes she to it? Alon. Within these two days; she's i' th' country yet, And keeps the noblest house! SCENE III.-The same. Enter a Servant of MICHAEL Perez. Serv. 'Tis this or that house, or I've lost my aim ; They're both fair buildings. She walk'd plaguy fast; Enter ESTIFANIA. And hereabouts I lost her.-Stay! that's she, [Exit ESTIFANIA into a house. [Exit. And break your fast; drink a good cup or two, To strengthen your understandings; then she'll tell ye. 2 Lady. And good wine breeds good counsel; we'll yield to you. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-VALLADOLID. The Street. Enter JUAN DE CASTRO and LEON. Juan. Have you seen any service? Leon. Yes. Juan. Where? Leon. Everywhere. Juan. What office bore you? Leon. None; I was not worthy. Juan. What captains know you? Juan. Were you ne'er hurt? Leon. Not that I well remember, But once I stole a hen, and then they beat me. 'Pray ask me no long questions; I've an ill memory. Juan. This is an ass.-Did you ne'er draw your sword yet? Leon. Not to do any harm, I thank Heav'n for't. Juan. Nor ne'er ta'en prisoner? Leon. No, I run away, For I had ne'er no money to redeem me. Juan. Can you endure a drum? Leon. It makes my head ache. Juan. Are you not valiant when you're drunk? Leon. I think not; But I am loving, sir. Juan. What a lump is this man! Was your father wise? Leon. Too wise for me, I'm sure; For he gave all he had to my younger brother. Juan. That was no foolish part, I'll bear you Canst thou lie with a woman? Leon. I think I could make shift, sir; But I am bashful. Juan. In the night? Leon. I know not; [witness. Cac. My father's dead; I am a man of war too. Monies, demesnes; I've ships at sea too, captains. Juan. Take heed o' th' Hollanders; your ships may leak else. Cac. I scorn the Hollanders; they are my drunkards. Alon. Put up your gold, sir; I will borrow it else. Cac. I'm satisfied, you shall not.-Come out ; I know thee; Meet mine anger instantly! Leon. I never wrong' you. Cac. Thou hast wrong'd mine honour; Thou look'dst upon my mistress thrice lasciviously; I'll make it good. Juan. Do not heat yourself; you will surfeit. Cac. Thou won'st my money too, with a pair of base bones, This shall provoke thee. {He strikes him. Alon. You struck too low by a foot, sir. Juan. You must get a ladder when you'd beat this fellow. Leon. I cannot chuse but kick again; pray pardon me! {Kicks him. Cac. Had'st thou not ask'd my pardon, I had kill'd thee. I leave thee as a thing despis'd! Beso las manos a vuestra sennoria! [Erit. Alon. You've 'scap'd by miracle; there is not, in all Spain, A spirit of more fury than this fire-drake. He will infect the camp with cowardice, Juan. About some week hence, sir, Leon. I desire no better. [Exeunt. Estif. 'Tis Estifania: The heir of this poor place. Peres. Poor, do you call it? There's nothing that I cast mine eyes upon, But shews both rich and admirable; all the rooms Are hung as if a princess were to dwell here; The gardens, orchards, every thing so curious! Estif. 'Tis but little, Only for present use; I've more and richer, Perez. [Aside.] Now if she be not married, I Are you a maid? [have some hopes. Estif. You make me blush to answer; I ever was accounted so to this hour, Perez. Then would I counsel you to marry presently, [Aside. -If I can get her, I am made for ever- Above there are day-beds, and such temptations Perez. She's excellent wise withal too. [Aside. Estif. You nam'd a husband; I am not so strict, Nor tied unto a virgin's solitariness, But if an honest, and a noble one, [sir, I hold it as indifferent in my duty, To be his maid i' th' kitchen, or his cook, I am a soldier, and a bachelor, lady; on In ready gold, (now as your care may handle it) As rich clothes too as any he bears arms, lady! Estif. You're a true gentleman, and fair, I see And such a man I'd rather take Peres. 'Pray do so! I'll have a priest o' th' sudden. Estif. And as suddenly You will repent too. Perez. I'll be hang'd or drown'd first, By this, and this, and this kiss! Estif. You're a flatterer; [by you: [Kisses her. ACT II. SCENE I.-The Country.-An Apartment in the Villa of MARGARITA. Enter MARGARITA, two Ladies, and ALTEA. Marg. Sit down, and give me your opinions seriously. 1 Lady. You say you have a mind to marry, lady? Marg. 'Tis true, I have, for to preserve my credit; Yet not so much for that as for my state, ladies; Conceive me right, there lies the main o' th' quesCredit I can redeem, money will imp it; [tion: But when my money's gone, when the law shall Seize that, and for incontinency strip me of all? 1 Lady. D'ye find your body so malicious that way? Marg. I find it as all bodies are that are young and lusty, Lazy, and high fed; I desire my pleasure, 2 Lady. 'Tis fit you should have; Your years require it, and 'tis necessary, Sleep cannot nourish more. 1 Lady. But might not all this be, and keep you You take away variety in marriage, [single? Why was I made a woman? 2 Lady. And ev'ry day a new? Marg. Why fair and young, but to use it? 1 Lady. You're still i' th' right; why should you marry then? Altea. Because a husband stops all doubts in And clears all passages. [this point, 2 Lady. What husband mean ye? Altea. A husband of an easy faith, a fool, Made by her wealth, and moulded to her pleasure; One, though he see himself become a monster, Shall hold the door, and entertain the maker. 2 Lady. You grant there may be such a man. 1 Lady. Yes, marry; But how to bring 'em to this rare perfection? 2 Lady. They must be chosen so; things of no Nor outward honesty. [honour, Marg. No, 'tis no matter; I care not what they are, so they be lusty. 2 Lady. Methinks now, a rich lawyer; some such fellow, That carries credit and a face of awe, But lies with nothing but his clients' business. |