Mir. By what means? speak.

And. At the suit of Monsieur Lewis, His house is seiz'd upon, and he in person Is under guard (I saw it with these eyes, Sir) To be convey'd to Paris, and there sentenc'd. Mir. Nay, then there is no jesting.

Char. Do I live,

And know my father injur'd?
And. And what's worse, Sir,

My lady Angellina

Eust. What of her?

And. She's carried away too.
Mir. How?

And. While you were absent,

[men A crew of monsieur Lewis's friends and kinsBy force brake in at th' back part of the house, And took her away by violence. Faithful Andrew

(As this can witness for him) did his best In her defence; but 'twould not do.

Arising between brothers, should you prosper,
Would shame your victory.

Eust. I would do much, Sir;
But still, my reputation-
Mir. Charles shall give you

All decent satisfaction; nay, join hands,
And heartily. Why, this is done like brothers;
And old as I am, in this cause that concerns
The honour of our family, monsieur Lewis,
If reason cannot work, shall find and feel
There's hot blood in this arm; I'll lead you
bravely.

Eust. And if I follow not, a coward's name Be branded on my forehead!

Char. This spirit makes you

A sharer in my fortunes.

Mir. And in mine;

Of which (Brisac once freed, and Angellina Again in our possession) you shall know My heart speaks in my tongue.

Eust. I dare not doubt it, Sir.

SCENE II.

[Exeunt.

falsely

Your malice hath inform'd him, he in justice Must set me right again.

Ang. Sir, let not passion

So far transport you as to think in reason,
This violent course repairs, but rather ruins,
That honour you would build up: You destroy
What you would seem to nourish. If respect
Of my preferment, or my reputation,

May challenge your paternal love and care,
Why do you, now good fortune has provided
A better husband for me than your hopes
Could ever fancy, strive to rob me of him?
In what is my love Charles defective, Sir?
Unless deep learning be a blemish in him,
Or well-proportion'd limbs be mulcts in na-

ture,

Or, what you only aim'd at, large revenues, Are on the sudden grown distasteful to you, Of what can you accuse him?

Lew. Of a rape

Done to honour, which thy ravenous lust Made thee consent to.

Sul. Her lust! You are her father. Lew. And you her bawd.

Syl. Were you ten lords, 'tis false; The pureness of her chaste thoughts enterSuch spotted instruments.

Ang. As I have a soul, Sir

[tains not

Lew. I am not to be alter'd: To sit down With this disgrace would argue me a peasant, And not born noble: All rigour that the law, And that encrease of pow'r by favour yields, Shall be with all severity inflicted; [serve, You have the king's hand for't; no bail will And therefore at your perils, officers, away Bri. This is madness. [with 'em.

Lew. Tell me so in open court,

And there I'll answer you.

Enter Miramont, Charles, Eustace, aud An

drew.

That is not tender'd to you; rather than
Be cross'd in what you purpos'd, you'll undo
Your daughter's fame, the credit of your judg

ment,

[states, And your old foolish neighbour! make your And in a suit not worth a cardecue, 54 A prey to advocates, and their buck ram scribes; And after they have plum'd ye, return home, Like a couple of naked fowls, without a feather.

Char. This is a most strong truth, Sir.
Mir. No, no, monsieur,

Let us be right Frenchmen; violent to charge,
But, when our follies are repell'd by reason,
'Tis fit that we retreat, and ne'er come on more.
Observe my learn'd Charles; he'll get thee a
nephew

On Angellina, shall dispute in her belly,
And suck the nurse by logick. And here's
Eustace;

He was an ass, but now is grown an Amadis;
Nor shall he want a wife, if all my land
For a jointure can effect it. You're a good
And of a gentle nature; in your looks [lord,
I see a kind consent, and it shews lovely.
And, do you hear, old fool?

Bri. Your brother, Sir.
Mir. But I'll not chide;

Hereafter, like me, ever dote on learning;
The mere belief is excellent, 'twill save you.
And next, love valour; though you dare not
fight
[stace
Yourself, or fright a foolish officer, young Eu-
Can do it to a hair. And to conclude,
Let Andrew's farm b' increas'd, that is your
penance,

You know for what; and see you rut no more,
You understand me. So, embrace on all sides.
I'll pay those billmen, and make large amends;
Provided we preserve you still our friends.
[Exeunt omnes.

'Tis not the hands, or smiles, or common way
Of approbation to a well-lik'd play,
We only hope; but that you freely would,
To th' Author's memory, so far unfold,

54

And shew your loves and liking to his wit,
Not in your praise, but often seeing it;
That being the grand assurance, that can give
The poet and the player means to live.

SCENE I.

Enter Angelo, Milanes, and Arsenio.

Ars. LEANDRO paid all.

Mil. 'Tis his usual custom,

And requisite he should. He has now put off The funeral black your rich heir wears with joy, [ther.2 When he pretends to weep for his dead faYour gathering sires so long heap muck together,

That their kind sons, to rid them of their care, Wish them in Heav'n; or, if they take a taste Of Purgatory by the way, it matters not, Provided they remove hence. What is befal'n

To his father in the other world, I ask not; I am sure his prayer is heard. 'Would I could

Don Henrique rich, and his since

Encreas'd by marrying with a Call'd madam Violante, he yet A hard hand over Jamie, allowi A bare annuity only.

Ars. Yet, 'tis said,

He hath no child; and, by the If he die without issue, don Ja Inherits his estate.

Mil. Why, that's the reason Of their so many jars. Thoug Be sick of th' elder brother, and Should flatter and observe him

ture

Too bold and fierce to stoop so, Presuming on his hopes.

Ars. What's the young lad That all of 'em make so much

Mil. 'Tis a sweet one, And the best-condition'd youth I So humble, and so affable, that The love of all that know him; a That, in despite of poverty, he w Rather than ask a courtesy. H Of a poor cast captain, one Octa And she, that once was call'd cintha,

Is happy in being his mother.

[Enter Jamie, Leandro, and Though in their fortunes fal esteem'd of

And cherish'd by the best. O I now may spare his character; He'll justify my report.

Jam. My good Ascanio, Repair more often to me; above Thou ever shalt be welcome.

Asc. My lord, your favours May quickly teach a raw untutor To be both rude and saucy.

Lean. You cannot be Too frequent, where you are so And give me leave, dear friend

rival In part of his affection; I will b At any rate.

Jam. Stood I but now possess

In Slomanca, I'll supply your studies
With all conveniencies.

Ave. Your goodness, Signiors, And charitable favours, overwhelm me. I: I were of your blood, you could not be More tender of me: What then can I pay, A poor boy and a stranger, but a heart [ness bound to your service? With what willingI would receive, good Sir, your noble offer, lieav'n can bear witness for me; but, alas, Should I embrace the means to raise my fortunes,

Ist destroy the lives of my poor parents, > whom I owe my being, they in me

Place all their comforts, and, as if I were The light of their dim eyes, are so indulgent, They cannot brook one short day's absence from me; [young,

And, what will hardly win belief, though I am their steward and their nurse: The bounties ['em; Which others bestow on me, serve to sustain And to forsake them in their age, in me Were more than murder.

Enter Henrique.

Ang. This is a kind of begging Would make a broker charitable. Mil. Here, sweetheart,

I wish that it were more.

Lean. When this is spent,
Seek for supply from me.
Jam. Thy piety

For ever be remember'd! Nay, take all,
Though 'twere my exhibition to a ryal
For one whole year.

Asc. High Heav'ns reward your goodness! Hen. So, Sir, is this a slip of your own You are so prodigal?

Jam. A slip, Sir? Hen. Yes,

[grafting,

A slip; or call it by the proper name,
Your bastard.

[voke me:
Jam. You're foul-month'd. Do not pro-
I shall forget your birth if you proceed,
And use you, as your manners do deserve,
Uncivilly.

Hen. So brave! Pray you, give me hearing: Who am I, Sir?

Jam. My elder brother: One, [puted, That might have been born a fool, and so reBut that you had the luck to creep into The world a year before me.

[it

Lean. Be more temperate. Jum. I neither can nor will, unless I learn By his example. Let him use his harsh Unsavory reprehensions upon those [land That are his hinds, and not on me. The Our father left to him alone, rewards him For being twelve months elder: Let that be Forgotten, and let his parasites remember One quality of worth or virtue in him, That may authorize him to be a censurer Of me, or of my manners, and I will Acknowledge him for a tutor; till then," [Sir? Hen. From whom have you your means, Jam. From the will

Of

never.

my dead father; I am sure I spend not, Nor give't, upon your purse. Hen. But will it hold out

Without my help?

Jam. I am sure it shall; I'll sink else; For sooner I will seek aid from a whore, Than a courtesy from you.

[him,

Hen. 'Tis well; you are proud of Your new exchequer; when you have cheated And worn him to the quick, I may be found In the list of your acquaintance.