His own man 'till he be angry-to keep
His valour in obscurity, is to keep himself,
As it were, in a cloke-bag: what's a brave
Musician unless he play?

What's a brave man unless he fight?

Dame. Ay, but what harm might have come of it, brother?

Well. What, school'd on both sides! Prithee, Bridget, save me from the rod and lecture.

[Bridget and Well-bred retire. Kite. With what a decent modesty she rates him!

and comely,

My heart's at ease, and she shall see it is-
How art thou, wife? thou look'st both gay
In troth thou dost—I am sent for out, my dear,
But I shall soon return-Indeed, my life,
Business that forces me abroad is irksom,

I cou'd content me with less gain and 'vantage

To have thee more at home, indeed I cou'd.

Dame. Your doubts, as well as love, may breed these thoughts.

Kite. That jar untunes me.

What dost thou say? dʊubt thee?

I shou'd as soon suspect myself—no, no,
My confidence is rooted in thy merit,
So fixt and settled, that, wer't thou inclin'd

To masks, to sports, and balls, where lusty youth
Leads up the wanton dance, and the rais'd pulse
Beats quicker measures, yet I could with joy,
With heart's ease and security-not but
I had rather thou should'st prefer thy home
And me, to toys and such like vanities.
Dume. But sure, my dear,

A-wife may moderately use these pleasures,
Which numbers, and the time give sanction to,

Without the smallest blemish on her name.

[Aside,

Kite. And so she may- And I'll go with thee, child; I will indeed-I'll lead thee there myself,

And be the foremost reveller.-I'll silence

The sneers of envy, stop the tongue of slander;
Nor will I more be pointed at, as one

Disturb'd with jealousy

Dame. Why, were you ever so?

Kite. What!-ha! never-ha, ha, ha!

She

She stabs me home. (Aside) Jealous of thee?
No, do not believe it-speak low, my love,
Thy brother will overhear us--no, no, my dear,
It cou'd not be, it cou'd not be-for-for-
What is the time now?-I shall be too late-
No, no, thou may'st be satisfy'd

There's not the smallest spark remaining-
Remaining! what do I say? there never was,
Nor can, nor never shall be-so be satisfy'd-
Is Cob. within there ?-Give me a kiss,
My dear, there, there; now we are reconcil'd-
I'll be back immediately-Good-bye, good bye-
Ha, ha, jealous, I shall burst my sides with laughing;
Ha, ha, Cob; where are you, Cob? ha, ha-

[Exit. [Well-bred and Bridget come forward. Well. What have you done to make your husband part so merry from you? he has of late been little given to laughter.

Dame. He laugh'd indeed, but seemingly without mirth; his behaviour is new and strange: he is much agitated, and has some whimzy in his head, that puzzles mine to read it. Well. 'Tis jealousy, good sister, and writ so largely that the blind may read it; have not you perceiv'd it yet?

Dame. If I have, 'tis not always prudent that my tongue shou'd betray my eyes, so far my wisdom tends, good brother, and little more I boast-But what makes him ever calling for Cob so? I wonder how he can employ him.

Well. Indeed, sister, to ask how he employs Cob, is a necessary question for you, that are his wife, and a thing not very easy for you to be satisfy'd in-But this, I'll assure you, Cob's wife is an excellent bawd, sister, and oftentimes your husband haunts her house; marry to what end, I cannot altogether accuse him: imagine you what you think convenient, But I have known fair hides have foul hearts, ere now, sister.

Dame. Never said you truer than that, brother; so much I can tell you for your learning. O, ho! is this the fruit of's jealousy? I thought some game was in the wind, he acted so much tenderness but now; but I'll be quit with him. Thomas!

Enter CASH.

Fetch your hat, and go with me; I'll get my hood, and

ОНС

out the back-ward.way. I would to fortune I could take him there, I'd return him his own, I warrant him! I'd fit him for his jealousy!

[Exit. Well. Ha, ha! so, e'en let em go; this may make sport anon-What, Brain-worm?

Enter BRAIN-WORM.

Brain. I saw the merchant turn the corner, and came back to tell you, all goes well; wind and tide, my master. Well. But how got'st thou this apparel of the justice's man ?

Brain. Marry, sir, my proper fine penman wou'd needs bestow the grist 'o me at the wind-mill, to hear some martial discourse, where I so marshalled him, that I made him drunk with admiration: and because too much heat was the cause of his distemper, I stript him stark naked, as he lay long asleep, and borrow'd his suit to deliver this counterfeit message in, leaving a rusty armour, and an old brown bill, to watch him 'till my return; which shall be when I have pawn'd his apparel, and spent the better part of his money, perhaps.

Well. Well, thou art a successful merry knave, BrainWorm: his absence will be subject for more mirth. I pray thee return to thy young master, and will him to meet me and my sister Bridget at the Tower instantly; for here, tell him, the house is so stor'd with jealousy, there is no room for love to stand upright in. We must get our fortunes committed to some large prison, say; and then the Tower, I know no better air, nor where the liberty of the house may do us more present service. Away.

[Exit Brain-worm. Bridg. What, is this the engine that you told me of? What further meaning have you in the plot?

Well. That you may know, fair sister-iir-law how happy a thing it is to be fair and beautiful.

Bridg. That touches not me, brother.

Well. That's true; that's ev'n the fault ofit; for, indeed beauty stands a woman in no stead, unless it procure her touching-Well, there's a dear and well respected friend of mine, sister, stands very strongly and worthily affected towards you, and have vow'd to inflame whole bone-fires of zeal at his heart, in honour of your perfections. I have already engaged my promise to bring you where you shall

hear

hear him confirm much more. Ned Kno'well is the mans sister. There's no conception against the party; you are ripe for a husband, and a minutes loss to such an occasion is a great trespass in a wise beauty. -What say you, sister? On my soul, he loves you. Will you give him the

meeting?

Bridg. Faith, I had very little confidence in my own constancy, brother, if I durst not meet a man: but this motion of yours favours an old kinght adventurer's ser vant, a little too much, methinks.

Well, what's that, sister?

Bridg. Marry, of the go-between.

Well. No matter if I did: I wou'd be such a one for my friend.- But see, who is return'd to hinder us.

Enter KITELY.

Kite. What villainy is this? call'd out on a false mes sage! this was some plot; I was not sent for. Bridget. where's your sister?

Bridg. I think she be gone f rh, sir.

Kite. How! is my wife gone forth? whither, for hea

ven's sake?

Bridg. I know not, sir.

Well, I'll tell you, brother, whither I suspect she's gone Kite Whither, good brother?

Vell. To Cob's house, I believe. But keep my counsel. Kite. I will, I will-To Cob's house! Does she haunt there?

She's gone on purpose now to cuckold me
With that lewd rascal who to win her favour,
Hath told her all-Why wou'd you let her go?
Well. Because she's not my wife; if she were,
her to her tether.

I'd keep

Kite. So, so; now 'tis too plain-I shall go mad With my misfortunes; now they pour in torrents: I am bruted by my wife, betray'd by my servant, Mock'd at by my relations, pointed at by my neighbours, Despis'd by myself.there is nothing left now But to revenge myself.first, next hang myself.; And then-all my cares will be over.

[Exit.

Bridg. He storms inost loudly; sure you have gone too far in this.

Well. 'Twill all end right, depend upon't

16

But let us

llase

lose no time; the coast is clear; away, away; the affair is worth it, and cries haste.

Bridg. I trust me to your guidance, brother; and so fortune for us.

ACT. V. SCENE I.

Stocks-markt.

Enter MATTHEW, and BOBADIL

MATTHEW.

[Exeunt.

WONDER, captain, what they will say of my going

I away? ha?

Bob. Why, what should they say? but as of a discreet gentleman? quick, wary, respectful of nature's fair lineaments: and that's all,

Mat. Why so! but what can they say of your beating? Bob. A rude part, a touch with soft wood, a kind of gross battery us'd, lain on strongly, born most patiently: and that's all. But wherefore do I wake this remembrance? I was fascinated, by Jupiter! fascinated: but I will be unwitched and reveng'd by law.

Mat. Do you hear? i'st not best to get a warrant and have him arrested, and brought before justice Clement ? Bob, It were not amiss, would we had it!

Mat. Why here comes his man, let's speak to him,
Bob. Agreed: do you speak.

Enter BRAIN-WORM as Formal.

Mat. Save you, sir.

Brain. With all my heart, sir.

Mat. Sir, there is one Down-right, hath abus'd this gentieman and myself, and we determine to make ourselves amends by law; now, if you would do us the favour to procure a warrant to bring him before your master, you shall be well considered of, I assure you, sir.

Brain. Sir, you know my service is my living, sucli favours as these, gotten of my master, is his only preferment, and therefore, you must consider me, as I may make benefit of my place.

Mat. How is that, sir?