Pleasure attend ye! and about ye sit

The springs of mirth, fancy, delight, and wit,
To stir ye up! Do not your looks let fall,
Nor to remembrance our late errors call,
Because this day we're Spaniards all again,
The story of our play, and our scene Spain :
The errors too, do not for this cause hate;
Now we present their wit, and not their state.
Nor, ladies, be not angry, if you see

A young fresh beauty, wanton, and too free,
Seek to abuse her husband; still 'tis Spain;
No such gross errors in your kingdom reign:
Y're vestals all, and tho' we blow the fire,
We seldom make it flame up to desire;

SCENE I.-VALLADOLID. The Lodgings of JUAN DE CASTRO.

Enter JUAN DE CASTRO, and Michael Perez,
Perez. Are your companies full, colonel ?
Juan. No, uot yet, sir;

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

Perez. We pick up still,

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 unexperienced :

The wars are dainty dreams to young hot spirits;
Time and experience will allay those visions.
We have strange things to fill our numbers:
There's one Don Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Recommended to me from some noble friends,
For my Alferez; had you but seen his person,
And what a giant's promise it protesteth!

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, has 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 swear as valiantly as heart can wish,
Their mouths charged with six oaths at once, and
whole ones,

That make the drunken Dutch creep into molehills.

[things;

I've been i' th' Indies twice, and have seen strange
But, two honest women!- -One I read of once.
Juan. Pr'ythee, be modest.
Perez. I'll be anything!

Enter Servant, CLARA, and ESTIFANIA, veiled.
Juan. You're welcome, ladies.

Perez. Both hooded! I like 'em well tho'. They come not for advice in law sure hither!

May be they'd learn to raise the pike; I'm for 'em.

They're very modest; 'tis a fine preludium. [Aside. Juan. With me, or with this gentleman, would you speak, lady?

Clara. With you, sir, as I guess; Juan de
Castro.
[Unveils.

Perez. Her curtain opens; she's a pretty gentlewoman.

Juan. I am the man, and shall be bound to I may do any service to your beauties. [fortune, Clara. Captain, I hear you're marching down to To serve the Catholic king.

Juan. I am, sweet lady.

[Flanders,

Juan. I shall do it ;

I know the gentleman, a most worthy captain.
Clara. Something in private.
Juan. Step aside: I'll serve thee.

[Exeunt JUAN and CLARA,
Peres. Pr'ythee, let me see thy face.
Estif. Sir, you must pardon me:
Women of our sort, that maintain fair memories,
And keep suspect off from their chastities,
Had need wear thicker veils.

Perez. I am no blaster of a lady's beauty,
Nor bold intruder on her special favours;
I know how tender reputation is,

And with what guards it ought to be preserv'd, lady;
You may to me.

Estif. You must excuse me, signior;

I come not here to sell myself.
Perez. As I'm a gentleman!

By th' honour of a soldier!
Estif. I believe you;

[me;

I pray you be civil; I believe you'd see me,
And, when you've seen me, I believe you' like
But in a strange place, to a stranger too,
As if I came on purpose to betray you!
Indeed, I will not.

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

modesty

with your

--so deep, and taken

She will draw sure-[Aside.]

from me

All the desire I might bestow on others--
Quickly, before they come !

Estif. Indeed, I dare not:

But, since I see you're so desirous, sir,
To view a poor face that can merit nothing
But your repentance-

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.

[Whispers. [Exit.

But, I believe, well, and I hope 'tis handsome;
She had a hand would stir a holy hermit.
Juan. You know none of 'em?

Sanc. What, are you for the wars, Alonzo?
Alon. It may be ay,

It may be no; e'en as the humour takes me.
If I find peace among the female creatures,
And easy entertainment, I'll stay at home;
I'm not so far oblig'd yet to long marches
And mouldy biscuits, to run mad for honour.
When you're all gone, I have my choice before me.
Sanc. Of which hospital thou'lt sweat in. Wilt
Leave whoring?
[thou never
Alon. There is less danger in't than gunning,
Sanchio:

Tho' we be shot sometimes, the shot's not mortal;
Besides, it breaks no limbs.

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 per-
ceive 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 fears her youth will not hold out, Alonzo.
Alon. I would I had the sheathing on't.
Sanc. They say too

She has a greedy eye, that must be fed
With more than one man's meat.

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 sume.

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,
'Tis very she. She makes me a low court'sy.
Let me note the place; the street I will remember.
She's in again. Certain some noble lady :
[Exit ESTIFANIA into a house.
How happy should I be if she love my master!
A wondrous goodly house; here are brave lodgings,
And I shall sleep now like an emperor,
And eat abundantly. I thank my fortune!
I'll back with speed, and bring him happy tidings.

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?
Leon. None; they were above me.

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;

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'd 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,

In whom there was no truth; for which I beat thee, I beat thee much; now I will hurt thee danger

ously;

This shali 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! [Exit.

Alon. You've 'scap'd by miracle; there is not, in all Spain,

A spirit of more fury than this fire-drake.

Leon. I see he's hasty; and I'd give him leave
To beat me soundly, if he'd take my bond.
Juan. What shall I do with this fellow?
Alon. Turn him off:

He will infect the camp with cowardice,
If he go with thee.

Juan. About some week hence, sir,
If I can hit upon no abler officer,
You shall hear from me.

Leon. I desire no better.

[Excunt.