ACT V.

SCENE I.-The Hall in Lady Allworth's House.Table and four Chairs.-Screen R.-LOVELL and LADY ALLWORTH seated at Table.

Lady A. (R.) By this you know how strong the motives were,

That did, my lord, induce me to dispense

A little with my gravity, to advance

The plots and projects of the down-trod Wellborn.
Lov. (L.) What you intended, madam,

For the poor gentleman, hath found good success;
For, as I understand, his debts are paid,

And he once more furnish'd for fair employment;
But all the arts that I have us'd, to raise
The fortunes of your joy and mine, young Allworth,
Stand yet in supposition: though I hope well;
For the young lovers are in wit more pregnant
Than their years can promise.

Lady A. (R. c.) Though my wishes

[Both rise.

Are with yours, my lord: yet give me leave to fear
The building, though well-grounded. To deceive
Sir Giles, that's both a lion and a fox

In his proceedings, were a work beyond
The strongest undertakers; not the trial
Of two weak innocents.

Lov. (L. c.) Despair not, madam:

Hard things are compass'd oft by easy means.
The cunning statesman, that believes, he fathoms
The counsels of all kingdoms on the earth,
Is by simplicity oft over-reach'd.

Lady A. May he be so !

The young ones have my warmest wishes with them.
Lov. O, gentle lady, prove as kind to me!

You've deign'd to hear, now grant my honest suit;
And, if you may be won to make me happy,
But join your hand to mine, and that shall be
A solemn contract.

Lady A. I were blind to my own good,
Should I refuse it; yet, my lord, receive me
As such a one, the study of whose whole life
Shall know no other object but to please you.

.

Lov. If I return not, with all tenderness,
Equal respect to you, may I die wretched!
Lady A. There needs no protestation, my lord,
To her that cannot doubt.

Enter WELLBORN, L.

You're welcome, sir:

Now you look like yourself.

Well. (L. C.) And will continue

[Crosses to WELL.

Such, in my free acknowledgment that I am

Your creature, madam-and will never hold

My life mine own, when you please to command it.
Lov. (R. c.) It is a thankfulness that well becomes

you.

Lady A. (c.) For me, I am happy,

That my endeavours prosper'd.-Saw you of late
Sir Giles, your uncle?

Well. I heard of him, madam,

By his minister, Marrall. He's grown into strange passions

About his daughter: this last night, he look'd for
Your lordship at his home; but, missing you,

And Margaret not appearing, he is coming

To seek her here at Lady Allworth's house.
His wise head is much perplex'd and troubled.
Lov. I hope my project took.

Lady A. I strongly hope it.

Sir G. [Without.] Ha! find my daughter, thou huge lump of nothing,

I'll bore thine eyes out else.

Well. May it please your lordship, [Crosses to Lov. For some ends of mine own, but to withdraw

A little out of sight, though not of hearing,

You may, perhaps, have sport.

Lov. You shall direct me.

[Exit LOVELL, R. S. E.

Sir G. [Without.] Idiot! booby! booby!

Mar. [Without.] 0, 0, 0!

Sir G. [Without.] I shall sol-fa you, rogue!
Mar. [Without.] Sir, for what cause

Do you use me thus?

Enter SIR GILES, with distracted looks, driving in MARRALL before him, L.

Sir G. (c.) Cause slave? Why, I am angry, And thou a subject only fit for beating.

And so to cool my choler. Look to the writing :

Let but the seal be broke upon the box

That has slept in my cabinet these three years,
I'll rack thy soul for't.

Mar. (R. c.) [Aside.] I may yet cry quittance: Though now I suffer, and dare not resist.

Sir G. Lady, by your leave: did you see my daughter, lady?

And the lord her husband? Are they in your house?
If they are, discover, that I may bid 'em joy;
And, as an entrance to her place of honour,
See you, on her left hand, bending down low,
When she nods on you; which you must receive
As a special favour.

Lady A. When I know, Sir Giles,

Her state requires such ceremony, I shall pay it;
But, in the meantime,

I give you to understand, I neither know
Nor care where her honour is.

Sir G. When you once see her

Led and supported by the lord her husband,

You'll be taught better. [Crosses to WELL.]-NephewWell. Well?

Sir G. No more!

Well. 'Tis all I owe you.

Sir G. Have your redeem'd rags

Made you thus insolent?

Well. Insolent to you!

Why, what are you, sir, pray, unless in years,

More than myself?

Sir G. His fortune swells him :'Tis rank,-he's married.

[Crosses to L.

Sir, in calm language, though I seldom use it,

[Crosses to LADY ALLWORTH, ON L. I am familiar with the cause that makes you Bear up thus bravely; there's a certain buzz

Of a stolen marriage,-do you hear?-of a stolen marriage;

In which, 'tis said, there's somebody hath been cozen'd; I name no parties.

Well. (R.) Well, sir, and what follows?

[LADY ALLWORTH turns away in astonishment. Sir G. (c.) Marry this, since you are so peremptory; remember,

Upon mere hope of your great match, I lent you
Some certain monies; put me in good security,

And suddenly, by mortgage or by statute,

Of some of your new possessions, or I'll have you Dragg'd in your lavender robes to the gaol; you know

So cruel to your nephew, now he's in
The way to rise? Was this the courtesy
You did me, in pure love, and no ends else?

Sir G. End me no ends! Engage the whole estate, And force your spouse to sign it: you shall have Three or four thousand more, to roar and swagger, And revel in drunken taverns.

Well. And beg after

Mean you not so?

Sir G. My thoughts are mine and free. Shall I have security?

Well. No, indeed, you shall not:

Nor bond, nor bill, nor bare acknowledgment.

Your great looks fright not me.

Sir G. But my deeds shall.

Lady A. Help! murder! murder!

[They both draw.

Enter AMBLE, WATCHALL, ORDER, and two Servants with drawn Swords, R.

Well. Let him come on,

Arm'd with his cut-throat practices to guard him,
With all his wrongs and injuries about him,
The right that I bring with me will defend me,

And punish his extortion.

Sir G. That I had thee

But single in the field!

Lady A. You may; but make not

My house your quarrelling scene.
Sir G. Wer't in a church,

By heaven and hell, I'll do't.

[LADY ALLWORTH turns away.

Mar. [To WELLBORN] Now, put him to

The showing of the deed.

Well. This rage is vain, sir;

For fighting, fear not, you shall have your hands full
Upon the least incitement ;-and-whereas

You charge me with a debt of monies to you-
If there be law, howe'er you have no conscience,
Either restore my land, or I'll recover

A debt, that's truly due to me from you,

In value ten times more than what you challenge.

Sir G. I in thy debt: O impudence; did I not purchase The land left by thy father, that rich land That had continued in Wellborn's name,

Enter two of SIR GILES's Servants with a Box, L. Twenty descents, which, like a riotous fool,

Thou didst make sale of?-O, you're come at last.

Is not here inclos'd

The deed that does confirm it mine?

Mar. Now, now,—

[To Servants.

[LADY ALLWORTH advances. Well. I do acknowledge none; I ne'er pass'd o'er Any such land; I grant, for a year or two, You had it in trust; which if you do discharge, Surrendering the possession, you shall ease Yourself and me of chargeable suits in law; Which if you prove not honest, as I doubt it, Must of necessity follow.

Lady A. In my judgment, He does advise you well.

Sir G. Good, good! Conspire

With your new husband, lady; second him
In his dishonest practices: but, when

This manor is extended to my use,

You'll speak in an humbler key, and sue for favour.
Ludy A. Never; do not hope it.

Well. Let despair first seize me.

Sir G. Yet, to shut up thy mouth, and make thee give Thyself the lie, the loud lie, I draw out

The precious evidence; if thou canst forswear

Thy hand and seal, and make a forfeit of

Thy ears to the pillory-[Two servants place the box on the table, (L.) SIR GILES unlocks it, and takes out the Deed.]

See!-here's that will make

My interest clear.-Ha!

Lady A. (L. c.) [Looking over his shoulder] A fair

skin of parchment!

[Retreats to R. C. Well. (c.) Indented, I confess, and labels too;

But neither wax, nor words.-How? thunder-struck!
Is this your precious evidence? this, that makes
Your interest clear!

Sir G. (L.) I am overwhelm'd with wonder!
What prodigy is this? what subtle devil
Hath raz'd out the inscription? the wax
Turn'd into dust!-