Lurc. And I too,

And bless the time I had so wise a sister!
Wert thou the Little Thief?

Alathe. I stole the contract,

I must confess, and kept it to myself;
It most concern'd me.

Hearth. Contracted? this destroys
His after-marriage.

Maria. Dare you give this hand

fit. To this young gentleman ? my heart goes with Alg. Maria alive? how my heart's exalted! Tis my duty: [all joys Take her, Frank Heartlove, take her; and With her; besides some land t' advance her jointure! [blessings crown ye!

Lady. What I have is your own; and
Heartl. Give me room,

And fresh air to consider, gentlemen

My hopes are too high.

Maria. Be more temperate,

Or I'll be Welsh again!
Alg. A day of wonder!

Alathe. Lady, your love! I ha' kept my
word; there was

[hate you, A time, when my much suffering made me And to that end I did my best to cross you; And hearing you were dead, I stole your coffin, That you might never more usurp my office. Many more knacks I did, which at the weddings

Shall be told of as harmless tales 42. [Shout within.

Enter Wildbrain

Wildb. Hollow your throats apieces! I'm at home;

If you can roar me out again-
Lady. What thing is this?

Lurc. A continent of fleas : room for the pageant!

Make room afore there! Your kinsman, madam.

Lady. My kinsman? let me wonder!
Wildb. Do, and

I'll wonder too, to see this company
At peace one with another.
Maria. 'Tis not worth

Your admiration; I was never dead yet43.
Wildb. You're merry, aunt, I see, and all

your company:

If ye be not, I'll fool up, and provoke ye; I will do any thing to get your love again: I'll forswear midnight, taverns, and tempta tions; [maids

Give good example to your grooms; the
Shall go to bed, and take their rest this year;
None shall appear with blisters in their bellies.
Lurc. And, when you'll fool again, you
may go ring.

Wildb. Madam, have mercy!
Lady. Your submission, sir,

I gladly take (we will

Enquire the reason of this habit afterwards), Now you are soundly sham'd; well, we

restore you.

Where's Toby? where's the coachman ?

Nurse. He's a-bed, madam,
And has an ague, he says.
Lurc. I'll be his physician.
Lady. We must afoot then.
Lurc. Ere the priest ha' done,

Toby shall wait upon you with his coach, And make your Flanders mares dance back again wi' ye,

I warrant you, madam.-You are mortified;
Your suit shall be granted too.

Wildb. Make, make room afore there!
Lady. Home forward with glad hearts!
Maria. I wait you.
[home, child.

Heartl. On joyfully!-The cure of all our grief,

Is owing to this pretty Little Thief.

[Exeunt omnes.

43 'Tis not worth

THE

As we Portugals, or th' Spaniards, do in riding, In managing a great horse, (which is princely) The French in courtship, or the dancing English

In carrying a fair presence.

Pedro. He was strangely taken;

But where no faith is, there's no trust; h' has paid for't.

His sister yet, the fair and great Quisara,
Has shew'd a noble mind, and much love in't
To her afflicted brother; and the nobler
Still it appears, and seasons of more tender-

ness,

Because his ruin stiles her absolute,

And his imprisonment adds to her profit. Feeling all this, which makes all men admire her, [her,

The warm beams of this fortune that fall on Yet she has made divers and noble treaties, And propositions for her brother's freedom, If wealth or honour

Pin. Peace, peace! you are fool'd, sir: Things of these natures have strange outsides, Pedro,

And cunning shadows, set 'em far from us; Draw 'em but near, they're gross, and they abuse us : [ture,

They that observe her close shall find her naWhich, I doubt mainly, will not prove so excellent.

She is a princess, and she must be fair,
That's the prerogative of being royal;
Let her want eyes and nose, she must be
beauteous,

And she must know it too, and the use of it, And people must believe it, they are damn'd else:

[her.

Why, all the neighbour princes are mad for Chris. Is she not fair then?

Pin. But her hopes are fairer.

And there's a haughty master, the king of Bakam,

That lofty sir, that speaks farmore and louder, In his own commendations, than a cannon; He is strucken dumb with her.

Pedro. Beshrew me, she is a sweet one. Pin. And there's that hopeful man of Sy

ana,

That sprightly fellow, he that's wise and temHe is a lover too.

[perate, Chris. 'Would I were worth her looking! For, by my life, I hold her a complete one: The very sun, I think, affects her sweetness, And dares not, as he does to all else, dye it Into his tawny livery.

Pin. She dares not see him,

But keeps herself at distance from his kisses, And her complexion in a case3: let him but like it [a lion.

A week 4, or two, or three, she would look like But the main sport on't is, or rather wonder, The governor of Ternata, her mortal enemy, He that has catch'd her brother-king, is struck too,

And is arriv'd under safe conduct also, And hostages of worth deliver❜d for him; And he brought a letter from his prisoner 5, (Whether compell'd, or willingly deliver'd) From the poor king; or what else dare be in'tChris. So it be honourable, any thing, 'tis all one;

For I dare think she'll do the best.

Pin. 'Tis certain

He has admittance, and solicits hourly. Now if we have the trick

Pedro. What trick?

Pin. The true one,

[fowling,

To take her too: if he be but skill'd in batAnd lime his bush right

Chris. I'll be hang'd when that hits; For 'tis not a compell'd or forc'd affection That must take her: I guess her stout and virtuous.

[tain, But where's your uncle, sir, our valiant capThe brave Ruy Dias, all this while?

Pin. Ay, marry,
He is amongst 'em too.
Pedro. A lover?
Pin. Nay,

I know not that; but sure he stands in fa

Sympson.

H'has

H' has stolen at all hours from us, and how readily

[well H' has feign'd a business to bid the fort fareFor five or six days, or a month together! Sure there is something

Pin. Yes, yes, there's a thing in't, [after it, A thing would make the best on's all dance A dainty thing! Lord, how this uncle of mine Has read to me, and rated me for wenching, And told me in what desperate case 'twould leave me,

And how 'twould stew my bones

Pedro. You car'd not for it.

[easily,

Pin. I' faith, not much; I ventur'd on still And took my chance; danger's a soldier's honour. [Dias, But that this man, this herb of grace, Ruy This father of our faculties, should slip thus! (For sure he is a-ferreting) that he [rit, That would drink nothing, to depress the spiBut milk and water, eat nothing but thin air, To make his blood obedient; that his youth, In spite of all his temperance, should tickle, And have a love-mange on himChris. 'Tis in him, sir, [rank too. But honourable courtship, and becomes his Pin. In me it were abominable lechery, or would be; [their level,

For when our thoughts are on't, and miss We must hit something.

Pedro. Well, he's a noble gentleman; And, if he be a suitor, may he speed in't! Pin. Let him alone; our family ne'er fail'd yet.

[niero. Chris. Our mad lieutenant still, merry PiThus would he do, if the surgeon were searching of him. [shot him. Pedro. Especially if a warm wench had Pin. But hark, Christophero; come hither, Pedro ; [sia, When saw you our brave countryman, ArmuHe that's arriv'd here lately, and his gallants? A goodly fellow, and a brave companion Methink he is, and no doubt truly valiant; For he that dares come hither dares fight any where. [tleman

Chris. I saw him not of late. A sober genI'm sure he is; and no doubt bravely sprung, And promises much nobleness.

Pin. I love hin,

[him. And by my troth would fain be inward with Pray let's go seek him.

Pedro. We'll attend you, sir.

Pin. By that time, we shall hear the burst of business. [Exeunt.

Enter Ruy Dias, Quisara, Quisana, and Pa

And the fair liberty you still allow me,
Both of your house and service. Tho' I be
A princess, and by that prerogative stand
free

From the poor malice of opinion,

And no ways bound to render up my actions, Because no power above me can examine me; Yet, my dear brother being still a prisoner, And many wandring eyes upon my ways, Being left alone a sea-mark, it behoves me To use a little caution, and be circumspect. Quisan. You're wise and noble, lady. Quisar. Often, aunt,

It

I resort hither, and privately to see you,
may be to converse with some I favour:
I would not have it known as oft, nor con-
It stands not with my care.

[stru'd;

Quisan. You speak most fairly;
For ev❜n our pure devotions are examin'd.
Quisar. So mad are men's minds now.
Ruy. Or rather monstrous;
They're thick dreams bred in fogs, that know
no fairness.
[yours, (pray use me)
Quisan. Madam, the house is yours, I'm
And at your service all I have lies prostrate;
My care shall ever be to yield you honour,
And, when your fame falls here, 'tis my fault,
lady.

A poor and simple banquet I've provided,
Which if you please to honour with

sence

your pre[you instantly. Quisar. I thank you, aunt! I shall be with A few words with this gentleman! Quisan. I'll leave you; [you. And when you please retire, I'll wait upon [Exeunt Quisan, and Pan. Quisar. Why, how now, captain? what, afraid to speak to me?

A man of arms, and daunted with a lady? Commanders have the power to parle with princes. [showr'd on me, Ruy. Madam, the favours you have still (Which are so bigh above my means of merit, So infinite, that nought can value 'em But their own goodness; no eyes look up

to 'em

But those that are of equal light and lustre)' Strike me thus mute! You are my royal mistress,

And all my services, that aim at honour,
Take life from you, the saint of my devotions.
Pardon my
wish! it is a fair ambition,
And well becomes the man that honours you:
I would I were of worth, of something near

you,

Of such a royal piece?! a king I would be, A mighty king that might command affection 8, And bring a youth upon me might bewitch you, And you a sweet-soul'd Christian.

command affection,

Quisar,

expression,