Meer-craft, Engine, Wittipol.

Meer. How goes the cry?
Eng. Excellent well!
Meer. Will't do?

Where's Robinson?

Eng. Here is the gentleman, sir,

Will undertake't himself. I have acquainted him. ·

Meer. Why did you so?

Eng. Why, Robinson would ha' told him, You know. And he's a pleasant wit! will hurt [nion, Nothing you purpose. Then he's of opiThat Robinson might want audacity, She being such a gallant. Now, he has been In Spain, and knows the fashions there; and [leave much

can

Discourse; and being but mirth, (he says) To his care.

Meer. But he is too tall!

[He excepts at his stature.

Eng. For that, He has the bravest device (you'll love him for't)

To say, he wears Cioppinos? and they do so
In Spain. And Robinson's as tall as be.
Meer. Is he so?
Eng. Every jot.

Meer. Nay, I had rather

To trust a gentleman with it o' the two. Eng. Pray you to go to him then, sir, and salute him. [quainted you Meer. Sir, my friend Engine has acWith a strange business here.

Wit. A merry one, sir.

The duke of Drown'd-land and his dutchess?
Meer. Yes, sir.

Now that the conjurers ha' laid him by,
I ha' made bold to borrow him a while.
Wit. With purpose, yet, to put him out, I
hope,

To his best use?

Meer. Yes, sir.

Wit. For that small part

That I am trusted with, put off your care:
I would not lose to do it, for the mirth
Will follow of it; and well, I have a fancy.
Meer. Sir, that will make it well.
Wit. You will report it so.
Where must I have my dressing?
Eng. At my house, sir.

Meer. You shall have caution, sir, for
what he yields,

To six-pence.

[sir,

Wit. You shall pardon me. I will share, I' your sports only, nothing i' your purchase. But you must furnish me with compliments, To th' manner of Spain; my coach, my guarda-duenna's. [I must, Meer. Engine's your provedore. But, sir, (Now I have ent'red trust wi' you thus far) Secure still i' your quality, acquaint you With somewhat beyond this. The place design'd

To be the scene for this our merry matter, Because it must have countenance of women To draw discourse, and offer it, is here by, At the lady Tail-bush's.

Wit. I know her, sir, And her gentleman-usher. Meer. Mr. Ambler! Wit. Yes, sir.

Meer. Sir, it shall be no shame to me, to

confess

[acres, To you, that we poor gentlemen that want Must for our needs turn fools up, and plough ladies [this Sometime, to try what glebe they are: and Is no unfruitful piece. She and I now Are on a project, for the fact, and venting Of a new kind of fucus (paint for ladies) To serve the kingdom: wherein she herself Hath travel'd, specially, by way of service Unto her sex, and hopes to get the monopoly, As the reward of her invention.

Wit. What is her end in this? Meer. Merely ambition, Sir, to grow great, and court it with the secret, [dealing Though she pretend some other. For, she's Already upon caution for the shares, And Mr. Ambler he is nam'd examiner For the ingredients, and the register Of what is vented, and shall keep the office. Now, if she break with you, of this (as I Must make the leading thread to your ac

quaintance,

That, how experience gotten i' your being
Abroad, will help our business) think of some
Pretty additions; but to keep her floating:
It may be she will offer you a part:
Any strange names of-

Wit. Sir, I have my instructions.
Is it not high time to be making ready?
Meer. Yes, sir.

Eng. The fool's in sight, Dottrel.
Meer. Away then.

SCENE V.

Meer-craft, Fitz-dottrel, Pug.

Meer. Return'd so soon?

Fit. Yes, here's the ring: I ha' seal'd. But there's not so much gold in all the row, he says

Till't come fro' the mint. 'Tis ta'en up for the gamesters.

Meer. There's a shop-shift! plague on 'em! Fit. He does swear it.

Meer. He'll swear and forswear too, it is his trade,

You should not have left him.

Fit. 'Slid, I can go back,

And beat him yet.

Meer. No, now let him alone.

Fit. I was so earnest after the main business, To have this ring gone.

Meer. True, and it is time.

[ship eats

I have learn'd, sir, sin' you went, her ladyWith the lady Tail-bush, here hard by.

[He shows him his Pug. Fit. Devil! how like you him, sir? Pace, go a little,

Let's see you move.

Meer. He'll serve, sir; give it him, And let him go along with me, I'll help To present him and it.

Fit. Look you do, sirrah, Discharge this well, as you expect your place. D' you hear, go on, come off with all your honours. [Gives him instructions.

I would fain see him do it.

Meer. Trust him with it. Fit. Remember kissing of your hand, and answering [body. With the French time, and flexure of your I could now so instruct him--and for his

words

(I'll call you so in private still) and take Your lordship i' your mind. You were, sweet lord,

[He puts him in mind of his quarrel. In talk to bring a business to the office. Fit. Yes. [yourself, Meer. Why should not you, sir, carry it o Before the office be up? and shew the world You had no need of any man's direction, In point, sir, of sufficiency? I speak Against a kinsman, but as one that tenders Your grace's good.

Fit. I thank you; to proceed

Meer. To publications: ha' your deed
drawn presently,

And leave me a blank to put in your feoffees,
One, two, or more, as you see cause—
Fit. I thank you

I

Heartily, I do thank you. Not a word more,
pray you, as you love me. Let me alone.
That I could not think o' this as well as he?
O, I could beat my infinite blockhead!-
He is angry with himself.
Meer. Come, we must this way.
Pug. How far is't?

Meer. Hard by here,

Over the way. Now, to atchieve this ring From this same fellow, that is, to assure it,

[He thinks how to cozen the bearer of the

ring.

Before he give it. Though my Spanish lady
Be a young gentleman of means, and scorn
To share, as he doth say, I do not know
How such a toy may tempt his ladyship,
And therefore I think best it be assur’d.

Pug. Sir, be the ladies brave we go unto?
Meer. O, yes.

Pug. And shall I see 'em, and speak to 'em? Meer. What else? ha' you your false beard about you, Trains?

[Questions his man. Tra. Yes. [clokes? Meer. And is this one of your double Tra. The best of 'em.

Meer. Be ready then. Sweet Pitfall!

Pug. There 'tis.
Will you be foolish, Pit?

Pit. This is strange rudeness.
Pug. Dear Pit.

Pit. I'll call, I swear.

[Meer-craft follows presently and asks for it. Meer. Where are you, sir?

Is your ring ready? Go with me.
Pug. I sent it you.

Meer. Me? when? by whom?
Pug. A fellow here, e'en now,
Came for't i' your name.

Meer. I sent none, sure.

My meaning ever was, you should deliver it Yourself: so was your master's charge, you know.

Enter Trains as himself again. What fellow was it, do you know him? Pug. Here,

But now, he had it.

Meer. Saw you any, Trains?
Tra. Not I.

Pug. The gentlewoman saw him.
Meer. Enquire.

Pug. I was so earnest upon her, I mark'd

not!

That

[Meer-craft accuseth him of negligence. you should be so rechless. What will you do, sir? [question'd? How will you answer this, when you are Pug. Run from my flesh, if I could: put off mankind.

This's such a scorn! and will be a new exercise [cudgels For my arch-duke! woe to the several Must suffer on this back! can you no suc cours, sir? [He asketh aid. Meer. Alas! the use of it is so present. Pug. I ask,

Sir, credit for another but till to-morrow. Meer. There is not so much time, sir; but however,

The lady is a noble lady, and will

(To save a gentleman from check) be entreated

[Meer-craft promiseth faintly, yet comforta

him.

To say, she has receiv'd it, Pug. Do you think so? Will she be won?

him?

Meer. No doubt, to such an office,
It will be a lady's bravery and her pride.
Pug. And not be known on't after, unto
[word,
Meer. That were a treachery! upon my
Be confident. Return unto your master.
My lady president sits this afternoon,
Has ta'en the ring, commends her services
Unto your lady dutchess. You may say
She is a civil lady, and does give her
All her respects already: bade you tell her
She lives but to receive her wish'd com
mandments,

And have the honour here to kiss her hands,
For which she'll stay this hour yet. Hasten
you
Your prince, away.

Pug. And, sir, you will take care
Th' excuse be perfect?

Meer. You confess your fears.

Too much.

The Devil is doubtful.

Pug. The shame is more.

Meer. I'll quit you of either."

SCENE I.

Tail-bush, Meer-craft, Manly.

Man. Let me pray your ladyship. Lay your commands on me some other time. Tai. Now, I protest; and I will have all piec'd

And friends again.

Man. It will be but ill solder'd!

Tai. You are too much affected with it.
Man. I cannot,

Madam, but think on't for the injustice.
Tai. Sir,

His kinsman here is sorry.

Meer. Not I, madam,

I am no kin to him, we but call cousins;
[Meer-craft denies him.
And if we were, sir, I have no relation
Unto his crimes.

Man. You are not urged with 'em. I can accuse, sir, none but mine own judg ment;

For though it were his crime, so to betray me, I'm sure, 'twas more mine own, at all to trust him:

But he therein did use but his old manners, And savour strongly what he was before. Tai. Come, he will change.

Man. Faith, I must never think it. Nor were it reason in me to expect, That, for my sake, he should put off a na[madam, He suck'd in with his milk. It may be, Deceiving trust is all he has to trust to:

ture

If so, I shall be loth, that any hope
Of mine should bate him of his means.
Tai. Y'are sharp, sir.

This act may make him honest!
Man. If he were

To be made honest by an act of parliament,
I should not alter i' my faith of him.

Tui. Either-side!

Welcome, dear Either side! how hast thou done, good wench?

[She spies the lady Either-side.

Thou hast been a stranger! I ha' not seen thee this week.

swear,

Wear every month a new gown out of it.
Eith. Thank you, good madam.
Tai. Pray thee call me Tail-bush,
As I thee Either-side; I love not this madam.
Eith. Then I protest to you, Tail-bush, I
am glad

Your business so succeeds.

Tai. Thank thee, good Either-side.

Eith. But master Either-side tells me, that
he likes

Your other business better.
Tai. Which?

Eith. O' the tooth-picks.
Tai. I never heard on't.
Eith. Ask Mr. Meer-craft.

Meer. Madam?. H'is one, in a word, I'll
trust his malice,

With any man's credit, I would have abus'd! [Meer-craft hath whisper'd with him the while. [in this,

Man. Sir, if you think you do please me You are deceiv'd.

Meer. No, but because my lady Nam'd him my kinsman; I would satisfy you What I think of him: and pray you upon it To judge me.

Man. So I do that ill men's friendship Is as unfaithful as themselves.

Printed, to teach their use, which every child Shall have throughout the kingdom, that can read, [ginning And learn to pick his teeth by. Which beEarly to practise, with some other rules, Of never sleeping with the mouth open, chewing [breath Some grains of mastich, will preserve the Pure and so free from taint-Ha' what is't, say'st thou ?

[Trains his man whispers him. Tai. Good faith, it sounds a very pretty business!

Eith. So Mr. Either-side says, madam.
Meer. The lady is come. [Ambler
Tai. Is she? good, wait upon her in. My
Was never so ill absent. Either-side,
How do I look to-day? am I not drest
Spruntly?
She looks in her glass.

Fit. Yes verily, madam.
Tai. Pox o' madam,

Will you

not leave that?

Eith. Yes, good Tail-bush.

Tai. So:

come

[Wutipol drest like a Spanish lady. Meer. Here is a noble lady, madam, [ladyship, From your great friends at court, to see your And have the honour of your acquaintance. Tai. Sir,

She does us honour.

Wit. Pray you, say to her ladyship, It is the manner of Spain to embrace only, Never to kiss. She will excuse the custom. [Excuses himself for not kissing. Tai. Your use of it is law. Please you, sweet madam,

To take a seat.

Wit. Yes, madam. I have had The favour, through a world of fair report, To know your virtues, inadam; and in that Name, have desir'd the happiness of pre

senting

My service to your ladyship. Tai. Your love, madam,

I must not own it else.

Wit. Both are due, madam,