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 house, but missing you,
And she not appearing, his wise head
Is much perplex'd and troubled.

Lov. It may be,

Sweetheart, my project took.

L. All. I strongly hope.

Over. [within.] Ha! find her, booby, thou huge lump of nothing,

I'll bore thine eyes out else.

Well. May it please your lordship,

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.

[Steps aside.

Enter OVERREACH, with distracted looks, driving in MARRALL before him, with a box.

Over. I shall sol fa you, rogue!
Mar. Sir, for what cause

Do you use me thus?

Over. 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. I may yet cry quittance,
Though now I suffer, and dare not resist.

[Aside.

Over. 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 them joy;
And, as an entrance to her place of honour,
See your ladyship on her left hand, and make
curtseys

When she nods on you; which you must receive
As a special favour.

L. All. When I know, Sir Giles,

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

I give you to understand, I neither know

Nor care where her honour is.

Over. When you once see her

Supported, and led by the lord her husband,
You'll be better taught.-Nephew!

Well. Sir.

Over. No more!

Well. "Tis all I owe you.

Over. Have your redeem'd rags

Made you thus insolent?

Well. Insolent to you!

Why, what are you, sir, unless in your years, At the best, more than myself?

Over. His fortune swells him:

'Tis rank, he's married.

L. All. This is excellent!

[Aside.

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 me,

And therefore do not trifle.

Well. Can you be

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?

Over. 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

[Aside to WELLBORN.

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 a thousand pounds, 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. Over. I in thy debt! Oh impudence! did I not purchase

The land left by thy father, that rich land,
That had continued in Wellborn's name

Twenty descents; which, like a riotous fool,

Thou didst make sale of? Is not here, enclosed,

The deed that does confirm it mine?

Mar. Now, now!

Well. I do acknowledge none; I ne'er pass'd

over

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.

L. All. In my judgment,
He does advise you well.

Over. Good! good! conspire

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

1 lavender robes-ie. your clothes which have just been redeemed out of pawn. To lay a thing in lavender was a common phrase for pawning it.-Gifford.

This manor is extended to my use,

Come nearer to you; when I have discover'd,

L. All. Never: do not hope it.

Well. Let despair first seize me.

Over. 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

[Opens the box, and displays the bond. Thy ears to the pillory, see! here's that will make My interest clear-ha!

L. All. A fair skin of parchment.

Well. Indented, I confess, and labels too; But neither wax nor words.

struck?

How! thunder

My wise uncle,

Not a syllable to insult with?
Is this your precious evidence, this that makes
Your interest clear?

Over. I am o'erwhelmed with wonder!
What prodigy is this? what subtle devil
Hath razed out the inscription? the wax
Turn'd into dust!-the rest of my deeds whole,
As when they were deliver'd, and this only
Made nothing! Do you deal with witches, rascal?
There is a statute for you, which will bring
Your neck in an hempen circle; yes, there is;
And now 'tis better thought for, cheater, know
This juggling shall not save you.

Well. To save thee,

Would beggar the stock of mercy. Over. Marrall!

Mar. Sir.

I know no deeds.

Over. Wilt thou betray me?

Mar. Keep him

From using of his hands, I'll use my tongue,

To his no little torment.

Over. Mine own varlet

Rebel against me!

Mar. Yes, and uncase you too.

The idiot, the Patch, the slave, the booby,
The property fit only to be beaten

For your morning exercise, your football, or
The unprofitable lump of flesh, your drudge,
Can now anatomize you, and lay open
All your black plots, and level with the earth
Your hill of pride: and, with these gabions
guarded,

Unload my great artillery, and shake,

Nay pulverize, the walls you think defend you. L. All. How he foams at the mouth with rage! Well. To him again.

Over. Oh that I had thee in my gripe, I would

tear thee

Joint after joint!

Mar. I know you are a tearer.

But I'll have first your fangs pared off, and then

extended-seized.-GIFFord.

And devilish practices, you used to cozen with
An army of whole families, who yet alive,
And but enroll'd for soldiers, were able
To take in Dunkirk.

Well. All will come out.

L. All. The better.

You dare do any ill, yet want true valour
To be honest, and repent.

Over. They are words I know not,
Nor e'er will learn. Patience, the beggar's virtue,

Enter GREEDY and PARSON WILLDO. Shall find no harbour here:-after these storms At length a calm appears. Welcome, most welcome!

There's comfort in thy looks; is the deed done? Is my daughter married? say but so, my chaplain,

And I am tame.

Willdo. Married! yes, I assure you.

Over. Then vanish all sad thoughts! there's more gold for thee.

My doubts and fears are in the titles drown'd
Of my honourable, my right honourable daughter.
Greedy. Here will be feasting! at least for a
month,

I am provided. Empty guts, croak no more,
You shall be stuff'd like bagpipes, not with wind,
But bearing dishes.

Over. Instantly be here?

[Whispering to WILLDO. To my wish! to my wish! Now you that plot

against me,

And hope to trip my heels up, that contemn'd me, Think on't and tremble:-[Loud music]-they come! I hear the music.

A lane there for my lord!

Well. This sudden heat

May yet be cool'd, sir.

Over. Make way there for my lord!

Enter ALLWORTH and MARGARET.

Marg. Sir, first your pardon, then your blessing, with

Your full allowance of the choice I have made. As ever you could make use of your reason,

[Kneeling.

Grow not in passion; since you may as well
Call back the day that's past, as untie the knot
Which is too strongly fasten'd: not to dwell
Too long on words, this is my husband.
Over. How!

All. So I assure you; all the rights of marriage,
With every circumstance, are past. Alas! sir,
Although I am no lord, but a lord's page,
Your daughter and my loved wife mourns not
for it;

1 bearing-portly, solid, substantial.-GIFFORD.

Nor will I e'er believe it, 'sdeath! I will not;
That I, that, in all passages 1 touch'd
At worldly profit, have not left a print
Where I have trod, for the most curious search
To trace my footsteps, should be gull'd by chil-
dren,

Baffled and fool'd, and all my hopes and labours
Defeated, and made void.

Well. As it appears,.

You are so, my grave uncle.

Over. Village nurses

I can do twenty neater, if you please
To purchase and grow rich; for I will be
Such a solicitor and steward for you,
As never worshipful had.

Well. I do believe thee;

But first discover the quaint means you used
To raze out the conveyance?

Mar. They are mysteries

Not to be spoke in public: certain minerals
Incorporated in the ink and wax.—

Besides, he gave me nothing, but still fed me With hopes and blows; and that was the inducement

To this conundrum. If it please your worship
To call to memory, this mad beast once caused ine
To urge you, or to drown or hang yourself;
I'll do the like to him if you command me.

Well. You are a rascal! he that dares be false
To a master, though unjust, will ne'er be true
To any other. Look not for reward

Or favour from me; I will shun thy sight
As I would do a basilisk's; thank my pity,

If thou keep thy ears; howe'er, I will take order
Your practice will be silenced.

A syllable, but thus I take the life Which, wretched, I gave to thee.

[Attempts to kill MARGARET.

Lov. [coming forward.] Hold, for your own sake!

Though charity to your daughter hath quite left

you,

Will you do an act, though in your hopes lost here,

Can leave no hope for peace or rest hereafter?
Consider; at the best you are but a man,
And cannot so create your aims, but that
They may be cross'd.

Over. Lord! thus I spit at thee,

And at thy counsel; and again desire thee,

And as thou art a soldier, if thy valour

Dares show itself, where multitude and example

Lead not the way, let's quit the house, and change Six words in private.

Lov. I am ready.

L. All. Stay, sir,

Contest with one distracted!

Well. You'll grow like him,

Should you answer his vain challenge.
Over. Are you pale?

Borrow his help, though Hercules call it odds,
I'll stand against both as I am, hemm'd in thus.-
Since, like a Libyan lion in the toil,

My fury cannot reach the coward hunters,
And only spends itself, I'll quit the place:
Alone I can do nothing; but I have servants,
And friends to second me; and if I make not
This house a heap of ashes (by my wrongs,
What I have spoke I will make good!) or leave
One throat uncut,-if it be possible,
Hell, add to my afflictions!

Mar. Is't not brave sport?

[Exit.

Greedy. Brave sport! I am sure it has ta'en away my stomach;

I do not like the sauce.

All. Nay, weep not, dearest,

Though it express your pity; what's decreed
Above, we cannot alter.

L. All. His threats move me

No scruple, madam.

Mar. Was it not a rare trick,

An it please your worship, to make the deed

nothing?

Ord. Take this kick with you.

Amb. And this.

Furn. If that I had my cleaver here,

I would divide your knave's head.
Mar. This is the haven

False servants still arrive at.

Re-enter OVERREACII.

L. All. Come again!

Lov. Fear not, I am your guard. Well. His looks are ghastly.

[Exit.

Willdo. Some little time I have spent, under your favours,

In physical studies, and if my judgment err not, He's mad beyond recovery; but observe him, And look to yourselves.

Over. Why, is not the whole world Included in myself? to what use then

Are friends and servants? Say there were a squadron

Of pikes, lined through with shot, when I am mounted

Upon my injuries, shall I fear to charge them?
No: I'll through the battalia, and that routed,
[Flourishing his sword sheathed.

I'll fall to execution.-Ha! I am feeble:
Some undone widow sits upon mine arm,
And takes away the use of't; and my sword,
Glued to my scabbard with wrong'd orphans' tears,
Will not be drawn. Ha! what are these? sure,
hangmen,

That come to bind my hands, and then to drag me Before the judgment-seat: now they are new shapes,

And do appear like Furies, with steel whips
To scourge my ulcerous soul. Shall I then fall
Ingloriously, and yield? no; spite of Fate,
I will be forced to hell like to myself.
Though you were legions of accursed spirits,
Thus would I fly among you.

[Rushes forward, and flings himself on the
ground.

Well. There's no help;

Disarm him first, then bind him.

Greedy. Take a mittimus,

And carry him to Bedlam.

Lov. How he foams!

Well. And bites the earth!

Willdo. Carry him to some dark room, There try what art can do for his recovery. Marg. Oh my dear father!

[They force OVERREACH off. All. You must be patient, mistress. Lov. Here is a precedent to teach wicked men, That when they leave religion, and turn atheists. Their own abilities leave them. Pray you take comfort,

I will endeavour you shall be his guardians
In his distractions; and for your land, Master
Wellborn,

Be it good or ill in law, I'll be an umpire
Between you, and this, the undoubted heir

Of Sir Giles Overreach; for me, here's the anchor
That I must fix on.

All. What you shall determine,` My lord, I will allow of.

Well. 'Tis the language

That I speak too; but there is something else
Beside the repossession of my land,

And payment of my debts, that I must practise.
I had a reputation, but 'twas lost

In my loose course; and until I redeem it Some noble way, I am but half made up. It is a time of action; if your lordship Will please to confer a company upon me,

In

your command, I doubt not, in my service To my king and country, but I shall do something That may make me right again.

Lov. Your suit is granted,

And you loved for the motion.

Well. [coming forward.] Nothing wants then But your allowance1-and in that our all Is comprehended; it being known, nor we, Nor he that wrote the comedy, can be free, Without your manumission; which if you Grant willingly, as a fair favour due To the poet's, and our labours (as you may), For we despair not, gentlemen, of the play: We jointly shall profess your grace hath might To teach us action, and him how to write.

1 allowance-approval.

[Exeunt.