And she not yet appearing, his wise head
Is much perplex'd and troubl'd.
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, 90 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].1

Over. I shall sol fa you, rogue!

Mar.

Do you use me thus ? Over.

Sir, for what cause

95

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 hast slept in my cabinet these three

Remember,

Upon mere hope of your great match, I lent yea
A thousand pounds: 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 goal.
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 whol

estate,

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 chal lenge.

Over. I in thy debt! O impudence! did I not purchase

3 Clothes in pawn were said to be "laid up in lasse der."

And I am tame.

Willdo.

Married! Yes I assure you. 250 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 will1 be feasting! At least for a month

I am provided: empty guts, croak no more. 255
You shall be stuff'd like bagpipes, not with wind,
But bearing 2 dishes.
Over.

Instantly be here ? (Whispering to WILLDO.) To my wish! to my wish! Now you that plot against me,

And hop'd 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.

May yet be cool'd, sir.

Over.

This sudden heat

260

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, 265
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! 269
All. So I assure you; all the rites of marriage,
With every circumstance, are past. Alas! sir,
Although I am no lord, but a lord's
Your daughter and my lov'd wife mourns not
for it;
And, for right honourable son-in-law, you may

page,

Over.
Devil! are they married? 275
Willdo. Do a father's part, and say, "Heaven
give 'em joy !"

Over. Confusion and ruin! Speak, and speak quickly,

Or thou art dead.

Why this rage to me?

Is not this your letter, sir, and these the words?
Marry her to this gentleman."
Over.
It cannot
Nor will I e'er believe it; 'sdeath! I will not;
That I, that in all passages I 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
children,

Baff'd and fool'd, and all my hopes and labours
Defeated and made void.
As it appears,

Well.

You are so, my grave uncle.
Over.

Village nurses Revenge their wrongs with curses; I'll not

waste

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

L. All.

No scruple, madam. Mar.

His threats move me

Was it not a rare trick,

An it please your worship, to make the deed

nothing?

I can do twenty neater, if you please

Lov. Fear not, I am your guard.
Well.

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.

357

Why, is not the whole world Included in myself? To what use then Are friends and servants? Say there were a squadron

Of pikes, lin'd through with shot, when I am mounted

Upon my injuries, shall I fear to charge 'em?
No: I'll through the battalia, and, that routed,
Flourishing his sword sheathed.2
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,
Glu'd to my scabbard with wrong'd orphans'

tears,

362

305

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 369

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

385

Be it good or ill in law, I'll be an umpire
Between you, and this, th' undoubted heir
Of Sir Giles Overreach. For me, here's the
anchor
That I must fix on.