Gar tred.

You talk ftrangely, fifter.

Joice.

Sifter, fifter, diffemble not with me, tho' you

do mean

to diffemble with your lover. Tho' you have protested to conceal your affection, by this tongue you fhall not; for I'll discover all as foon as I know the gentleman.

Discover! what will

Gartred.
you discover?
Joice.

Marry, enough, I'll warrant thee. First and foremost, I'll tell him thou read'ft love-paffions in print, and speakeft every morning without book to thy looking-glafs : next, that thou never fleepeft till an hour after the bellman; that, as foon as thou art afleep, thou art in a dream, and in a dream thou art the kindeft and comfortableft bedfellow for kiffings and embracings; by this hand, I cannot reft for thee; but our father

Enter Sir Lionel.

Sir Lionel.

How now! what are you two confulting on? on hufbands? You think you lose time, I am fure; but hold your own a little, girls; it fhall not be long ere I'll provide for you and for you, Gartred, I have bethought myself already.

Whirlpit, the ufurer, is late deceas'd;

A man of unknown wealth, which he has left
Unto a provident kinfman, as I hear,

That was once fervant to that unthrift Staines.

A prudent gentleman, they fay he is,

And, as I take it, called Mafter Bubble,

Yes, nimble-chaps; what fay you to that?

Foice.

Nothing; but that I wish his chriftian name were Wa

ter.

Gartred.

Gartred,

Sir, I'm at your difpofing; but my mind
Stands not as yet towards marriage.
Were you fo pleas'd, I would a little longer
Enjoy the quiet of a fingle bed.

Sir Lionel.

Here's the right trick of them all; let a man
Be motion'd to 'em, they could be content
To lead a fingle life, forfooth; when the harlots
Do pine and run into diseases,

Eat chalk and oat-meal, cry and creep in corners,
Which are manifeft tokens of their longings;
And yet they will diffemble. But, Gartred,
As you
do owe me reverence, and will pay it,
Prepare yourself to like this gentleman,
Who can maintain thee in thy choice of gowns,
Of tires, of fervants, and of coftly jewels;
Nay, for a need, out of his eafy nature,
May'ft draw him to the keeping of a coach 12
For country, and carroch for London;

Indeed, what might'ft thou not?

Enter a Servant.

Servant.

Sir, here's one come from Mr. Bubble, to invite you to the funeral of his uncle.

Sir Lionel.

Thank the meffenger, and make him drink,
Tell him, I will not fail to wait the corfe :
Yet ftay, I will go talk with him myself.
Gartred, think upon what I have told you;

And let me, ere it be long, receive your answer.

[Exeunt Sir Lionel and Servant.

12 coach carrocb.] See note 38 to Ram Alley, vol. 5. P. 475;

Gartred.

A cord! what to do?

Gartred.

Joice.

Why, to let thee out at the window. Do not I know that thou wilt run away with the gentleman, for whom you made the paffion, rather than endure this fame Bubble that my father talks of 'Twere good you would let me be of your counsel, left I break the neck of your plot. Gartred.

Sifter, know I love thee,

And I'll not think a thought thou shalt not know.

I love a gentleman, that answers me

In all the rights of love as faithfully;

Has woo'd me oft with fonnets and with tears;
Yet I seem still to flight him. Experience tells,
The jewel that's enjoy'd is not esteem'd;

Things hardly got, are always highest deem'd.

Joice.

You fay well, fifter; but it is not good to linger out too long; continuance of time will take away any man's ftomach in the world. I hope the next time that he comes to you, I fhall fee him.

You fhall.

Gartred.

Foice.

Why go to then, you fhall have my opinion of him; if he deserve thee, thou fhalt delay him no longer; for if you cannot find in your heart to tell him you love him, I'll figh it out for you. Come, we little creatures muft help

one another.

[Exeunt.

Enter Geraldine.

Geraldine.

How chearfully things look in this place!

'Tis always fpring-time here; fuch is the grace
And potency of her who has the blifs,

To make it ftill Elyfium where he is.
Nor doth the king of flames in's golden fires,
After a tempeft, answer men's defires,
When as he cafts his comfortable beams
Over the flowery fields and filver ftreams,

As

1

As her illuftrate beauty frikes in me,

And wraps my foul up to felicity.

Enter Gartred and Joice aloft.

Joice.

By my maidenhead, an oath which I ne'er took in vain, either go down and comfort him, or I'll call him up, and difclofe all. What, will you have no mercy? but let a proper man, that might spend the fpirit of his youth upon yourself, fall into a confumption ? for fhame, fifter!

Gartred. You are the strangeft creature me do ?

Foice.

what would you have

Marry, I would have you go to him, take him by thehand, and gripe him; fay, You are welcome, I love you with all my heart, you are the man must do the feat and take him about, the neck, and kiss upon the bargain.

Gartred.

Fie, how you talk! 'tis mere immodefty,

The common'ft ftrumpet would not do so much.

Foice.

Marry, the better; for fuch as are honest
Should ftill do what the common ftrumpet will not.
Speak, will you do it?

I'll lose his company

Gartred.

for ever firft.

Foice.

Do you hear, fir? here is a gentlewoman would fpeak with you.

Why, fifter

Gartred.

; pray, fifter

Foice.

One that loves you with all her heart, yet is afham'd to confefs it.

Gartred.

Gartred.

Good fifter, hold your tongue; I will go down to him.

Joice.

Do not jeft with me; for, by this hand, I'll either get him up, or go down myself, and read the whole history of your love to him.

Gartred.

If you'll forbear to call, I will go down.

Joice.

Let me fee your back, then; and, hear you? do not ufe him fcurvily; you were beft unfet all your tyrannical looks, and bid him lovingly welcome; or, as I live, I'll ftretch out my voice again. Uds foot, I must take fome pains, I fee, or we shall never have this gear cotten 13: but, to fay truth, the fault is in my melancholy monfieur; for if he had but half fo much fpirit, as he has flesh, he might have boarded her by this. But fee, yonder fhe marches ; now a paffion on his fide of half an hour long — his hat is off already, as if he were begging one poor penny-worth of kindness.

Enter Gartred.
Geraldine.

Shall I prefume, fair miftrefs, on your hand to lay my unworthy lip?

Joice.

Fie upon him, I am afham'd to hear him; you shall have a country fellow at a may-pole go better to his work. He had need to be conftant, for he is able to spoil as many maids as he shall fall in love withal.

Gartred.

Sir, you profefs love unto me, let me intreat you it may appear but in fome small request.

Geraldine.

Let me know it, lady, and I fhall foon effect it.

Gartred.

But for this prefent to forbear this place,

Because my father is expected here.

13 this gear cotten.] See note 25 to Alexander and Campaspe, vol. 2.

P. 122.

Geraldine,