Well. That way I like them best.

Fur. It shall be done, sir.

[Exit FURNACE, L. s. e.

Well. What think you of the hedge we shall dine

under?

Shall we feed gratis?

Mar. I know not what to think;

'Pray you, make me not mad.

Enter ORDER, R.

Ord. This place becomes you not; 'Pray you, walk, sir, to the dining-room. Well. I am well here,

"Till her ladyship quits her chamber. Mar. Well here, say you?

"Tis a rare change! but yesterday, you thought Yourself well in a barn, wrapp'd up in pease-straw.

Enter TABITHA and ABIGAIL, R.

Tab. O! you're much wish'd for, sir.
Abi. Last night, my lady

Dreamt of you; and her first command this morning,
Was to have notice, sir, of your arrival.

Wat. See my lady.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, R.-ORDER bows and

exit, R.

Lady A. I come to meet you, and languish'd till I

saw you

This first kiss is for form; I allow a second

To such a friend.

Mar. To such a friend! heaven bless me!

Well. I'm wholly your's; yet, madam, if you please To grace this gentleman with a salute

[Puts MARRALL over to LADY ALLWORTH, R.

Mar. Salute me at his bidding!

[MARRALL retreats towards the Door, L.

Well. I shall receive it

As a most high favour.

Lady A. Your friends are ever welcome to me.
Well. [Brings MAR. back, L.] Run backward from a
lady! and such a lady!

Mar. To kiss her foot is, to poor me, a favour

I am unworthy of

[Offers to kiss her Foot.

Lady A. (R.) Nay, 'pray you, rise;

And, since you are so humble, I'll exalt you:

You shall dine with me to day at mine own table. Mar. (c.) Your ladyship's table! I'm not good enough

To sit at your steward's board.

Lady A. You are too modest;

I will not be denied.

Enter ORDER, R.

Ord. Dinner is ready for your ladyship.

Lady A. Come, Master Wellborn:

[TO MARRALL, who is retreating again. Nay, keep us company. Mar. I was ne'er so grac'd.

[LADY ALLWORTH and WELLBORN take MARRALL by the hand-he bowing with the greatest servility-they retire through M. D. followed by ABIGAIL, TABITHA, AMBLE and WATCHALL. Enter FURNACE, L. S. E.

Ord. (R.c.) So, we've play'd our parts, and are come off well:

But if I know the mystery, why my lady

Consented to it, may I perish!

Fur. (c.) Would I had

The roasting of his heart that cheated him,

And forces the poor gentleman to these shifts!

By fire-for cooks are Persians, and swear by it,
Of all the griping and extorting tyrants

I ever heard or read of, I ne'er met

A match to Sir Giles Overreach.

Wat. (L. C.) What will you take

To tell him so, fellow Furnace?
Fur. Just as much

As my throat is worth; for that would be the price on't.
To have a usurer that starves himself,

To grow rich, and then purchase, is too common:
But this Sir Giles feeds high; keeps many servants;
Rich in his habit! vast in his expenses;

Yet he, to admiration, still increases

In wealth and lordships.

Ord. He frights men out of their estates,

And breaks through all law-nets, made to curb ill men, As they were cobwebs. No man dares reprove him. Such a spirit to dare, and power to do, were never Lodg'd so unluckily.

Enter AMBLE, M. D.

Amb. Ha! ha! I shall burst.
Ord. Contain thyself, man.
Fur. Or make us partakers

Of your sudden mirth.

Amb. Ha! ha! my lady has got

Such a guest at her table!-this term driver, Marrall,

This snip of an attorney!

Wat. What of him, man?

Amb. The knave feeds so slovenly!

Fur. Is this all?

Amb. My lady

Drank to him for fashion's sake, or to please Master Wellborn;

As I live, he rises and takes up a dish

In which there were some remnants of a boil'd capon, And pledges her in white broth!

Fur. Nay, 'tis like

The rest of his tribe.

Amb. And when I brought him wine,
He leaves his chair, and, after a leg or two,
Most humbly thanks my worship-my worship!

All the Servants. Ha! ha! ha!

Ord. Risen already?

Fur. My lady frowns.

Amb. I shall be chid.

[Exit FURNACE, L. S. E.-Servants all run to L.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, WELLBORN, and
MARRALL, M. D.

Lady A. (c.) You attend us well!

Let me have no more of this: I observ'd your leering: Sir, I will have you know, whom I think worthy

To sit at my table,

When I am present, is not your companion.

Ord. [Aside.] Nay, she'll preserve what's due to her.

Lady A. [To WELLBORN.] You are master Of your own will. I know so much of manners, As not to inquire your purposes; in a word,

[Crosses to R. WELLBORN following her. To me you are ever welcome, as to a house That is your own.

Well. Mark that.

Mar. (L.) With reverence, sir, And it like your worship.

[TO MARRALL.

Well. Trouble yourself no further,

Dear madam, my heart's full of zeal and service;
However in my language I am sparing.

Come, Master Marrall.

Mar. I attend your worship.

[Crosses to L.

[Exeunt WATCHALL, WELLBORN, and MARRALL, L. Lady A. [To the Servants.] I see in your looks you are sorry, and you know me

An easy mistress: be merry; I have forgot all.
Order and Amble, come with me; I must give you

Further directions.

Ord. What you please.

Amb. We are ready.

[Exeunt, R.

SCENE III.-The open Country.

Enter WELLBORN and MARRALL, L. S. E.

Well. I think I'm in a good way.

Mar. Good, sir! The best way;

The certain best way.

You are worshipful and I hope you will become rightworshipful.

Well. (R. c.) Is't for your ease
You keep your hat off?

Mar. (L. c.) Ease, and it like your worship!
I hope Jack Marrall shall not live so long,
To prove himself such an unmannerly beast,
Though it hail hazel-nuts, as to be covered
When your worship's present.

Well. [Aside.] Is not this a true rogue,
That, out of mere hope of a future coz'nage,
Can turn thus suddenly? 'tis rank already.

Mar. I know your worship's wise and needs no coun

sel;

Yet if, in my desire to do you service,

I humbly offer my advice, (but still
Under correction), I hope I shall not
Incur your high displeasure.

Well. No; speak freely.

Mar. Then, in my judgment, sir, my simple judg

ment,

(Still with your worship's favour), I could wish you A better habit; for this cannot be

But much distasteful to the noble lady

That loves you:

I have twenty pounds here,

Which out of my true love, I'll presently

Lay down at your worship's feet; 'twill serve to buy

you

A riding suit.

Well. But where's the horse?
Mar. My gelding

Is at your service: nay, you shall ride me,
Before your worship shall be put to the trouble
To walk afoot. Alas! when you are lord

Of this lady's manor, (as I know you will be),
You may with the lease of glebe land, call'd Knave's
Acre,

A place I would manure, requite your vassal.

Well. I thank thy love; but will make no use of it. Did I want clothes, think'st thou I could not have 'em For one word to my lady?

Mar. As I know not that

Well. Come, I'll tell thee a secret, and so leave thee. I'll not give her the advantage, though she be

A gallant-minded lady, after we're married

To hit me in the teeth, and say, she was forc'd
To buy my wedding clothes.-

No, I'll be furnish'd something like myself,

And so farewell.-For thy suit touching Knave's Acre, When it is mine, 'tis thine.

Mar. I thank your worship.

[Exit WELLBORN, R.

How was I cozen'd in the calculation

Of this man's fortune!. My master cozen'd too,
Whose pupil I am in the art of undoing men;

For that is our profession. Well, well, Master Wellborn;

You are of a sweet nature, and fit again to be cheated;
Which, if the fates please, when you are possess'd
Of the land and lady, you sans question shall be,
I'll presently think of the means. [Musing, R. c.
Sir G. [Without.] Sirrah, take my horse,
I'll walk, to get me an appetite; 'tis but a mile;
And exercise will keep me from being pursy.

Enter SIR GILES, L.

Ha! Marrall!-Is he conjuring? Perhaps
The knave has wrought the prodigal to do
Some outrage on himself, and now he feels