A New Way to Pay Old Debts. ACT I. SCENE I.-A Village. WELLBORN discovered, with a large rough Stick, in Nor the remainder of a single can, Left by a drunken porter. Froth. (L.) Not the dropping of the tap for your morning's draught, sir: "Tis verity, I assure you. Well. Verity, you brache! [Crosses to c. The devil turned precision? Rogue, what am I? Tap. (R.) Troth, durst I trust you with a looking glass, To let you see your trim shape, you would quit me, And take the name yourself. Well. (c.) How? dog! [Raising his cudgel. Tap. Advance your Plymouth cloak, There dwells, and within call, if it please your worship, A potent monarch, call'd the constable, That does command a citadel, call'd the stocks; Such as with great dexterity will hale Your threadbare, tatter'd Well. Rascal ! slave! Froth. No rage, sir. Tap. At his own peril! Do not put yourself Well. Why thou unthankful villain, dar'st thou talk thus ! Is not thy house, and all thou hast, my gift? Tap. I find it not in chalk; and Timothy Tapwell Does keep no other register. Well. Am not I he Whose riots fed and cloth'd thee? Wert thou not Tap. What I was, sir, it skills not; What you are is apparent: but, since you My quondam master, was a man of worship; Bore the whole sway of the shire, kept a great house, Late master Francis, but now forlorn Wellborn- You cannot out of your way. Tap. You were then a lord of acres, the prime gallant, And I your under butler. O you'd merry time of't; hawks and hounds, Well. Some curate hath penn'd this invective, mongrel, And you have studied it. Tap. I've not done yet; Your land gone, and your credit not worth a token, Thou could'st arrive at forty pounds, thou would'st For, from the tavern to the taphouse, all, Well. They're well rewarded, That beggar themselves to make such rascals rich. But, since you're grown forgetful, I will help Tap. O! O! O! Froth. Help, help! [Beats him over to L. Enter ALLWORTH, R. Allw. Hold, for my sake, hold; [Catches WELLBORN's arm. Deny me, Frank? They are not worth your anger. Well. For once, thou hast redeem'd them from this sceptre. But let 'em vanish ; [Shaking his cudgel. Nay, if you grumble, I revoke my pardon. [WELL. and ALLw. talk apart. Froth. This comes of your prating husband. Tap. Patience, Froth; There's law to cure our bruises. [Exeunt TAP. and FROTH into the Alehouse, L. S. E. Well. (L.) Sent to your mother? Allw. (R.) My lady, Frank, my patroness, my all! She's such a mourner for my father's death, And, in her love to him, so favours me, I cannot pay too much observance to her : Well. 'Tis a noble widow, And keeps her reputation pure and clear. Has she no suitors? Allw. (R.) E'en the best of the shire, Frank, My lord excepted: such as sue and send, And send and sue again: but to no purpose. Their frequent visits have not gain'd her presence; Yet she's so far from sullenness and pride, That, I dare undertake, you shall meet from her Well. (L.) I doubt it not. Now, Allworth, listen to me, And mark my counsel: I am bound to give it. I will not have the least affront stick on thee, Allw. I thank your noble care: but, pray you, in what Do I run the hazard? Well. Art thou not in love? Put it not off with wonder. Allw. In love? Well. You think you walk in clouds, but are transpa rent. I've heard all, and the choice that you have made; Of cormorant Overreach? Dost blush and start, Allw. Howe'er you have discover'd my intents, Well. Grant this true, As I believe it, canst thou ever hope To enjoy a quiet bed with her, whose father Allw. And your's too. Well. I confess it, Allworth. Or can'st thou think, if self-love blind thee not, That Sir Giles Overreach, who, to make her great In swelling titles, without touch of conscience, Will cut his neighbour's throat, and, I hope, his own too, Will e'er consent to make her thine? Give o'er, |