Bran. Go, bid the cook serve in two geese in a dish.

Mar. I like your conceit, master, beyond ut

terance.

Bran. Welcome, sweet sister; which is the man must have you?

I'd welcome no body else.

1st Suit. Come to me then, sir..

Bran. Are you he, i' faith, my chain of gold?
I'm glad on 't.

Val. I wonder you can have the face to fol-
low me,

That have so prosecuted things against me.
But I ha' resolv'd myself, 'tis done to spight me.
Ric. O dearth of truth!

2d Suit. Nay, do not spoil thy hair:

Hold, hold I say, I'll get thee a widow somewhere.

Ric. If hand and faith be nothing for a coutract,

What shall man hope?

2d Suit. 'Twas wont to be enough, honey, When there was honest meaning amongst wi

dows;

Look you here, sirs.

Val. I must not look for pleasures,
That give more grief if they prove false, or fail us,
Than ever they gave joy.

1st Suit. Have you serv'd me so, widow?
2d Suit. I'm glad thou hast her not; laugh
at him, honey; ha, ha.

Val. I must take one that loves me for myself: Here's an old gentleman looks not after wealth, But virtue, manners, and conditions.

1st Suit. Yes, by my faith: I must have lordships too, widow.

Val. How, sir?

1st Suit. Your manners, virtue, and conditions, widow,

Are pretty things within doors; I like well on

ein:

But I must have somewhat without, lying, or being

In the tenure or occupation of Mr such-a-one: ha!

Those are find things indeed.

Val. Why, sir, you swore to me it was for love.

VOL. III.

1st Suit. True; but there's two words to a bargain, ever,

All the world over; and if love be one, I'm sure money 's the other; 'tis no bargain else;

Pardon me, I must dine as well as sup, widow. Val. Cry mercy, I mistook you all this while,

sir;

It was this antient gentleman indeed,
Whom I crave pardon on.

2d Suit. What of me, widow?

Vul. Alas, I have wronged you, sir; 'twas you

that swore

You lov'd me for myself!

2d Suit. By my troth, but I did not: Come, father not your lyes upon me, widow: I love you for yourself! spit at me, gentlemen, If ever I'd such a thought: fetch me in widow ! You'll find your reach too short.

Val. Why, you have enough, you say.

2d Suit. Aye, but I will have my humour too; you never think of that; they 're coach-horses, they go together still.

Val. Whom should a widow trust? I'll swear 'twas one of you

That made me believe so: 'mass, think 'twas you, sir,

Now I remember me.

Ric. I swore too much,
To be believ'd so little.
Val. Was it you then?
Beshrew my heart for wronging of you.
Ric. Welcome blessing;
Are you mine faithfully now?

Val. As love can make me.

1st Suit. Why, this fills the commonwealth so full of beggars,

Marrying for love, which none of mine shall do. Val. But, now I think on 't, we must part again, sir.

Ric. Again?

Val. You 're in debt, and I, in doubt of all, Left myself nothing too; we must not hold; Want on both sides makes all affection cold; I shall not keep you from that gentleman; You'll be his more than mine; and, when he

list,

He'll make you lie from me in some sour prison;
Then let him take you now for altogether, sir;
For he that's mine, shall be all mine, or nothing.
Ric. I never felt the evil of my debts,
'Till this afflicting minute.

2d Suit. I'll be mad once in my days: I have enough to cure me, and I will have my humour; they're now but desperate debts again, I never look for 'em.

And ever since I knew what malice was,
I always held it sweeter to sow mischief,
Than to receive money; 'tis the finer pleasure.
I'll give him in his bonds as 't were in pity
To make the match, and bring 'em both to beg-

He'll give her a black eye within these three days,

Beat half her teeth out by Alhallontide,
And break the little houshold-stuff they have,
With throwing at one another: O, sweet sport!
Come, widow, come, I 'll try your honesty,
Here to my honey y' have made many proffers,
I fear they're all but tricks: here are his debts,
gentlemen:

How I came by 'em I know best myself.
Take him before us faithfully for your husband,
And he shall tear 'em all before your face, widow.
Val. Else may all faith refuse me.
2d Suit. Tear 'em, honey,

'Tis firm in law, a consideration given :
What, with thy teeth? thou 'lt shortly tear her so,
That's all my hope, thou 'd'st never had 'em
else.

I've enough, and I will have my humour.

Ric. I'm now at liberty, widow.

Val. I'll be so too,

And then I come to thee: give me this from you, brother.

Bran. Hold sister sister.

Val. Look you, the deed of gift, sir; I'm as free:

He that has me, has all, and thou art he.

Both Suit. How's that?

Val. You're bob'd, 'twas but a deed in trust, And all to prove thee, whom I have found most just.

Bran. I'm bob'd among the rest too: I'd have sworn

T'had been a thing for me and my heirs for ever;

If I'd but got it up to the black box above,
I had been past redemption.

1st Suit. How am I cheated!

2d Suit. I hope you'll have the conscience now to pay me, sir.

Ric. Oh, wicked man, sower of strife and envy, open not thy lips.

2d Suit. How, how 's this?

Ric. Thou hast no charge at all, no child of thine own,

But two thou got'st once of a scouring-woman, And they are both well provided for, they're i' th' hospital:

Thou hast ten thousand pound to bury thee, Hang thyself when thou wilt, a slave go with thee. 2d Suit. I'm gone, my goodness comes all out together.

I have enough, but I have not my humour.
Enter VIOLETTA.

Vio. O master, gentlemen: and you, sweet widow,

I think you are no forwarder yet, I know not. If ever you be sure to laugh again,

Now is the time.

Val. 'Tis she indeed, gentlemen.

Ans. I have been disobedient, I confess, Unto your mind, and Heaven has punish'd me With much affliction since I fled your sight; But finding reconcilement from above In peace of heart; the next I hope 's your love. 1st Suit. I cannot but forgive thee, now I see thee.

Thou fled'st a happy fortune of an old man ;
But Francisco's of a noble family,
Though he be somewhat spent.

Fran. I lov'd her not, sir,

As she was your's, for I protest I knew 't not, But for herself, sir, and her own deservings, Which, had you been as foul as you've been spightful,

I should have lov'd in her.

1st Suit. Well, hold your prating, sir, You're not like to lose by 't.

Phi. Ob, Violetta, who shall laugh at us now?
Vio. The child unborn, mistress.
Ans. Be good.

Fran. Be honest.

In seeking to reduce both state and people To a fix'd order, there judicious king

:

Begins at home quits first his royall pallace
Of flattring sicophants, of dissolute,

And infamous persons, which he sweetly termes
His Masters master-peece (the work of Heaven),
Considering duely, that a princes court

Is like a common fountaine, whence should flow,
Pure silver drops in generall: but if 't chance
Some curs'd example poyson 't neare the head,
Death, and diseases through the whole land
spread.

And what is 't makes this blessed government,
But a most provident councell, who dare freely
Informe him, the corruption of the times?
Though some o' th' court hold it presumption
To instruct princes what they ought to do,
It is a noble duety to informe them

What they ought to fore-see: Here comes
Bosola,

The only court-gall: yet I observe his rayling Is not for simple love of piety:

Indeed he rayles at those things which he wants, Would be as leacherous, covetous, or proud, Bloudy, or envious, as any man,

If he had meanes to be so: Here's the Cardinall. Bos. I do haunt you still.

Card. So.

Bos. I have done you

Better service than to be slighted thus:
Miserable age, where only the reward
Of doing well, is the doing of it.

Card. You inforce your merit too much.

:

On them could I be one of their flattring panders, I

Would hang on their eares like a hors-leech, till I were full, and

Then drop off: I pray leave me.

Who would relie upon these miserable dependances, in expection to be advanc'd to morrow? What creature ever fed worse, than hoping Tantalus? uor ever died any man more fearfully, than he that hop'd for a pardon. There are rewards for hawks, and dogges, when they have done us service; but for a souldier that