Sir G. (L. c.) No matter, I'll excuse it: Pr'ythee,

Marrall,

Watch an occasion to invite my nephew

To speak with me in private.

Mar. Who! the rogue

The lady scorn'd to look on?

Sir G. Sirrah, sirrah!

[Crosses to meet LOVELL.

Enter LOVELL, MARGARET, and ALLWORTH, R.

Sir G. [To Lov. L. c.] My good lord, excuse my

manners.

Lov. (c.) There needs none, Sir Giles; I may ere long say-father, when it please My dearest mistress to give warrant to it.

Sir G. She shall seal to it, my lord, and make me happy.

Lady A. [Without.] Nay, Master Wellborn-
Sir G. Grosser and grosser!

[Going L.-MARRALL crosses behind to R. and
MARG. goes to R. of ALLWorth.

Enter LADY ALLWORTH, WELLBORN, and
Servants, R.

Lady A. (H.) Provide my coach,

I'll instantly away;-my thanks, Sir Giles,

For my entertainment.

[MAR. whispers WELL. R.

Sir G. "Tis your nobleness,

To think it such.

Lady A. I must do you a further wrong,

In taking away your honourable guest.

Lov. I wait on you, madam; farewell, good Sir Giles. Lady A. Nay, come, Master Wellborn.

[Exit MARRALL, R. I must not leave you behind; in sooth, I must not. Sir G. [Crosses to LADY A. R.] Rob me not, inadam, of all joys at once:

Let my nephew stay behind: he shall have my coach, And after some small conference between us,

Soon overtake your ladyship.

Lady A. Stay not so long, sir.

Lov. (c.) Farewell, dear Margaret! You shall every

day

Hear from your servant, by my faithful page.

Allw. 'Tis a service I am proud of.

[Music.

[Exeunt LOVELL, LADY ALLWORTH, ALLWORTH,

and Servants, L. U. E.

Sir G. (L. c.) Daughter, to your chamber.

[Erit MARGARET, L.

You may wonder, nephew,

After so long an enmity between us,
I should desire your friendship.

Well. (R.) So I do, sir;

"Tis strange to me.

Sir G. (L.) But I make it no wonder;

And, what is more, unfold my nature to you.
We worldly men, when we see friends and kinsmen,
Past hope sunk in their fortunes, lend no hand
To lift 'em up, but rather set our feet
Upon their heads, to press 'em to the bottom;
As I must yield, with you 1 practis'd it;
But, now I see you in a way to rise,

I can and will assist you. This rich lady,
(And I am glad of 't), is enamour'd of you.
Well. No such thing:
Compassion rather, sir.

Sir G. Well, in a word,

Because your stay is short, I'll have you seen
No more in this base shape; nor shall she say,
She married you like a beggar, or in debt.

Well. [Aside.] He'll run into the noose, and save my labour.

Sir G. You have a trunk of rich clothes, not far hence,

In pawn; I will redeem 'em; and, that no clamour
May taint your credit for your petty debts,

You shall have wherewithal to cut 'em off,

And go a freeman to the wealthy lady.

Well. This done, sir, out of love, and no ends else— Sir G. As it is, nephew.

Well. Binds me still your servant.

Sir G. No compliments: you're staid for. Ere you've

supp'd

You shall hear from me. My coach, knaves, for my

nephew!

To-morrow I will visit you.

Well. Here's an uncle

[Crosses to L.

In a man's extremes! How much they do belie you,

That say you are hard-hearted.

Sir G. My deeds, nephew,

Shall speak my love; what men report, weigh not.

[Exeunt WELL. L. SIR G. R.

END OF ACT III.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.-A Room in LADY ALLWORTH'S House,— Table, and two Chairs, Pens, Ink, Paper, Wax, and lighted Taper.

LOVELL seated R. sealing a Letter, and ALLWORTH waiting on him, discovered.

Lov. (R.) 'Tis well.-May this succeed!

I now discharge you

From further service: mind your own affairs;
I hope they'll prove successful.

Allw. (L.) What is blest

With your good wish, my lord, cannot but prosper.
Let after-times report, and to your honour,

How much I stand engag'd, for I want language

To speak my debt; yet, if a tear or two

Of joy, for your much goodness, can supply
My tongue's defects, I could-

Lov. Nay, do not melt:

This ceremonial thanks, to me's, superfluous.
Sir G. [Without, L.] Is my lord stirring?
Lov. "Tis he! O, here's your letter.

[Takes the Letter from the Table, and gives it
ALLWORTH.]-Let him in.

[ALLWORTH opens the Door, L. and stands retired.

Enter SIR GILES, GREEDY, and MARRALL, L. D.

Sir G. A good day to my lord!

Lov. You are an early riser,

Sir Giles.

Sir G. And reason to attend your lordship.

Lov. (R.) And you, too, Master Greedy, up so soon!

Gree. (L. c.) In troth, my lord, after the sun is up I cannot sleep for I've a foolish stomach

That croaks for breakfast. With your lordship's favour [Crosses to LOVELL, R. C.

I have a serious question to demand

Of my worthy friend, Sir Giles.

E

Lov. Pray you, use your pleasure.

[Retires up the Stage. Gree. (R. c.) How far, Sir Giles, and pray you an

swer me

Upon your credit, hold you it to be

From your manor-house to this of my Lady Allworth's? Sir G. (L. c.) Why, some four mile.

Gree. How! four mile, good Sir GilesUpon your reputation, think better;

For four miles' riding

Could not have rais'd so huge an appetite

As I feel gnawing on me.

Mar. (L.) Whether you ride,

[Retiring back.

Or go afoot, you're that way still provided,
An't please your worship.

Sir G. (Coming in, c.) How now, sirrah? prating
Before my lord! no deference! Go to my nephew,
See all his debts discharg'd, and help his worship
To fit on his rich suit.

Mar. I may fit you too.
Lov. I have writ this morning

[Exit MARRALL, L. D.

A few lines to my mistress, your fair daughter.

Sir G. "Twill fire her; for she's wholly your's already. Sweet Master Allworth, take my ring; 'twill carry you To her presence, I dare warrant you; and there plead For my good lord, if you should find occasion. That done, pray, ride to Nottingham, get a licence, Still by this token.-[To Lov.] I will have't dispatch'd, And suddenly, my lord, that I may say,

My honourable, nay, right honourable daughter.

Gree. [Stopping ALLWORTH, who is crossing towards L. D.]

Take my advice, young gentleman; get your breakfast; 'Tis unwholesome to ride fasting; I'll eat with you, And that abundantly.

Sir G. Some fury's in that gut:

Hungry again! did you not devour this morning

A shield of brawn, and a barrel of Colchester oysters? Gree. Why, that was, sir, only to scour my stomach,

A kind of preparative.

Lov. Haste your return.

Allw. I will not fail, my lord.

Gree. Nor I, to line

My Christmas coffer.

[Exit L.

[Exit L.

Sir G. (L.) To my wish [They sit]; we're private.

I come not to make offer with my daughter

A certain portion; that were poor and trivial:
In one word I pronounce, all that is mine,

In lands or leases, ready coin or goods,

With her, my lord, comes to you: nor shall you have
One motive to induce you to believe

I live too long; since every year I'll add
Something unto the heap, which shall be your's too.
Lov. (R.) You are a right kind father.

Sir G. You shall have reason

To think me such.

How do you like this seat of Lady Allworth's?
It is well wooded and well water'd, the acres
Fertile and rich; would it not serve, for change,
To entertain your friends in a summer progress?
What thinks my noble lord?

Lov. 'Tis a wholesome air,

And well-built pile: and she that's mistress of it,
Worthy the large revenue.

Sir G. She the mistress !

It may be so for a time; but, let my lord
Say, only that he but likes it, and would have it,
I say ere long 'tis his.

Lov. Impossible!

Sir G. You conclude too fast, not knowing me,
Nor the engines that I work by. 'Tis not alone

The Lady Allworth's lands;-for those, once, Wellborn's,
As, by her dotage on him, I know they will be,
Shall soon be mine ;-but point out any man's
In all the shire, and say they lie convenient
And useful for your lordship, and once more
I say aloud, they're yours.

Lov. (c.) I dare not own

What's by unjust and cruel means extorted:
My fame and credit are more dear to me,
Than thus to expose 'em to be censur'd by
The public voice.

Sir G. You run, my lord, no hazard.

[They rise.

[Leans on the back of the Chair. Your reputation shall still stand as fair In all good men's opinions, as now: For, though I do contemn report myself, As a mere sound, I still will be so tender Of what concerns you, in all points of honour, That the immaculate whiteness of your fame, Shall ne'er be sullied with one taint or spot. All my ambition is, to have my daughter