No glory of pre-eminence; Phlegm and Blood, Detr. Impossible and improper; first, to personate insensible creatures, and next, to compound quite opposite humours! fie, fie, fie; it's abominable. [scan Con. Fond ignorance! how darest thou vainly Impossibility, what reigns in man Without disorder, wisely mix'd by nature, To fashion and preserve so high a creature? Detr. Sweet sir, when shall our mortal eyes behold this new piece of wonder? We must gaze on the stars for it, doubtless. The Scene opens, and discovers the Masquers, (the four Elements, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth; and the four Complexions, Phlegm, Blood, Choler, and Melancholy,) on a raised Platform. Con. See, thus the clouds fly off, and run in chase, When the Sun's bounty lends peculiar grace. [sents Detr. A nimble rascal, I warrant him some alderman's son; wondrous giddy and light-headed; one that blew his patrimony away in feather and tobacco. Con. The next near him is Fire. Detr. A choleric gentleman, I should know him; a younger brother and a great spender, but seldom or never carries any money about him: he was begot when the sign was in Taurus, for he roars like a bull, but is indeed a bell-wether. Con. The third in rank is Water. Detr. A phlegmatic cold piece of stuff: his father, methinks, should be one of the duncetable, and one that never drank strong beer in's life, but at festival times; and then he caught the heart-burning a whole vacation and half a term alter. Con. The fourth is Earth. Detr. A shrewd plotting-pated fellow, and a great lover of news. I guess at the rest; Blood is placed near Air, Choler near Fire; Phlegm and Water are sworn brothers, and so are Earth and Melancholy. Con. Fair nymph of Harmony, be it thy task To sing them down, and rank them in a masque. A SONG : During which, the Masquers descend upon the Stage, and take their places for the Dance. See the Elements conspire: To give our prince's pleasure birth; All the seasons of the year; Winter does invoke the Spring, Autumn forth its fruits doth bring, Their tribute to this holy-day; In which the Darling of the Sun is come, [A DANCE.-Exeunt Masquers. Win. How do these pleasures please? Hum. Pleasures? Boun. Live here, And be my lord's friend; and thy sports shail vary A thousand ways; Invention shall beget Hum. Trifles! Progress o'er the year Think on the Spring. Ray. She was a lovely virgin. Without offence, be pleased but to afford Ray. That wonder! Oh, can you bring me thither? Win. I can direct and point you out a path. Quicken thy spirits, Raybright; I'll not leave thee: Here runs out to the last.-Here, in this mirror, Winter at last draws on the Night of Age; Of his creation, with a royal bounty Give him Health, Youth, Delight, for free at tendants To rectify his carriage: to be thankful His Reason's dangerous seducer, Folly. Like four straight pillars, the four Elements Reserv'd to immortality. Henceforth FRANK, THORNEY'S Son. CUDDY BANKS, the Clown. Morrice-Dancers. SAWGUT, an old Fiddler. Justice, Constable, Officers, Serving-Men and Maids. Dog, a Familiar. A Spirit. Mother SAWYER, the WITCH. ANN, RATCLIFFE'S Wife. SUSAN, KATHERINE, } CARTER'S Daughters. WINNIFREDE, Sir ARTHUR'S Maid. SCENE, THE TOWN AND NEIGHBOURHOOD OF EDMONTON: IN THE END OF THE LAST ACT, LONDON. Enter FRANK THORNEY and WINNIFREDE. Request a fuller satisfaction Than you have freely granted: yet methinks 'Tis an hard case, being lawful man and wife, We should not live together. Frank. Had I fail'd Frank. Come, wench; why, here's a business In promise of my truth to thee, we must soon dispatch'd. Thy heart I know is now at ease: thou need'st not Win. You have [here] discharg'd Have then been ever sunder'd; now the longest For our continuing thrift; that so, hereafter, Two devils that are occasions to enforce Win. And that will be as difficult Frank. Fathers are Won by degrees, not bluntly, as our masters He can have notice of what's past, th' inheritance Win. You who had The conquest of my maiden-love, may easily Conquer the fears of my distrust. And whither Must I be hurried? Frank. Prithee do not use A word so much unsuitable to the constant Win. All these are nothing Frank. Which thou shalt have Once every month at least. Win. Once every month! Is this to have an husband? Frank. Perhaps oftener; That's as occasion serves. Win. Ay, ay; in case No other beauty tempt your eye, whom you Frank. To quit which fear at once, I plighted thee a faith, as free from challenge, That binds me thine. And, Winnifrede, whenever 'Tis all thine own; and though I cannot make the A present payment, yet thou shalt be sure I will not fail thee. Frank. But our occasions Sir Ar. Nay, nay, Talk not of your occasions; trust my bounty, Frank? 'Tis well, 'tis passing well!-then, Winifrede Once more thou art an honest woman. Frani, Thou hast a jewel, love her; she'll deserve it. Frank. She is making ready; Her uncle stays for her. Sir Ar. Most provident speed. Frank, I will be [thy] friend, and such a friend!Thou wilt bring her thither? Frank. Sir, I cannot; newly My father sent me word I should come to him. Frank. I have a suit to you. Frank. That you'll please By letters to assure my father, that I am not married. Sir Ar. How? Frank. Some one or other Hath certainly inform'd him, that I purposed Lowly I crave your letters, which he seeing On such conditions as I'll frame, his lands Sir Ar. But what is there to quit My knowledge of the marriage? Frank. Why, you were not A witness to it. Sir Ar. I conceive; and then That syllable of good, and yet not tremble That brings not with it pity for the wrongs To see or hear you! I will change my life, Sir Ar. Wilt thou turn monster now? art not asham'd After so many months to be honest at last? Win. My resolution Is built upon a rock. This very day His land confirm'd, thou wilt acquaint him tho- Young Thorney vow'd, with oaths not to be doubted, That never any change of love should cancel Of sacrilege; for if you but endeavour By any unchaste word to tempt my constancy, Of holy marriage. I have said enough; Sir Ar. Get you to your nunnery, There freeze in your old cloister: this is fine! Win. Good angels guide me! Sir, you'll give me leave To weep and pray for your conversion? Sir Ar. Yes; The worst is past thy lip, wench! (kisses her.) | Away to Waltham. Pox upon your honesty! I must bid Farewell, for fashion's sake; but I will visit thee Suddenly, girl. This was cleanly carried; Win. Then were my happiness, That I in heart repent I did not bring him I have been much to blame: had not my laundress Given way to your immoderate waste of virtue, Sir Ar. Dear, dear Win, I hug this art of thine; it shows how cleanly Had you no other trick to fool me? well, Win. None that I'll send for When I am gone, think on my just complaint; I was your devil; oh, be you my saint! [Ex it. Sir Ar. Go thy ways; as changeable a baggage As ever cozen'd knight; I'm glad I am rid of her. Honest! marry hang her! Thorney is my debtor; I thought to have paid him too; but fools have |