Enter OVERREACH, with distracted looks, driving in MARRALL before him, with a box.

Over. I shall sol fa you, rogue !

Mar. Sir, for what cause

Do you use me thus ?

Over. Cause, slave! why, I am angry,
And thou a subject only fit for beating,

And so to cool my choler. Look to the writing;
Let but the seal be broke upon the box,
That has slept in my cabinet these three years,
I'll rack thy soul for't.

Mar. I may yet cry quittance,
Though now I suffer, and dare not resist.

[Aside.

Over. Lady, by your leave, did you see my daughter, lady?

And the lord, her husband? are they in your house?

If they are, discover, that I may bid them joy;
And, as an entrance to her place of honour,
See your ladyship on her left hand, and make
courtsies

When she nods on you; which you must receive
As a special favour.

L. All. When I know, sir Giles,

Her state requires such ceremony, I shall pay it;
But, in the mean time, as I am myself,
I give you to understand, I neither know
Nor care where her honour is.

Over. When you once see her

Supported, and led by the lord her husband,
You'll be taught better.-Nephew.

Well. Sir.

Over. No more!

Well. 'Tis all I owe you.

Over. Have your redeem'd rags

Made you thus insolent?

Well. Insolent to you!

Why, what are you, sir, unless in your years,

At the best, more than myself?

Over. His fortune swells him:

"Tis rank, he's married.

L. All. This is excellent!

[Aside.

Over. Sir, in calm language, though I seldom use it,

I am familiar with the cause that makes you
Bear up thus bravely; there's a certain buz

Of a stolen marriage, do you hear? of a stolen

marriage,

In which, 'tis said, there's somebody hath been
1 name no parties.
[cozen'd;

Well. Well, sir, and what follows?
Over. Marry, this; since you are peremptory.
Remember,

Upon mere hope of your great match, I lent you
A thousand pounds: put me in good security,
And suddenly, by mortgage or by statute,

Of some of your new possessions, or I'll have you
Dragg'd in your lavender robes to the gaol: you
And therefore do not trifle.
[know me,

Well. Can you be

With your new husband, lady; second him
In his dishonest practices; but when
This manor is extended to my use,

You'll speak in an humbler key, and sue for favour.
L. All. Never do not hope it.
Well. Let despair first seize me.

Over. Yet, to shut up thy mouth, and make thee give

Thyself the lie, the loud lie, I draw out
The precious evidence; if thou canst forswear
Thy hand and seal, and make a forfeit of

[Opens the box, and displays the bond. Thy ears to the pillory, see! here's that will make My interest clear-ha!

L. All. A fair skin of parchment.

Well. Indented, I confess, and labels too; But neither wax nor words. How! thunderstruck? Not a syllable to insult with? My wise uncle, Is this your precious evidence, this that makes Your interest clear?

Over. I am o'erwhelmed with wonder! What prodigy is this? what subtle devil Hath razed out the inscription? the wax Turn'd into dust !-the rest of my deeds whole, As when they were deliver'd, and this only Made nothing! do you deal with witches, rascal? There is a statute for you, which will bring Your neck in an hempen circle; yes, there is; And now 'tis better thought for, cheater, know This juggling shall not save you.

Well. To save thee,

Would beggar the stock of mercy.

Over. Marrali !

Mar. Sir.

Over. Though the witnesses are dead, your tes

timony

:

Help with an oath or two and for thy master,
Thy liberal master, my good honest servant,
I know thou wilt swear any thing, to dash
This cunning sleight: besides, I know thou art
A public notary, and such stand in law

For a dozen witnesses: the deed being drawn too
By thee, my careful Marrall, and deliver'd
When thou wert present, will make good my title.
Wilt thou not swear this? [Aside to MARRALL.

Mar. I no, I assure you:

I have a conscience not sear'd up like yours;

I know no deeds.

Over. Wilt thou betray me?

Mar. Keep him

From using of his hands, I'll use my tongue,
To his no little torment.

Over. Mine own varlet

Rebel against me!

Mar. Yes, and uncase you too.

The ideot, the Patch, the slave, the booby,
The property fit only to be beaten

For your morning exercise, your football, or
The unprofitable lump of flesh, your drudge;
Can now anatomize you, and lay open
All your black plots, and level with the earth
Your hill of pride: and, with these gabions guarded,
Unload my great artillery, and shake,
Nay pulverize, the walls you think defend you.
L. All. How he foams at the mouth with rage!
Well. To him again.

Over. O that I had thee in my gripe, I would Joint after joint!

[tear thee

Mar. I know you are a tearer. But I'll have first your fangs pared off, and then

Enter GREEDY and Parson WILLDO.

Shall find no harbour here:-after these storms
At length a calm appears. Welcome, most welcome!
There's comfort in thy looks; is the deed done?
Is my daughter married? say but so, my chaplain,
And I am tame.

Willdo. Married! yes, I assure you.

Over. Then vanish all sad thoughts! there's more gold for thee.

My doubts and fears are in the titles drown'd
Of my honourable, my right honourable daughter.
Greedy. Here will be feasting! at least for a
month,

I am provided: empty guts, croak no more,
You shall be stuff'd like bagpipes, not with wind,
But bearing dishes.

Over. Instantly be here? [Whispering to WILLDO To my wish to my wish! Now you that plot against me,

And hope to trip my heels up, that contemn'd me, Think on't and tremble :-[Loud music]-they come ! I hear the music.

A lane there for my lord!

Well. This sudden heat

May yet be cool'd, sir.

Over. Make way there for my lord!

Enter ALLWORTH and Margaret.

Marg. Sir, first your pardon, then your blessing, with

Your full allowance of the choice I have made.
As ever you could make use of your reason,

[Kneeling.

Grow not in passion; since you may as well
Call back the day that's past, as untie the knot
Which is too strongly fasten'd: not to dwell
Too long on words, this is my husband.
Over. How !

All. So I assure you; all the rights of marriage,
With every circumstance, are past. Alas! sir,
Although I am no lord, but a lord's page,
Your daughter and my loved wife mourns not for it;
And, for right honourable son-in-law, you may say,
Your dutiful daughter.

Though charity to your daughter hath quite left you,
Will you do an act, though in your hopes lost here,
Can leave no hope for peace or rest hereafter?
Consider; at the best you are but a man,
And cannot so create your aims, but that
They may be cross'd.

Over. Lord! thus I spit at thee,

And at thy counsel; and again desire thee,

And as thou art a soldier, if thy valour

Dares shew itself, where multitude and example

Lead not the way, let's quit the house, and change Six words in private.

Lov. I am ready.

L. All. Stay, sir,

Contest with one distracted!

Well. You'll grow like him,

Should you answer his vain challenge.

Over. Are you pale?

Borrow his help, though Hercules call it odds,

I'll stand against both as I am, hemm'd in thus.-
Since, like a Libyan lion in the toil,

My fury cannot reach the coward hunters,
And only spends itself, I'll quit the place:
Alone I can do nothing; but I have servants,
And friends to second me; and if I make not
This house a heap of ashes, (by my wrongs,
What I have spoke I will make good!) or leave
One throat uncut,-if it be possible,
Hell, add to my afflictions!

Mar. Is't not brave sport?

[Exit.

To purchase and grow rich; for I will be
Such a solicitor and steward for you,
As never worshipful had.

Well. I do believe thee;

But first discover the quaint mea..s you used To raze out the conveyance?

Mar. They are mysteries

Not to be spoke in public: certain minerals Incorporated in the ink and wax.

Besides, he gave me nothing, but still fed me
With hopes and blows; and that was the induce-

ment

To this conundrum. If it please your worship
To call to memory, this mad beast once caused me
To urge you, or to drown or hang yourself;
I'll do the like to him, if you command me.

Well. You are a rascal! he that dares be false
To a master, though unjust, will ne'er be true
To any other. Look not for reward

Or favour from me; I will shun thy sight
As I would do a basilisk's: thank my pity,

If thou keep thy ears; howe'er, I will take order
Your practice shall be silenced.

Greedy. I'll commit him,

If you will have me, sir.

Well. That were to little purpose;

His conscience be his prison. Not a word,
But instantly be gone.

Ord. Take this kick with you.

Amb. And this.

Upon my injuries, shall I fear to charge them?
No: I'll through the battalia, and that routed,
[Flourishing his sword sheathed.
I'll fall to execution.-Ha! I am feeble:
Some undone widow sits upon mine arm,
And takes away the use of't; and my sword,
Glued to my scabbard with wrong'd orphans' tears,
Will not be drawn. Ha! what are these? sure,
hangmen,

That come to bind my hands, and then to drag

me

Before the judgment-seat: now they are new

shapes,

And do appear like Furies, with steel whips
To scourge my ulcerous soul. Shall I then fall
Ingloriously, and yield? no; spite of Fate,
I will be forced to hell like to myself.
Though you were legions of accursed spirits,
Thus would I fly among you.

[Rushes forward, and flings himself on the ground

Well. There's no help;

Disarm him first, then bind him.

Greedy. Take a mittimus,

And carry him to Bedlam.

Lov. How he foams!

Well. And bites the earth!

Willdo. Carry him to some dark room, There try what art can do for his recovery. Marg. O my dear father!

[They force OVERREACH off. All. You must be patient, mistress. Lov. Here is a precedent to teach wicked men, That when they leave religion, and turn atheists, Their own abilities leave them. Pray you take comfort,

I will endeavour you shall be his guardians

In his distractions: and for your land, master
Wellborn,

Be it good or ill in law, I'll be an umpire
Between you, and this, the undoubted heir

Of sir Giles Overreach for me, here's the anchor
That I must fix on.

All. What you shall determine, My lord, I will allow of.

Well. 'Tis the language

That I speak too; but there is something else
Beside the repossession of my land,

And payment of my debts, that I must practise.
I had a reputation, but 'twas lost

In my loose course; and until I redeem it
Some noble way, I am but half made up.
It is a time of action; if your lordship
Will please to confer a company upon me,
In your command, I doubt not, in my service
To my king, and country, but I shall do something
That may make me right again.

Lov. Your suit is granted,

And you loved for the motion.

Well. [coming forward.] Nothing wants then But your allowance-and in that our all Is comprehended; it being known, nor we, Nor he that wrote the comedy, can be free, Without your manumission; which if you Grant willingly, as a fair favour due

To the poet's, and our labours, (as you may,) For we despair not, gentlemen, of the play: We jointly shall profess your grace hath might To teach us action, and him how to write.

[Exeunt.