A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 79

TIL. Th' wound's so green, It must admit a cure. Our confidence Prepares us best admittance; go along.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE VII.

_Enter the_ ALIMONY LADIES _at the other door_.

FLO. How opportunely doth this season meet To give us freedom in our intercourse!

MOR. There is a secret influence, no doubt, Design'd to second us in our desires.

[_They go towards their Ladies._

FLO. Madam!

FRI. We were mad dames indeed, should we give freedom to such injurious favourites.

CAR. This is stormy language; I ever thought our late neglect would nettle them.

[_Aside._

FRI. You can affront us, sir, and with your wit Take a deep draught of Lethe and forget!

FLO. Forget! 'Slid, I did ne'er affront you.

FRI. No?

Nor with a screw'd contemptuous look pa.s.s by us When we were at our treat? and with a scorn Not only slight us, but impeach our fame?

FLO. I call the heavens to witness, never I!

FRI. Perfidious wretch! this did I hear and see, And such records cannot deluded be.

Your words, sir, are regist'red.

FLO. Pray, let's hear them.

FRI. You begun first with what your ulcerous flesh, If I be not deceiv'd, infected is.

[_The Favourites, as they appeared to their half-bodies in the preceding scene: so the deserted Knights become spectators of those public affronts done them by their Ladies: only presenting themselves, and so withdrawing._

HUS. Hah, hah, hah! how neatly be these widgeons catcht in their own springes!

TRILLO _from the gallery_.

Bravely continued, Timon, as I live; Each subtle strain deserves a laurel sprig.

FRI. "Pox on these overacting prost.i.tutes They sate mine appet.i.te."

CAR. What might I say, That should disrelish Madam Caveare?

CAV. You rant it bravely, sir. "Fancy so fed Begets a surfeit ere it gets to bed."

JUL. You, Palisado, stand more resolute; "Ere I Platonic turn or Confidant, Or an officious servant to a puss Whose honour lies at stake, let me become A scorn to my relations."

JOC. "Or when I"

(Thus I deblazon you, base Salibrand) "Engage my person, like a profess'd bolt To vindicate a mistress, who for sale Would set her soul at hazard, may my grave Be in the kennel, and the scavenger The penman of my epitaph."

MED. "Or I"

(Thus you renounce your Medlar, Don Morisco) "Embrace a monkey for a ma.s.s of treasure."

TIN. Nor would Sir Tilly be one hair behind In scornful dereliction of our s.e.x.

"May never down seize on his downless chin, When he becomes an usher to our sin."

FLO. The devil's a witch, and has impostur'd them.

ALL PLA. Do you believe all this!

LADIES. As we do you, Stains to true love and all society!

Henceforth observe your distance, as you tender Fame, freedom, life: else we do vow revenge Shall dog you at the heels.

FLO. So, we are lost; We must go cast about for some new aerie: For these be fledg'd and flown.

CAR. By this prevention I'll hate a mistress of such rare invention.

PAL. It seems their spleens for picking quarrels sought, In pressing what we neither spake nor thought.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE VIII.

_Enter Two Seville Merchants._

1ST MER. Our Duke Eugenio is safe return'd, Laden with trophies, spoils, and victories.

2D MER. Those Hectors, too, who launched forth for Tunis, Have shown their valour, and enrich'd their fortunes, Which languish'd in despair before this voyage, Above expectance; rich rixdollars are Sown like Pactolus' sand: their pockets cramm'd With Indian ore.

1ST MER. What will not prowess do, Where hope of honour, promise of reward, Or country's fame--th' attractiv'st lure of all-- Give spirit to men's actions?

2D MER. This appears Instanc'd in them to life:[172] for by their hazard, Successfully completed, foreign sails Ne'er came so richly fraughted.

1ST MER. It were well The rest of our stout myrmidons, whose courage Stands for the wall, or in a tavern quarrel Or an highway's surprise, to raise a stock To feed their debauch'd visits, were so employ'd It would secure our commerce.

2D MER. This good duke Will regulate, no doubt, his state-affairs With that composure, as no fruitless weed Shall promise to itself long nourishment Within the coast of Seville. What means this?

[_A noise of clarions, surdons, fifes, plausulets, within._

MESSENGER. The Duke's approaching in triumphant state.