A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 122

_Enter_ YOUNG LORD WEALTHY, HOG, _and_ PETER.

Y. LORD W. Room for a desirer of justice! what, my sister Maria! who thought to have met you here.

MARIA. You may see, brother, unlooked-for guests prove often troublesome.

Y. LORD W. Well, but is your husband there any quieter than he was?

CAR. Sir, I must desire you to forget all injuries, if, in not being myself, I offered you any.

ALB. I'll see that peace concluded.

Y. LORD W. Which I agree to; For patience is a virtue, father Hog.

O. LORD W. Was it you, son, that cried so loud for justice?

Y. LORD W. Yes, marry was it, and this the party to whom it appertains.

HOG. O, my most honoured lord, I am undone, robbed, this black night, of all the wealth and treasure which these many years I have hourly laboured for.

O. LORD W. And who are those have done this outrage to you?

HOG. O, knew I that, I then, my lord, were happy.

O. LORD W. Come you for justice then, not knowing 'gainst whom the course of justice should extend itself? Nor yet suspect you none?

HOG. None but the devil.

Y. LORD W. I thought he was a cheater, e'er since I heard two or three Templars[400] swear at dice, the last Christmas, that the devil had got all.

_Enter_ HADDIT _and_ LIGHTFOOT.

HAD. My kind acquaintance, joy to thy good success.

CAR. n.o.ble and freeborn Haddit, welcome.

LIGHT. Master Hog, good day.

HOG. [Good day], for I have had a bad night on't.

LIGHT. Sickness is incident to age: what, be the writings ready to be sealed we entreated last day?

HOG. Yes, I think they are; would the scrivener were paid for making them.

LIGHT. He shall be so, though I do't myself. Is the money put up, as I appointed?

HOG. Yes, 'tis put up: confusion seize the receivers!

LIGHT. Heaven bless us all! what mean you, sir?

HOG. O sir, I was robb'd this night of all I had; My daughter too is lost, and I undone.

LIGHT. Marry, G.o.d forbid! after what manner, I pray?

HOG. O, to recount, sir, will breed more ruth Than did the tale of that high Trojan duke[401]

To the sad-fated Carthaginian queen.

HAD. What exclamation's that?

LIGHT. What you will grieve at, coz; Your wors.h.i.+pful friend, Master Hog, is robb'd.

HAD. Robb'd! by whom, or how?

LIGHT. O, there's the grief: he knows not whom to suspect.

HAD. The fear of h.e.l.l o'ertake them, whosoe'er they be. But where's your daughter? I hope she is safe.

_Enter_ REBECCA.

HOG. Thank heaven, I see she's now so. Where hast thou been, my girl?

REB. Alas! sir, carried by amazement I know not where; pursued by the robbers, forced to fly amazed, affrighted, through the city streets, to seek redress; but that lay fast asleep in all men's houses, nor would lend an ear to the distressed.

HAD. O heavy accident! but see, you grieve too much, Being your daughter's found, for th' other loss, Since 'tis the will of heaven to give and take, Value it as nothing: you have yet sufficient To live in bless'd content, had you no more But my small mortgage for your daughter here, Whom I have ever lov'd in dear'st affection.

If so you please so much to favour me, I will accept her, spite of poverty, And make her jointure of some store of land, Which, by the loss of a good aged friend, Late fell to me: what, is't a match or no?

HOG. It is.

HAD. Then I'll have witness on't: my lord and gentlemen, Please you draw near to be here witnesses To a wish'd contract 'twixt this maid and I.

OMNES. We are all willing.

HOG. Then, in the presence of you all, I give my daughter freely to this gentleman as wife; and to show how much I stand affected to him, for dowry with her, I do back restore his mortgaged lands; and, for their loves, I vow ever hereafter to detest, renounce, loathe, and abhor all slavish avarice,

Which doth ascend from h.e.l.l, sent by the devil, To be 'mongst men the actor of all evil.

OMNES. A bless'd conversion.

O. LORD W. A good far unexpected. And now, gentlemen, I do invite you all to feast with me This happy day, that we may all together Applaud his good success: and let this day be spent In sports and shows, with gladsome merriment.

Come, bless'd converted man,[402] we'll lead the way, As unto heaven I hope we shall.

HOG. Heaven grant we may!

CAR. Come, my Maria and repentant friend, We three have tasted worst of misery, Which now adds joy to our felicity.

HAD. We three are happy we have gain'd much wealth, And though we have done it by a trick of stealth, Yet all, I trust, are pleased, and will our ills acquit, Since it hath sav'd a soul was h.e.l.l's by right.

Y. LORD W. To follow after, then, our lot doth fall; Now rhyme it, Peter.

P. SER. A good night to all. [_Exeunt omnes._