Fitz. Why that's all one, if 'twere, sir, but my fancy.

But I have a business, that perhaps I would have
Brought to his office.

Meer. O sir! I have done then;

If he can be made profitable to you.

Fitz. Yes, and it shall be one of my ambitions To have it the first business: may I not?

Ever. So you do mean to make't a perfect business. Fitz. Nay, I'll do that, assure you; shew me once. Meer. Sir, it concerns, the first be a perfect business, For his own honour.

Ever. Ay, and the reputation Too, of my place.

Fitz. Why, why do I take this course, else?
I am not altogether an ass, good gentlemen.
Wherefore should I consult you, do you think?
To make a song on't? How's your manner? tell us.
Meer. Do, satisfy him; give him the whole course.
Ever. First, by request, or otherwise, you offer
Your business to the court; wherein you crave
The judgment of the master and the assistants.
Fitz. Well, that is done now; what do you upon it?
Ever. We straight, sir, have recourse to the spring-
head:

Visit the ground, and so disclose the nature;
If it will carry, or no. If we do find,
By our proportions, it is like to prove
A sullen and black business; that it be
Incorrigible, and out of treaty; then
We file it, a dependence!

Fitz. So, 'tis filed:

What follows? I do love the order of these things.
Ever. We then advise the party, if he be

A man of means and havings, that forthwith
He settle his estate; if not, at least

That he pretend it: for, by that, the world

Takes notice, that it now is a dependence:

And this we call, sir, publication.

Fitz. Very sufficient: after publication, now? Ever. Then we grant out our process, which is diverse;

Either by chartel, sir, or ore-tenus,

Wherein the challenger and challengee,

Or, with your Spaniard, your provocador

And provocado, have their several courses-
Fitz. I have enough on't for an hundred pieces!
Yes, for two hundred, under-write me, do.
Your man will take my bond?

Meer. That he will, sure:

But these same citizens, they are such sharks!
There's an old debt of forty, I gave my word

[Aside to FITZ.

For one is run away to the Bermudas,"
And he will hook in that, or he'll not do.

Fitz. Why, let him. That and the ring, and a

hundred pieces,

Will all but make two hundred.

Meer. No, no more, sir.

What ready arithmetic you have!-Do you hear?

[Aside to GILTHEAD. A pretty morning's work for you, this! do it,

You shall have twenty pound on't.
Gilt. Twenty pieces?

Plu. Good father, do't.

Meer. You will hook still? well,

Shew us your ring. You could not have done this now, With gentleness, at first, we might have thank'd you? But groan, and have your courtesies come from you Like a hard stool, and stink! A man may draw Your teeth out easier than your money. Come,

7 For one is run away to the Bermudas.] Not to the islands, but to the alleys of this name; the receptacles of thieves, fraudulent debtors, &c., already mentioned. See vol. iv. p. 407.

Were little Gilthead here, no better a nature,

I should ne'er love him, that could pull his lips off,

now.

[Pulls him by the lips.

Was not thy mother a gentlewoman?

Plu. Yes, sir.

Meer. And went to the court at Christmas, and St.

George-tide,

And lent the lords' men chains?

Plu. Of gold and pearl, sir.

Meer. I knew thou must take after somebody, Thou could'st not be else. This was no shop-look! I'll have thee captain Gilthead, and march up, And take in Pimlico, and kill the bush

At every tavern. Thou shalt have a wife,

If smocks will mount, boy. [Turns to GILTHEAD. How now! you have there now

Some Bristol stone, or Cornish counterfeit

You'd put upon us!

Gilt. No, sir, I assure you :

Look on his lustre, he will speak himself!

I'll give you leave to put him in the mill :

He is no great large stone, but a true paragon,
He has all his corners, view him well.

Meer. He's yellow.

Gilt. Upon my faith, sir, of the right black water, And very deep! he's set without a foil, too. Here's one of the yellow-water, I'll sell cheap. Meer. And what do you value this at, thirty pound? Gilt. No, sir, he cost me forty ere he was set. Meer. Turnings, you mean? I know your equi

vokes :

You are grown the better fathers of 'em o' late.

8

You're grown the better fathers of 'em o' late.] Satirically reflecting on the Jesuits, the great patrons of equivocation. WHAL. Or rather on the Puritans, I think; who were sufficiently obnoxious to this charge. The Jesuits would be out of place here.

Well, where it must go 'twill be judged, and therefore
Look you't be right. You shall have fifty pound for't,
Not a denier more.-[To FITZ.] And because you
would

Have things dispatch'd, sir, I'll go presently,
Inquire out this lady. If you think good, sir,
Having an hundred pieces ready, you may
Part with those now, to serve my kinsman's turns,
That he may wait upon you anon the freer;

And take them, when you have seal'd, again, of Gilthead.

Fitz. I care not if I do.

Meer. And dispatch all Together.

Fitz. There, they are just a hundred pieces;

I have told them over twice a day these two months. [Turns them out on the table. Meer. Well, go and seal then, sir; make your return As speedy as you can.

[Exeunt FITZDOTTREL, GILTHEAD, and PLUTARCHUS. Ever. Come, give me. [They fall to sharing.

Meer. Soft, sir.

Ever. Marry, and fair too then; I'll no delaying, sir. Meer. But you will hear?

Ever. Yes, when I have my dividend.

Meer. There's forty pieces for you.

Ever. What is this for?

Meer. Your half: you know, that Gilthead must

have twenty.

Ever. And what's your ring there? Shall I have

none o' that?

Meer. O, that is to be given to a lady.

Ever. Is it so?

Meer. By that good light, it is.

Ever. Come, give me

Ten pieces more, then.

Meer. Why?

Ever. For Gilthead, sir!

Do you think I'll allow him any such share?
Meer. You must.

Ever. Must I! do you your musts, sir, I'll do mine : You will not part with the whole, sir, will you? Go to, Give me ten pieces!

Meer. By what law do you this?

Ever. Even lion-law, sir, I must roar else.

Meer. Good!

Ever. You have heard how the ass made his divi

sions wisely?

Meer. And I am he!-I thank you.

Ever. Much good do you, sir.

Meer. I shall be rid of this tyranny one day.

Ever. Not

While you do eat, and lie about the town here,
And cozen in your bullions; and I stand,

Your name of credit, and compound your business,
Adjourn your beatings every term, and make
New parties for your projects. I have now
A pretty task of it, to hold you in

With your lady Tailbush: but the toy will be
How we shall both come off!

Meer. Leave you your doubting,

And do your portion, what's assign'd you: I
Never fail'd yet.

Ever. With reference to your aids!—

You'll still be unthankful. Where shall I meet you, anon?

1 And cozen in your bullions.] I have little to add to what has been already advanced on this word in the last edition of Massinger. See vol. iii. p. 390. It appears to be some article (trunk-hose, or doublet) of spurious finery, furnished with globular gilt buttons, and adopted by gamblers and others, as a mark of wealth, to entrap the unwary. The word occurs in Brome. "I'll impeach you for foul incontinence, and shaking your old bullion trunks on my trucklebed." The Sparagus Garden. Here the person spoken of is a wealthy

usurer.