You have some feat to do alone, now, I see;
You wish me gone; well, I will find you out,
And bring you after to the audit.

Meer. 'Slight,

[Exit.

There's Engine's share, too, I had forgot! this reign

Is too-too-unsupportable; I must

Quit myself of this vassalage.—

Enter ENGINE, followed by WITTIPOL.

How goes the cry?

Engine! welcome.

Eng. Excellent well.

Meer. Will it do?

Where's Robinson?

Eng. Here is the gentleman, sir,

Will undertake it himself. I have acquainted him. Meer. Why did you so?

Eng. Why, Robinson would have told him,
You know and he's a pleasant wit, will hurt
Nothing you purpose. Then he's of opinion,
That Robinson might want audacity,

She being such a gallant. Now, he has been
In Spain, and knows the fashions there; and can
Discourse; and being but mirth, he says, leave much
To his care.

Meer. But he is too tall!

Eng. For that,

He has the bravest device (you'll love him for't)

To say, he wears cioppinos; and they do so

In Spain and Robinson's as tall as he.

Meer. Is he so?

Eng. Every jot.

Meer. Nay, I had rather

To trust a gentleman with it, of the two.

Eng. Pray you go to him then, sir, and salute him. Meer. Sir, my friend Engine has acquainted you

With a strange business here.

Wit. A merry one, sir.

The duke of Drown'd-land and his dutchess?
Meer. Yes, sir.

Now that the conjurors have laid him by,

I have made bold to borrow him a while.

Wit. With purpose, yet, to put him out, I hope,

To his best use.

Meer. Yes, sir.

Wit. For that small part

That I am trusted with, put off

your care:

I would not lose to do it, for the mirth

Will follow of it; and well, I have a fancy.

Meer. Sir, that will make it well.

Wit. You will report it so.

Where must I have my dressing?

Eng. At my house, sir.

Meer. You shall have caution, sir, for what he yields, To sixpence.

Wit. You shall pardon me: I will share, sir, In your sports only, nothing in your purchase.2 But you must furnish me with compliments,

To the manner of Spain; my coach, my guardaduennas.

Meer. Engine's your provedoré. But, sir, I must,
Now I have entered trust with you thus far,
Secure still in your quality, acquaint you

With somewhat beyond this. The place design'd
To be the scene for this our merry matter,
Because it must have countenance of women,
To draw discourse, and offer it, is here by,
At the lady Tailbush's.

Wit. I know her, sir,

And her gentleman-usher.

2 — nothing in your purchase,] i.e. in the unlawful profits you expect to make of Fitzdottrel. Compliments in the next line is used in the old and proper sense of the word; for whatever was necessary to the completion of the business in hand.

Meer. Master Ambler?

Wit. Yes, sir.

Meer. Sir, it shall be no shame to me, to confess,
To you, that we poor gentlemen that want acres,
Must for our needs turn fools up, and plough ladies
Sometimes, to try what glebe they are: and this
Is no unfruitful piece. She and I now
Are on a project for the fact, and venting
Of a new kind of fucus, paint for ladies,
To serve the kingdom: wherein she herself
Hath travailed, specially, by way of service
Unto her sex, and hopes to get the monopoly
As the reward of her invention.

Wit. What is her end in this?
Meer. Merely ambition,

Sir, to grow great, and court it with the secret,
Though she pretend some other. For she's dealing
Already upon caution for the shares;

And master Ambler he is named examiner
For the ingredients, and the register

Of what is vented, and shall keep the office.
Now, if she break with you of this, (as I

Must make the leading thread to your acquaintance,
That, how experience gotten in your being

Abroad, will help our business,) think of some

Pretty additions, but to keep her floating;

It may be she will offer you a part:

Any strange names of

Wit. Sir, I have my instructions.

Is it not high time to be making ready?

Meer. Yes, sir.

Eng. The fool's in sight, Dottrel.

Meer. Away then. [Exeunt ENGINE and WITTIPOL.

Re-enter FITZDOTTREL.

Meer. Return'd so soon!

Fitz. Yes, here's the ring: I have seal'd.

But there's not so much gold in all the Row,3 he

says

Till it come from the mint: 'tis ta'en up for the games

ters.

Meer. There's a shop-shift! plague on 'em!
Fitz. He does swear it.

Meer. He'll swear and forswear too, it is his trade;
You should not have left him.

Fitz. 'Slid, I can go back,

And beat him yet.

Meer. No, now let him alone.

Fitz. I was so earnest after the main business, To have this ring gone.

Meer. True, and it is time.

I have learn'd, sir, since you went, her ladyship eats
With the lady Tailbush, here hard by.

Fitz. In the lane here?

Meer. Yes; if you had a servant now of presence,
Well clothed, and of an airy, voluble tongue,
Neither too big nor little for his mouth,

That could deliver your wife's compliment,
To send along withal.

Fitz. I have one, sir,

A very handsome gentleman-like fellow,
That I do mean to make my dutchess' usher-

I entertain'd him but this morning too :

I'll call him to you. The worst of him is his name.
Meer. She'll take no note of that, but of his message.
Fitz. Devil!-

Enter PUG.

How like you him, sir ?—Pace, go a little,
Let's see you move.

3

in all the Row.] "That part of Cheapside between the end of Broad-street and the Cross, is called Goldsmith's Row, from its being inhabited by Goldsmiths." Stow's Survey, p. 391. Edit. 1633.

Meer. He'll serve, sir; give it him, And let him go along with me, I'll help To present him and it.

Fitz. Look you do, sirrah,

Discharge this well, as you expect your place.
Do you hear? go on, come off with all your honours.
I would fain see him do it.

Meer. Trust him with it.

Fitz. Remember kissing of your hand, and answering With the French time, and flexure of your body. I could now so instruct him--and for his wordsMeer. I'll put them in his mouth.

Fitz. O, but I have them

Of the very academies.

Meer. Sir, you'll have use for them Anon yourself, I warrant you, after dinner, When you are call'd.

Fitz. 'Slight, that will be just play-time.

It cannot be, I must not lose the play!

Meer. Sir, but you must, if she appoint to sit,

And she is president.

Fitz. 'Slid, it is the DEVIL.

Meer. An'twere his dam too, you must now apply

Yourself, sir, to this wholly, or lose all.

Fitz. If I could but see a piece

Meer. Sir, never think on't.

Fitz. Come but to one act, and I did not care

But to be seen to rise and go away,

To vex the players, and to punish their poet;
Keep him in awe-

Meer. But say that he be one

Will not be aw'd, but laugh at you; how then?
Fitz. Then he shall pay for's dinner himself.
Meer. Perhaps,

He would do that twice, rather than thank you.*

4 Perhaps,

He would do that twice, rather than thank you.] This ill-timed