Fitz. Well, then I have won?

Wit. Sir, and I may win too.

Fitz. O yes! no doubt on't. I'll take careful order,

That she shall hang forth ensigns at the window,
To tell you when I am absent! Or I'll keep
Three or four footmen, ready still of purpose,
To run and fetch you at her longings, sir!
I'll go bespeak me straight a gilt caroch,
For her and you to take the air in: yes,
Into Hyde-park, and thence into Blackfriars,
Visit the painters, where you may see pictures,
And note the properest limbs, and how to make
them!

Or what do you say unto a middling gossip,'
To bring you ay together, at her lodging,
Under pretext of teaching of my wife

Some rare receipt of drawing almond-milk, ha? It shall be a part of my care. Good sir, God be wi' you!

I have kept the contract, and the cloke's mine

own.

Wit. Why, much good do't you, sir: it may

fall out,

That you have bought it dear, though I've not

sold it.

[Exit. Fitz. A pretty riddle! fare you well, good sir. Wife, your face this way; look on me, and

think

You had a wicked dream, wife, and forget it. Man. This is the strangest motion I e'er saw. [Exit. Fitz. Now, wife, sits this fair cloke the worse upon me

Or what do you say unto a middling gossip?] A go between, an internuntia, as the Latin writers would have called her. WHAL

For my great sufferings, or your little patience, ha? They laugh, you think?

Mrs. Fitz. Why, sir, and you might see't. What thought they have of you, may be soon collected

By the young gentleman's speech.

Fitz. Young gentleman!

Death, you are in love with him, are you? could

he not

Be named the gentleman, without the young? Up to your cabin again.

Mrs. Fitz. My cage, you were best

To call it.

Fitz. Yes, sing there. You'd fain be making Blanc-manger with him at your mother's!

know you.

Go, get you up.—

Enter PUG.

I

[Exit Mrs. Fitz.

How now! what say you, Devil?

Pug. Here is one Engine, sir, desires to speak with you.

Fitz. I thought he brought some news of a broker! well,

Let him come in, good Devil; fetch him else.

Re-enter ENGINE.

[Exit Pug.

O, my fine Engine! what's the affair, more cheats? Eng. No, sir, the wit, the brain, the great projector,

I told you of, is newly come to town.

Fitz. Where, Engine?

Eng. I have brought him (he's without)

Ere he pull'd off his boots, sir; but so follow'd For businesses!

Fitz. But what is a projector?

I would conceive.

Eng. Why, one, sir, that projects

Ways to enrich men, or to make them great,
By suits, by marriages, by undertakings:
According as he sees they humour it.
Fitz. Can he not conjure at all?

Eng. I think he can, sir,

To tell you true, But you do know, of late, The state hath ta'en such note of 'em, and compell'd 'em

To enter such great bonds, they dare not practise. Fitz. 'Tis true, and I lie fallow for't the while! Eng. O, sir, you'll grow the richer for the rest. Fitz. I hope I shall: but, Engine, you do talk Somewhat too much o' my courses: my cloke

customer

Could tell me strange particulars.

Eng. By my means?

Fitz. How should he have them else?

Eng. You do not know, sir,

What he has; and by what arts: a money'd man,

sir,

And is as great with your almanack-men as you

are.

Fitz. That gallant!

Eng. You make the other wait too long here; And he is extreme punctual.

Fitz, Is he a gallant?

Eng. Sir, you shall see: he's in his riding suit, As he comes now from court: but here him speak; Minister matter to him, and then tell me. [Exeunt.

ACT II. SCENE I.

A Room in Fitzdottrel's House.

Enter FITZDOTTREL, ENGINE, and MEERCRAFT, followed by TRAINS with a bag, and three or four Attendants.

Meer. Sir, money is a whore, a bawd, a drudge; Fit to run out on errands: let her go. Via, pecunia! when she's run and gone, And fled, and dead; then will I fetch her again With aqua vite, out of an old hogshead! While there are lees of wine, or dregs of beer, I'll never want her! Coin her out of cobwebs, Dust, but I'll have her! raise wool upon egg shells,

Sir, and make grass grow out of marrow-bones, To make her come.-Commend me to your [To 1 Attendant.

mistress.

Say, let the thousand pound but be had ready, And it is done. [Exit 1 Atten.]—I would but see the creature

Of flesh and blood, the man, the prince indeed, That could employ so many millions

As I would help him to.

Fitz. How talks he? millions!

Meer. [to 2 Attendant ] I'll give you an account

of this to-morrow.

[Exit 2 Atten.

-Yes, I will take no less, and do it too;

If they were myriads: and without the Devil,
By direct means, it shall be good in law.
Eng. Sir.

Meer. [to 3 Atten.] Tell master Woodcock, I'll not fail to meet him

Upon the Exchange at night; pray him to have

The writings there, and we'll dispatch it. [Exit 3 Atten.]-Sir,

You are a gentleman of a good presence,
A handsome man; I have consider'd you
As a fit stock to graft honours upon :

I have a project to make you a duke now.
That you must be one, within so many months
As I set down, out of true reasons of state,
You shall not avoid it. But you must hearken,
then.

Eng. Hearken! why, sir, do you doubt his ears? Alas!

You do not know master Fitzdottrel.

Fitz. He does not know me indeed; I thank you, Engine,

For rectifying him.

Meer. Good! Why, Engine, then

I'll tell it you. (I see you have credit here,
And, that you can keep counsel, I'll not question.)
He shall but be an undertaker with me,

In a most feasible business. It shall cost him
Nothing.

Eng. Good, sir.

Meer. Except he please, but's countenance, (That I will have) to appear in't, to great men, For which I'll make him one. He shall not draw A string of's purse. I'll drive his patent for him. We'll take in citizens, commoners, and aldermen, To bear the charge, and blow them off again, Like so many dead flies, when it is carried. The thing is for recovery of drown'd land,*

2 The thing is for recovery of drown'd land,] This was the age of projects and monopolies; and the prevailing humour is not unseasonably ridiculed by the poet. 'Tis probable, that a design