ACT II.

SCENE I.

Kitely, Cafb, Downright.

Kit. Homas, come hither.

There lyes a note within upon my desk,

Here take my key: it is no matter neither.
Where is the boy?

Cafb. Within, fir, i' the warehouse.

Kit. Let him tell over ftraight, that Spanish gold, And weigh it, with the pieces of eight. Do you See the delivery of thofe filver-ftuffs

To mafter Lucar: tell him, if he will,

He fhall ha' the grograns, at the rate I told him,
And I will meet him on the Exchange anon.
Cafb. Good, fir.

Kit. Do you fee that fellow, brother Downright ?
Dow. I, what of him ?

Kit. He is a jewel, brother.

I took him of a child, up at my door,

And chriften'd him, gave him mine own name Thomas, Since bred him at the hofpital; where proving

A toward imp, I call'd him home, and taught him
So much, as I have made him my cashier,

And giv'n him, who had none, a surname, Cash;
And find him in his place fo full of faith,
That I durft truft my life into his hands.

Dow. So would not I in any baftard's, brother,
As it is like he is; although I knew

Myfelf his father. But you faid yo' had fomewhat
To tell me, gentle brother, what is't? what is't?
Kit. Faith, I am very loth to utter it,

As fearing it may hurt your patience :
But that I know your judgment is of strength,
Against the nearness of affection

Dow.

Dow. What need this circumftance? Pray you be direct.

Kit. I will not fay, how much I do afcribe
Unto your friendship, nor in what regard
I hold your love; but let my past behaviour,
And ufage of your fifter, but confirm

How well I have been affected to your

Dow. You are too tedious, come to the matter, the

matter.

Kit. Then (without further ceremony) thus: My Brother Well-bred, fir, (I know not how) Of late, is much declin'd in what he was, And greatly alter'd in his difpofition. When he came first to lodge here in my houfe, Ne'er truft me if I were not proud of him: Methought he bare himself in fuch a fashion, So full of man, and sweetness in his carriage, "And (what was chief) it fhew'd not borrow'd in him,

"But all he did became him as his own,

"And feem'd as perfect, proper, and poffeft,
"As breath with life, or colour with the blood.
But now his courfe is fo irregular,

So loose, affected, and depriv'd of grace,
And he himself withal fo far faln off

From that first place, as fcarce no note remains,
To tell mens judgments where he lately stood.
He's grown a stranger to all due respect,
Forgetful of his friends; and not content
To ftale himself in all focieties,

He makes my houfe here common as a mart,
A theater, a publick receptacle

For giddy humour, and diseased riot;
And here (as in a tavern, or a stews)

He and his wild affociates, fpend their hours,
In repetition of lafcivious jefts,

Swear

Swear, leap, drink, dance, and revel night by night, Controul my fervants; and indeed what not?

Dow. 'Sdeyns, I know not what I fhould fay to him, ' the whole world! He values me at a crackt three-farthings, for ought I fee. It will never out of the flesh that's bred i' the bone! I have told him enough one would think, if that would ferve: But counfel to him, is as good as a fhoulder of mutton to a fick horfe. Well! he knows what to truft to, for George: let him fpend, and fpend, and domineer, 'till his heart ake; an' he think to be reliev'd by me, when he is got into one o' your citypounds, the counters, he has the wrong fow by the ear i' faith; and claps his difh at the wrong man's door: I'll lay my hand o' my half-peny, part with't to fetch him out, I'll affure him. Kit. Nay, good brother, let it not trouble you thus.

e're I

Dow. 'Sdeath, he mads me, I could eat my very fpur-leathers for anger! But, why are you fo tame? Why do not you speak to him, and tell him how he difquiets your house?

Kit. O, there are divers reafons to diffuade, brother. But, would yourfelf vouchfafe to travail in it, (Though but with plain and eafie circumstance) It would both come much better to his fenfe, And favour lefs of ftomach, or of paffion. You are his elder brother, and that title

1 He values me at a crackt three farthings, for ought I fee.] The three-farthing pieces current in the reign of Queen Elizabeth were made of filver; and confequently very thin, and much crackt by public ufe.

(6 My face fo thin,

"That in mine ear I durft not stick a rofe,
"Left men fhould fay, look where three-farthings goes.
SHAKESPEAR'S King John, At 1. Sc. 2.

Both

Both gives, and warrants your authority,
Which (by your prefence feconded) must breed
A kind of duty in him, and regard:
Whereas, if I fhould intimate the least,
It would but add contempt to his neglect,
Heap worfe on ill, make up a pile of hatred,
That in the rearing would come tott'ring down,
And in the ruin bury all our love.

Nay more than this, brother, if I fhould speak,
He would be ready from his heat of humour,
And over-flowing of the vapour in him,
To blow the ears of his familiars,

With the falfe breath of telling, what difgraces,
And low difparagements, I had put upon him.
Whilft they, fir, to relieve him in the fable,
Make their loose comments upon every word,
Gesture, or look, I ufe; mock me all over,
From my flat cap, unto my fhining fhoes;
And, out of their impetuous rioting phant'fies,
Beget fome flander that fhall dwell with me.
And what would that be, think you ? marry this,
They would give out (because my wife is fair,
My felf but lately married, and my fifter
Here fojourning a virgin in my house)
That I were jealous! nay as fure as death,

That they would fay. And how that I had quarrell'd My brother purpofely, thereby to find,

An apt pretext, to banish them my house.

Dow. Mafs, perhaps fo: they're like enough to do it. Kit. Brother, they would, believe it; so should I (Like one of these penurious quack-falvers) But fet the bills up to mine own difgrace, And try experiments upon my felf; Lend fcorn and envy opportunity, To ftab my reputation, and good name

SCENE

SCENE II.

Mathew, Bobadill, Down-right, Kitely.

Mat. I will speak to him

Bob. Speak to him? away, by the foot of Pharaohi you fhall not, you fhall not do him that grace. The time of day, to you gentleman o' the houfe. Is Mr. Well-bred ftirring?

Dow. How then? what should he do?

Bob. Gentleman of the houfe, it is to you; is he within, fir?

Kit. He came not to his lodging to night, fir, I affure you.

Dow. Why, do you hear? you!*

Bob. The gentleman-citizen hath fatisfied me, I'll talk to no fcavenger.

Dow. How, fcavenger? ftay, fir, stay.
Kit. Nay, brother Down-right.

Dow. 'Heart! ftand you away, an' you love me. Kit. You fhall not follow him now, I pray you, brother, good faith you fhall not; I will over-rule you.

Dow. Ha! fcavenger? well, go to, I fay little : but by this good day, (God forgive me I fhould fwear) if I put it up fo, fay I am the rankeft cow that ever pift. 'Sdeyns, and I fwallow this, I'll ne'er draw my fword in the fight of fleet-ftreet again while I live; I'll fit in a barn with madge-howlet, and catch mice firft. Scavenger? 'heart, and I'll go near to fill that huge tumbrel-flop of yours, with fomewhat, an' I have good luck your Garagantua breech cannot carry it away fo.

2 Why, do you hear you?] This is the reading of the laft edition, and is evidently corrupt. I corrected it as it ftands above; and turning to the first folio, found my conjecture confirmed by it.