lings; let's have the waits of Southwark! they are as rare fellows as any are in England, and that will fetch them all o'er the water, with a vengeance, as if they were mad.

Prol. You shall have them. Will you sit down then?

Cit. Ay.-Come, wife.

Wife. Sit you merry all, gentlemen; Im bold to sit amongst you for my ease.

Prol. From all that's near the court, from all that's great

Within the compass of the city-walls,

We now have brought our scene: Fly far from hence
All private tares, [all] immodest phrases,
Whatever may but shew like vicious!

For wicked mirth never true pleasure brings,
But honest minds are pleased with honest things.-
Thus much for what we do; but, for Ralph's
part, you must answer for yourself."

Cit. Take you no care for Ralph; he'll discharge himself, I warrant you.

Wife. I'faith, gentlemen, I'll give my word for Ralph.

5 All private taxes, immodest phrases,

Whate'er may but shew-] The variations were prescribed by an anonymous correspondent of Mr Sympson.-Ed. 1778. "All private taxes," in the first of these lines, means, vate taskings," that is, any reflections on individuals.

"all pri

For Ralph's part you must answer for yourself.] I once thought that this latter for was to be struck out as redundant; but upon examination we shall find it not a redundancy, but a deficiency, and should read thus, answer for't yourself.-Sympson.

The old reading is easy, and correct enough for common conversation.-Ed. 1778.

ACT I. SCENE I.

A Room in the House of Venterwels.

Enter VENTERWELS and JASPER.

Vent. Sirrah, I'll make you know you are my prentice,

And whom my charitable love redeem'd

Even from the fall of fortune; gave thee heat
And growth, to be what now thou art, new-cast thee;
Adding the trust of all I have, at home,
In foreign staples, or upon the sea,
To thy direction; tied the good opinions
Both of myself and friends to thy endeavours;
So fair were thy beginnings: But with these,
As I remember, you had never charge

To love your master's daughter; and even then
When I had found a wealthy husband for her;
I take it, sir, you had not: But, however,
I'll break the neck of that commission,

And make you know you're but a merchant's factor.

Jasp. Sir, I do liberally confess I am yours,
Bound both by love and duty to your service,
In which my labour hath been all my profit;
I have not lost in bargain, nor delighted
To wear your honest gains upon my back;
Nor have I given a pension to my blood,

Or lavishly in play consumed your stock:
These, and the miseries that do attend them,
I dare with innocence proclaim are strangers
To all my temperate actions. For your daughter,
If there be any love to my deservings

Borne by her virtuous self, I cannot stop it;
Nor am I able to refrain her wishes:

She is private to herself, and best of knowledge
Whom she will make so happy as to sigh for.
Besides, I cannot think you mean to match her
Unto a fellow of so lame a presence,

One that hath little left of nature in him.

Vent. 'Tis very well, sir; I can tell your wisdom How all this shall be cured.

Jasp. Your care becomes you,

Vent. And thus it must be, sir: I here discharge

you

My house and service; take your liberty;
And when I want a son I'll send for you.

[Exit.

Jasp. These be the fair rewards of them that love.

Oh, you that live in freedom never prove
The travail of a mind led by desire!

Enter LUCE.

Luce. Why, how now, friend? struck with my father's thunder?

Jasp. Struck, and struck dead, unless the remedy Be full of speed and virtue; I am, now,

What I expected long, no more your father's.
Luce. But mine?

Jasp. But yours, and only yours, I am;
That's all I have to keep me from the statute.
You dare be constant still?

Luce. Oh, fear me not!

In this I dare be better than a woman.
Nor shall his anger nor his offers move me,

Were they both equal to a prince's power.
Jasp. You know my rival?

Luce. Yes, and love him dearly;

Even as I love an ague, or foul weather:
I pr'ythee, Jasper, fear him not!
Jasp. Oh, no;

I do not mean to do him so much kindness.
But to our own desires: You know the plot
We both agreed on?

Luce. Yes, and will perform

My part exactly.

Jasp. I desire no more.

Farewell, and keep my heart; 'tis yours.
Luce. I take it;

He must do miracles, makes me forsake it.

[Exeunt. "Cit. Fy upon 'em, little infidels! what a matter's here now? Well, I'll be hang'd for a halfpenny, if there be not some abomination knavery in this play. Well; let 'em look to't; Ralph must come, and if there be any tricks a-brewing"Wife. Let 'em brew and bake too, husband, a' God's name; Ralph will find all out, I warrant you, an they were older than they are.-I pray, my pretty youth, is Ralph ready?

"Boy. He will be presently.

1

Wife. Now, I pray you, make my commendations unto him, and withal, carry him this stick of liquorice; tell him his mistress sent it him;

7 But to our own desires.] Probably designs.-Ed. 1778. The text is perfectly right, being accordant with the language of the age, and meaning," to what we ourselves desire to con summate."

To distinguish the speeches of the supposed spectators from those of the real dramatis personæ, they are now included in in verted commas.

and bid him bite a piece; 'twill open his pipes the better, say."

[Exit Boy.

Enter VENTERWELS and Master HUMPHREY.

Vent. Come, sir, she's yours; upon my faith, she's yours;

You have my hand: for other idle lets,

Between your hopes and her, thus with a wind They are scattered, and no more. My wanton prentice,

That like a bladder blew himself with love,
I have let out, and sent him to discover
New masters yet unknown.

Hum. I thank you, sir,

Indeed I thank you, sir; and, ere I stir,
It shall be known, however you do deem,
I am of gentle blood, and gentle seem.
Vent. Oh, sir, I know it certain.
Hum. Sir, my friend,

Although, as writers say, all things have end,
And that we call a pudding hath his two,
Oh, let it not seem strange, I pray to you,
If in this bloody simile I put

My love, more endless than frail things or gut.
"Wife. Husband, I pr'ythee, sweet lamb, tell
me one thing; but tell me truly.—Stay, youths, I
beseech you, till I question my husband.

"Cit. What is it, mouse?

"Wife. Sirrah, didst thou ever see a prettier child? how it behaves itself, I warrant ye! and speaks and looks, and perts up the head! I pray you, brother, with your favour, were you never none of Master Moncaster's scholars?"

Lets.] i. e. Hindrances.

・ Were you never none of Master Moncaster's scholars.] We should read Mulcaster, who was master of Merchant Taylor's school since its original institution in 1561.