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.

"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

• To distinguish the speeches of the supposed spectators from those of the real dramatis persona, they are now included in inverted 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?"

9 Lets.] i. e. Hindrances.

1 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.

"Cit. Chicken, I pr'ythee heartily contain thyself; the childer are pretty childer; but when Ralph comes, lamb

Wife. Ay, when Ralph comes, cony !-Well, my youth, you may proceed."

Vent. Well, sir; you know my love, and rest, I hope,

Assured of my consent; get but my daughter's, And wed her when you please. You must be bold, And clap in close unto her; come, I know You have language good enough to win a wench. "Wife. A whoreson tyrant! 'hath been an old stringer in his days, I warrant him!"

2

Hum. I take your gentle offer, and withal
Yield love again for love reciprocal.
Vent. What, Luce! within there!

Enter LUCE.

Luce. Call'd you, sir?

Vent. I did;

Give entertainment to this gentleman;
And see you be not froward.-To her, sir!
My presence will but be an eye-sore to you.

[Exit. Hum. Fair mistress Luce, how do you? are you

well?

Give me your hand, and then I

How doth your little sister, and

And whether you love me or any other?
Luce. Sir, these are quickly answered.
Hum. So they are,

Where women are not cruel. But how far

-hath been an old stringer.] A phrase similar to striker, denoting a wencher.

Is it now distant from the place we are in,
Unto that blessed place, your father's warren?
Luce. What makes you think of that, sir?
Hum. Even that face;

For stealing rabbits whilome in that place,
God Cupid, or the keeper, I know not whether,
Unto my cost and charges brought you thither,
And there began-

Luce. Your game, sir?

Hum. Let no game,

66

Or any thing that tendeth to the same,
Be ever more remember'd, thou fair killer,
For whom I sate me down and brake my tiller.3
Wife. There's a kind gentleman, I warrant
you; when will you do as much for me, George?
Luce. Beshrew me, sir, I'm sorry for your losses;
But, as the proverb says, ' I cannot cry;'

I would you had not seen me!

Hum. So would I

Unless you had more maw to do me good. Luce. Why, cannot this strange passion✦ be withstood?

Send for a constable, and raise the town.

Hum. Oh, no, my valiant love will batter down Millions of constables, and put to flight Even that great watch of Midsummer-day at night."

3 Tiller.] See a note on Philaster, vol. X. p. 164. This pas sage proves that the tiller there mentioned was a steeler, or steelbow, as Theobald conjectured.

• This strange passion.] Sympson says, "To send for a constable and raise a town, to withstand a STRANGE passion, borders seemingly near upon nonsense;" he would therefore read, STRONG passion: But we see no reason why she may not go from one metaphor to another.-Ed. 1778.

5 That great watch of Midsummer-day at night.] What is alla