Act 1 — Scene I.[2973]
Reading edition
Scene I.[2973]
Enter Merchant [Venturewell] and Jasper, his Prentice.
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,[2974] 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 charge10 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 are but a merchant’s factor.15 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;20 Nor have I given a pension to my blood,[2975] Or lavishly in play consum’d your stock; These, and the miseries that do attend them, I dare with innocence proclaim are strangers24 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’s private to herself, and best of knowledge[2976] Whom she will make so happy as to sigh for;30 Besides, I cannot think you mean to match her Unto a fellow of so lame a presence,[2977] One that hath little left of nature in him. Vent. ’T is very well, sir: I can tell your wisdom How all this shall be cur’d. Jasp. Your care becomes you.35 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 prove40 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.45 Luce. But mine. Jasp. But yours, and only yours, I am; That ’s all I have to keep me from the statute.[2978] 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,50 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 prithee, Jasper, fear him not. Jasp. Oh, no! I do not mean to do him so much kindness.55 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;60 He must do miracles makes me forsake it. Exeunt [severally].
Cit. Fie 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 tricks65 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.—[Enter Boy.]—I pray, my pretty youth, is70 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 to75 him; and bid him bite a piece; ’t will open his pipes the better, say.
[Exit Boy.]