Volume 1 / Act 2 — SCENE II.—A Hall in Lady Allworth's House.

Enter Allworth, Order, Amble, and Watchall.

Allw. Your courtesies overwhelm me: I much grieve To part from this house, and yet, I find comfort; My attendance on my honourable lord, Whose resolution holds to visit my lady, Will speedily bring me back.

[Knocking at the Gate. Marall and Wellborn within.

Mar. Dar'st thou venture farther? Wellb. Yes, yes, and knock again. Order. 'Tis he; disperse; 'tis Mr. Wellborn. Fur. I know my cue, ne'er doubt me. [Exeunt Amble and Furnice. Enter Marall and Wellborn. Order. You were long since expected. Most welcome, sir. Wellb. Say so much To my friend, I pray you. Order. For your sake, I will, sir. [Exit. Mar. For his sake! Wellb. Mum! this is nothing. Mar. More than ever I would have believed, though I had found it in my primer. Allw. When I have given you reasons for my late harshness, You'll pardon, and excuse me: for, believe me; Tho' now I part abruptly in my service, I will deserve it. Mar. Service! with a vengeance! Wellb. I am satisfied: farewell, Tom. Allw. All joy stay with you. [Exit Allworth. Enter Amble. Amble. You are happily encounter'd: I never yet Presented one so welcome, as I know You will be to my lady. Mar. This is some vision; Or, sure, these men are mad, to worship a dung-hill; It cannot be a truth. Wellb. Be still a pagan, An unbelieving infidel; be so, miscreant, And meditate on blankets, and on dog-whips. Enter Furnace. Fur. I am glad you are come; until I know your pleasure, I knew not how to serve up my lady's dinner. Mar. His pleasure! is it possible? [Aside. Wellb. What's thy will? Fur. Marry, sir, I have some growse and turkey chicken, Some rails and quails; and my lady will'd me to ask you, What kind of sauces best affect your palate, That I may use my utmost skill to please it. Mar. The devil's enter'd this cook: sauce for his palate! That on my knowledge, for a most this twelve-month, Durst wish but cheese-parings, and brown bread on Sundays. Wellb. That way I like them best. Fur. It shall be done, sir. [Exit Furnace. Wellb. What think you of the hedge we shall dine under? Shall we feed gratis? Mar. I know not what to think: Pray you, make me not mad. Enter Order. Order. This place becomes you not: 'Pray you, walk sir, to the dining room. Wellb. I am well here, Till her ladyship quits her chamber. Mar. Well here, say you! 'Tis a rare change! but yesterday, you thought Yourself well in a barn, wrapp'd up in pease-straw. Enter Woman and Chambermaid. Wom. O sir, you are wish'd for. Chamb. My lady dreamt, sir, of you. Wom. And the first command she gave After she rose, was to give her notice When you approached here. Order. Sir, my lady. Exit. Enter Lady Allworth.—Salutes him. Lady A. I come to meet you, and languished till I saw you. This first kiss for form: I allow a second, As token of my friendship. Mar. Heaven bless me! Wellb. I am wholly yours; yet, madam, if you please To grace this gentleman with a salute—— Mar. Salute me at his bidding! Wellb. I shall receive it As a most high favour. [To Marall. Lady A. Sir, your friends are welcome to me. Wellb. Run backward from a lady! and such a lady! Mar. To kiss her foot, is to poor me, a favour I am unworthy of. [Offers to kiss her Foot. Lady A. Nay, pray you rise; And since you are so humble, I'll exalt you: You shall dine with me to-day at mine own table. Mar. Your ladyship's table! I am not good enough To sit at your steward's. Lady A. You are too modest: I will not be denied. Enter Order. Order. Dinner is ready for your ladyship. Lady A. Your arm, Mr. Wellborn: Nay, keep us company. Mar. I was never so grac'd. Mercy on me!

[Exeunt Wellborn, Lady Allworth, Amble, and Marall.

Enter Furnace.

Order. So, we have play'd our parts, and are come off well. But if I know the mystery, why my lady Consented to it, or why Mr. Wellborn Desir'd it, may I perish! Fur. 'Would I had The roasting of his heart, that cheated him, And forces the poor gentleman to these shifts! Of all the griping and extorting tyrants I ever heard or read of, I never met A match to Sir Giles Overreach. Watch. What will you take To tell him so, fellow Furnace? Fur. Just as much As my throat is worth, for that would be the price on't. To have a usurer that starves himself, And wears a cloak of one and twenty years On a suit of fourteen groats, bought of the hangman, To grow rich, is too common: But this Sir Giles feeds high, keeps many servants, Who must at his command do any outrage; Rich in his habit; vast in his expenses; Yet he to admiration still increases In wealth and lordships. Order. He frights men out of their estates, And breaks through all law-nets, made to curb ill men, As they were cobwebs. No man dares reprove him. Such a spirit to dare, and power to do, were never Lodg'd so unluckily. Enter Amble. Amble. Ha! ha! I shall burst. Order. Contain thyself, man. Fur. Or make us partakers Of your sudden mirth. Amble. Ha! ha! my lady has got Such a guest at her table, this term-driver, Marall, This snip of an attorney. Fur. What of him, man? Amble. The knave stinks, and feeds so slovenly! Fur. Is this all? Amble. My lady Drank to him for fashion's sake, or to please Mr. Wellborn, As I live, he rises, and takes up a dish, In which there were some remnants of a boil'd capon, And pledges her in white broth. And when I brought him wine, He leaves his chair, and after a leg or two, Most humbly thanks my worship. Order. Rose already! Amble. I shall be chid.

Enter Lady Allworth, Wellborn, and Marall.

Fur. My lady frowns. Lady A. You attended us well. Let me have no more of this: I observ'd your leering. Sirrah, I'll have you know, whom I think worthy To sit at my table, be he ne'er so mean, When I am present, is not your companion. Order. Nay, she'll preserve what's due to her. Lady A. You are master Of your own will. I know so much of manners As not to inquire your purposes; in a word, To me you are ever welcome, as to a house That is your own. Wellb. Mark that. Mar. With reverence, sir, And it like your worship. Wellb. Trouble yourself no farther, Dear madam; my heart's full of zeal and service. However in my language I am sparing. Come, Mr. Marall. Mar. I attend your worship. [Exeunt Wellborn and Marall. Lady A. I see in your looks you are sorry, and you know me An easy mistress: be merry! I have forgot all. Order and Furnace, come with me; I must give you Farther directions. [Exit. Order. What you please. Fur. We are ready. [Exeunt.