Act 3 — Act III

Scene I.—A chamber in Lady Allworth's house. Enter Lovell and Lady Allworth contracted to one another. He has told her that only a desire to promote the union of her promising young stepson, Allworth, with Margaret Overreach tempted him into a seeming courtship of Sir Giles's daughter. She has told him that her somewhat exaggerated courtesies and attentions to Wellborn were an obligation paid to one who in his prosperous days had ventured all for her dead husband. To them enter Wellborn in a rich habit.

Lady Allworth: You're welcome, sir. Now you look like yourself.

Wellborn: Your creature, madam. I will never hold My life my own, when you please to command it.

Lady Allworth: I'm glad my endeavours prospered. Saw you lately Sir Giles, your uncle?

Wellborn: I heard of him, madam, By his minister, Marrall. He's grown into strange passions About his daughter. This last night he looked for Your lordship at his house; but missing you, And she not yet appearing, his wise head Is much perplexed and troubled.

Overreach (outside): Ha! find her, booby; thou huge lump of nothing. I'll bore thine eyes out else.

Wellborn: May't please your lordship, For some ends of my own, but to withdraw A little out of sight, though not of hearing.

Lovell: You shall direct me.

[Steps aside. Enter Overreach, with distracted looks, driving in Marrall before him.

Overreach: Lady, by your leave, did you see my daughter, lady, And the lord, her husband? Are they in your house? If they are, discover, that I may bid them joy; And, as an entrance to her place of honour, See your ladyship on her left hand, and make curt'sies When she nods on you; which you must receive As a special favour.

Lady Allworth: When I know, Sir Giles, Her state require such ceremony I shall pay it; Meantime, I neither know nor care where she is.

Overreach: Nephew!

Wellborn: Well.

Overreach: No more!

Wellborn: 'Tis all I owe you.

Overreach: I am familiar with the cause that makes you Bear up thus bravely; there's a certain buz Of a stolen marriage—do you hear? Of a stolen marriage; In which, 'tis said, there's somebody hath been cozened. I name no parties.

[Lady Allworth turns away.

Wellborn: Well, sir, and what follows?

Overreach: Marry, this, since you are peremptory. Remember Upon mere hope of your great match I lent you A thousand pounds. Put me in good security, And suddenly, by mortgage or by statute, Of some of your new possessions, or I'll have you Dragged in your lavender robes to the jail. Shall I have security?

Wellborn: No, indeed, you shall not: Nor bond, nor bill, nor bare acknowledgment; Your great looks fright not me. And whereas, sir, You charge me with a debt of a thousand pounds, Either restore my land, or I'll recover A debt, that is truly due to me from you, In value ten times more than what you challenge.

Overreach: Oh, monstrous impudence! Did I not purchase The land left by thy father? [Enter servant with a box. Is not here The deed that does confirm it mine?

Marrall: Now, now.

Wellborn: I do acknowledge none; I ne'er passed o'er Any such land; I grant, for a year or two, You had it in trust; which if you do discharge, Surrendering the possession, you shall ease Yourself and me of chargeable suits in law.

Lady Allworth: In my opinion, he advises well.

Overreach: Good, good; conspire with your new husband, lady. (To Wellborn) Yet, to shut up thy mouth, and make thee give Thyself the lie, the loud lie! I draw out The precious evidence. (Opens the box.) Ha!

Lady Allworth: A fair skin of parchment.

Wellborn: Indented, I confess, and labels too; But neither wax nor words. How? Thunderstruck! Is this your precious evidence, my wise uncle?

Overreach: What prodigy is this? What subtle devil Hath razed out the inscription—the wax Turned into dust? Do you deal with witches, rascal? This juggling shall not save you.

Wellborn: TO save thee would beggar the stock of mercy.

Overreach: Marrall!

Marrall: Sir.

Overreach (flattering him): Though the witnesses are dead, Help with an oath or two; and for thy master I know thou wilt swear anything to dash This cunning sleight; the deed being drawn, too, By thee, my careful Marrall, and delivered When thou wert present, will make good my title. Wilt thou not swear this?

Marrall: I have a conscience not seared up like yours; I know no deeds.

Overreach: Wilt thou betray me?

Marrall: Yes, and uncase you, too. The lump of flesh, The idiot, the patch, the slave, the booby, The property fit only to be beaten, Can now anatomise you, and lay open All your black plots.

Overreach: But that I will live, rogue, to torture thee, And make thee wish and kneel in vain to die, These swords, that keep thee from me, should fix here. I play the fool and make my anger but ridiculous. There will be a time, and place, there will be, cowards! When you shall feel what I dare do. After these storms, at length a calm appears.

[Enter Parson Willdo.

Welcome, most welcome; is the deed done?

Willdo: Yes, I assure you.

Overreach: Vanish all sad thoughts! My doubts and fears are in the titles drowned Of my right honourable, right honourable daughter. A lane there for my lord!

[Loud music. Enter Allworth, Margaret, and Lovell.

Margaret: Sir, first your pardon, then your blessing, with Your full allowance of the choice I have made. (Kneeling) This is my husband.

Overreach: How?

Allworth: So I assure you.

Overreach: Devil! Are they married?

Willdo: They are married, sir; but why this rage to me? Is not this your letter, sir? And these the words, "Marry her to this gentleman"?

Overreach: I never will believe it, 'death! I will not; That I should be gulled, baffled, fooled, defeated By children, all my hopes and labours crossed.

Wellborn: You are so, my grave uncle, it appears.

Overreach: Village nurses revenge their wrongs with curses, I'll waste no words, but thus I take the life Which, wretch, I gave to thee.

[Offers to kill Margaret.

Lovell: Hold, for your own sake!

Overreach: Lord! thus I spit at thee, And at thy counsel; and again desire thee As thou'rt a soldier, let us quit the house And change six words in private.

Lovell: I am ready.

Lady Allworth: Stay, sir; would you contest with one distraited?

Overreach: Are you pale? Borrow his help; though Hercules call it odds, I'll stand against both, as I am, hemmed in thus. Alone, I can do nothing, but I have servants And friends to succour me; and if I make not This house a heap of ashes, or leave one throat uncut, Hell add to my afflictions!

[Exit.

Marrall: Is't not brave sport?

Allworth (to Margaret): Nay, weep not, dearest, though't express your pity.

Marrall: Was it not a rare trick, An't please your worship, to make the deed nothing? I can do twenty neater, if you please To purchase and grow rich. They are mysteries Not to be spoke in public; certain minerals Incorporated in the ink and wax.

Wellborn: You are a rascal. He that dares be false To a master, though unjust, will ne'er be true To any other. Look not for reward Or favour from me. Instantly begone.

Marrall: At this haven false servants still arrive.

[Exit. Re-enter Overreach. [Exit. Re-enter Overreach. Willdo: Some little time I have spent, under your favours, In physical studies, and, if my judgment err not, He's mad beyond recovery.

Overreach: Were they a squadron of pikes, when I am mounted Upon my injuries, shall I fear to charge them?

[Flourishing his sword sheathed.

I'll fall to execution—ha! I am feeble: Some undone widow sits upon mine arm, And takes away the use of 't! And my sword, Glued to my scabbard with wronged orphans' tears, Will not be drawn. Are these the hangmen? But I'll be forced to hell like to myself; Though you were legions of accursed spirits, Thus would I fly among you.

[Rushes forward.

Wellborn: There's no help; Disarm him first, then bind him.

Margaret: Oh, my dear father!

[They force Overreach off.

Allworth: You must be patient, mistress.

Lovell: Pray take comfort. I will endeavour you shall be his guardians In his distraction: and for your land, Master Wellborn, Be it good or ill in law, I'll be an umpire Between you and this the undoubted heir Of Sir Giles Overreach; for me, here's the anchor That I must fix on.

[Takes Lady Allworth's hand.

OOTNOTES: