The British Drama: pt. 1-2. Comedies

When heard you of Donna Margaritta, the great heiress?

Mich. I hear every hour of her, though I ne'er
saw her;

She is the main discourse. Noble Don Juan de
Castro,

How happy were that man could catch this wench

up,

And live at ease! She's fair, and young, and wealthy,

Infinite wealthy, and as gracious, too,

In all her entertainments, as men report.
Juan. But she is proud, sir; that I know for
certain;

And that comes seldom without wantonness :
He, that shall marry her, must have a rare hand.
Mich. Would I were married! I would find
that wisdom,

With a light rein to rule my wife. If e'er woman,
Of the most subtile mould, went beyond me,
I'd give boys leave to hoot me out of the parish.
Enter Servant.

Juan. I am, sweet lady.

Cla. I have a kinsman, and a noble friend, Employed in those wars; may be, sir, you know him;

Don Campusano, captain of carbines,
To whom I would request your nobleness
To give this poor remembrance. [Gives a letter.
Juan. I shall do it:

I know the gentleman, a most worthy captain.
Cla. Something in private.
Juan. Step aside : I'll serve thec.

[Exeunt JUAN and CLARA,
Mich. Prithee, let me see thy face.
Estif. Sir, you must pardon me;
Women of our sort, that maintain fair memories,
And keep suspect off from their chastities,
Had need wear thicker veils.

Mich. I am no blaster of a lady's beauty,
Nor bold intruder on her special favours :
I know how tender reputation is,
And with what guards it ought to be preserved.
Lady, you may to me

Estif. You must excuse me, signior, I come

Ser. Sir, there be two gentlewomen attend to Not here to sell myself.

speak with you.

Juan. Wait on them in.

Mich. Are they two handsome women?

Ser. They seem so, very handsome! but they're veiled, sir.

Mich. Thou puttest sugar in my mouth. How it melts with me!

I love a sweet young wench.

Mich. As I am a gentleman; by the honour of a soldier!

Estif. I believe you;

I pray be civil: I believe you'd see me,

And when you've seen me, I believe you'll like

me;

But in a strange place, to a stranger, too,
As if I came on purpose to betray you,

Juan. Wait on them in, I say. [Exit Servant. Indeed I will not.
Mich. Don Juan.

Juan. Michael, how you burnish?

Will not this soldier's heat out of your bones yet?
Mich. There be two.

Juan. Say honest, what shame have you, then?
Mich. I would fain see that.

I've been in the Indies twice, and have seen
strange things;

But for two honest women :-one I read of once.
Juan, Prithee, be modest.

Mich. I'll be any thing.

Mich. I shall love you dearly,
And 'tis a sin to fling away affection;
I have no mistress; no desire to honour
Any but you.

I know not, you have struck me with your mo-
desty

So deep, and taken from me

All the desire, I might bestow on others-
Quickly, before they come.

Estif. Indeed, I dare not.
But since I see you're so desirous, sir,
To view a poor face, that can merit nothing

Enter Servant, DONNA CLARA and ESTIFANIA, But your repentance

veiled.

Juan. You're welcome, ladies.

Mich. Both hooded! I like them well though:
They came not for advice in law, sure, hither.
They're very modest; 'tis a fine preludium.
Juan. With me, or with this gentleman, would
you speak, lady?

Cla. With you, sir, as I guess, Juan de Castro.
Mich. Her curtain opens; she is a pretty gen-
tlewoman.

Juan. I am the man, and shall be bound to fortune,

I may do any service to your beauties.

Cla. Captain, I hear you're marching down to
Flanders,

To serve the Catholic king.

Mich. It must needs be excellent.

Estif. And with what honesty you ask it of

Alt. Good-morrow, ladies.
All. 'Morrow, my good madam.

1 Lady. How does the sweet young beauty, lady Margaret?

2 Lady. Has she slept well after her walk last night?

1 Lady. Are her dreams gentle to her mind? Alt. All's well,

She's very well: she sent for you thus suddenly,
To give her counsel in a business
That much concerns her.

2 Lady. She does well and wisely, To ask the counsel of the ancientest.

Madam, Our years have run through many things she knows not.

Alt. She would fain marry.

1 Lady. 'Tis a proper calling,

And well beseems her years. Who should she yoke with?

Alt. That is left to argue on. I pray, come in And break your fast; drink a good cup or two, To strengthen your understandings, then she'll tell ye.

2 Lady. And good wine breeds good counsel; we'll yield to ye. [Exeunt.

Juan. That was no foolish part, I'll bear you | A spirit of more fury than this fire-drake.

Juan. Take heed of the Hollanders, your ships may leak else.

Caca. I scorn the Hollanders, they are my drunkards.

Alon. Put up your gold, sir, I will borrow it else.

Caca. I am satisfied you shall not.

Leon. I see he's hasty, and I would give him

For your strict carriage, when you saw me first.
These beauties were not meant to be concealed;
It was a wrong to hide so sweet an object;
I could now chide ye, but it shall be thus:
No other anger ever touch your sweetness.

Estif. You appear to be so honest and so civil,

Without a blush, sir, I dare bid you welcome.
Per. Now, let me ask your name.
Estif. 'Tis Estifania, the heir of this poor
place.

Per. Poor, do you call it?

There's nothing that I cast mine eyes upon,
But shews both rich and admirable; all the rooms
Are hung, as if a princess were to dwell here;
The gardens, orchards, every thing so curious.
Is all that plate your own, too?

Estif. 'Tis but a little,

Come out, I know thee; meet mine anger in- Only for present use; I've more and richer,

stantly!

Leon. I never wronged ye.

Caca. Thou hast wronged mine honour,

Thou look'st upon my mistress thrice laciviously; I'll make it good.

Juan. Do not heat yourself, you will surfeit. Caca. Thou want'st my money, too, with a pair of base bones,

In whom there was no truth, for which I beat thee,

When need shail call, or friends compel me use

I beat thee much; now I will hurt thee danger-I ously.

This shall provoke thee.

[He strikes.

Alon. You struck too low, by a foot, sir. Juan. You must get a ladder, when you would beat this fellow.

Leon. I cannot chuse but kick again; pray, pardon me.

Caca. Hadst thou not asked my pardon, I had killed thee.

I leave thee, as a thing despised; baso las manos a vostra Signora. [Exit CACA. Alon. You have escaped by miracle; there is not, in all Spain,

it;

The suits you see of all the upper chambers,
Are those, that commonly adorn the house;

I think, I have, besides, as fair as Seville,
Or any town in Spain, can parallel.

Per. Now, if she be not married, I have some hopes.

Are you a maid?

Estif. You make me blush to answer; ever was accounted so to this hour, And that's the reason, that I live retired, sir. Per. Then would I counsel you to marry presently,

[Aside.

(If I can get her, I am made for ever) For every year you lose, you lose a beauty. A husband now, an honest, careful husband, Were such a comfort. Will you walk above stairs?

Estif. This place will fit our talk; 'tis fitter far, sir;

Above, there are day-beds, and such temptations I dare not trust, sir.

Per. She is excellent wise withal, too.

Estif. You named a husband; I am not so
strict, sir,

Nor tied unto a virgin's solitariness,
But if an honest, and a noble one,

Rich, and a soldier, for so I've vowed he shall be,
Were offered me, I think I should accept him.
But, above all, he must love.

Per. He were base else.

There's comfort ministered in the word, soldier. How sweetly should I live!

Estif. I'm not so ignorant,

But that I know well how to be commanded,
And how again to make myself obey, sir.
I waste but little: I have gathered much:
My rial not less worth, when it is spent,

If spent by my direction. To please my husband,

I hold it as indifferent in my duty,

To be his maid in the kitchen, or his cook,
As in the hall to know myself the mistress.
Per. Sweet, rich, and provident ! now, fortune,
stick to me.

I am a soldier, and a bachelor, lady;

And such a wife as you I could love infinitely.
They, that use many words, some are deceitful:
I long to be a husband, and a good one;
For 'tis most certain I shall make a precedent
For all, that follow me, to love their ladies.

ACT II.

Mar. Those I'll allow him;

[Exeunt.

They are for my credit. Does he understand But little?

Alt. Very little.

Mar. 'Tis the better.

Have not the wars bred him up to anger?

Alt. No, he won't quarrel with a dog that bites him;

Let him be drunk or sober, he's one silence.
Mar. H'as no capacity what honour is ;

For that's a soldier's god?

Alt. Honour's a thing too subtle for his wisdom;

If honour lie in eating, he's right honourable.
Mar. Is he so goodly a man, do you say?
Alt. As you shall see, lady;
But, to all this, he's but a trunk.

Mar. I'd have him so.

Go, find me out this man, and let me see him.
If he be that motion, that you tell me of,
And make no more noise, I shall entertain him.
Let him be here.

Alt. He shall attend your ladyship. [Exeunt.

SCENE II-A street.

Enter JUAN, ALONSO, and PEREZ.
Juan. Why, thou'rt not married indeed?
Per. No, no, pray think so.

Alas! I am a fellow of no reckoning,
Nor worth a lady's eye.

I am an ass, a bashful fool. Pr'ythee, colonel, How do thy companies fill now?

Juan. You're merry, sir;

You intend a safer war at home, belike, now?

Per. I do not think I shall fight much this A man of a comely countenance. Pray ye, come

year, colonel;

I find myself given to my ease a little.

I care not, if I sell my foolish company;
They're things of hazard.

Alon. How it angers me,

This fellow, at first sight, should win a lady, A rich young wench

sumed

-And I, that have con

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this way.

Is his mind so tame?

Mar. You shall be taught. And can you, when she pleases,

Go ride abroad, and stay a week or two?
You shall have men and horses to attend ye,
And money in your purse.

Leon. Yes, I love riding;

And when I am from home, I am so merry! Mar. Be as merry as you will. Can you as handsomely,

When you are sent for back, come with obedience,

And do your duty to the lady loves you?
Leon. Yes, sure, I shall.

Mar. And when you see her friends here,
Or noble kinsmen, can you entertain
Their servants in the cellar, and be busied,

Ser. My mistress, sir, is sick, because you're And hold your peace, whate'er you see or hear?

absent.

Leon. 'Twere fit I were hanged else. Mar. Come, salute me.

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