The British drama

Enter DON JUAN DE CASTRO and MICHAEL
PEREZ.

Mich. ARE your companies full, colonel?
Juan. No, not yet, sir,

Nor will not be this month yet, as I reckon.
How rises your command?

Mich. We pick up still,

And, as our monies hold out, we have men come. About that time, I think, we shall be full, too: Many young gallants go.

Juan. And inexperienced.

The wars are dainty dreams to young hot spirits;
Time and experience will allay those visions.
We have strange things to fill our numbers:
There's one Don Leon, a strange goodly fellow,
Commended to me from some noble friends,
For my Alferes.

Mich. I've heard of him, and that he hath served before, too.

Juan. But no harm done, nor ever meant, Don

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.

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

me,

When I am gone, let your man follow me,
And view what house I enter. Thither come,
For there I dare be bold to appear open;
And as I like your virtuous carriage, then,

Enter JUAN, CLARA, and Servant.

I shall be able to give welcome to you.
She hath done her business; I inust take my
leave, sir.'

Mich. I'll kiss your fair white hand, and
thank you, lady.

My man shall wait, and I shall be your servant.
Sirral, come near, hark.

But I believe well, and I hope 'tis handsome.
She had a hand would stir a holy hermit.
Juan. You know none of them?
Mich. No.

Juan. Then I do, captain;
But I'll say nothing till I see the proof on't.
Sit close, don Perez, or your worship's caught.

Mich. Were those she brought love letters? Juan. A packet to a kinsman now in Flanders. Yours was very modest, methought.

Mich. Some young unmanaged thing:

But I may live to see.

Juan. Tis worth experience.

Let us walk abroad and view our companies.

[Exeunt.

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.

SCENE IV-A street.

Enter JUAN DE CASTRO and LEON.

Juan. Have you scen any service?
Leon. Yes.

Juan. Where?

Leon. Every where.

Juan. What office bore ye?
Leon. None; I was not worthy.
Juan. What captains know you?
Leon. None; they were above me.
Juan. Were you ne'er hurt?

Leon. Not that I well remember;

But once I stole a hen, and then they beat me. Pray, ask me no long questions. I have an ill

Juan. Nor ne'er ta'en prisoner?

Leon. No, I ran away;

For I ne'er had no money to redeem me.
Juan. Can you endure a drum?

Leon. It makes my head ache.

Juan. Are you not valiant, when you're drunk?
Leon. I think not; but I am loving, sir.
Juan. What a lump is this man!

Was your father wise?

Leon. Too wise for me, I'm sure;

For he gave all he had to my younger brother.

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

witness.

Why art thou sent to me to be my officer,
Aye, and commended, too, when thou dar'st not
fight?

Leon. There be more officers of my opinion,
Or I am cozened, sir; men that talk more, too.
Juan. How wilt thou escape with a bullet ?
Leon. Why, by chance.

They aim at honourable men; alas, I am none,

sir.

Juan. This fellow hath some doubts in his

talk, that strike me.

Enter ALONZO.

He cannot be all fool. Welcome, Alonzo.

Alon. What have you got there, Temperance into your company?

The spirit of peace? we shall have wars by the ounce, then.

Enter CACAFOGO.

Oh, here's another pumpion, the crammed son of a starved usurer, Cacafogo.

Both their brains, buttered, cannot make two spoonfuls.

Caca. My father's dead, I am a man of war,

ton,

Monies, demesnes; I have ships at sea, too, cap

tains.

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

Caca. I scorn the Hollanders, they are

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 ci-
vil,

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,

When need shall call, or friends compel me use

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.

SCENE I-An Apartment in MARGARITTA'S house.

Enter MARGARITTA, three ladies, and ALTEA.

Mar. COME in, and give me your opinions seriously.

1 Lady. You say you have a mind to marry, lady.

Mar. 'Tis true, I have, for to preserve my credit.

I desire my pleasure, and pleasure I must have. 2 Lady. What husband mean ye?

Alt. A husband of an easy faith, a fool, Made by her wealth, and moulded to her plea

sure;

One, though he sees himself become a monster, Shall hold the door, and entertain the maker.

2 Lady. You grant there may be such a man. 1 Lady. Yes, marry; but how to bring him to this rare perfection.

2 Lady. They must be chosen so, things of no honour,

Nor outward honesty.

Mar. No, 'tis no matter;

I care not what they are, so they be comely.
Alt. With search, and wit, and labour,
I've found one out, a right one, and a perfect.
Mur. Is he a gentleman?

Alt. Yes, and a soldier; but as gentle as you'd wish him. A good fellow, and has good clothes, if he knew how to wear them.

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. Has 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.

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The British drama, Volume 3