The first Intermeane after the first Act. M IRTH. you? How now Gofsip! how doe's the Play please CENSVRE. Very fcuruily, me thinks, and fufficiently naught. EXPECTATION. As a body would wish: here's nothing but 5 a young Prodigall, come of age, who makes much of the Barber, buyes him a place in a new Office, i'the ayre, I know not where, and his man o'Law to follow him, with the Begger to boote, and they two helpe him to a wife. MIRTH. I, fhee is a proper piece! that fuch creatures can broke for. TATLE. I cannot abide that nafty fellow, the Begger, if hee had beene a Court-Begger in good clothes; a Begger in veluet, as they fay, I could haue endur'd him. MIRTH. Or a begging scholler in blacke, or one of these 15 beggerly Poets, gofsip, that would hang vpon a young heyre like a horfeleech. EXPEC. Or a thred-bare Doctor of Phyficke, a poore [20] Quackefaluer. CENSVRE. Or a Sea-captaine, halfe fteru'd. MIRTH. I, these were tolerable Beggers, Beggers of fashion! you shall fee fome fuch anon! 20 TATLE. I would faine fee the Foole, gofsip, the Foole is the finest man the company, they fay, and has all the wit: Hee is the very Iuftice o'Peace o'the Play, and can commit 25 whom hee will, and what hee will, errour, abfurdity, as the toy takes him, and no man fay, blacke is his eye, but laugh at him. MIRTH. But they ha' no Foole i' this Play, I am afraid, gofsip. G omits the headings of all the intermeans. 16 would] could W, G 8 the] a G 20 starv'd + 25 o' peace] G 30 TATLE. It's a wife Play, then. EXPECTATION. They are all fooles, the rather, in that. TATLE. My husband, (Timothy Tatle, God reft his poore foule) was wont to fay, there was no Play, without a Foole, 35 and a Diuell in't; he was for the Diuell ftill, God bleffe him. The Diuell for his money, would hee fay, I would faine fee the Diuell. And why would you fo faine fee the Diuell? would I fay. Becaufe hee has hornes, wife, and may be a cuckold, as well as a Diuell, hee would answer: You are 40 e'en fuch another, husband, quoth I. Was the Diuell euer married? where doe you read, the Diuell was euer fo honorable to commit Matrimony; The Play will tell vs, that, fayes hee, wee'll goe fee't to morrow, the Diuell is an Affe. Hee is an errant learn'd man, that made it, and can write, they 45 fay, and I am fouly deceiu'd, but hee can read too. MIRTH. I remember it gofsip, I went with you, by the fame token, Mrs. Trouble Truth difwaded vs, and told vs, hee was a prophane Poet, and all his Playes had Diuels in them. That he kept fchole vpo'the Stage, could coniure 50 there, aboue the Schole of Westminster, and Doctor Lamb too: not a Play he made, but had a Diuell in it. And that he would learne vs all to make our husbands Cuckolds at Playes: by another token that a young married wife i'the company, faid, shee could finde in her heart to steale thither, 55 and fee a little o'the vanity through her mafque, and come practice at home. TATLE. O, it was, Miftreffe MIRTH. Nay, Gofsip, I name no body. It may be 'twas my felfe. EXPECTATION. But was the Diuell a proper man, Gossip? MIRTH. As fine a gentleman, of his inches, as euer I faw trufted to the Stage, or any where elfe: and lou'd the common wealth, as well as ere a Patriot of 'hem all: hee would 31 It is G 47 you; G 36 Devil passim 50 upon G 44 see it G бо carry away the Vice on his backe, quicke to Hell, in euery 65 Play where he came, and reforme abuses. EXPECTATION. There was the Diuell of Edmonton, no fuch man, I warrant you. CENSVRE. The Coniurer coofen'd him with a candles end, hee was an Affe. MIRTH. But there was one Smug, a Smith, would haue made a horfe laugh, and broke his halter, as they fay. TATLE. O, but the poore man had got a fhrewd mifchance, one day. EXPECTATION. How, Gofsip? 70 [21] 75 TATLE. He had dreft a Rogue Iade i'the morning, that had the Staggers, and had got fuch a fpice of 'hem himselfe, by noone, as they would not away all the Play time, doe what hee could, for his heart. MIRTH. 'Twas his part, Gossip, he was to be drunke, by 80 his part. TATLE. Say you fo, I vnderstood not fo much. EXPECTA. Would wee had fuch an other part, and fuch a man in this play, I feare 'twill be an excellent dull thing. CENSVRE. Expect, intend it. 76 Roguy 1692, 1716, W Roman letters. W prints all the intermeans in 85 ACT. II. PENI-BOY. SEN. SCENE. I. PECVNIA. MORTGAGE. Y STATVTE. BAND. BROKER. Our Grace is fad me thinks, and melancholy! You doe not looke vpon me with that face, As you were wont, my Goddeffe, bright Pecunia: Although your Grace be falne, of two i'the hundred, You Graces feruant ftill: and teach this body, A fordid Rafcall, one that neuer made Good meale in his fleep, but fells the acates are sent him, 5 ΙΟ 15 Fish, Fowle, and venifon, and preferues himfelfe, Like an old hoary Rat, with mouldy pye-crust. This I doe heare, reioycing, I can fuffer [22] This, and much more, for your good Graces fake. PEC. Why do you so my Guardian? I not bid you, Cannot my Grace be gotten, and held too, 20 G makes but one scene of Act II. SCENE I. A Room in Pennyboy senior's House. G Enter PENNYBOY sen. . . . and BROKER. G 4 falne, of] fallen off G W, G 10 I am G 19 rejoicing I 1716, Without your felfe-tormentings, and your watches, With cares, and scantings of your dyet, and rest? P. SE. O, no, your feruices, my Princely Lady, 25 P. SE. You are a noble, young, free, gracious Lady, And would be euery bodies, in your bounty, 30 But you must not be fo. They are a few The reputation, I, and the religion, (I was about to say, and had not err'd) 35 40 Is Queene Pecunia's. For that ftile is yours, If mortals knew your Grace, or their owne good. BAN. I feare your Hath ta'ne too much of the sharpe ayre. PEC. O no! I could endure to take a great deale more (And with my conftitution, were it left) Vnto my choice, what thinke you of it, Statute? 45 50 STA. A little now and then does well, and keepes Your Grace in your complexion. BAN. And true temper. MOR. But too much Madame, may encrease cold rheumes, Nourish catarrhes, greene fickneffes, and agues, And put you in confumption. P. SE. Beft to take Aduice of your graue women, Noble Madame, 34 valew't] value it G pronouns). W, G 55 35 yourself G (Thus with all reflexive 48 were it left)] Removed from parentheses, 1716, 49 unto] under G |