Act. IIIJ. Scene. VI.
VVittipol. Mistresse Fitz-dottrel.
Manly. Mere-craft.
Be not afraid, ſweet Lady: yo’ are truſted [154] To loue, not violence here; I am no rauiſher, But one, whom you, by your faire truſt againe, May of a ſeruant make a moſt true friend. Mrs. Fi. And ſuch a one I need, but not this way: 5 Sir, I confeſſe me to you, the meere manner Of your attempting mee, this morning tooke mee, And I did hold m’inuention, and my manners, Were both engag’d, to giue it a requitall; But not vnto your ends: my hope was then, 10 (Though interrupted, ere it could be vtter’d) That whom I found the Maſter of ſuch language, That braine and ſpirit, for ſuch an enterpriſe, Could not, but if thoſe ſuccours were demanded To a right vſe, employ them vertuouſly! 15 And make that profit of his noble parts, Which they would yeeld. Sr, you haue now the ground, To exerciſe them in: I am a woman: That cannot ſpeake more wretchedneſſe of my ſelfe, Then you can read; match’d to a maſſe of folly; 20 That euery day makes haſte to his owne ruine; The wealthy portion, that I brought him, ſpent; And (through my friends neglect) no ioynture made me. My fortunes ſtanding in this precipice, ’Tis Counſell that I want, and honeſt aides: 25 And in this name, I need you, for a friend! Neuer in any other; for his ill, Muſt not make me, Sr, worſe.
Manly, conceal’d this while, ſhews himſelf.
Man. O friend! forſake not The braue occaſion, vertue offers you, To keepe you innocent: I haue fear’d for both; 30 And watch’d you, to preuent the ill I fear’d. But, ſince the weaker ſide hath ſo aſſur’d mee, Let not the ſtronger fall by his owne vice, Or be the leſſe a friend, cauſe vertue needs him.
Wit. Vertue ſhall neuer aske my ſuccours twice; 35 Moſt friend, moſt man: your Counſells are commands: Lady, I can loue goodnes in you, more [155] Then I did Beauty; and doe here intitle Your vertue, to the power, vpon a life You ſhall engage in any fruitfull ſeruice, 40 Euen to forfeit.
Mer. Madame: Do you heare, Sir, Mere-craft takes Wittipol aſide, & moues a proiect for himſelfe. We haue another leg-ſtrain’d, for this Dottrel. He’ha’s a quarrell to carry, and ha’s cauſ’d A deed of Feoffment, of his whole eſtate To be drawne yonder; h’ha’ſt within: And you, 45 Onely, he meanes to make Feoffee. H’is falne So deſperatly enamour’d on you, and talkes Moſt like a mad-man: you did neuer heare A Phrentick, ſo in loue with his owne fauour! Now, you doe know, ’tis of no validity 50 In your name, as you ſtand; Therefore aduiſe him To put in me. (h’is come here:) You ſhall ſhare Sir.
[699] SD. Scene III Another Room in the same. Enter Wittipol, and Mrs. Fitzdottrel. G