Actus Quartus. [Scæna Prima.]
Enter Cosin and his Wife.
Cos. Sirrah, is all things carried to the Tailor?
The measure, and the fashion of the Gown,
With the best trim?
Man. Yes Sir, and 'twill be ready within this two days.
Cos. For my self I care not,
I have a suit or two of antient Velvet;
Which with some small correcting and addition,
May steal into the presence.
Wife. Would my Gown were [ready; Husband], I'll lay my life,
To make you something e'r to morrow night.
Cos. It must not be
Before we see the Duke, and have advice,
How to behave our selves: lets in the while,
And keep our selves from knowledge, till time shall call us.
Enter Long. and Bew.
Long. I much admire the fierce masculine spirit,
Of this dread Amazon.
Bew. This following night I'll have a wench in solace.
Long. Sir, I hear you,
And will be with you if I live, no more.
Enter Maria.
Ma. My Lady would intreat your presence, Gentlemen.
Bew. We will obey your Lady, she is worthy.
Long. You, light alone, a word, or two.
Ma. Your Will, Sir.
Long. Hark in your ear; wilt thou be married? speak, wilt thou marry?
Ma. Married? to whom Sir?
Long. To a proper fellow, landed, and able bodied.
Ma. Why do you flout me, Sir?
Long. I swear I do not; I love thee for thy Ladies sake, be free?
Ma. If I could meet such matches as you speak of,
I were a very child to lose my time, Sir.
Long. What saist thou to Monsieur Bewford?
Ma. Sir, I say he's a proper Gentleman, and far
Above my means to look at.
Long. Dost thou like him?
Ma. Yes Sir, and ever did.
Long. He is thine own.
Ma. You are too great in promises.
Long. Be rul'd, and follow my advice, he shall be thine.
Ma. Would you would make it good, Sir.
Long. Do but thus,
Get thee a cushion underneath thy cloaths,
And leave the rest to me.
Ma. I'll be your scholar,
I cannot lose much by the venture sure.
Long. Thou wilt lose a pretty maidenhead, my rogue,
Or I am much o'th' bow hand, you'll remember
If all this take effect, who did it for [you,]
And what I may deserve for such a kindness.
Ma. Yours Sir. [Exeunt.
Enter Jaques and Shattillion severally.
Jaq. Save ye Sir.
Shat. Save the King.
Jaq. I pray you Sir, which is the nearest way.
Shat. Save the King, this is the nearest way.
Jaq. Which is the nearest way to the Post-house?
Shat. God save the King and his [Post-house].
Jaq. I pray Sir direct me to the house.
[Shat.] Heaven save the King, you cannot catch me, Sir.
Jaq. I do not understand you, Sir.
Shat. You do not, I say you cannot catch me, Sir.
Jaq. Not catch you, Sir?
Shat. No Sir, nor can the King,
With all his stratagems, and his forced tricks,
Although he put his Nobles in disguise;
Never so oft to sift into my words,
By course of Law, lay hold upon my life.
Jaq. It is business that my Lord the Duke
Is by the King imployed in, and he thinks
I am acquainted with it.
Shat. I shall not need to rip the cause up,
From the first, to you,
But if his Majesty had suffer'd me
To marry her, though she be after him,
The right heir general to the Crown of France.
I would not have convey'd her into Spain,
As it was thought, nor would I e'er have joyn'd,
With the reformed Churches, to make them,
Stand for my cause.
Jaq. I do not think you would.
Shat. I thank you Sir,
And since I see you are a favourer
Of virtues, kept in bondage;
Tell directly to my soveraign King,
For so I will acknowledge him for ever,
How you have found my staid affections
Setled for peace, and for the present state.
Jaq. Why Sir?
Shat. And good Sir, tell him further this,
That notwithstanding all suggestions
Brought to him against me, and all his suspitions,
Which are [innumerable] to my treasons,
If he will warrant me but publique trial,
I'll freely yeild my self into his hands;
Can he have more than this?
Jaq. No by my troth.
Shat. I would his Majesty would hear but reason,
As well as you.
Jaq. But Sir, you do mistake me,
For I never saw the King.
In all my life but once, therefore good Sir,
May it please you to shew me which is the Post-house.
Sha. I cry you mercy, Sir, then [you are] my friend.
Jaq. Yes Sir.
Sha. And such men are very rare with me,
The Post-house is hard by, farewel;
Jaq. I thank you, Sir, I must ride hard to night,
And it is dark already.
Sha. I am cruel, to send this man directly to his death
That is my friend, and I might easily save him,
He shall not dye, come back, my friend, come back.
Jaq. What is your Will?
Sha. Do you not know?
Jaq. Not I.
Sha. And do you gather nothing by my face?
Jaq. No Sir.
Sha. Virtue is ever innocent,
Lay not the fault on me, I grieve for you,
And wish that all my tears might win your safety.
Jaq. Why Sir?
Sha. Alas good friend you are undone,
The more ill fortune, mine to be the means
Of your sad overthrow, you know not me.
Jaq. No truly Sir.
Sha. Would you had never seen me,
I am a man pursu'd by the whole state
And sure some one hath seen me talk with you.
Jaq. Yes, divers Sir.
Sha. Why then your head is gone.
Jaq. I'll out of town.
Sha. Would it were soon enough,
Stay if you love your life, or else you are taken.
Jaq. What shall I do?
Sha. I'll venture deeply for him,
Rather than to cast away an innocent,
Take courage friend, I will preserve thy life,
With hazard of mine own.
Jaq. I thank you, Sir.
Sha. This night thou shalt be lodg'd within my doors,
Which shall be all lock'd fast, and in the morn
I'll so provide, you shall have free access,
To the Sea-side, and so be shipt away,
E'r any know it.
Jaq. Good Sir, suddainly, I am afraid to dye.
Sha. Then follow me. [Exeunt.
Enter Shatillion's Love.