The End of the First Act.
ACT the Second.
Scene the First.
The Fields.
Enter Summerfield solus.
Sum. A Younger Brother! ’Tis a poor Title, and very hard to bear with: The Elder Fool inherits all the Land, whilst we are forc’d to follow Legacies of Wit, and get ’um when we can. Why shou’d the Law, by which we are deprived of equal Portion with the First-begotten, not bind our Fathers to cease from Procreation, and so as well deprive us of a wretched Being, as of the Thing we cannot be without: No, no, our Mothers ne’re will consent to that, they love to groan and squall, tho at the same time the Gallows eccho’s to their Groans, and both together labour for us. From the first we travel forth—to’thers our Journey’s End. All this I know, yet I must forward: To beg, my Birth will ne’re consent to; and borrowing is quite out of date—Yet starve I cannot, nor murder I wou’d not: It must be the Highway then, the old Trade we poor honest Rogues are forc’d too—This Place will serve for a Beginner well enough—A Beginner did I say? Yes; for this is the very first day I open Shop—Fortune, they say, uses to help the Bold, I hope she will be kind to me. Ha! who have we here? A Gentlewoman well rigg’d, and only a Servant with her, She may be a Prize worth the boarding, and faith I’ll venture hard but I’ll carry her.
[He retires to a corner of the Stage.
Enter Arabella in great disorder, looking about her, with Symon her Servant.
Arab. This way, say’st thou Symon, with Friendly?
Sym. Yes forsooth Mistress, with Mr. Friendly.