Frank. This was your doing, Luce; it had been impossible he should e'er have known the time so truly else; but I'll take an order next time for your blabbing.
Shal. What's the matter, father?
Frank. We may thank you for it; this was your haste, that will now shame us all; you must be doing afore your time!
Shal. 'Twas but a trick of youth, father.
Frank. And therefore now you must e'en stand in a white sheet for all to gaze at.
Shal. How! I would be loth to wear a surplice now. 'Tis a disgrace the house of the Shallows never knew.
Frank. All the hope is, officers may be bribed; and so they will. 'Twere a hard world for us to live in else.
Shal. You say true, father; if 'twere not for corruption, every poor rascal might have justice as well as one of us, and that were a shame.
[Exeunt Shallow and Luce.
Frank. This was a cunning stratagem well-laid;
But yet, Francisco, th' hast not won the prize.
What should I do? I must not let this cause
Proceed to trial in the open court,
For then my daughter's oath will cast the child
Upon Francisco: no, I have found a better.
I will before the next court-day provide
Some needy parson, one whose poverty
Shall make him fear no canons; he shall marry
My daughter to rich Shallow: when 'tis done,
Our gold shall make a silence in the court.
[Exit.
Enter Philocles, Psectas.