Enter Lady Allworth.
Order. Her presence answers for us.
Lady A. Sort those silks well.
I'll take the air alone.
Fur. You air, and air;
But will never taste but spoon meat more:
To what use serve I?
Lady A. Pr'ythee, be not angry,
I shall, ere long: i'th' mean time, there
Is gold for thee.
Fur. I am appeas'd—and Furnace now grows cold.
Lady A. And, as I gave directions, if this morning
I am visited by any, entertain them
As heretofore: but say, in my excuse,
I am indispos'd.
Order. I shall, madam.
Lady A. Do, and leave me.
[Exeunt Order, Amble, Watchall and Furnace.
Nay, stay you, Allworth.
Allw. I shall gladly grow here,
To wait on your commands.
Lady A. So soon turn'd courtier?
Allw. Style not that courtship, madam, which is duty,
Purchased on your part.
Lady A. Well, you shall o'ercome;
I'll not contend in words. How is it
With your noble master?
Allw. Ever like himself.
No scruple lessen'd in the full weight of honour:
He did command me (pardon my presumption),
As his unworthy deputy,
To kiss your ladyship's fair hands.
Lady A. I am honour'd in
His favour to me. Does he hold his purpose
For the Low Countries?
Allw. Constantly, good madam:
But he will, in person, first present his service.
Lady A. And how approve you of his course? You are yet
Like virgin parchment, capable of any
Inscription, vitious or honourable.
I will not force your will, but leave you free
To your own election.
Allw. Any form you please
I will put on: but might I make my choice,
With humble emulation, I would follow
The path my lord marks to me.
Lady A. 'Tis well answer'd,
And I commend your spirit: you had a father,
(Bless'd be his memory) that some few hours
Before the will of Heaven took him from me,
Did commend you, by the dearest ties
Of perfect love between us, to my charge:
And, therefore, what I speak, you are bound to hear
With such respect, as if he liv'd in me.
Allw. I have found you,
Most honour'd madam, the best mother to me;
And with my utmost strength of care and service,
Will labour that you never may repent
Your bounties shower'd upon me.
Lady A. I much hope it.
These were your father's words: If e'er my son
Follow the war, tell him it is a school
Where all the principles tending to honour
Are taught, if truly follow'd: But for such
As repair thither, as a place in which
They do presume, they may with license practise
Their lusts and riots, they shall never merit
The noble name of soldiers. To dare boldly
In a fair cause, and for the country's safety,
To run upon the cannon's mouth undaunted;
To obey their leaders, and shun mutinies;
To bear with patience the winter's cold,
And summer's scorching heat—
Are the essential parts make up a soldier;
Not swearing, dice, or drinking.
Allw. There's no syllable
You speak, but it is to me an oracle;
Which but to doubt were impious.
Lady A. To conclude—
Beware ill company; for, often, men
Are like to those with whom they do converse:
And from one man I warn you, and that's Wellborn:
Not cause he's poor, that rather claims your pity;
But that he's in his manners so debauch'd,
And hath to vitious courses sold himself.
'Tis true your father lov'd him, while he was
Worthy the loving; but, if he had liv'd
To have seen him as he is, he had cast him off,
As you must do.
Allw. I shall obey in all things.
Lady A. Follow me to my chamber; you shall have gold
To furnish you like my son, and still supplied
As I hear from you. [Exeunt.
SCENE III.—A Hall in Lady Allworth's House.
Enter Overreach, Greedy, Order, Amble, Furnace, Watchall, and Marall.
Greedy. Not to be seen?
Sir G. Still cloister'd up?—Her reason,
I hope, assures her, though she makes herself
Close prisoner for ever for her husband's loss,
'Twill not recover him.
Order. Sir, it is her will:
Which we, that are her servants, ought to serve,
And not dispute. Howe'er, you are nobly welcome:
And if you please to stay, that you may think so,
There came, not six days since, from Hull, a pipe
Of rich Canary; which shall spend itself
For my lady's honour.
Greedy. Is it of the right race?
Order. Yes, Mr. Greedy.
Amble. How his mouth runs o'er!
Fur. I'll make it run, and run. 'Save your good worship!
Greedy. Honest Mr. Cook, thy hand; again!—How I love thee!
Are the good dishes still in being? speak, boy.
Fur. If you have a mind to feed there is a chine
Of beef, well season'd.
Greedy. Good.
Fur. A pheasant larded—
Greedy. That I might now give thanks for't!
Fur. Other kickshaws.
Besides, there came last night, from the forest of Sherwood,
The fattest stag I ever cook'd.
Greedy. A stag, man?
Fur. A stag, sir; part of it is prepar'd for dinner,
And bak'd in puff-paste.
Greedy. Puff-paste too, Sir Giles!
A ponderous chine of beef! a pheasant larded!
And red deer too, Sir Giles, and bak'd in puff-paste!
All business set aside, let us give thanks here.
Sir G. You know, we cannot.
Mar. Your worships are to sit on a commission,
And if you fail to come, you lose the cause.
Greedy Cause me no causes: I'll prove't, for such a dinner,
We may put off a commission; you shall find it
Henrici decimo quarto.
Sir G. Fie, Mr. Greedy!
Will you lose me a thousand pounds for a dinner?
No more, for shame! We must forget the belly,
When we think of profit.
Greedy Well, you shall o'er-rule me.
I could even cry now. Do you hear, Mr. Cook?
Send but a corner of that immortal pasty;
And I, in thankfulness, will, by your boy,
Send you a brace of three-pences.
Fur. Will you be so prodigal?
Sir G. Remember me to your lady.
Enter Wellborn.
Who have we here?
Wellb. Don't you know me?
Sir G. I did once, but now I will not;
Thou art no blood of mine. Avaunt, thou beggar!
If ever thou presume to own me more,
I'll have thee cag'd and whipt.
Greedy. I'll grant the warrant. [Exit Marall.
I do love thee, Furnace,
E'en as I do malmsey in a morning.
Think of pye-corner, Furnace!
[Exeunt Sir Giles and Greedy.