Ware.I do deliver this as my act and deed.Ban.,Quart.And we this, as our act and deed.Plot.Pray, gentlemen,Be witness here. Upon a doubtful rumourOf two ships wreck'd, as they return'd from Ormus,My uncle covenants to give three partsTo have the fourth secured. And these two here,
Ware.I do deliver this as my act and deed.
Ban.,Quart.And we this, as our act and deed.
Plot.Pray, gentlemen,Be witness here. Upon a doubtful rumourOf two ships wreck'd, as they return'd from Ormus,My uncle covenants to give three partsTo have the fourth secured. And these two here,
[Seathrift,Roseclap,Bright, andNewcutsubscribe as witnesses.
As delegates of the office, undertakeAt that rate to assure them. Uncle, nowCall forth the sailor, and send for the priestThat married you.
As delegates of the office, undertakeAt that rate to assure them. Uncle, nowCall forth the sailor, and send for the priestThat married you.
EnterSalewitandCypher.
Ware.Look, here they come.Plot.First then,Not to afflict you longer, uncle; sinceWe now are quiet, know all this was my project.Ware.How!Plot.Your two ships are richly landed: ifYou'll not believe me, here's the sailor who,[Cypherundisguises.Transform'd to Cypher, can tell you.Cyph.'Tis very true, sir.I hired this travelling case of one o' th' sailorsThat came in one of 'em: they lie at Blackwall.Troth, I in pity, sir, to Master Plotwell,Thought it my duty to deceive you.Ware.Very well, sir;What, are these masquers too?Plot.Faith, sir, these[ExitCypher.Can change their forms too. They are two friends,[They undisguise.Worth threescore thousand pounds, sir, to my use.Ware.Bannswright and Captain Quartfield!Quart.Nay, old boy,Th' hast a good pennyworth on't. The jest is worthThree parts of four.Ban.Faith, sir, we hope you'll payTonnage and poundage into th' bargain.Ware.O, you are a precious rogue! you ha' preferr'd meTo a chaste Lucrece, sirrah!Ban.Your nephew, sir,Hath married her with all her faults. They areNew-come from church.Ware.How!Plot.Wonder not, sir: youWere married but in jest. 'Twas no church-form,But a fine legend out of Rab'lais.Sale.Troth,This reverend weed cast off, I'm a lay poet,[Salewitundisguises.And cannot marry, unless't be in a play—In the fifth act or so; and that's almostWorn out of fashion too.Mis. Sea.These are the twoThat show'd my son.[Aside.Mis. Hol.Let's have our money back.[Aside.Plot.But, uncle, for the jointure you have made herI hope you'll not retract. That and three partsOf your two ships, besides what you will leaveUs at your death, will make a pretty stockFor young beginners.Ware.Am I o'erreach'd so finely?Sea.But are you married, sir, in earnest?Plot.TrothWe have not been abed yet, but may go,And no law broken.Sea.Then I must tell you, sir,Y' have wrong'd me; and I look for satisfaction.Plot.Why, I beseech you, sir?Sea.Sir, were not youBetroth'd once to my daughter?Mis. Sea.And did not IAnd Mistress Holland help to make you sure?Plot.I do confess it.Sea.Bear witness, gentlemen, he doth confess it.Plot.I'll swear it too, sir.Sea.Why,Then, have you match'd this woman?Plot.Why! becauseThis is your daughter, sir. I'm hers by conquestFor this day's service.Sea.Is't possible I shouldBe out in my own child so?Mis. Sea.I told you, husband.Mis. Scr.Surely my spirit gave me it was she;And yet to see, now you have not your wireNor city ruff on, Mistress Sue, how theseClothes do beguile! In truth, I took you forA gentlewoman.Sea.Here be rare plots indeed!Why, how now, sir, these young heads have outgone us.Was my son o' th' plot too?Plot.Faith, sir, heIs married too. I did strike up a weddingBetween him and my sister.
Ware.Look, here they come.
Plot.First then,Not to afflict you longer, uncle; sinceWe now are quiet, know all this was my project.
Ware.How!
Plot.Your two ships are richly landed: ifYou'll not believe me, here's the sailor who,[Cypherundisguises.Transform'd to Cypher, can tell you.
Cyph.'Tis very true, sir.I hired this travelling case of one o' th' sailorsThat came in one of 'em: they lie at Blackwall.Troth, I in pity, sir, to Master Plotwell,Thought it my duty to deceive you.
Ware.Very well, sir;What, are these masquers too?
Plot.Faith, sir, these[ExitCypher.Can change their forms too. They are two friends,[They undisguise.Worth threescore thousand pounds, sir, to my use.
Ware.Bannswright and Captain Quartfield!
Quart.Nay, old boy,Th' hast a good pennyworth on't. The jest is worthThree parts of four.
Ban.Faith, sir, we hope you'll payTonnage and poundage into th' bargain.
Ware.O, you are a precious rogue! you ha' preferr'd meTo a chaste Lucrece, sirrah!
Ban.Your nephew, sir,Hath married her with all her faults. They areNew-come from church.
Ware.How!
Plot.Wonder not, sir: youWere married but in jest. 'Twas no church-form,But a fine legend out of Rab'lais.
Sale.Troth,This reverend weed cast off, I'm a lay poet,[Salewitundisguises.And cannot marry, unless't be in a play—In the fifth act or so; and that's almostWorn out of fashion too.
Mis. Sea.These are the twoThat show'd my son.[Aside.
Mis. Hol.Let's have our money back.[Aside.
Plot.But, uncle, for the jointure you have made herI hope you'll not retract. That and three partsOf your two ships, besides what you will leaveUs at your death, will make a pretty stockFor young beginners.
Ware.Am I o'erreach'd so finely?
Sea.But are you married, sir, in earnest?
Plot.TrothWe have not been abed yet, but may go,And no law broken.
Sea.Then I must tell you, sir,Y' have wrong'd me; and I look for satisfaction.
Plot.Why, I beseech you, sir?
Sea.Sir, were not youBetroth'd once to my daughter?
Mis. Sea.And did not IAnd Mistress Holland help to make you sure?
Plot.I do confess it.
Sea.Bear witness, gentlemen, he doth confess it.
Plot.I'll swear it too, sir.
Sea.Why,Then, have you match'd this woman?
Plot.Why! becauseThis is your daughter, sir. I'm hers by conquestFor this day's service.
Sea.Is't possible I shouldBe out in my own child so?
Mis. Sea.I told you, husband.
Mis. Scr.Surely my spirit gave me it was she;And yet to see, now you have not your wireNor city ruff on, Mistress Sue, how theseClothes do beguile! In truth, I took you forA gentlewoman.
Sea.Here be rare plots indeed!Why, how now, sir, these young heads have outgone us.Was my son o' th' plot too?
Plot.Faith, sir, heIs married too. I did strike up a weddingBetween him and my sister.
EnterTimothyandAurelia.
Look, sir!They come without their maidenheads.[262]Sea.Why, thisIs better still. Now, sir, you might have ask'dConsent of parents.Tim.Pray forgive me, sir.I thought I had match'd a lady, but she proves——Sea.Much better, sir: I'd chide you as a fish,But that your choice pleads for you.Tim.Mother, praySalute my wife, and tell me if one may notLie with her lips: nay, you too, Mistress Holland,You taught her to make shirts and bone-lace; she'sOut of her time now.Mis. Hol.I release her, sir.Ware.I took your sister for a lady, nephew.Plot.I kept her like one, sir. My Temple scoresWent to maintain the title out of hopeTo gain some great match for her; which you seeIs come to pass.Ware.Well, Master Seathrift,Things are just fallen out as we contriv'd 'em:I grieve not I'm deceiv'd. Believe me, gentlemen,You all did your parts well; 'twas carried cleanly;And though I could take some things ill of you,Fair mistress, yet 'twas plot, and I forget it.Let's in and make 'em portions.Sea.Lead the way, sir.Ban.Pray stay a little.Ware.More revelations yet?Ban.I all this while have, stood behind the curtain.You have a brother, sir, and you a father.Plot.If he do live, I have.Ban.He in his timeWas held the wealthiest merchant on th' Exchange.Ware.'Tis true, but that his shipwrecks broke him.Ban.AndThe debt for which he broke I hear you haveCompounded.Sea.I am paid it.Ban.Then I thank you.[Bannswrightundisguises.Ware.My brother Plotwell!Ban.Son, I wish you joy.Plot.O my bless'd stars! my father!Ban.And to you, fair mistress,Let it not breed repentance that I have,For my security, to 'scape your father,Awhile descended from myself to thisUnworthy shape. Now I can cast it off,And be my true self. I have a ship which fameGave out for lost, but just now landed too,Worth twenty thousand pounds, towards your match.Sea.Better and better still.Ware.Well, what was wantingUnto our joys, and made these nuptialsImperfect, brother, you by your discoveryHave fully added.
Look, sir!They come without their maidenheads.[262]
Sea.Why, thisIs better still. Now, sir, you might have ask'dConsent of parents.
Tim.Pray forgive me, sir.I thought I had match'd a lady, but she proves——
Sea.Much better, sir: I'd chide you as a fish,But that your choice pleads for you.
Tim.Mother, praySalute my wife, and tell me if one may notLie with her lips: nay, you too, Mistress Holland,You taught her to make shirts and bone-lace; she'sOut of her time now.
Mis. Hol.I release her, sir.
Ware.I took your sister for a lady, nephew.
Plot.I kept her like one, sir. My Temple scoresWent to maintain the title out of hopeTo gain some great match for her; which you seeIs come to pass.
Ware.Well, Master Seathrift,Things are just fallen out as we contriv'd 'em:I grieve not I'm deceiv'd. Believe me, gentlemen,You all did your parts well; 'twas carried cleanly;And though I could take some things ill of you,Fair mistress, yet 'twas plot, and I forget it.Let's in and make 'em portions.
Sea.Lead the way, sir.
Ban.Pray stay a little.
Ware.More revelations yet?
Ban.I all this while have, stood behind the curtain.You have a brother, sir, and you a father.
Plot.If he do live, I have.
Ban.He in his timeWas held the wealthiest merchant on th' Exchange.
Ware.'Tis true, but that his shipwrecks broke him.
Ban.AndThe debt for which he broke I hear you haveCompounded.
Sea.I am paid it.
Ban.Then I thank you.[Bannswrightundisguises.
Ware.My brother Plotwell!
Ban.Son, I wish you joy.
Plot.O my bless'd stars! my father!
Ban.And to you, fair mistress,Let it not breed repentance that I have,For my security, to 'scape your father,Awhile descended from myself to thisUnworthy shape. Now I can cast it off,And be my true self. I have a ship which fameGave out for lost, but just now landed too,Worth twenty thousand pounds, towards your match.
Sea.Better and better still.
Ware.Well, what was wantingUnto our joys, and made these nuptialsImperfect, brother, you by your discoveryHave fully added.
EnterCypher.
Cyp.Sir, the two sheriffs areWithin, and have both brought their wives.Ware.The feastIntended for my wedding shall be yours.To which I add—May you so love to say,When old, your time was but one marriage-day.
Cyp.Sir, the two sheriffs areWithin, and have both brought their wives.
Ware.The feastIntended for my wedding shall be yours.
To which I add—May you so love to say,When old, your time was but one marriage-day.
FOOTNOTES:[256]Dr Warburton observes (note to "Henry IV.," Part I., act ii. sc. 4) that in the persecutions of the Protestants in Flanders under Philip II. those who came over into England on that occasion brought with them the woollen manufactory. These being Calvinists were joined by those of the same persuasion from other countries, and amongst the rest from Geneva.[257]Rosemarywas anciently supposed to strengthen the memory, and was therefore distributed at marriages and funerals. See a note on "Hamlet," x. 355, edit. 1778.[258][Old copies,ach.][259]The stately step and pompous manner, used by the prologue-speakers of the times, are still retained in delivering the few lines used as a prologue in "Hamlet." These particularities seem to have been delivered traditionally to the present race of actors from their brethren in the seventeenth century.[260]See a note on "Timon of Athens," edit. 1778, viii. 409.—Steevens.[261]See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, i. 209.] Aretine'spictures, there mentioned, were in fact Aretine's pictures of postures here alluded to.—Collier.[262]In the old copies the name of Penelope (i.e., Aurelia) is placed before this line, but it seems to belong to Plotwell, and to be a continuation of what he has just before said.—Collier.
[256]Dr Warburton observes (note to "Henry IV.," Part I., act ii. sc. 4) that in the persecutions of the Protestants in Flanders under Philip II. those who came over into England on that occasion brought with them the woollen manufactory. These being Calvinists were joined by those of the same persuasion from other countries, and amongst the rest from Geneva.
[256]Dr Warburton observes (note to "Henry IV.," Part I., act ii. sc. 4) that in the persecutions of the Protestants in Flanders under Philip II. those who came over into England on that occasion brought with them the woollen manufactory. These being Calvinists were joined by those of the same persuasion from other countries, and amongst the rest from Geneva.
[257]Rosemarywas anciently supposed to strengthen the memory, and was therefore distributed at marriages and funerals. See a note on "Hamlet," x. 355, edit. 1778.
[257]Rosemarywas anciently supposed to strengthen the memory, and was therefore distributed at marriages and funerals. See a note on "Hamlet," x. 355, edit. 1778.
[258][Old copies,ach.]
[258][Old copies,ach.]
[259]The stately step and pompous manner, used by the prologue-speakers of the times, are still retained in delivering the few lines used as a prologue in "Hamlet." These particularities seem to have been delivered traditionally to the present race of actors from their brethren in the seventeenth century.
[259]The stately step and pompous manner, used by the prologue-speakers of the times, are still retained in delivering the few lines used as a prologue in "Hamlet." These particularities seem to have been delivered traditionally to the present race of actors from their brethren in the seventeenth century.
[260]See a note on "Timon of Athens," edit. 1778, viii. 409.—Steevens.
[260]See a note on "Timon of Athens," edit. 1778, viii. 409.—Steevens.
[261]See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, i. 209.] Aretine'spictures, there mentioned, were in fact Aretine's pictures of postures here alluded to.—Collier.
[261]See [Randolph's Works, by Hazlitt, i. 209.] Aretine'spictures, there mentioned, were in fact Aretine's pictures of postures here alluded to.—Collier.
[262]In the old copies the name of Penelope (i.e., Aurelia) is placed before this line, but it seems to belong to Plotwell, and to be a continuation of what he has just before said.—Collier.
[262]In the old copies the name of Penelope (i.e., Aurelia) is placed before this line, but it seems to belong to Plotwell, and to be a continuation of what he has just before said.—Collier.