Dor.Madam, here's BannswrightAnd an old merchant to desire access.Aur.Bid 'em come in.[ExitDorcas.Plot.Gentlemen, fall off:If we be seen, the plot is spoil'd. Sister,Now look you do your part well.Aur.I am perfect.[ExeuntPlotwell,Bright,Newcut.
Dor.Madam, here's BannswrightAnd an old merchant to desire access.
Aur.Bid 'em come in.[ExitDorcas.
Plot.Gentlemen, fall off:If we be seen, the plot is spoil'd. Sister,Now look you do your part well.
Aur.I am perfect.[ExeuntPlotwell,Bright,Newcut.
EnterBannswright,Warehouse,Dorcas.
Ban.Madam, this is the gentleman I mention'd,I've brought him here, according to my function,To give you both an interview: if youBe ready, the church and priest are.Aur.Is this, sir,The wealthy merchant?Ban.Madam, this is heThat, if you'll wear the price of baronies,Or live at Cleopatra's rate, can keep you.Aur.Come you a suitor, sir, to me?Ware.Yes, lady,I did employ my speaker there, who hath,I hope, inform'd you with my purpose.Aur.SurelyYour speaker then hath err'd; I understoodHim for my woman: if you can like her, sir,It being, for aught I hear, all one to you,I've woo'd her for you. But, for myself, could youEndow me with the stream that ebbs and flowsIn waves of gold, I hope you do not thinkI'd so much stain my birth, as to be boughtTo match into a company. Sir, plainly,I'm match'd already.Ware.Bannswright, did not youTell me she'd have me?Ban.Faith, sir, I have earsThat might deceive me; but I did dream waking,If she were not the party. Madam, pray you,One word in private.Aur.I'll prevent you. 'Tis true,My brother laid the scene for me; but sinceWe've chang'd the plot, and 'tis contriv'd my womanShall undertake my part.[Aside.Ban.I am instructedI was mistaken, sir; indeed the ladySpoke to me for her gentlewoman. HowDo you affect her, sir? you see she isAs handsome as her lady; and, her birthNot being so high, she will more size with you.Ware.I say, I like her best. Her lady hasToo much great house in her.Ban.'Tis right; this youMay govern as you list. I'll motion't. Lady,Pray, pardon our mistake; indeed our errandWas chiefly to your gentlewoman.Aur.Sir,She's one, whose fortune I so much intend;And yours, sir, are so fair that, though there beMuch disproportion in your age, yet IWill overrule her, and she shall referHerself to be dispos'd by me.Ware.You much oblige me, madam.Aur.Dorcas, this is the merchantI have provided for you: he is old,But he has that will make him young, much gold.Dor.Madam, but that I should offend againstYour care, as well as my preferment, I'dHave more experience of the man I meanTo make my husband. At first sight to marry,Must argue me of lightness.Aur.Princes, Dorcas,Do woo by pictures and ambassadors,And match in absent ceremonies.Dor.ButYou look for some great portion, sir?Ware.Fair mistress,Your virtues are to me a wealthy dowry;And if you love me, I shall think you bringMore than the Indies.Dor.But, sir, 't may be,You'll be against my course of life. I loveRetirement, must have times for my devotion,Am little us'd to company, and hateThe vanity of visits.Ware.This makes meLove you the more.Dor.Then I shall never trust youTo go to sea, and leave me: I shall dreamOf nought but storms and pirates; every windWill break my sleep.Ware.I'll stay at home.Dor.Sir, thereIs one thing more: I hear you have a nephewYou mean to make your heir; I hope you willSettle some jointure on me.Ware.He's so lostIn my intents that, to revenge myself,I take this course. But, to remove your doubts,I've brought my lawyer with blank deeds:He shall put in your name; and I, beforeWe go to church, will seal 'em.Dor.On these terms,Where is your priest, sir?Ware.He expects me atThe French Church, mistress.Aur.Come, when you have seal'd, sir:I'll bear a part in the solemnity.[Exeunt.
Ban.Madam, this is the gentleman I mention'd,I've brought him here, according to my function,To give you both an interview: if youBe ready, the church and priest are.
Aur.Is this, sir,The wealthy merchant?
Ban.Madam, this is heThat, if you'll wear the price of baronies,Or live at Cleopatra's rate, can keep you.
Aur.Come you a suitor, sir, to me?
Ware.Yes, lady,I did employ my speaker there, who hath,I hope, inform'd you with my purpose.
Aur.SurelyYour speaker then hath err'd; I understoodHim for my woman: if you can like her, sir,It being, for aught I hear, all one to you,I've woo'd her for you. But, for myself, could youEndow me with the stream that ebbs and flowsIn waves of gold, I hope you do not thinkI'd so much stain my birth, as to be boughtTo match into a company. Sir, plainly,I'm match'd already.
Ware.Bannswright, did not youTell me she'd have me?
Ban.Faith, sir, I have earsThat might deceive me; but I did dream waking,If she were not the party. Madam, pray you,One word in private.
Aur.I'll prevent you. 'Tis true,My brother laid the scene for me; but sinceWe've chang'd the plot, and 'tis contriv'd my womanShall undertake my part.[Aside.
Ban.I am instructedI was mistaken, sir; indeed the ladySpoke to me for her gentlewoman. HowDo you affect her, sir? you see she isAs handsome as her lady; and, her birthNot being so high, she will more size with you.
Ware.I say, I like her best. Her lady hasToo much great house in her.
Ban.'Tis right; this youMay govern as you list. I'll motion't. Lady,Pray, pardon our mistake; indeed our errandWas chiefly to your gentlewoman.
Aur.Sir,She's one, whose fortune I so much intend;And yours, sir, are so fair that, though there beMuch disproportion in your age, yet IWill overrule her, and she shall referHerself to be dispos'd by me.
Ware.You much oblige me, madam.
Aur.Dorcas, this is the merchantI have provided for you: he is old,But he has that will make him young, much gold.
Dor.Madam, but that I should offend againstYour care, as well as my preferment, I'dHave more experience of the man I meanTo make my husband. At first sight to marry,Must argue me of lightness.
Aur.Princes, Dorcas,Do woo by pictures and ambassadors,And match in absent ceremonies.
Dor.ButYou look for some great portion, sir?
Ware.Fair mistress,Your virtues are to me a wealthy dowry;And if you love me, I shall think you bringMore than the Indies.
Dor.But, sir, 't may be,You'll be against my course of life. I loveRetirement, must have times for my devotion,Am little us'd to company, and hateThe vanity of visits.
Ware.This makes meLove you the more.
Dor.Then I shall never trust youTo go to sea, and leave me: I shall dreamOf nought but storms and pirates; every windWill break my sleep.
Ware.I'll stay at home.
Dor.Sir, thereIs one thing more: I hear you have a nephewYou mean to make your heir; I hope you willSettle some jointure on me.
Ware.He's so lostIn my intents that, to revenge myself,I take this course. But, to remove your doubts,I've brought my lawyer with blank deeds:He shall put in your name; and I, beforeWe go to church, will seal 'em.
Dor.On these terms,Where is your priest, sir?
Ware.He expects me atThe French Church, mistress.
Aur.Come, when you have seal'd, sir:I'll bear a part in the solemnity.[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:[244]i.e., To make some of the lesser necessaries of a theatre,propertiesbeing the usual term for them. So Bottom, in the "Midsummer Night's Dream"—"I will draw a bill ofproperties."See a note on this passage.—Steevens.Mr Steevens, in his note upon "Midsummer Night's Dream," (Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, v. 198), says thatdresseswere not included in thepropertiesof theatres. Maine's authority is to the contrary, if Aurelia's apparel were to be used for the apparel of the actors.—Collier.[245]Cuerpois an undress: the Spaniards, from whom we borrowed the word, apply it to a person in a light jacket without his cabot or cloak.—Mr Gifford's note on the "Fatal Dowry," iii. 390. Cuerpo is thebody, andin cuerpomeans in body clothing.—Collier.[246]i.e., The gold on my apparel. So in "King Henry V.""Our gayness and ourgiltare all besmerch'd."See a note on this passage, vi., 128, edit. 1778.—Steevens.[247][Omitted in former edit.][248][The christening-fee.] The chrysome was the white cloth thrown over the new-baptized child. This perhaps was the perquisite of the officiating clergyman. The child itself, however, was sometimes called achrysome. See a note on "King Henry V.," vi., 52, edit. 1778.—Steevens.[249]i.e., Leopards, animals often introduced into heraldic devices.[250][Former edit.,vocation.][251][Run into debt. Scores used to be chalked up at taverns. Hence the proverb, "The tapster is undone by chalk!" From being a particular phrase, it became general.][252][The allowance to a kept mistress.][253]Abiggonwas a kind of coif formerly worn by men. It is now only in use for children.[254][Grantinginfantto be the right word, we are perhaps to suppose that illegitimate children were surreptitiously deposited on mercers' counters, occasionally, wrapped up as parcels.Upon their strengthsappears to meanupon their credit.][255]From Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," p. 207, &c., we learn that the office of a Reader at the Middle Temple was held at a great charge to the person who executed it. "His expences," says that author, "during this time ofreading, are very great; insomuch, as some have spent above six hundred pounds in two dayes less than a fortnight, which now is the usual time ofreading." It appears also that many gentlemen, who were put by theirreading, were removed from the Bar-table unto a table called, The Auncients Table; "And it is no disgrace," says the same author, "for any man to be removed hither; for by reason of the excessive chardge ofreadings, many men of great learning and competent practise, as well as others of less learning, but great estates, have refused to Read, and are here placed." To relieve the gentlemen who undertook this expensive office, it seems to have been usual to call upon the students for their assistance; and this circumstance is alluded to in the text. [The Ancients' Table is the same as the Benchers', and at Gray's Inn the Benchers are still calledAncients.]
[244]i.e., To make some of the lesser necessaries of a theatre,propertiesbeing the usual term for them. So Bottom, in the "Midsummer Night's Dream"—"I will draw a bill ofproperties."See a note on this passage.—Steevens.Mr Steevens, in his note upon "Midsummer Night's Dream," (Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, v. 198), says thatdresseswere not included in thepropertiesof theatres. Maine's authority is to the contrary, if Aurelia's apparel were to be used for the apparel of the actors.—Collier.
[244]i.e., To make some of the lesser necessaries of a theatre,propertiesbeing the usual term for them. So Bottom, in the "Midsummer Night's Dream"—
"I will draw a bill ofproperties."
See a note on this passage.—Steevens.
Mr Steevens, in his note upon "Midsummer Night's Dream," (Malone's Shakespeare, by Boswell, v. 198), says thatdresseswere not included in thepropertiesof theatres. Maine's authority is to the contrary, if Aurelia's apparel were to be used for the apparel of the actors.—Collier.
[245]Cuerpois an undress: the Spaniards, from whom we borrowed the word, apply it to a person in a light jacket without his cabot or cloak.—Mr Gifford's note on the "Fatal Dowry," iii. 390. Cuerpo is thebody, andin cuerpomeans in body clothing.—Collier.
[245]Cuerpois an undress: the Spaniards, from whom we borrowed the word, apply it to a person in a light jacket without his cabot or cloak.—Mr Gifford's note on the "Fatal Dowry," iii. 390. Cuerpo is thebody, andin cuerpomeans in body clothing.—Collier.
[246]i.e., The gold on my apparel. So in "King Henry V.""Our gayness and ourgiltare all besmerch'd."See a note on this passage, vi., 128, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[246]i.e., The gold on my apparel. So in "King Henry V."
"Our gayness and ourgiltare all besmerch'd."
See a note on this passage, vi., 128, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[247][Omitted in former edit.]
[247][Omitted in former edit.]
[248][The christening-fee.] The chrysome was the white cloth thrown over the new-baptized child. This perhaps was the perquisite of the officiating clergyman. The child itself, however, was sometimes called achrysome. See a note on "King Henry V.," vi., 52, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[248][The christening-fee.] The chrysome was the white cloth thrown over the new-baptized child. This perhaps was the perquisite of the officiating clergyman. The child itself, however, was sometimes called achrysome. See a note on "King Henry V.," vi., 52, edit. 1778.—Steevens.
[249]i.e., Leopards, animals often introduced into heraldic devices.
[249]i.e., Leopards, animals often introduced into heraldic devices.
[250][Former edit.,vocation.]
[250][Former edit.,vocation.]
[251][Run into debt. Scores used to be chalked up at taverns. Hence the proverb, "The tapster is undone by chalk!" From being a particular phrase, it became general.]
[251][Run into debt. Scores used to be chalked up at taverns. Hence the proverb, "The tapster is undone by chalk!" From being a particular phrase, it became general.]
[252][The allowance to a kept mistress.]
[252][The allowance to a kept mistress.]
[253]Abiggonwas a kind of coif formerly worn by men. It is now only in use for children.
[253]Abiggonwas a kind of coif formerly worn by men. It is now only in use for children.
[254][Grantinginfantto be the right word, we are perhaps to suppose that illegitimate children were surreptitiously deposited on mercers' counters, occasionally, wrapped up as parcels.Upon their strengthsappears to meanupon their credit.]
[254][Grantinginfantto be the right word, we are perhaps to suppose that illegitimate children were surreptitiously deposited on mercers' counters, occasionally, wrapped up as parcels.Upon their strengthsappears to meanupon their credit.]
[255]From Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," p. 207, &c., we learn that the office of a Reader at the Middle Temple was held at a great charge to the person who executed it. "His expences," says that author, "during this time ofreading, are very great; insomuch, as some have spent above six hundred pounds in two dayes less than a fortnight, which now is the usual time ofreading." It appears also that many gentlemen, who were put by theirreading, were removed from the Bar-table unto a table called, The Auncients Table; "And it is no disgrace," says the same author, "for any man to be removed hither; for by reason of the excessive chardge ofreadings, many men of great learning and competent practise, as well as others of less learning, but great estates, have refused to Read, and are here placed." To relieve the gentlemen who undertook this expensive office, it seems to have been usual to call upon the students for their assistance; and this circumstance is alluded to in the text. [The Ancients' Table is the same as the Benchers', and at Gray's Inn the Benchers are still calledAncients.]
[255]From Dugdale's "Origines Juridiciales," p. 207, &c., we learn that the office of a Reader at the Middle Temple was held at a great charge to the person who executed it. "His expences," says that author, "during this time ofreading, are very great; insomuch, as some have spent above six hundred pounds in two dayes less than a fortnight, which now is the usual time ofreading." It appears also that many gentlemen, who were put by theirreading, were removed from the Bar-table unto a table called, The Auncients Table; "And it is no disgrace," says the same author, "for any man to be removed hither; for by reason of the excessive chardge ofreadings, many men of great learning and competent practise, as well as others of less learning, but great estates, have refused to Read, and are here placed." To relieve the gentlemen who undertook this expensive office, it seems to have been usual to call upon the students for their assistance; and this circumstance is alluded to in the text. [The Ancients' Table is the same as the Benchers', and at Gray's Inn the Benchers are still calledAncients.]