Bar.
It seems so, Neighbours,
But to what end?
Lop.
To be your Pupil, Sir,
Your Servant, if you please.
Lea.
I have travell'd far, Sir,
To seek a worthy man.
Bar.
Alas, good Gentleman,
I am a poor man, and a private too,
Unfit to keep a Servant of your Reckoning;
My house a little Cottage, and scarce able
To hold my self, and those poor few live under it;
Besides, you must not blame me Gentlemen,
If I were able to receive a Servant,
To be a little scrupulous of his dealing,
For in these times—
Lop.
'Pray let me answer that, sir,
Here is five hundred Duckets, to secure him,
He cannot want, Sir, to make good his credit,
Good gold, and coin.
Bar.
And that's an honest pledge;
Yet sure, that needs not, for his face, and carriage,
Seem to declare an in-bred honesty.
Lea.
And (for I have a ripe mind to the Law, sir,
In which I understand you live a Master)
The least poor corner in your house, poor Bed, sir,
(Let me not seem intruding to your worship)
With some Books to instruct me, and your counsel,
Shall I rest most content with: other Acquaintance
Than your grave presence, and the grounds of Law
I dare not covet, nor I will not seek, sir,
For surely mine own nature desires privacy.
Next, for your monthly pains (to shew my thanks,)
I do proportion out some twenty Duckets;
As I grow riper, more: three hundred now, sir,
To shew my love to learning, and my Master,
My diet I'le defray too, without trouble.
Lop.
Note but his mind to learning.
Bar.
I do strangely, yes, and I like it too, thanks to his mony.
Die.
Would he would live with me, and learn to dig too.
Lop.
A wondrous modest man, sir.
Bar.
So it seems,
His dear love to his Studie must be nourish'd,
Neighbour, he's like to prove.
Lop.
With your good counsel,
And with your diligence, as you will ply him;
His Parents, when they know your care—
Bar.
Come hither.
Die.
An honester young man, your worship ne're kept,
But he is so bashfull—
Bar.
O I like him better.
Say I should undertake ye, which indeed, sir,
Will be no little straitness to my living,
Considering my Affairs, and my small house, sir,
For I see some promises that pull me to ye;
Could you content your self, at first thus meanly,
To lie hard, in an out-part of my house, sir?
For I have not many Lodgings to allow ye;
And studie should be still remote from company;
A little fire sometimes too, to refresh ye;
A Student must be frugal: sometimes Lights too,
According to your labour.
Lea.
Any thing, Sir,
That's dry, and wholsome: I am no bred-wanton.
Bar.
Then I receive you: but I must desire ye
To keep within your confines.
Lea.
Ever Sir,
There's the Gold, and ever be your servant,
Take it and give me Books: may I but prove, sir,
According to my wish, and these shall multiply.
Lop.
Do, study hard, pray ye take him in, and settle him,
He's only fit for you; Shew him his Cell, sir.
Die.
Take a good heart; and when ye are a cunning Lawyer,
I'le sell my Bells, and you shall prove it lawfull.
Bar..
Come, sir, with me: neighbours I thank your diligence.
Lop.
I'le come sometimes, and crack a case with ye.
Bar.
Welcome—
[Exit.
Lop.
Here's mony got with ease: here, spend that jovially,
And pray for the fool, the Founder.
Die.
Many more fools
I heartily pray may follow his example,
Lawyers, or Lubbers, or of what condition,
And many such sweet friends inNova Hispania.
Lop.
It will do well; let 'em but send their monys,
Come from what quarter of the world, I care not,
I'le know 'em instantly; nay I'le be kin to 'em;
I cannot miss a man, that sends me mony:
Let him law there, long as his Duckets last, Boy,
I'le grace him, and prefer him.
Die.
I'le turn Trade, Master, and now live by the living,
Let the dead stink, 'tis a poor stinking Trade.
Lop.
If the young fool now
Should chance to chop upon his fair Wife,Diego?
Die.
And handle her Case, Master, that's a law point,
A point would make him start, and put on his Spectacles,
A hidden point, were worth the canvassing.
Lop.
Now surely, surely, I should love him,Diego,
And love him heartily: nay, I should love my self,
Or any thing that had but that good fortune,
For to say truth, the Lawyer is a dog-bolt,
An arrant worm: and though I call him worshipfull,
I wish him a canoniz'd Cuckold,Diego,
Now, if my youth do dub him—
Die.
He is too demure, Sir.
Lop.
If he do sting her home.
Dieg.
There's no such matter,
The woman was not born to so much blessedness,
He has no heat: study consumes his oyl, Master.
Lop.
Let's leave it to the will of Fate, and presently
Over a cup of lustie Sack, let's prophesie.
I am like a man that dreamt he was an Emperour,
ComeDiego, hope, and whilst he lasts, we'll lay it on. [Ex.
SCENA III.
EnterJamy, Milanes, Arsenio.
Jam.
Angelo, Milanes, did you see this wonder?
Mil.
Yes, yes.
Jam.
And youArsenio?
Ars.
Yes he's gone, Sir,
Strangely disguis'd, he's set upon his voyage.
Love guide his thoughts: he's a brave honest fellow.
Sit close Don Lawyer, O that arrant knave now,
How he will stink, will smoak again, will burst!
He's the most arrant Beast.
Mil.
He may be more beast.
Jam.
Let him bear six, and six, that all may blaze him,
The villany he has sowed into my Brother,
And from his State, the Revenue he has reach'd at:
Pay him, my goodLeandro, take my prayers.
Ars.
And all our wishes plough with his fine white heifer.
Jam.
Mark him (my dear friend) for a famous Cuckold,
Let it out-live his Books, his pains, and hear me,
The more he seeks to smother it with Justice,
Enter aServant.
Let it blaze out the more: what newsAndrea?
Andr.
News I am loth to tell ye: but I am charg'd, sir,
Your Brother layes a strict command upon ye,
No more to know his house, upon your danger,
I am sorry, Sir.
Jam.
Faith never be: I am glad on't,
He keeps the house of pride, and foolery:
I mean to shun it: so return my Answer,
'Twill shortly spew him out; Come, let's be merry,
And lay our heads together, carefully
How we may help our friend; and let's lodge near him,
Be still at hand: I would not for my patrimony,
But he should crown his Lawyer, a learned Monster;
Come, let's away, I am stark mad till I see him.
[Exeunt.