SCENE V.

_Enter +Timothy+._

+Tim.+ By your leave, gentlemen.

+Plot.+ Master Timothy! Welcome from the new world. I look'd you should Ha' past through half the signs in heaven by this, And ha' convers'd with the dolphins. What! not gone To sea with your father?

+Tim.+ No, faith, I do not love To go to sea; it makes one lousy, lays him In wooden sheets, and lands him a preservative Against the plague: besides, my mother was Afraid to venture me.

+Plot.+ Believe't, she's wise Not to trust such a wit to a thin frail bark, Where you had sail'd within three inches of Becoming a Jonas. Besides the tossing, to have All the fierce blust'ring faces in the map Swell more tempestuously upon you than Lawyers preferr'd or trumpeters. And whither Were you bound now?

+Tim.+ I only came to have Your judgment of my suit.

+Plot.+ Surely the tailor Has done his part.

+Tim.+ And my mother has done hers; For she has paid for't. I never durst be seen Before my father out of duretta[192] and serge: But if he catch me in such paltry stuffs, To make me look like one that lets out money, Let him say, "Timothy was born a fool." Before he went, he made me do what he list; Now he's abroad, I'll do what I list. What Are these two? Gentlemen?

+Plot.+ You see they wear Their heraldry.

+Tim.+ But I mean, can they roar, Beat drawers, play at dice, and court their mistress? I mean forthwith to get a mistress?

+Plot.+ But How comes this, Master Timothy? you did not Rise such a gallant this morning.

+Tim.+ All's one for that. My mother lost her maidenhead that I Might come first into the world; and, by God's lid, I'll bear myself like the elder brother, I. D'you think, I'll all days of my life frequent Saint Antlins, like my sister? Gentlemen, I covet your acquaintance.

+Bright.+ Your servant, sir.

+New.+ I shall be proud to know you.

+Tim.+ Sir, my knowledge Is not much worth. I'm born to a small fortune; Some hundred thousand pound, if once my father Held up his hands in marble, or kneel'd in brass. What are you? inns-of-court men?

+New.+ The catechism Were false, should we deny it.

+Tim.+ I shall shortly Be one myself; I learn to dance already, And wear short cloaks. I mean in your next masque To have a part: I shall take most extremely.

+Bright.+ You will inflame the ladies, sir: they'll strive, Who shall most privately convey jewels Into your hand.

+New.+ This is an excellent fellow. Who is't?

+Plot.+ Rich Seathrift's son, that's gone to sea This morning with my uncle.

+Bright.+ Is this he Whose sister thou shouldst marry? The wench that brings Ten thousand pound?

+Plot.+ My uncle would fain have me [marry her]; But I have cast her off.

+Bright.+ Why?

+Plot.+ Faith, she's handsome, And had a good wit; but her schoolmistress Has made her a rank Puritan.

+New.+ Let's take him Along with us, and Captain Quartfield shall show him.

+Plot.+ 'Twill be an excellent comedy; and afterwards I have a project on him.

+Tim.+ Gentlemen, Shall we dine at an ordinary? You Shall enter me among the wits.

+Plot.+ Sir, I Will but shift clothes, then we'll associate you, But first you shall with us, and see a lady Rich as your father's chests and odd holes,[193] and Fresh as Pygmalion's mistress, newly waken'd Out of her alabaster.

+Tim.+ Lead on: I long to see a lady, and to salute her. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[180] In the year 1755, a gentleman of great eminence in his profession made a few alterations in this play, and presented it to the governors of the Lock Hospital, near Hyde Park Corner, who obtained a representation of it at Drury Lane for the benefit of that charity. It was at the same time printed in 8º, under the title of "The Schemers; or, The City-Match."

Mr Bromfield, the surgeon, as Mr Davies, who acted in it, told me.--_Reed._

[181] The merchant-tailor here alluded to was John Stowe, author of the "Chronicles of England," who was of that company, and a tailor by profession.

[182] See Ben Jonson's "Silent Woman."--_Pegge._

[183] All the editions read _their_.

[184] See extract from Stubbes, quoted in note to "The Miseries of Enforced Marriage" [ix., 538.]

[185] [An allusion to the Lord Mayor's Show, into which were generally introduced symbolical representations of the civic virtues.]

[186] At St Paul's Cross, where [the Lord Mayor heard his inauguration sermon.]

[187] This was a wine which was brought from Baccarach, in Germany, as appears from Heywood's "Philo-cothonista," 1635, p. 48. It is there mentioned along with Rhenish.

Ray, in his "Travels," vol. i. p. 64, says: "Next we came to Baccarach, a walled town on the right hand, having many towers, subject to the Prince Elector Palatine, _famous for the goodness of its wine_, as is also Rhincow, a town not far from Mentz."--_Reed._

[188] See note to "The Ordinary" [xii., 227.]

[189] [A sort of playful parody on the exordium to Ovid's "Metamorphoses."]

[190] The citizens of Charles I.'s time, and earlier, were as famous for the brightness of their shoes as some particular professions at present. In "Every Man in his Humour," act ii. sc. 1, Kitely says--

"Whilst they, sir, to relieve him in the fable, Make their loose comments upon every word, Gesture, or look, I use; mock me all over, From my flat cap _unto my shining shoes_."

[191] [Bruises or contusions occasioned by assaults.]

[192] [Probably some strong, coarse sort of substance like corduroy.]

[193] [Apparently this word means the secret pigeon-holes in a desk or secretary.]