Part 16

_Ami._ Tush, your own experience of my heart can answer ye.

_Orl._ This doubtful, makes me clearly understand your disposition.

_Ami._ If your cause be just, I wish you a conclusion like your cause.

_Orl._ I can have any common charity to such a Prayer From a friend I would expect a love to prosper in; Without exceptions such a love as might Make all my undertakings thankful to't; Precisely just is seldom faithful in our wishes To another mans desires: Farewel. [_Exit_ Orl.

_Enter_ Montague _having a Purse_, Duboys, Longueville, _and_ Voramer _the Page, with two Caskets_.

_Dub._ Here comes your adversarie's brother-in-law.

_Long._ The Lord of _Amiens_.

_Dub._ From the Hall I think.

_Ami._ I did so: save your Lordship.

_Mount._ That's a wish my Lord, as courteous to my present state, As ever honest mind was thankful for; For now my safety must expose it self To question: yet to look for any free Or hearty salutation (Sir) from you Would be unreasonable in me.

_Ami._ Why?

_Mont._ Your Sister is my adversarie's wife; That nearness needs must consequently draw Your inclination to him.

_Ami._ I will grant Him all the nearness his alliance claims, And yet be nothing less impartial, My Lord of _Montague_.

_Mont._ Lord of _Montague_ yet: But (Sir) how long the dignity or state Belonging to it will continue, stands Upon [t]he dangerous passage of this hour. Either for evermore to be confirm'd, Or like the time wherein 'twas pleaded, gone: Gone with it, never to be call'd again.

_Ami._ Justice direct your process to the end; To both your persons my respect shall still Be equal; but the righteous cause is that Which bears my wishes to the side it holds, Where, ever may it prosper. [_Exit_ Amiens.

_Mont._ Then my thanks Are proper to you, if a man may raise A confidence upon a lawful ground I have no reason to be once perplex'd With any doubtful motion, _Longue[v]ille_, That Lord of _Amiens_, (didst observe him?) has A worthy nature in him.

_Long._ Either 'tis his nature or his cunning.

_Mont._ That's the vizard of most mens actions, Whose dissembled lives Do carry only the similitude Of goodness on 'em: but for him Honest [b]ehaviour makes a true report, What disposition does inhabit him, Essential virtue.

_Long._ Then 'tis pity that Injurious _Orleans_ is his brother.

_Dub._ He is but his brother-in-law.

_Long._ Law? that's as bad.

_Dub._ How is your Law as bad? I rather wish The hangman thy Executor than that Equivocation should be ominous.

_Enter two Lawyers, and two Creditors._

_Long._ Some of your Lawyers--

_1 Law._ What is ominous?

_2 Law._ Let no distrust trouble your Lordships thought.

_1 Law._ The evidences of your question'd Land Ha' not so much as any literal Advantage in 'em to be made against Your Title.

_2 Law._ And your Council understands The business fully.

_1 Law._ Th'are industrious, just.

_2 Law._ And very confident.

_1 Law._ Your state endures A voluntary trial; like a man Whose honors are maliciously accus'd.

_2 Law._ The accusation serves to clear his cause.

_1 Law._ And to approve his truth more.

_2 Law._ So shall all Your adversarie's pleadings strengthen your Possession.

_1 Law._ And be set upon record To witness the hereditary right Of you and yours.

_2 Law._ Courage, you have the law.

_Long._ And you the profits.

_Mont._ If discouragement Could work upon me, your assurances Would put me strongly into heart again; But I was never fearful: and let fate Deceive my expectation, yet I am Prepared against dejection.

_1 Cre._ So are we.

_2 Cre._ We have received a comfortable hope That all will speed well.

_Long._ What is he _Duboys_?

_Dub._ A Creditor.

_Long._ I thought so, for he speaks As if he were a partner in his state.

_Mont._ Sir, I am largely indebted to your loves.

_Long._ More to their purses.

_M[o]nt._ Which you shall not lose.

_1 Cred._ Your Lordship.

_Dub._ That's another creditor.

_1 Cred._ Has interest in me.

_Long._ You have more of him.

_1 Cred._ And I have had so many promises From these, and all your learned Counsellors; How certainly your cause will prosper: that--

_Long._ You brought no Serjeants with you?

_Dub._ To attend his ill success.

_Mont._ Good Sir, I will not be Unthankful either to their industries Or your affections.

_1 Law._ All your Land (my Lord) Is at the barr now, give me but ten Crowns I'll save you harmless.

_Long._ Take him at his word; If he does lose, you're sav'd by miracle, For I never knew a Lawyer yet undone.

_1 Law._ Then now you shall, Sir, if this prospers not.

_Long._ Sir, I beseech you do not force your voice To such a loudness, but be thrifty now; Preserve it till you come to plead at bar It will be much more profitable in The satisfaction than the promise.

_1 Law._ Is not this a satisfaction to engage My self for this assurance, if he--

_Mont._ No Sir, my ruin never shall import Anothers loss, if not by accident, And that my purpose is not guilty of: You [are] engag'd in nothing but your care. [_Ex. Law._ Attend the Procurator to the Court, Observe how things incline, and bring me word.

_Long._ I dare not, Sir, if I be taken there, Mine ears will be in danger.

_Mont._ Why? hast thou Committed something that deserves thine ears?

_Long._ No, but I fear the noise; my hearing will be Perished by the noise; 'tis as good 't want [A member, as to loose the use--]

_Mont._ The ornament is excepted.

_Long._ Well my Lord I'll put 'em to the hazard. [_Exit_ Long.

_1 Cred._ Your desires be prosperous to you.

_2 Cred._ Our best Prayers wait Upon your fortune. [_Exeunt_ Cred.

_Dub._ For your selves, not him.

_Mont._ Thou canst not blame 'em: I am in their debts.

_Ver._ But had your large expence (a part whereof You owe 'em) for unprofitable Silks And Laces, been bestowed among the poor, That would have prayed the right way for you: Not upon you.

_Mont._ For unprofitable Silks And Laces? now believe me honest boy Th'ast hit upon a reprehension that belongs Unto me.

_Ver._ By ---- my Lord, I had not so unmannerly a thought, To reprehend you.

_Mont._ Why I love thee for't. Mine own acknowledgement confirms thy words: For once I do remember, comming from The Mercers, where my Purse had spent it self On those unprofitable toys thou speak'st of, A man half naked with his poverty Did meet me, and requested my relief: I wanted whence to give it, yet his eyes Spoke for him, those I could have satisfied With some unfruitful sorrow, (if my tears Would not have added rather to his grief, Than eas'd it) but the true compassion that I should have given I had not: this began To make me think how many such mens wants The vain superfluous cost I wore upon My outside would have clothed, and left my self A habit as becomming: to increase This new consideration there came one Clad in a garment plain and thrifty, yet As decent as these fair dear follies; made As if it were of purpose to despise The vanity of shew: his purse had still The power to do a charitable deed, And did it.

_Dub._ Yet your inclination, Sir, Deserv'd no less to be commended, than his action.

_Mont._ Prethee do not flatter me; He that intends well, yet deprives himself Of means, to put his good thoughts into deed, Deceives his purpose of the due reward That goodness merits: oh antiquity Thy great examples of Nobility Are out of imitation, or at least So lamely follow'd, that thou art as much Before this age in virtue, as in time.

_Dub._ Sir, it must needs be lamely followed, when The chiefest men love to follow it Are for the most part cripples.

_Mont._ Who are they?

_Dub._ Soldiers, my Lord, soldiers.

_Mont._ 'Tis true _Duboys_: but if the law disables me no more For Noble actions, than good purposes, I'll practice how to exercise the worth Commended to us by our ancestors; The poor neglected soldier shall command Me from a Ladies Courtship, and the form I'll study shall no more be taught me by The Taylor, but the Scholar; that expence Which hitherto has been to entertain Th' intemperate pride and pleasure of the taste Shall fill my Table more to satisfie, And less to surfeit. What an honest work it would be; when we find A Virgin in her poverty, and youth Inclining to be tempted, to imploy As much perswasion, and as much expence To keep her upright, as men use to do upon her falling.

_Dub._ 'Tis charity that many Maids will be unthankful for, And some will rather take it for a wrong, To buy 'em out of their inheritance, The thing that they were born to.

_Enter_ Longueville.

_Mont. Longueville_, thou bringst a chearful promise in thy face. There stands no pale report upon thy cheek, To give me fear or knowledge of my loss, 'tis red and lively. How proceeds my suit?

_Long._ That's with leave, Sir, a labour that to those of _Hercules_, May add another; or (at least) be call'd An imitation of his burning shirt: For 'twas a pain of that [un]merciful Perplexity, to shoulder through the throng Of people that attended your success: My sweaty linnen fixt upon my skin, Still as they pull'd me, took that with it; 'twas A fear I should have left my flesh among 'em: Yet I was patient, for (methought) the toil Might be an emblem of the difficult And weary passage to get out of Law. And to make up the dear similitude, When I was forth seeking my handkerchief To wipe my sweat off, I did find a cause To make me sweat more, for my Purse was lost Among their fingers.

_Dub._ There 'twas rather found.

_Long._ By them.

_Dub._ I mean so.

_Mont._ Well, I will restore Thy damage to thee: how proceeds my suit?

_L[o]ng._ Like one at Brokers; I think forfeited. Your promising Counsel at the first Put strongly forward with a labour'd speed, And such a violence of pleading, that His Fee in Sugar-candy scarce will make His throat a satisfaction for the hurt He did it, and he carried the whole cause Before him, with so clear a passage, that The people in the favour of your side Cried _Montague, Montague_: in the spight of him That cryed out silence, and began to laugh Your adversaries advocate to scorn: Who like a cunning Footman set me forth With such a temperate easie kind of course To put him into exercise of strength, And follow'd his advantages so close, That when your hot mouth'd pleader thought h' had won, Before he reacht it, he was out of breath, And then the other stript him.

_Mont._ So all is lost.

_Long._ But how I know not; for, (methought) I stood Confounded with the clamour of the Court, Like one embark'd upon a storm at Sea, Where the tempestuous noise of Thunder mixt With roaring of the billows, and the thick, Imperfect language of the Sea-men, takes His understanding and his safety both Together from him.

_Mont._ Thou dost bring ill news.

_Long._ Of what I was unwilling to have been The first reporter.

_Mont._ Didst observe no more?

_Long._ At least no better.

_Mont._ Then th'art not inform'd So well as I am; I can tell thee that Will please thee, for when all else left my cause, My very adversaries took my part.

_Long._ --Whosoever told you that, abused you.

_Mont._ Credit me, he took my part When all forsook me.

_Long._ Took it from you.

_Mont._ Yes I mean so, and I think he had just cause To take it, when the verdict gave it him.

_Dub._ His Spirit would ha' sunk him, e'r he could Have carried an ill fortune of this weight so lightly.

_Mont._ Nothing is a misery, unless our weakness apprehend it so; We cannot be more faithful to our selves In any thing that's manly, than to make Ill fortune as contemptible to us As it makes us to others.

_Enter Lawyers._

_Long._ Here come they Whose very countenances will tell you how Contemptible it is to others.

_Mont._ Sir?

_Long._ The Sir of Knighthood may be given him, e'r They hear you now?

_Mont._ Good Sir but a word.

_Dub._ How soon the loss of wealth makes any man Grow out of knowledge.

_Long._ Let me see, I pray, Sir, Never stood you upon the Pillory?

_1 Law._ The Pillory?

_Long._ Oh now I know you did not. Y'ave ears, I thought ye had lost 'em; pray observe, Here's one that once was gracious in your eyes.

_1 Law._ Oh my Lord, have an eye upon him.

_Long._ But ha' you ne'er a Counsel to redeem His Land yet from the judgement?

_2 Law._ None but this, a Writ of error to remove the cause.

_Long._ No more of error, we have been in that too much already.

_2 Law._ If you will reverse the judgement, you must trust to that delay.

_Long._ Delay? indeed he's like to trust to that, With you has any dealing.

_2 Law._ E'r the Law proceeds to an _Habere facias possessionem_.

_Dub._ That's a language Sir, I understand not.

_Long._ Th'art a very strange unthankful fellow to have taken Fees of such a liberal measure, and then give a man hard words for's money.

_1 Law._ If men will hazard their salvations, What should I say? I've other business.

_Mont._ Y'are i'th' right; That's it you should say, now prosperity has left me.

_Enter two Creditors._

_1 Cred._ Have an eye upon him; if We lose him now, he's gone for ever; stay And dog him: I'll go fetch the Officers.

_Long._ Dog him you Bloud-hound: by this point thou shalt more safely dog an angry Lion, than attempt him.

_Mont._ What's the matter?

_Long._ Do but stir to fetch a Serjeant; and besides your loss Of labour, I'll have you beaten, till Those casement in your faces be false lights.

_Dub._ Falser than those you sell by.

_Mont._ Who gave you Commission to abuse my friends thus?

_Lon._ Sir, are those your friends that would betray you?

_Mont._ 'Tis to save themselves rather than betray me.

_1 Cred._ Your Lordship makes a just construction of it.

_2 Cred._ All our desire is but to get our own.

_Long._ Your wives desires and yours do differ then.

_Mont._ So far as my ability will go You shall have satisfaction _Longeville_.

_Long._ And leave your self neglected; every man Is first a debtor to his own demands, being honest.

_Mont._ As I take it, Sir, I did Not entertain you for my Counselor.

_Long._ Counsel's the office of a servant, When the master falls upon a danger; as Defence is; never threaten with your eyes, They are no cockatrices; do you hear? Talk with [a] Girdler, or [a] Mill'ner, He can inform you of a kind of men That first undid the profit of those trades By bringing up the form of carrying Their _Morglays_ in their hands: with some of those A man may make himself a priviledge To ask a question at the prison gates Without your good permission.

_2 Cred._ By your leave.

_Mont._ Stay Sir, what one example since the time That first you put your hat off to me, have You noted in me to encourage you To this presumption? by the justice now Of thine own rule, I should begin with thee, I should turn thee away ungratified For all thy former kindness, forget Thou ever didst me any service: 'tis not fear Of being arrested, makes me thus incline To satisfy you; for you see by him, I lost not all defences with my state; The curses of a man to whom I am Beholding terrify me more, than all The violence he can pursue me with. _Duboys_, I did prepare me for the worst; These two small Cabinets do comprehend The sum of all the wealth that it hath pleased Adversity to leave me, one as rich As th'other, both in Jewels; take thou this, And as the Order put within it shall Direct thee, distribute it half between Those Creditors, and th' other half among My servants: for (Sir) they are my Creditors As well as you are, they have trusted me With their advancement: if the value fail, To please you all, my first increase of means Shall offer you a fuller payment; be content To leave me something, and imagine that You put a new beginner into credit.

_Cred._ So prosper our own blessings, as we wish you to your merit.

_Mont._ Are you[r] silences of discontent, or of sorrow?

_Dub._ Sir, we would not leave you.

_Long._ Do but suffer us to follow you, and what our present means, or industries hereafter can provide, shall serve you.

_Mont._ Oh desire me not to live To such a baseness, as to be maintained By those that serve me; pray begone, I will Defend your honesties to any man That shall report you have forsaken me; I pray begone. [_Exeunt Servants and Creditors._ Why, dost thou weep my boy, Because I do not bid thee go to[o]?

_Ver._ No, I weep (my Lord) because I would not go; I fear you will command me.

_Mont._ No my child, I will not; that would discommend th' intent Of all my other actions: thou art yet Unable to advise thy self a course, Should I put thee to seek it; after that I must excuse, or at the least forgive Any [un]charitable deed that can be done against my self.

_Ver._ Every day (my Lord) I tarry with you, I'll account A day of blessing to me; for I shall Have so much less time left me of my life When I am from you: and if misery Befall you (which I hope so good a man Was never born to) I will take my part, And make my willingness increase my strength To bear it. In the Winter I will spare Mine own cloth[e]s from my self to cover you; And in the Summer, carry some of yours To ease you: I'll doe any thing I can.

_Mont._ Why, thou art able to make misery Ashamed of hurting, when thy weakness can Both bear it, and despise it: Come my boy I will provide some better way for thee Than this thou speakst of: 'tis the comfort that [Ill] fortune has undone me into the fashion: For now in this age most men do begin, To keep but one boy, that kept many men. [_Exeunt._

_Enter Orleans, a Servant, his Lady following._

_Orl._ Where is she? call her.

_Lady._ I attend you Sir.

_Orl._ Your friend sweet Madam.

_Lady._ What friend, good my Lord?

_Orl._ Your _Montague_, Madam, he will shortly want Those Courtly graces that you love him for; The means wherewith he purchased this, and this; And all his own provisions to the least Proportion of his feeding, or his clothes, Came out of that inheritance of land Which he unjustly lived on: but the law Has given me right in't, and possession; now Thou shalt perceive his bravery vanish, as This Jewell does from thee now, and these Pearls To him that owes 'em.

_Lady._ Ye are the owner Sir of every thing that does belong to me.

_Orl._ No, not of him, sweet Lady.

_Lady._ O good [God]!

_Orl._ But in a while your mind will change, and be As ready to disclaim him; when his wants And miseries have perish'd his good face, And taken off the sweetness that has made Him pleasing in a womans understanding.

_La._ O Heaven, how gratious had Creation been To women, who are born without defence, If to our hearts there had been doors through which Our husbands might have lookt into our thoughts, And made themselves undoubtfull.

_Orl._ Made 'em mad.

_La._ With honest women.

_Orl._ Thou dost still pretend A title to that virtue: prethee let Thy honesty speak freelie to me now. Thou know'st that _Montague_, of whose Land I [a]m the master, did affect thee first, And should have had thee, if the strength of friends Had not prevail'd above thine own consent. I have undone him; tell me how thou dost Consider his ill fortune and my good.

_La._ I'll tell you justly his undoing is An argument for pity and for tears In all their dispositions that have known The honor and the goodness of his life: Yet that addition of prosperity, Which you have got by't, no indifferent man Will malice or repine at, if the Law Be not abused in't; howsoever since You have the upper fortune of him, 'twill Be some dishonor to you to bear your self With any pride or glory over him.

_Orl._ This may be truely spoken, but in thee It is not honest.

_La._ Yes, so honest, that I care not if the chast _Penelope_ Were now alive to hear me.

_Enter Amiens._

_Orl._ Who comes there?

_La._ My brother.

_Am._ Save ye.

_Orl._ Now Sir, you have heard of prosperous _Montague_.

_Am._ No Sir, I have heard of _Montague_, But of your prosperity.

_Orl._ Is he distracted.

_Am._ He does bear his loss with such a noble strength Of patience that, Had fortune eyes to see him, she would weep For having hurt him, and pretending that Shee did it but for triall of his worth: Hereafter ever love him.

_Orl._ I perceive you love him, and because (I must confess) He does deserve that though for some respects, I have not given him that acknowledgement, Yet in mine honor I did still conclude to use him nobly.

_Am._ Sir, that will become your reputation and make me grow proud of your alliance.

_Orl._ I did reserve the doing of this friendship till I had His fortunes at my mercy, that the world May tell him 'tis a willing courtesie.

_La._ This change will make me happy.

_Orl._ 'Tis a change; thou shalt behold it: then observe me when That _Montague_ had possession of my Land, I was his rivall, and at last obtain'd This Lady who, by promise of her own Affection to him, should ha' bin his wife; I had her, and withheld her like a pawn, Till now my Land is rend'red to me again, And since it is so, you shall see I have The conscience not to keep her--give him her-- [_draws._

For by the faithfull temper of my sword, she shall not tarry with me.

_Am._ Give me way-- [_draws._ Thou most unworthy man--give me way; Or by the wrong he does the Innocent, I'll end thy misery and his wickedness, together.

_Lady._ Stay and let me justifie My husband in that, I have wrong'd his bed. [_Exeunt Am. Orl._

_Enter Orleans in amazement, the servants following him._

Never--all shames that can afflict me fall Upon me if I ever wrong'd you;

_Orl._ Didst thou not confess it;

_La._ 'Twas to save your blood from shedding, that has Turn'd my brothers edge; He that beholds our thoughts as plainely as Our faces, knowes it, I did never hurt My honesty but by accusing it.

_Orl._ Womens consents are sooner credited Than their denials: and I'll never trust Her body that prefers any defence Before the safety of her honor--here

_Enter Servant._

Show forth that stranger--give me not a word. Thou seest a danger readie to be tempted.

_La._ Cast that upon me rather than my shame, And as I am now dying I will vow That I am honest.