SCENE II.[2047

LOVEWIT, Neighbours.

[_LOVE._ _Knocks again._] I will.

[_Enter_ FACE _in his butler’s livery_.]

_Face._ What mean you, sir?

_1, 2, 4 Nei._ O, here’s Jeremy!

_Face._ Good sir, come from the door.

_Love._ Why, what is the matter?

_Face._ Yet farther, you are too near yet.

_Love._ I’ the name of wonder, What means the fellow!

_Face._ The house, sir, has been visited.

_Love._ What, with the plague? Stand thou then farther.

_Face._ No, sir, I had it not.

_Love._ Who had it then? I left None else but thee ’i the house.

_Face._ Yes, sir, my fellow, The cat that kept the buttery, had it on her A week before I spied it; but I got her Convey’d away i’ the night: and so I shut 10 The house for a month——

_Love._ How!

_Face._ Purposing then, sir, To have burnt rose-vinegar, treacle, and tar, And ha’ made it sweet, that you should ne’er ha’ known it; Because I knew the news would but afflict you, sir.

_Love._ Breathe less, and farther off! Why this is stranger; 15 The neighbours tell me all here that the doors Have still been open——

_Face._ How, sir!

_Love._ Gallants, men and women, And of all sorts, tag-rag, been seen to flock here In threaves,[2048] these ten weeks, as to a second Hogsden, In days of Pimlico and Eye-bright.[2049]

_Face._ Sir, 20 Their wisdoms will not say so.

_Love._ To-day they speak Of coaches and gallants; one in a French hood Went in, they tell me; and another was seen In a velvet gown at the window: divers more Pass in and out.

_Face._ They did pass through the doors then, Or walls, I assure their eye-sights, and their spectacles; 26 For here, sir, are the keys, and here have been, In this my pocket, now above twenty days! And for before, I kept the fort alone there. But that ’t is yet not deep i’ the afternoon, 30 I should believe my neighbours had seen double Through the black pot,[2050] and made these apparitions! For, on my faith to your worship, for these three weeks And upwards, the door has not been open’d.

_Love._ Strange!

_1 Nei._ Good faith, I think I saw a coach.

_2 Nei._ And I too, 35 I’d ha’ been sworn.

_Love._ Do you but think it now? And but one coach?

_4 Nei._ We cannot tell, sir: Jeremy Is a very honest fellow.

_Face._ Did you see me at all?

_1 Nei._ No; that we are sure on.

_2 Nei._ I ’ll be sworn o’ that.

_Love._ Fine rogues to have your testimonies built on! 40

[_Re-enter third_ Neighbour, _with his tools_.]

_3 Nei._ Is Jeremy come!

_1 Nei._ O yes; you may leave your tools; We were deceiv’d, he says.

_2 Nei._ He ’s had the keys; And the door has been shut these three weeks.

_3 Nei._ Like enough.

_Love._ Peace, and get hence, you changelings.

[_Enter_ SURLY _and_ MAMMON.]

_Face._ [_Aside._] Surly come, And Mammon made acquainted! They ’ll tell all. 45 How shall I beat them off? What shall I do? Nothing ’s more wretched than a guilty conscience.