SCENE II.[3618

_Enter_ MIRABEL, NANTOLET, _and_ LA CASTRE.

_La Cast._ Will ye be wilful, then?

_Mir._ Pray, sir, your pardon; For I must travel. Lie lazy here, Bound to a wife! Chain’d to her subleties, Her humours, and her wills, which are mere fetters! To have her to-day pleas’d, to-morrow peevish, The third day mad, the fourth rebellious! 6 You see before they are married, what moriscoes,[3619] What masques and mummeries they put upon us: To be tied here, and suffer their lavoltas![3620]

_Nant._ ’T is your own seeking.

_Mir._ Yes, to get my freedom. 10 Were they as I could wish ’em——

_La Cast._ Fools and meacocks,[3621] To endure what you think fit to put upon ’em. Come, change your mind.

_Mir._ Not before I have chang’d air, father. When I know women worthy of my company, I will return again, and wait, upon ’em; 15 Till then, dear sir, I ’ll amble all the world over, And run all hazards, misery, and poverty.

_Enter_ PINAC _and_ BELLEUR.

So I escape the dangerous bay of matrimony.

_Pin._ Are ye resolv’d?

_Mir._ Yes, certain; I will out again.

_Pin._ We are for ye, sir; we are your servants once more; 20 Once more we ’ll seek our fortune in strange countries; Ours is too scornful for us.

_Bel._ Is there ne’er a land That you have read or heard of (for I care not how far it be, Nor under what pestiferous star it lies), 24 A happy kingdom, where there are no women, Nor have been ever, nor no mention Of any such lewd things with lewder qualities, (For thither would I travel) where ’t is felony To confess he had a mother; a mistress, treason?

_La Cast._ Are you for travel too?

_Bel._ For any thing, 30 For living in the moon, and stopping hedges,[3622] Ere I stay here to be abus’d and baffl’d.[3623]

_Nant._ Why did ye not break your minds to me? They are my daughters; And, sure, I think I should have that command over ’em, To see ’em well bestow’d. I know ye are gentlemen, 35 Men of fair parts and states; I know your parents: And, had ye told me of your fair affections— Make but one trial more, and let me second ye.

_Bel._ No; I ’ll make hob-nails first, and mend old kettles. Can ye lend me an armour of high proof, to appear in, 40 And two or three field-pieces to defend me? The king’s guard are mere pigmies.

_Nant._ They will not eat ye.

_Bel._ Yes, and you too, and twenty fatter monsieurs, If their high stomachs hold. They came with chopping-knives, To cut me into rands[3624] and sirloins, and so powder me.— 45 Come, shall we go?

_Nant._ You cannot be so discourteous, If ye intend to go, as not to visit ’em, And take your leaves.

_Mir._ That we dare do, and civilly, And thank ’em too.

_Pin._ Yes, sir, we know that honesty.[3625]

_Bel._ I ’ll come i’ the rear, forty foot off, I ’ll assure ye, 50 With a good gun in my hand. I ’ll no more Amazons, I mean, no more of their frights. I ’ll make my three legs,[3626] Kiss my hand twice, and, if I smell no danger, If the interview be clear, may be I ’ll speak to her; I ’ll wear a privy coat[3627] too, and behind me, 55 To make those parts secure, a bandog.

_La Cast._ You are a merry gentleman.

_Bel._ A wary gentleman, I do assure you. I have been warn’d; and must be arm’d.

_La Cast._ Well, son, These are your hasty thoughts; when I see you are bent to it, 60 Then I ’ll believe, and join with ye: so, we’ll leave ye.— [_Aside._] There ’s a trick will make ye stay.

_Nant._ [_Aside._] I hope so. _Exeunt_ [LA CASTRE _and_ NANTOLET].

_Mir._ We have won immortal fame now, if we leave ’em.

_Pin._ You have; but we have lost.

_Mir._ Pinac, thou art cozen’d. I know they love ye; and to gain ye handsomely, 65 Not to be thought to yield, they would give millions. Their father’s willingness, that must needs show ye.

_Pin._ If I thought so——

_Mir._ Ye shall be hang’d, you recreant! Would ye turn renegado now?

_Bel._ No; let ’s away, boys, 70 Out of the air and tumult of their villanies. Though I were married to that grasshopper, And had her fast by the legs, I should think she would cozen me.

_Enter a_ Young [Man, _disguised as a_] Factor.

_Y. Man._ Monsieur Mirabel, I take it?

_Mir._ Y’ are i’ th’ right, sir.

_Y. Man._ I am come to seek ye, sir. I have been at your father’s, 75 And, understanding you were here——

_Mir._ Ye are welcome. May I crave your name?

_Y. Man._ Fosse, sir, and your servant. That you may know me better, I am factor To your old merchant, Leverdure.

_Mir._ How does he?

_Y. Man._ Well, sir, I hope; he is now at Orleans, 80 About some business.

_Mir._ You are once more welcome. Your master ’s a right honest man, and one I am much beholding to, and must very shortly Trouble his love again.

_Y. Man._ You may be bold, sir.

_Mir._ Your business, if you please now?

_Y. Man._ This, it is sir. 85 I know ye well remember in your travel A Genoa merchant——

_Mir._ I remember many.

_Y. Man._ But this man, sir, particularly; your own benefit Must needs imprint him in ye; one Alberto, A gentleman you sav’d from being murther’d 90 A little from Bologna: I was then myself in Italy, and supplied ye; Though haply you have forgot me now.

_Mir._ No, I remember ye, And that Alberto too; a noble gentleman: More to remember were to thank myself, sir. 95 What of that gentleman?

_Y. Man._ He is dead.

_Mir._ I am sorry.

_Y. Man._ But on his death-bed, leaving to his sister All that he had, beside some certain jewels, Which, with a ceremony, he bequeath’d to you 100 In grateful memory, he commanded strictly His sister, as she lov’d him and his peace, To see those jewels safe and true deliver’d, And, with them, his last love. She, as tender To observe his will, not trusting friend nor servant 105 With such a weight, is come herself to Paris And at my master’s house.

_Mir._ You tell me a wonder.

_Y. Man._ I tell ye a truth, sir. She is young and handsome, And well attended; of much state and riches; So loving and obedient to her brother, 110 That, on my conscience, if he had given her also, She would most willingly have made her tender.

_Mir._ May not I see her?

_Y. Man._ She desires it heartily.

_Mir._ And presently?

_Y. Man._ She is now about some business, Passing accounts of some few debts here owing, 115 And buying jewels of a merchant.

_Mir._ Is she wealthy?

_Y. Man._ I would ye had her, sir, at all adventure! Her brother had a main state.[3628]

_Mir._ And fair too?

_Y. Man._ The prime of all those parts of Italy, 120 For beauty and for courtesy.

_Mir._ I must needs see her.

_Y. Man._ ’T is all her business, sir. Ye may now see her; But to-morrow will be fitter for your visitation, For she is not yet prepared.

_Mir._ Only her sight, sir; And, when you shall think fit, for further visit. 125

_Y. Man._ Sir, ye may see her, and I ’ll wait your coming.

_Mir._ And I ’ll be with ye instantly; I know the house:— Meantime, my love and thanks, sir.

_Y. Man._ Your poor servant. _Exit._

_Pin._ Thou hast the strangest luck! What was that Alberto?

_Mir._ An honest noble merchant ’t was my chance 130 To rescue from some rogues had almost slain him; And he in kindness to remember this!

_Bel._ Now we shall have you For all your protestations and your forwardness, Find out strange fortunes in this lady’s eyes, 135 And new enticements to put off your journey; And who shall have honour then?

_Mir._ No, no, never fear it: I must needs see her to receive my legacy.

_Bel._ If it be tied up in her smock, Heaven help thee! May not we see too?

_Mir._ Yes, afore we go: 140 I must be known myself, ere I be able To make thee welcome. Wouldst thou see more women? I thought you had been out of love with all.

_Bel._ I may be (I find that), with the least encouragement; Yet I desire to see whether all countries 145 Are naturally possess’d with the same spirits, For, if they be, I ’ll take a monastery, And never travel: for I had rather be a friar, And live mew’d [3629] up, than be a fool, and flouted.

_Mir._ Well, well, I ’ll meet ye anon, then tell you more, boys; 150 However, stand prepared, prest[3630] for our journey; For certain we shall go, I think, when I have seen her, And view’d her well.

_Pin._ Go, go, and we ’ll wait for ye; Your fortune directs ours.

_Bel._ You shall find us i’ th’ tavern, Lamenting in sack and sugar for our losses. 155 If she be right Italian, and want servants,[3631] You may prefer the properest man. How I could Worry a woman now!

_Pin._ Come, come, leave prating: Ye may have enough to do, without this boasting.

_Exeunt_ [_on one side_, PINAC _and_ BELLEUR; _on the other_ MIRABEL].