Chapter 7

_Enter_ Allworth, Order, Amble, _and_ Watchall.

_Allw._ Your courtesies overwhelm me: I much grieve To part from this house, and yet, I find comfort; My attendance on my honourable lord, Whose resolution holds to visit my lady, Will speedily bring me back.

[_Knocking at the Gate._ Marall _and_ Wellborn _within_.

_Mar._ Dar'st thou venture farther?

_Wellb._ Yes, yes, and knock again.

_Order._ 'Tis he; disperse; 'tis Mr. Wellborn.

_Fur._ I know my cue, ne'er doubt me.

[_Exeunt_ Amble _and_ Furnice.

_Enter_ Marall _and_ Wellborn.

_Order._ You were long since expected. Most welcome, sir.

_Wellb._ Say so much To my friend, I pray you.

_Order._ For your sake, I will, sir. [_Exit._

_Mar._ For his sake!

_Wellb._ Mum! this is nothing.

_Mar._ More than ever I would have believed, though I had found it in my primer.

_Allw._ When I have given you reasons for my late harshness, You'll pardon, and excuse me: for, believe me; Tho' now I part abruptly in my service, I will deserve it.

_Mar._ Service! with a vengeance!

_Wellb._ I am satisfied: farewell, Tom.

_Allw._ All joy stay with you.

[_Exit_ Allworth.

_Enter_ Amble.

_Amble._ You are happily encounter'd: I never yet Presented one so welcome, as I know You will be to my lady.

_Mar._ This is some vision; Or, sure, these men are mad, to worship a dung-hill; It cannot be a truth.

_Wellb._ Be still a pagan, An unbelieving infidel; be so, miscreant, And meditate on blankets, and on dog-whips.

_Enter_ Furnace.

_Fur._ I am glad you are come; until I know your pleasure, I knew not how to serve up my lady's dinner.

_Mar._ His pleasure! is it possible? [_Aside._

_Wellb._ What's thy will?

_Fur._ Marry, sir, I have some growse and turkey chicken, Some rails and quails; and my lady will'd me to ask you, What kind of sauces best affect your palate, That I may use my utmost skill to please it.

_Mar._ The devil's enter'd this cook: sauce for his palate! That on my knowledge, for a most this twelve-month, Durst wish but cheese-parings, and brown bread on Sundays.

_Wellb._ That way I like them best.

_Fur._ It shall be done, sir. [_Exit_ Furnace.

_Wellb._ What think you of the hedge we shall dine under? Shall we feed gratis?

_Mar._ I know not what to think: Pray you, make me not mad.

_Enter_ Order.

_Order._ This place becomes you not: 'Pray you, walk sir, to the dining room.

_Wellb._ I am well here, Till her ladyship quits her chamber.

_Mar._ Well here, say you! 'Tis a rare change! but yesterday, you thought Yourself well in a barn, wrapp'd up in pease-straw.

_Enter_ Woman _and_ Chambermaid.

_Wom._ O sir, you are wish'd for.

_Chamb._ My lady dreamt, sir, of you.

_Wom._ And the first command she gave After she rose, was to give her notice When you approached here.

_Order._ Sir, my lady.

_Exit._

_Enter_ Lady Allworth.--_Salutes him._

_Lady A._ I come to meet you, and languished till I saw you. This first kiss for form: I allow a second, As token of my friendship.

_Mar._ Heaven bless me!

_Wellb._ I am wholly yours; yet, madam, if you please To grace this gentleman with a salute----

_Mar._ Salute me at his bidding!

_Wellb._ I shall receive it As a most high favour. [_To_ Marall.

_Lady A._ Sir, your friends are welcome to me.

_Wellb._ Run backward from a lady! and such a lady!

_Mar._ To kiss her foot, is to poor me, a favour I am unworthy of. [_Offers to kiss her Foot._

_Lady A._ Nay, pray you rise; And since you are so humble, I'll exalt you: You shall dine with me to-day at mine own table.

_Mar._ Your ladyship's table! I am not good enough To sit at your steward's.

_Lady A._ You are too modest: I will not be denied.

_Enter_ Order.

_Order._ Dinner is ready for your ladyship.

_Lady A._ Your arm, Mr. Wellborn: Nay, keep us company.

_Mar._ I was never so grac'd. Mercy on me!

[_Exeunt_ Wellborn, Lady Allworth, Amble, _and_ Marall.

_Enter_ Furnace.

_Order._ So, we have play'd our parts, and are come off well. But if I know the mystery, why my lady Consented to it, or why Mr. Wellborn Desir'd it, may I perish!

_Fur._ 'Would I had The roasting of his heart, that cheated him, And forces the poor gentleman to these shifts! Of all the griping and extorting tyrants I ever heard or read of, I never met A match to Sir Giles Overreach.

_Watch._ What will you take To tell him so, fellow Furnace?

_Fur._ Just as much As my throat is worth, for that would be the price on't. To have a usurer that starves himself, And wears a cloak of one and twenty years On a suit of fourteen groats, bought of the hangman, To grow rich, is too common: But this Sir Giles feeds high, keeps many servants, Who must at his command do any outrage; Rich in his habit; vast in his expenses; Yet he to admiration still increases In wealth and lordships.

_Order._ He frights men out of their estates, And breaks through all law-nets, made to curb ill men, As they were cobwebs. No man dares reprove him. Such a spirit to dare, and power to do, were never Lodg'd so unluckily.

_Enter_ Amble.

_Amble._ Ha! ha! I shall burst.

_Order._ Contain thyself, man.

_Fur._ Or make us partakers Of your sudden mirth.

_Amble._ Ha! ha! my lady has got Such a guest at her table, this term-driver, Marall, This snip of an attorney.

_Fur._ What of him, man?

_Amble._ The knave stinks, and feeds so slovenly!

_Fur._ Is this all?

_Amble._ My lady Drank to him for fashion's sake, or to please Mr. Wellborn, As I live, he rises, and takes up a dish, In which there were some remnants of a boil'd capon, And pledges her in white broth. And when I brought him wine, He leaves his chair, and after a leg or two, Most humbly thanks my worship.

_Order._ Rose already!

_Amble._ I shall be chid.

_Enter_ Lady Allworth, Wellborn, _and_ Marall.

_Fur._ My lady frowns.

_Lady A._ You attended us well. Let me have no more of this: I observ'd your leering. Sirrah, I'll have you know, whom I think worthy To sit at my table, be he ne'er so mean, When I am present, is not your companion.

_Order._ Nay, she'll preserve what's due to her.

_Lady A._ You are master Of your own will. I know so much of manners As not to inquire your purposes; in a word, To me you are ever welcome, as to a house That is your own.

_Wellb._ Mark that.

_Mar._ With reverence, sir, And it like your worship.

_Wellb._ Trouble yourself no farther, Dear madam; my heart's full of zeal and service. However in my language I am sparing. Come, Mr. Marall.

_Mar._ I attend your worship.

[_Exeunt_ Wellborn _and_ Marall.

_Lady A._ I see in your looks you are sorry, and you know me An easy mistress: be merry! I have forgot all. Order and Furnace, come with me; I must give you Farther directions. [_Exit._

_Order._ What you please.

_Fur._ We are ready. [_Exeunt._