SCENE I.--_In_ KNOWELL'S _house. Enter_ KNOWELL, _with a letter from

WELL-BRED _to_ YOUNG KNOWELL.

KNOWELL: This letter is directed to my son. Yet I will break it open. What's here? What's this?

(_Reads_) "Why, Ned, I beseech thee, hast thou forsworn all thy friends i' the Old Jewry? Dost thou think us all Jews that inhabit there yet? If thou dost, come over and but see our frippery. Leave thy vigilant father alone, to number over his green apricots evening and morning, o' the north-west wall. Prythee, come over to me quickly this morning; I have such a present for thee! One is a rhymer, sir, o' your own batch, but doth think himself a poet-major of the town; the other, I will not venture his description till you come."

Why, what unhallowed ruffian would have writ In such a scurrilous manner to a friend! Why should he think I tell my apricots?

[_Enter_ BRAIN-WORM.

Take you this letter, and deliver it my son, But with no notice I have opened it, on your life.

[_Exeunt. Then, enter_ YOUNG KNOWELL, _with the letter, and_ BRAIN-WORM.

YOUNG KNOWELL: Did he open it, say'st thou?

BRAIN-WORM: Yes, o' my word, sir, and read the contents. For he charged me on my life to tell nobody that he opened it, which unless he had done he would never fear to have it revealed.

[YOUNG KNOWELL _moves apart to read the letter. Enter_ STEPHEN. KNOWELL _laughs_.

STEPHEN: 'Slid, I hope he laughs not at me; an he do----

KNOWELL: Here was a letter, indeed, to be intercepted by a man's father! Well, if he read this with patience---- (_Seeing_ STEPHEN) What, my wise cousin! Nay, then, I'll furnish our feast with one gull more. How now, Cousin Stephen--melancholy?

STEPHEN: Yes, a little. I thought you had laughed at me, cousin.

KNOWELL: Be satisfied, gentle coz, and, I pray you, let me entreat a courtesy of you. I am sent for this morning by a friend in the Old Jewry: will you bear me company?

STEPHEN: Sir, you shall command me twice as far.

KNOWELL: Now, if I can but hold him up to his height!