ESTEFANIA

Sir you must pardon me, Women of our sort that maintain fair memories, And keep suspect off from their chastities, Had need wear thicker v isles. You must excuse me Seignior, I come Not here to fell my self. I believe you. I pray you be civil, I believe you would see me, And when you have seen me, I believe you will Like me. But in a strange place, to a stranger too, As if I came on purpose to betray you, Indeed I will not. Indeed I dare not. But since I see you are so desirous Sir To view a poor face that can merit nothing But your repentance. And with what honesty you ask it of me. When I am gone let your man follow me, And view what house I enter, thither come, For there I dare be bold to appear open. And as I Like your virtuous carriage then, Enter Ivan, Cla. a Servant. I shall be able to give welcome to you, She hath done her business, I must take my leave sir. You appear to me so honest, and so civil, Without a blush sir, I dare bid ye welcome. 'Tis Estifanie, the heir of this poor place. 'Tis but little, Only for present use, I have more and richer, When needs shall call, or friends compel me use it, The suits you see of all the upper chambers, Are those that commonly adorn the house, I think I have beside, as fair as civil Or any town in Spain can parallel. You make me blush to answer, I ever was accounted so to this hour, And that's the reason that I live retired sir. This place will fit our talk, 'tis fitter far sir, Above there are day-beds, and such temptations I dare not trust sir. You named a husband, I am not so strict sir, Nor tied unto a Virgins solitariness, But if and honest, and a noble one, Rich, and a soldier, for so I have vowed he shall be, Were offered me, I think I should accept him, But above all he must love. I am not so ignorant, but that I know well, How to be commanded, And how again to make my self obeyed sir, I wast but little, I have gathered much, My riall not the less worth, when 'tis spent, If spent by my direction, to please my husband, I hold it as indifferent in my duty, To be his maid i'th kitchen, or his Cook, As in the Hall to know my self the Mistress. You are a true gentleman, and fair, I see by ye, And such a man I had rather take. And as suddenly you will repent too. You are a Flatterer, But I must say there was something when saw you. First, in that most noble face, that stirred my fancy. You have the art to cozen me. Exeunt. Yes. Yes too, And the most kind man and the ablest also To give a wife content, he is found as old wine, And to his soundness rises on the palate, And there's the man; I find him rich too Claram. What dost thou think I fish without a bait wench? I bob for fools? he is mine own I have him, I told thee what would tickle him Like a trout, And as I cast it so I caught him daintily, And all he has I have stowed at my devotion. Let her come, She shall be welcome, I am prepared for his, She is mad sure if she be angry at my fortune, For what I have made bold. Yes, entirely well, As long as there he stays and looks no farther Into my ends, but when he doubts, I hate him, And that wise hate will teach me how to cozen him, How to decline their wives, and curb their manners, To put a stern and strong rein to their nature's, And holds he is and Ass not worth acquaintance, That cannot mould a devil to obedience, I owe him a good turn for these opinions, And as I find his temper I may pay him. Enter Perez. Oh here he is, now you shall see a kind man. You are welcome to it Sir. A friend of mine Sir. A Gentlewoman Sir. More then I know Sir. What needs all this, why are you troubled Sir. What do you suspect, she cannot uckold you, She is a woman Sir, a very woman. Cry you mercy husband, you are jealous then, And happily suspect me. Me thinks you should not till you have more cause And clearer too: I am sure you have herd say husband, A woman forced will free her self through iron, A happy, calm, and good wife discontented May be taught tricks. To morrow friend isle see you. Why where's this girl, whose at the door. Knock. This was a week too soon, but I must meet with her, And set a new wheel going, and a subtle one, Must blind this mighty Mars, or I am ruined. Such my Michael As you may bles e the day they entered here, Such for our good. Nay, it'll be better If you will let me but dispose the business, And be a stranger to it, and not disturb me, What have I now to do but to advance your fortune. I'll wise your worship Before I leave you, pray you walk by and say nothing, Only salute him, and leave the rest to me Sir, I was born to make you a man. My husband Lady. Sir, be ruled now, And I shall make you rich, this is my cozen, That Gentleman dotes on her, even to death, see how he ob serves her. She is a mirror, But she is poor, she were for a Princes side else, This house she has brought him too as to his own, And presuming upon me, and upon my courtesy, Conceive me short, he knows not but she is wealthy, Or if she did know otherwise, 'twere all one, He is so far gone. This we must carry with discretion husband, And yield unto her for four days. All this is but in seeming To milk the lover on, do you see this writing, 200 a year when they are married, Has she sealed too for our good; the time's unfit now, I'll show it you to morrow. All, all, and weel remove too, to confirm him. They'le into 'th country suddenly again After they are matched, and then sheele open to him. No, no, they shall have all, And take their pleasure too, 'tis or our advantage, Why, whats four days, had you a sister sir, A Niece or Mistress that required this courtesy, And should I make a cruple to do you good? I swear Sir, As easily as it came on, is't not pity To let such a Gentlewoman for a little help, You give away no house. I'll put the writings into your hand. And you shall keep them safe. When she has mar ed him, So infinite his love is linked unto his, You, I, or any one that helps at this pinch May have heaven knows what. I have a poor old friend; there weel be. Go handsome off, and leave the house clear. That little stuff weel use shall follow after; And a boy to guide you, peace and we are made both. They are sweet and neat. Exit Per. Gone Madam. When you come to your own he must give place Lady. Thank your Ladyship. Exeunt. within. I am going presently. I am now going, And you shall presently to your own house sir, The remembrance of this small vexation, Will be argument of mirth for ever: By that time you have said your orisons, And broke your fast, I shall be back and ready, To usher you to your old content, your freedom. Not a pin I warrant ye. They shall both, There's reason in all courtesies they must both, For by this time I know she has acquainted him, And has provided too she sent me word fit, And will give over gratefully unto you. I'll not fail sir. You shall have all, which some interpret nothing, I'll send you people for the trunks afore hand, And for the S uffe. I shall sir, But if I come not at my hour come thither, That they may give you thanks for your fair courtesy, And pray you be brave for my sake. 'Tis he, I am caught, I must stand to it stoutly, And show no shake of fear, I see he is angry, Vexed at the uttermost. My most noble husband, I am glad I have found you, for in truth I am weary, Weary and lame with looking out your Lordship. I believe you, and very lately too. You have had a pretty progress, isle tell mine now To look you out, I went to twenty Taverns. Yes, I reel not yet sir, Where I saw twenty drunk most of em soldiers, There I had great hope to find you disguised too. From hence to'th dicing house, there I found Quarrels needless, and senseless, swords, and pots, and can dlesticks, Tables, and stools, and all in one confusion, And no man knew his friend, I left this Chaos, And to the Chirurgeons went, he with ld me stay, For says he learnedly, if he be tippled, Twenty to one he whores, and then I bear of him. If he be mad, he quarrels, then he comes oo, I sought you where no safe thing would have ventured Amongst diseases, base, and vild, vild women, For I remembered your old Roman axiom, The more the danger, still the more the honour. Last to your Confessor I came, who told me The were too proud to pray, and here I have found you. Why am I cozened, Why am I abused. Captain. Captain. Yes Sir, and go before you, And round about you, why do you rail at me For that, that was your own sin, your own knavery. You had best now draw your sword Captain, Draw it upon a woman, do brave Captain, Upon your wife, o most renowned Captain. To be my husband; I had thought you had had infinite, but i'm cozened. Why did you work on me, It was but my partly to requite you Sir, With your strong soldiers wit, and swore you would bring me So much in chains, so much in jewels husband, So much in right rich clothes. Sir, Theres your treasure, fell it to a tinker To mend old kettles, is this noble usage, Let all the world view here the Captains treasure, A man would think now these were worthy matters: Here's a shooing-horne chain, gilded over, how it senteth Worse then the mouldy dirty heel it served for, And heres another of a lesser valve, So little, I would shame to tie my dog in't, These are my jointer, blush and save a labour, Or these else will blush for you. Heres a goodly jewel, Did not you win this at Goletta Captain, Or took it in the field from some brave Bashaw, How it sparkles Like and old Ladies eyes, And fills each room with light Like a close lanthorn, This would do rarely in and Abbey window, To cousin Pilgrim's. And here's a chain of whitings eyes for pearls, A mussell-monger would have made a better. I'll tell ye, Your clothes are parallels to these, all counter et. Put these and them on, you are a man of copper, A kind of candlestick, these you thought my husband, To have cozened me withal, but I am quit with you. There are none sweet husband, Shadow for shadow is and equal justice, Can you rail now, pray put your fury up sir, And speak great words, you are a soldier, thunder. You have spoke well sir, And now I see you are so conformable, I'll heighten you again, go to your house, They are packing to be gone, you must sup there, I'll meet you, and bring clothes, and clean shirts after, And all things shall be well; isle colt you once more, And teach you to bring copper. I bid her tell you so sir, It was my plot, alas my credulous husband, The Lady told you too. Still it my way, and all to try your sufferance, And she denied the house. It well carried; No more, I am right and straight. I'll be there straight. Go silly fool, thou mayest be a good soldier In open fleld, but for our private service Thou art and ass, isle make thee so or miss else. Ent. Cac. Here comes another Trout that I must tickle, And tickle daintily, I have lost my end else. May I crave your leave sir? Pray you hear me. I am gone sir, And I shall tell the beauty sent me to you, The Lady Margarita. She would entreat you sir. She does command then, This courtesy, because she knows you are noble. My natural Mistress, Upon these Jewels sir, they are fair and rich And view um right. A thousand ducats, it's upon necessity Of present use, her husband sir is stubborn. She desires withal, a better knowledge of your parts and person, And when you please to do her so much honour. In troath I have herd his say sir, Of a fat man she has not seen a sweeter, But in this business sir. All secrecy she would desire, she told me How wise you are. Green goose you are now in sippets. Exeunt. I know you have mercy. Little or nothing, I know you'll kill me, and I know 'tis useless To beg for mercy, pray let me draw my book out, And pray a little. Now now sir now, shows a Pistol. Come on, do you start off from me, Do you swear great Captain, have you seen a spirit. I am a soldiers wife sir, And by that privilege I may be armed, Now whats the news, and let's discourse more friendly, And talk of our affairs in peace. No no sir you shall feel. Let mine own usband then, Be in's own wits, there, there's a thousand ducats, Who must provide for you, and yet you'll kill me. When will you redeem your Jewels, I have pawned um, You see for what, we must keep tooch. Come along with me, If that be vanished there be more to hire sir. Jf I prove otherways, let me beg first, Hold this is yours, some recompense for service, Use it to nobler ends then he that gave it. I cannot eat else.