OLD GERALDINE

This, and more Many degrees, can never countervail The oft and frequent welcomes given my son: You have took him from me quite, and have I think, Adopted him into your family, He stays with me so seldom. Most kind Ladies, Worthy you are to borrow, that return The Principal, with such large use of thanks. You would see them, There's no pleasure that the House can yield, That can be debarred from you; prithee Son, Be thou the Usher to those Mounts and Prospects May one day call thee Master. Thank my Stars, They have lent me one, who as he always was, And is my present joy; If their aspect Be no ways to our goods Malevolent, May be my Future comfort. How mean you that? A Mistress, said you? Mistress? Friend? Pray be more open languaged. You have Sir, Possessed me with such strange sancies. It's suspicious. Howsoever, I wish them so. I much thank you, For you have clearly given me light of that, Till now I never dreamed on. You have done The office of a Noble Gentleman, And shall not be so injured. These and the rest, Are Ladies, at your service. In what I pray. How men are born, To woe their own disasters? This second motion makes it Palpable: To note a Woman's cunning; Make her husband Bawd to her own lascivious appetite, And to Solicit his own shame. And work her Sister too; What will not woman To accomplish her own ends: But this disease, I'll seek to Physic ere it grow too far: I am most sorry to be urged sweet Friends, In what at this time I can no ways grant; Most, that these Ladies should be ought denied, To whom I owe all Service, but occasions Of weighty and important conscequence, Such as concern the best of my Estate, Call him aside; excuse us both this once, Presume this business is no sooner over, But he's at his own freedom. Not to doo't, I should forget my self: If I find him false To such a friend, be sure he forfeits me; In which to be more punctually resolved, I have a project how to fifth his foul, How it's inclined; whither to yonder place, The clear bright Palace, or black Dungeon: See, They are onward on the way, and he returned. You are grown perfect man, and now you float Like to a well built Vessel; Between two Currents, Virtue and Vice; Take this, you steer to harbour; Take that, to eminent shipwreck. What father's cares are, you shall never know, Till you your self have children; Now my study, Is how to make you such, that you in them May have a feeling of my love to you. Then I shall; I have lived to see you in your prime of youth And height of Fortune, so you will but take Occasion by the forehead; to be brief, And cut off all superfluous circumstance, All the ambition that I aim at now, Is but to see you married. Nay, then to come more near unto the point, Either you must resolve for present marriage, Or forfeit all your interest in my love. Now Dalavill, I find thy words too true. Yet whore you may; And that's no brech of any vow to Heaven: Pollute the Nuptial bed with Michall sin; Asperse the honour of a noble friend; Forfeit thy reputation, here below. And the interest that thy Soul might claim above, In you blessed City: These you may, and can, With untouched conscience: O, that I should live to see the Hope's that I have stored so long; Thus in a moment ruined: And the staff, On which my old decrepit age should lean; Before my face thus broken: On which trusting, I thus abortively, before my time, Fallen headlong to my Grave. Never, never son: For till thou canst acquit thy self of scandal, And me of my suspicion; Here, even here, Where I have measured out my length of earth; I shall expire my last. Well, Say on. Enough; One only thing remains, which on thy partly per formed, Assures firm credit to these thy protestations. Take hence the occasion of this common fame; Which hath already spread it self so far, To her dishonour and thy prejudice, From this day forward, To forbear the house: This do upon my blessing. Master Dalavill, Thus much let me for him Apoligie; Diverse designs have thronged upon us late, My weakness was not able to support Without his help; He hath been much abroad, At London, or else where; Beside it's Term; And Lawyers must be followed, seldom at home, And scarcely then at leisure. Not, as I live. We old men, Are apt to take these courtesies. Son, let me tell you, you are ill advised; And doubly to be blamed, by undertaking Unnecessary travel; Grounding no reason For such a rash and giddy enterprise: What profit aim you at, you have not reaped; What Novelty affords the Christian world, Of which your view hath not participated In a full measure; Can you either better Your language or experience? Your self-will Hath only purpose to deprive a father Of a loved son, and many noble friends, Of your much wished a quaintance. Say that may be dispensed with, show me reason Why you desire to out of your Country, Like some Malefactor that had forfeited His life and freedom; Here's a worthy Gentleman Hath for your sake invited many guests, To his great charge, only to take of you A parting leave; You send him word you cannot, After, you may not come: Had not my urgence, Almost compulsion, driven you to his house, the unkindness might have forfeited your love, And razed you from his will; In which he hath given you, A fair and large estate; Yet you of all this stangenesse, Show no sufficient ground. Me perhaps, You may appease, and with small difficulty. Because a Father; But how satisfy Their deer, and on your partly, unmerited love? But this your last obedience may salve all: We now grow near the house. See, she recovers. I the Like Suffered, when I my Wife brought unto her gram e; So you, when you were first a widower, Come arm your self with patience. We are bound to you; See them to Horse, and instantly return, We have Employments for you. And to that purpose, I have found out one, Whose Youth and Beauty may not only please A curious eye; But her immediate means, Able to strengthen a state competent, Or raise a ruined Fortune. I am satisfied. I suspect, but yet must prove him further; Say to my care I add a Father's charge, And couple with my counsel my command: To that how can you answer?