OLD LIONEL

Discharge these honest Sailors that have brought Our Chests a shore, and pray them have a care, Those merchandise be safe we left aboard: As Heaven hath blessed us with a fortunate Voyage, In which we bring home riches with our healths, So let not us prove niggards in our store; See them paid well, and to their full content. Then return: These special things, And of most valve, weel not trust aboard; Meethinkes they are not safe till they see home, And there repose, where we will rest our selves, And bid farewell to Travel; for I vow, After this hour, no more to trust the Seas, Nor throw me to such danger. And now it much rejoices me, to think What a most sudden welcome I shall bring, both to my Friends and private Family. But soft, what's this? my own gates shut upon me, And bar their Master entrance? Whose within there? How, no man speak, are all asleep or dead, That no soul stirs to open? Whose that? my servant Reignald. Thou seest I am. What strange and unexpected greetings this, That thus a man may knock at his own gates, Beatrice with his hands and feet, and call thus loud, And no man give him entrance? Why, whose else? How else, I prithee, could I have made this noise? I tell thee yet I did. Why, say I did? It's passed hope, The deed is done, and I repent it not. Prithee speak the cause? Be gone. Exit Servants. Now speak. How came this Discovered to you first? O proceed, it's that I long to hear. O my fear, Whither wilt thou transport me? Fly whither? Why dost not thou fly too? But Reignald. To whom was that thou spokest? What shall I do? Why dost not thou fly too? Why didst thou quake then? Some blessed powers guard me. What Reignald; I but now met with the man, Of whom I bought you house. Yes, I told him all. No such thing; Most stiffly he denies it. Be brief then. Hast thou herd this? Come hither Reignald. What use is this? What Principal he talks of? in which language He names my Son; And thus upbraideth thee, What is't you owe this man? I pay, what? What's the Sum? Call you that a toy? To what use was it borrowed? At my departure, I left my Son sufficient in his charge, With surplus, to de y a la ge expense, Without this need of borrowing. I pass my word. Jest indeed, but tell me how these moneys were bestowed? The Sum still safe, Why do you not then tender it your selves? Land, dost thou say? Now joy on him, That whilst his Father Merchandise abroad, Had care to add to his estate at home: But Reignald, wherefore Houses? Blessing on him, That he is grown so thiftie. Call upon me To morrow Friend, as early as thou wilt; I'll see thy debt defrayed. Now tell me Reignald, For thou hast made me proud of my Sons thrift; Where, in what Country, does this fair House stand. Wherefore studdiest thou? Use men to purchase Lands at a deer rate, And know not where they lie? Call thy self to mind. My Neighbour Ricots. As I live, I much commend your choice. Prithee knock, And call the Master, or the servant on't; To let me take free view on't. Yes, I do. Counseled well; And meet some half hour hence. I made what haste I could. See here, I hau't. Nay, it carries both form and power. And what says he? Was that all? By no means, Men must advise before they partly with Land, Not after to repent it; It's most joust, That such as hazard, and disburse their Stocks, Should take all gains and profits that accrue, As well in Sale of Houses, as in Barter, And Traffic of all other Merchandise. My worthy Friend. Be't Sir, no trouble to you. As it were mine; Why Reignald, is it not? I observe it. Counseled well; Thou teachest me Humanity. By no means; I fear we are too much troublesome of our selves. It likes me well. They are well Carved. Wondrous stately. Every fresh object to good, adds betterness. All things beyond opinion; Trust me Reignald, I'll not forgo the Bargain, for more gain Then half the price it cost me. It shall be satisfied. He hath my promise, and I'll doo't my self: Never could Son have better pleased a Father, Then in this Purchase: High thee instantly Unto my house ith' Country, give him notice Of my arrive, and bid him with all speed Post hither. It shall be thy first business; For my Soul Is not at peace, till face to face, I approve His Husbandry, and much commend his Thrift; Nay, without pause, be gone. Make haste, I do entreat thee. Rather Surrender The price I paid, and take into thy hands This haunted mansion, or I'll prosecute My wrongs, even to the utmost of the Law, Which is no less then death. What desperate fellow's this, that ignorant Of his own danger, thunders at these Gates? Nay, stir not the ? How dost thou, art thou well? No alteration; What change about thee? Yet I advise thee Fellow, for thy good, Stand further from the Gate. In vain thou thunderest at these silent Doors, Where no man dwells to answer, saving Ghosts, Furies, and Sprights. Strange noise oft herd. You hear this; Here's more witness. Which you shall dearly answer—whooping. Which thou hast herd? Thou wilt be deposed of this? Very good still; Yet you are innocent: Shall I entreat thee friend, to avouch as much Here by, to the next Justice. A soldiers oath, What's that? Yet you are clear? Murder will come to light. More madmen yet; I think since my last voyage, Half of the world's turned frantic: What dost mean, Or longest thou to be blasted? My old servant? before I shall demand of further busin . Resolve me why thou thunderest at these doors, Where thou knowest none inhabits? Where's my son, That Reignald p asting for him with such speed, Brings him not from the Country? But stay stay; No living soul hath for these six months space Here entered, but the house stood desolate. And by my son? And this house at all not haunted? But see, in happy time here comes my Neighbour of whom he bought this mansion; He I am sure More amply can resolve me: I pray Sir, What sums of moneys have you late received Of my young son? What of my servant Reignald? Pray Sir, be serious; I do confess my self indebted to you, A hundred pound. I speak no more then what I purpose; lust so much I owe you, And ere I sleep will tender. But provided, You will confess seven hundred pounds received Before hand of oh ? Why? For this bargain: And for what? This house, Reason? Because you sold it: The conditions? Such As were agreed between you: Where and When? That only hath escaped me. Was I not brought to take free view thereof, As of mine own possession? Spare Sir your anger, And turn it into pity; Neighbours and friends, I am quite lost, was never man so so ed, And by a wicked servant; Shame and blushing Will not permit to tell the manner how, Lest I be made ridiculous to all: My fears are to inherit what's yet left; He hath made my son away. Friends, as you would a m n Deprived at once, both of his wealth and son; And in his age, by one I ever tendered More Like a son then servant: By imagining My case were yours, have feeling of my griefs And help to apprehend him; Furnish me with Cords and Fetters, I will lay him safe in Prison within Prison. His Legs will be as nimble as his Brain, And it'll be difficult to seize the slave, Yet your endeavours, pray peace, here hoe comes. Stand you close, Be not yet seen, but at your best advantage Hand him, and bind him fast: Whilst I dissemble As if I yet knew nothing. Reignald? What says my son ith' Country? Well, it's well. But Reignald? I suspect the honesty And the good meaning of my neighbour here, Old master Ricott; Meeting him but now, And having some discourse about the house, He makes all strange, and tells me in plain terms, He knows of no such matter. I tell thee as it is: Nor that such moneys, took up at use, were ever tendered him On any such conditions. Nay more, this m n will not confess the Murder. Appear Gentlemen, It's a fit time to take him. Come nearer Reignald. You might buy Some of the bones of Fish, some of Beasts, Box-combes, and Ivory . Why dost thou cli bo thus? Why to that place? Yours are great, My wrongs insufferable; As first, to fright me From mine own dwelling, till they had consumed The whole remainder of the little left; Beside, out of my late stock God at Sea, Discharge the clamorous Usurer; Make me accuse This man of Murder; Be at charge of warrants; And challenging this my worthy Neighbour of Forswearing Sums he never yet received; Fool me, to think my Son that had spent all, Had by his thrift bought Land; I and him too, To open all the secrets of his House To me, a Stranger, On thou insolent villain, What to all these canst answer? But to my Sons death, what thou slave? Produce him then; Ith' mean time, and— Honest Friends, get Ladders. Bring faggots, I'll set fire upon the House, Rather then this endure. See what Father's are, That can three years offences, fowl ones too, Thus in a Minute pardon; And thy faults Upon my self chastise, in these my Tears; Ere this Submission, I had cast thee off; Rise in my new Adoption: But for these— All deer, to me indeed, for I have paid for't soundly, Yet for the sake, I am atoned with all; Only that wanton. Her, and her Company, abandon quite; So doing, we are friends. But for that Villain; I am now devising What shame, what punishment remarkable, To inflict on him. come down. Even as freely, As you forget my quarrels made with you; Raised from the Errors first begotten by him; I here remit all free; I now am Calm, But had I seized upon him in my Spleen— Nor do I love to break good company; For Master Wincott is my worthy Friend, And old acquaintance; O thou crafty Wag-string, And couldst thou thus delude me? But we are Friends; Nor Gentlemen, let not what's here to passed, In your least thoughts disable my Estate; This my last Voyage hath made all things good, With surplus too; Be that your comfort Son: Well Reignald—But no more. Let's walk Gentlemen It seems my absence hath begotten some sport, Thank my kind servant here. But though their riots trip at my estate, They have not quite overthrown it. Most kindly Sir I thank you. What strange and sudden alteration's this, How quickly is this clear day overcast, But such and so uncertain are all things, That dwell beneath the Moon. What Fatal? what Disastrous? What madness does possess thee, honest Friend, To touch that Hammers handle? And shouting.