LUCE

Where is my Father? Joseph. I do not love to fit thus publicly: And yet upon the traffic of our Wares, Our provident Eyes and presence must still wait. Do you attend the shop, I'll ply my work. I see my father is not jelousof me, That trusts me to the open view of all. The reason is, he knows my thoughts are chased, And my care such, as that it needs the awe Of no strict Overseer. And you too, sir, you are welcome; want you ought, I pray, in which our Trade may furnish you? Joseph, show the Gentleman. What do you mean sir, speak, what is't you lack? I pray you wherefore do you fix your eyes So firmly in my face? what would you have? Me? Your pleasure is to jest, and so I take it. Pray give me leave sir, to intend my work. You flout me. Well, you may say your pleasure. O Sir! Now as I am a true Maid, The most religious oath that I dare swear, I hold my self indebted to your love: And I am sorry there remains in me, No power how to requite it. I cannot. Indeed I cannot. In troth I am sorry you should spend a igh For my sake unrequited, or a tear; Ey, or a word Yet I beseech you spend no more in vain. I scorn you not; as far from me, As are the two Poles distant: therefore Sir, Because I would not hold you in suspense, But tell you what at first to trust unto, Thus in a word, I must not fancy you. I cannot, nor I may not. What mean you Sir, by this? Sweet Master Chartley, do not fasten on me, More then with ease I can shake off: your Gift I reverence, yet refuse; and I pray tell me, Why do you make so many Errands hither? Send me so many Letters? fasten on me So many favours? what's your meaning in't? Sir, if you love me, as you say you do, Show me the fruits thereof. Can I believe you love me, when you seek The ship wrack of mine Honour? I am sorry Sir, I have lent so large and ear To such a bade discourse; and I protest After this , never to do the Like. I must confess, of all the Gentlemen That ever courted me, you have possessed The best partly in my thoughts: but this course language Exiles you quite from thence. Sir, had you come, In stead of changing this mine honest name Into a Strumpets, to have honoured me With the chaste Title of a Modest Wife; I had reserved and ear for all your suits: But since I see your rudeness finds no limit, I leave you to your lust. Then keep your tongue within more moderate bounds. But in what way? I mean, in what manner? in what way? Yes Sir, and I accept it; in exchange Of this your hand, you shall receive my heart. I'll call my Father, Sir, to witness it: See, here he comes. But so I may incur a public scandal, By your so oft frequenting to my Chamber. If you purpose to be so privately married, I know one excellent at such and exploit: are you not acquainted with the of Hogsdon? The same, but I hold her to be of no such con dition. I will anon make a step thither and pun ctually acquaint her with all our proceedings: she is never without a Sir John at her elbow, ready for such a stratagem. That Gentleman, by the Wisevvomans description, should be Master Chartley. (Meaning Boyster.) But who be they? Oh Heaven! what shall become of me? As fast as I can, good Mother: So Madam fare well. Who's that? Sweet Husband, is it you? The Lord fled after you, the Lady stayed; who masked, and half unready, ran fast after her poor affrighted Husband: now all's quiet. I am your Wife and Servant. Here is my Husband, I pray move him in it. I have great reason, when my name is tossed In every Gossips mouth, and a byeword Unto such people as it least concerns. Nay, in my hearing, as they pass along, Some have not spared to brand my modesty, Saying, There she whom young Chartley keeps. There hath ee ntred late, betimes gone forth. Where I with pride was wont to fit before, I'm now with shame sent blushing from the door. Yours is my fame, mine honour, and my heart Linked to your pleasure, and shall never partly. Yes Sir, I have the hundred pounds that you gave me to lay up last. My words are yours. so is my life: I am now partly of your self, so made by Nuptial vows. Heaven speed you where you go Sir; shall we ? Though not from scandal, we live free from . I cannot shun him, but I'll shake him off. As much to you. Deed Sir no. This is no tedious Courtship, he's soon answered, So should all Suitors else be, were they wise; For being repulsed, they do but waste their days In thankless suits, and superficial praise. Not Sir, for any hate I ever bore you, Or any foolish pride, or vain conceit: Or that your feature does not please mine eye, Or that you are not a brave Gentleman: But for concealed reasons I am forced To give you this cold answer; and to swear I must not, then with patience pray forbear. The Like to you, and save your Hope's in me. Heaven grant you your best wishes; all this strife Will end it self, when I am known a Wife. Not all this while once see me. His occasions: Unless he find occasion of new Love. What could enforce such absence from his spouse: A I grown fowl and black, since my espousals. It should not seem so; For the shop is daily, Customed with store of Chapmen, such as come To cheapen Love. Oh no, I am my self ? But Chartly he is changed. Escape him if thou canst. At whose suit. A Blackemore, a Gipsy? Sure I am changed indeed, and thats that cause My Husband left me so, this Gentleman Once termed me beautiful, how look I Joseph. I know you will not wait on such a Gipsy. What wedding sir, or whose? To Mr. Chartleyes Bridals, why, to whom, Should he be married. To Gratiana? Be hrow you sir you do not use me well, To buze into mine res these strange untruths: I tell you sir, it's as impossible That they two should ma changed: as Earth and Heaven to meet. I'll not indure't: Heaven give you joy sir: Pardon me sir, I do not know my self: I am apt to swoon, and now the fit is passed me. I thank you for your help; is master Chartly Vanished so soon: If he be gone? then call me vent my grief, Father I am undone, Disgraced, despised, discarded, and cast off. My Husband, Oh my husband? Shall I the shower of all my grief at once Power out before you: Chartly, once my husband Hath left me to my shame. Him and his Bride, I met within few minutes. Be not so rash. I'll have my Sword. I cannot pr we our marriage, it was secret, And he may find some cavell in the Law. Partly of your spleen, if you would change to counsel, We might revenge us better. And I have a project in my Brain begotten, To make his own mouth witness to the World My innocence, and his incontinence? Leave it to me, isle clear my self from blame, Though I the wrong, yet he shall reap the shame. This is the house, knock Joseph, my business craves dispatch. A maid and a wife. Boy, where's your Mistress. If she and you see me not, I am but dead, I shall be made, a byeword to the World: The scorn of women; and my Father's shame: Oh! Mother, mother. Then first to me. It pleases me. Nay patience sir, leave your revenge to me. Thanks sir, a good even may it pro e, That each may reap the fruits of their own Love: That you have so much graced my Mother's house, With your desired presence worthy Knight. Receive a poor Maids thanks, who's there? a chair And cushion for fir Harry. Please you but a few minutes here to stay: Till my return, isle not be long away. One of you let him in I me To entertain his coming. Oh husband, husband. Oh husband; How have you ? Oh can you blame me, knowing that the of all these Springs took their , from you, you know, you will know, not since are passed, since we were married. And though we wanted wit e upon arth, Yet Heaven bears record of our Nuptial , How I it possible you can love , and go about to marry another. Lascivious no, May I believe you mother. Of that token, my hand was sensible. You are the man, Luce and Grace, (Oh covetous man) I see, I sought to engross what now sum ceth three. Yet each one wife, enough, one Nuptial Feast: Shall serve three Bridals , be thou chief guest. Never so frighted in my days. To claim a public marriage at his hands: We want sufficient proof, and then the world Will but deride our folly, and so add Double disgrace unto my former wrong. To Law with him he hath a greater purse, And nobler friends, how then to make it known? Alas, that Beauty should be sought of more Then can enjoy it: might I have my wish, I would seem fair but only in his eye, That should me in a Nuptial tie.