ARTHUR

So you may call them Chances, or cros es, or what else you please, But for my partly, I'll hold them prodigies, As things transcending Nature. A Hare? a Witch, or rather a Devil I think For tell me Gentlemen, was't possible In such a fair course, and no covert near, We in pursuit, and she in constant view, Our eyes not wandering but all bent that way, The Dogs in chase, she ready to be ceased, And at the instant, when I durst have laid My life to gage, my Dog had pinched her, then To vanish into nothing! Make it plain That I am in and error, sure I am That I about me have no borrowed eyes. They are mine own, and Matches. Well well Gentlemen, be y u of your own faith, but (what I see And is to me apparent, being in sense, My wits about me, no way tossed nor troubled, oh that will I give credit. Yes where we purposed. True, the same. And where a loving welcome is presumed, Whose liberal Table's never unprepared, Nor he of guests unfurnished, of his means, There's none can bear it with a braver port, And keep his state unshaken, one who sells not Nor covets he to purchase, holds his own Without oppressing others, always pressed To endear to him any known Gentleman In whom he finds good parts. I cannot wind him up Unto the least partly of his noble worth. 'Tis far above my strength. Tush let him pass, He is not worth our luring, a mere Coxcomb, It is a way to call our its in question, To have him seen amongst us. That's my grief; a most notorious liar, out upon ̄ him. Worser licate Master Whetstone. I never herd that word proceed from him I durst call truth till now. Why was your Mother a Witch? It appears then by your discourse, that you came in at the window. And I beleeve't as a notorious truth. Very probable, for as he was God without fear, So it is apparent he was born without wit. Kind Mr. Bybl w. Farewell As in praesenti. What because he hath read a little Scriveners Latin, he n for proceeded farther in his Accidence than to Mentiri non est meum; and that was such a hard Lesson to learn, that he stuck at meant ri; and cued never reach to non est meum: since, a mere Ignaro, and not worth acknowledgement. As you see him now, so shall you find him ever: all in one strain, there is one only thing which I wonder he left our. Of the same affinity with the rest. At every second word, he his commonly boasting either of his Aunt or his Uncle. Noble sir, you generously instruct us, and to expr sse We can be your apt scholars: in a word We come to dine with you. Sir without flattery You may be called the sole surviving son Of long since banished Hospitality. Presume it sir. Would these my friends prepare the way before, To be resolved of one thing before dinner Would something add unto mine appetite, Shall I entreat you so much. I come not sir To press a promise from you, tak't not so, Rather to prompt your memory in a motion Made to you not long since. True sir the same. It was to that purpose we discoursed. To deny that I sho worser appear oth' World Stupid, and of no brain. And I remain a man obliged to you. Beyond all utterance. Sir he hath, not that he is unwilling or unable. B to at time fit to be so cited; For to the Counterfeit rises wonder and my sor owe, ee is much to be pitied. Because he's late become the sole discourse Of all the country; for of a man respected For his discretion and known gravity, As master of a governed Family, The house (as if the ridge were fixed below, And groundfils lifted up to make the roof) All now turned topsy turvy, In such a retrograde & preposterous way As seldom hath hin herd of. I think never. The good man, in all obedience kneels unto his son, He with and austere brow commands his father. The wife presumest not in the daughters sighed Without a prepared courtesy. The girl, she Expects it as a duty; chides her mother Who quakes and trembles at each word she speaks, And what's as strange, the Maid she dominiers Over her young mistress, who is awed by her. The son to whom the Father creeps and bends, Stands in as much fear of the groom his man. All in such rare disorder, that in some As it breeds pity, and in others wonder; So in the most partly laughter T'is thought by Witchcraft. It's confessed, but for that word by you so seldom spoke By us so freely on your partly performed, We hold us much engaged. Sir, sir, while you persever to be good I must contiuue grateful. We are Like travellers And where such bait, they do not use to Inn. Our love and service to you. We'll try if we can find in our way home When Hares come from their coverts, to reliffe, A course or too. Good Master Generous — My Dog as yours. A piece. Bantam forbear him prithee. Needs must I now condemn your indiscretion, To set your wit against his. What have you done, it'll gri we the good old Gen tleman, to hear him baffled thus. This begins bravely. And if this were not a Capon in white broth, I am one in the Coop. Dare we! why not, I defy all Witches, and all their works; their power on our meat, cannot reach our persons. Sir I will not go about to overrule your reason, but but for my partly I will not out of a house on a Bridal day, till I see the last man born. It seems though these Hags had power to make the Wedding cheer a Deceptio visus, the former store has scaped they. Was there ever such a medley of mirth, madness, and drunkenness, shuffled together. Yes, they do overlove one another now. And their Parents as much over-dote upon them, they are all as far beyond their wits now in loving one another, as they were wide of them before in crossing. My ides eene ache with laughter. There I am in some danger, he put me into half a be lief I shall be his heir, pray love she be not a witch to charm his love from me. Of what condition is that wench dost thou know her? Hang him rogue, he'll belie her, and speak better than she deserves, for he's is love with her too. I saw old Doughty give him a box o'the ear for kissing her, and he turned about as he did by thee yesterday, and swore his Aunt should know it. We will all to her to patch up the business, for the respect I bear her husband, noble Generous. Hark you Mr. Byblow do you know the lass within? What do you call her, Mal Spencer? You do well to keep it to your self sir. But stay where this household? This Family of love? Let's have them into the revels. Do you note this? Now they are all worse then e for they were, in a contrary vain: What think you of Witch craft now? He's as much changed and bewitched as they I fear. No it's running of the country several ways. But what do you think on't. Oh sir forget your anger. Play fiddlers any thing. Look you sir, they'll save you a labour, they are doing it themselves. It's true we are so, but you are welcome to the know ledge of our affairs. That is the business, the Silly household is divided now. You know, and cannot but with pity know Their miserable condition, how The good old couple were abused, and how The young abut'd themselves; if we may say That any of hem are their selves at all Which sure we cannot, nor approve them fit To be their own disposers, that would give The governance of such a house and living Into their Vassals hands, to thrust them out on't Without or Law or order, this considered This Gentleman and my self have taken home By fair entreaty, the old folks to his house, The oung to mine, until some wholesome order By the judicious of the Commonwealth, Shall for their persons and estate be taken. Tom Shakstone, how now, canst tell the news? How prithee? Is his haste to go to bed at afternoon come to this now? A ligatory point. But Parnel, why have you beaten him so grievously? What would you have him do in this case? We are much bound to you ma er Whetstone. For this great entertainment: I see you command The house in the absence of your uncle. Come, take it as a jest For presume 'twas meant no otherwise. It is plain Witchcraft. Nay since we all are bid unto one feast, Lets fare alike, come show me mine too. What then? Yes, Robin groom belonging to this house. In's youth I think he did. Here then all anger end, Let none be mad at what they cannot mend. Now from the last nights witchcraft we are freed, And I that had not power to clear my self From base aspersion, am at liberty For owed revenge: I cannot be at peace (The night-spell being took of) till I have met With noble Mr. Generous: in whose search The best partly of this morning I have spent, His wife now I suspect. Oh you're well met, pray tell me how long is't Since you were first my Father? But that I honour Thy Master, to whose goodness I am bound, And still must remain thankful, I should prove Worse that n a Murderer, a mere Parricide By killing thee my Father. And you begotten me? o you used me finely last night? My worthy friend, but that I honour you As one to whom I am so much obliged, This Villain could not stir a foot from hence Till perished by my sword. You may command me, If ask me what wrongs, know this Groom pretends He hath strumpe my mother, if when, blazed Last night at midnight. If you ask me further Where, in your own house; when he pointed to me As had I been his Bastard. It's now apparent How all the last nights business came about, In this my late suspicion, is confirmed. Make a full stop there Sir, sides, sides, make sides, You know her not as I do, stand aloof there Mistress with your darling Witch, your Nephew too if you please, because though he be no witch, he is a well-willer to the infernal science. See how they lay their heads together? What do they say? But Gentlemen, shall we try if we can by examination get from them something that may abbreviate the cause unto the wiser in Commission for the peace before we carry them before they. What say you Granny? Who's that you call? He wanted his great fires about him that he has at home. For my partly, could I at once dissolve my self to words And after turn them into matter; such And of that strength, as to attract the attention Of all the curious, and most itching ears Of this our Critic age; it could not make A theme amounting to your noble worth: You seem to me to super-arrogate, Supplying the defects of all your kindred To innob le your own name: I now have done Sir. You tell me wonders. Since all your words to me are Oracles, And such as I most constantly believe. But Sir, shall I be bold and plain withal, I am suspicious all's not well at home; I dare proceed no farther without leave, Yet there is something lodged within my breast Which I am loath to utter. Sir you have done a right noble courtesy, which de serves a memory, as long as the name of friendship can bear mention. And so is she bewitched too into this immodesty. What shall we stay & see't. W As ever sport of expectation, Thus crossed in that height. Do you hear this Parnell? My stands to see it.