MANLY

Is't possible there should be such a man? And is his wife So very handsome, say you? It's a fair guest, Friend, beauty: and once lodged Deep in the eyes, she hardly leaves the Inn. How do's he keep her? And furnish forth himself so from the Brokers ? But stay, Do's he love meat so? Yes, Sir. I am directly in a fit of wonder What'll be the issue of this conference! I would feign see more of him. I am passed degrees of thinking. Old Africa, and the new America, With all their fruit of Monsters cannot show So joust a prodigy. I believe any thing now, though I confess His Vices are the most extremities I ever knew in nature. But, why loves he The Devil so? But have you faith, That he will hold his bargain? A wondrous handsome creature, as I live! COme wife, this is the Gentleman. Nay, blush not. Her modesty seems to suffer with her beauty, And so, as if his folly were away, It were worth pity. Sir, what do you mean? You mus play fair, S r . This is the strangest motion I ere saw. It is. I now remember, I have often seen there A woman, but I never marked her much. Faith, but now, and then, Awake unto those objects. I'll leave you, Sir, The Master of my chamber. I have business Madame, Manly of fer to be gone. I'll take my leave— Let me pray your Ladyship, Lay your commands on me, some other time. It will be but ill soldered I cannot Madame, but think on't for injustice. You are not urged with them. I can accuse, Sir, none but mine own judgement, For though it were his crime, so to betray me: I'am sure, 'twas more mine own, at all to trust him. But he, therein, did use but his old manners, And savour strongly what he was before. Faith, I must never think it. Nor were it reason in me to expect That for my sake, he should put off a nature He sucked in with his milk. It may be Madam, Deceiving trust, is all he has to trust to: If oh, I shall be loath, that any hope Of mine, should bore him of his means. Mere-craft hath whis per'd with while. Sir, if you think you do please me, in this, You are deceived! So I do: that ill men's friendship, Is as unfaithful, as themselves. I should know This voice, and face too: No, Wittipol whispers with Man lie. but wondering At your strange fashioned venture, hither. I thinke't will prove a medicine against marriage; To know their manners. Over smocks! What things they are? That nature should be at leisure Ever to make them! my wooing is at and end. Manly goes out with in dignation. Oh friend! forsake not Manly, con ceal'd this while, shows himself. The brave occasion, virtue offers you, To keep you innocent: I have feared for both; And watched you, to prevent the ill I feared. But, since the weaker side hath so assured me, Let not the stronger fallen by his own vice, Or be the less a friend, cause virtue needs him. What is this? Would one of worth Had spoke it: whence it comes, it is Rather a shame to me, then a praise. Be silent then: "falsehood commends not truth. Yes: So witnesseth his Cloak there. No indeed, it's Wittipol. But your wife's too virtuous! What fine, new matters? Wittipol, and Manly and Mistr. Fitz-dot trel enter. Do you believe in't? This is most strange, Sir. Why speak you not unto him? Are you frantic, Sir, Or what graven dotage moves you, to take partly With so much villainy? we are not afraid Either of law, or trial; let us be Examined what our ends were, what the means, To work by; and possibility of those means. Do not conclude against us, ere you hear us. Will you so, Sir? Not as your folly: Sir, are not you ashamed Now of your solemn, serious vanity? Sir, you belie her. She is chaste, and virtuous, And we are honest. I do know no glory A man should hope, by venting his own folly's, But you'll still be and Ass, in spite of providence. Please you go in, Sir, and hear truths, then judge them: And make amends for your late rashness; when, You shall but hear the pains and care was taken, To save this fool from ruin (his Grace of Drowned land ) And how much His modest, and too worthy wife hath suffered By misconstruction, from him, you will blush, First, for your own belief, more for his actions! His land is his: and never, by my friend, Or by my self, meant to another use, But for her succours, who hath equal right. If any other had worse counsels in't, (I know I speak to those can apprehend me) Let them repent them, and be not detected. It is not manly to take joy, or pride In humane errors (we do all ill things, They do them worst that love them, and dwell there, Till the plague comes) The few that have the seeds Of goodness left, will sooner make their way To a true life, by shame, then punishment. If he were To be made honest, by and act of Parliament, I should not altar, i'my faith of him.