FONDLING

Bring me to that, and isle yield to any thing. You shall pardon me: he is my son I hope, as well as yours, and he shall be fashioned after my humour: why, should you think to hinder my prospect from looking to him? I say he shall rank with the best, spend his money and learn breeding. No you shall keep him still at home with you; he shall not dare to enlarge his Charter, to have any more wit then his father, let him fit in the shop with never a pair of cuffs on his hands, and play at Fox and Geese with the before man, entertain customers, with a discourse as moatheaten as your cloth, and not be able to look upon a Lady, but court some filly creature of his own tribe, with speeches out of books, ten times worse then any remnant; and after supper steal abroad and be drunk in fear, this you can be content with. Well, when he was a child, it was the prettiest talking thing, and the wittiest withal, the neighbours took such delight to hear it. There was a good Knight lay in my house then was so kind to him, but you never knew the reason, since you have clean marred him that's apparent. Yes when 'tis too late; and the custom of rusticity is grown into and other nature with him, when his mind is settled upon the Lees of it, and the edge of his humour quite taken off, when learning has brought down his spirit, then you'll repent his restraint; has he not a pretty ingenuity? So much the better, I would have it so, give him means to perform it, show your self a loving father, and be true in your prophesy. Within there, call your young Master hither Crot chet, he has been all this day at his study, makes the boy mopish with his scholership, for want of better exercise; as reveling, courting, feasting, and the Like, be stands plodding and musing as if his eyes turned with a wire, it has poisoned his very complexion, he is grown fallow with it, I know not what would become of him, if I did not sometime put more ney in his purse, and send him abroad, to sin for his recrea cion. No, I'll teach you what 'tis to anger a woman that brought a Dowry with her. See what a Picture of formality you have made of him, come hither son Lackwit, what book have you there? What be the Arms son? Well said son, stand for the credit of the house. I that he is isle be sworn, the Foundlings are as good Gentlemen, as any be in the City, the boy has a Perilous head, how should he find out this I marvel? Yet husband, I never saw you wear one in my life. Lo you there, can you be content thou man per verse to all reason, having a son of so large and prosperous Hope's, that might stand up the glory of his kindred, of such pregnancy of wit and understanding, so rich in the qualities that can bear up a Gentleman, to let him sink, and not I rish him with those helps that might advance his gallantry. You have had your flourishing season, and are now withered, your blossoms of beauty are blown off & therefore must be content out of that dry stalk to afford some sap to maintain his succession; pray how many young Gentlemen have you in this Town, that go in plush, and their father's to blow in the country? shall we have worse Presidents in the City? impart I say, and give him twenty pieces, and when they are gone give him twenty more. Will you disparage him, as if he knew not what to do with it? do you think that Fencers, Dancers, Horse matches (I'll have him versed in all these, and omit nothing that may demonstrate his breeding;) beside Mistress's, and implements that belong to them require, nothing? What is't? A medicine. Then you are right. Do any thing, for the improvement of your discipline. Come Crotchet. How now what's the matter? How comes this about? How was it son? Do, tell the story, Crochet. Nay but show us the manner of it. And will you be angry with him for this? 'twas well done, take no wrong of them, better lose all the clothes off from his back, then to keep a cloak for his cowar dise. What is it son? Well husband, give it this once, and I'll urge you no more, lets see how the Boy will employ it. Nay, but give it him for my sake, I am confident he has a good project; you have example for it in your trade. How many have you, that break daily, and yet their Friends set them up two or three times one after and other? Must Crochet go with you? How should one speak with him? As how, good Master Doctor? Pray relate some of them. Yes good Sir, let us hear them. How did you heal him sir? That was excellent. You took a hard task in hand, M r Doctor. Oh monstrous! How did you heal him sir? How did you with him sir? I'll remember this i'faith. How did you reclaim him? Husband that was excellent, was it not? Good sweet Fido conduct him in, and go along with him, that if any hereafter shall be so averse, in his ignorance, to all goodness, as to question this miracle, you may be pro duc'd as a witness. Why I'll stay here, and expect my son Lackwit, with his project. He sent me word he would come present lie, and see where he enters. How now son Lackwit; whither away so furious? Why were you at cards son? Tell us how was it son? You put us too much into a longing, son. How so son? That he shall, I'll see that done upon my word. Stay husband, I'll go with you: but hark you son Lack wit, do you know to what purpose this gold was given you? And why would you sir, knowing this before, Suffer your daughter to be abused by him? Now by my life, I think, and 'twere not for me, You'd wind your self into such Labyrinths, You'd not know how to extricate your self.