LOVELL

Loving Youth; Till what I purpose be put into act, Do not overprize it, since you have trusted me With your souls nearest, nay her dearest secret, Rest confident it's in a cabinet locked, Treachery shall never open, I have found you (For so much to your face I must profess, How ere you guard your modesty with a blush for't) More zealous in your love, and service to me Than I have been in my rewards. Such your Gratitude calls they: Nor am I of that harsh, and rugged temper As some Great men are taxed, with who imagine They partly from the respect endue to their Honours, If they use not all such as follow they, Without distinction of their births, Like slaves. I am not so conditioned: I can make A fitting difference between my Footboy, And a Gentleman, by want compelled to serve me. I allow it; And to give you assurance I am pleased in't, My carriage and demeanour to your Mistress Fair Margaret, shall truly witness for me I can command my passion. Why do you sighs? can you be doubtful of me? By that fair name, I in the wars have purchased, And all my actions hitherto untainted, I will not be more true to mine own Honour, Than to my Alworth. So young, and jealous? Speak your doubts, and fears, Since you will nourish they in plainer language, That I may understand they. Love hath made you Poetical, Alworth. Why shall I swear? Suspend Your judgement Till the trial. How far is it IT Overreach house? Sir, you meet your trouble. Your hand good Sir. I miss Sir your fair daughter, To crown my welcome. You'll be obeyed Sir. As I live a rare one. I am happy In such a scholar: but. You see fair Lady, your father is solicitous. To have you change the barren name of Virgin Into a hopeful wife. But over your duty. Bend rather sweetest: Think of your years. Do you think I am old? I can advance you. Pray you trust my ear then. Would! I herd some noise. Lady, I understand you; And rest most happy in your choice, believe it, I'll be a careful pilot to direct Your yet uncertain bark to a port of safety. I am in the act rewarded, Since it is good, how ever you must put on And amorous carriage towards me, to delude Your subtle father. Apt Sir Giles, and coming, And I Like her the better. Yet should we take forts at the first assault It poor in the defendant, I must confirm her With a love letter or two, which I must have Delivered by my page, and you give way too't. How! the Lady Alworth! Noble Lady, This is a favour to prevent my visit, The service of my life can never equal. Your bounties are so great they rob me, Madam Of words to give you thanks. I would hear, and helpe'em. Pray you led, we follow. There needs none Sir Giles, I may ever long say Father, when it pleases My dearest mistress to give warrant to it. I wait on you Madam, farewell good Sir Giles. This parting kiss: you shall every day hear from me By my faithful page. Nay, do not melt: This ceremonial thanks to mee's superfluous. It's he, o here's your letter: let him in. And you too master Greedy, up so soon? Pray you use your pleasure. I have writ this morning A few lines to my mistress your fair daughter. Hast your return. You are a right kind father. It's a wholesome air, And well built pile, and she that's mistress of it Worthy the large reuennue. Impossible. I dare not own What's by unjust, and cruel means extorted My fame, and credit are more deer to me, Than so to expose they to be censured by The public voice. Are you not frighted with the imprecations, And curses, of whole families made wretched By your sinister practises? I admire The toughness of your nature. I hope that is passed doubt now. He's gone, I wonder how the Earth can bear Such a portent! I, that have lived a Soldier, And stood the enemies violent charge undaunted To hear this blasphemous beast, a'm bathed all over In a cold sweat: yet Like a mountain he Confirmed in Atheistical assertions, Is no more shaken, than Olympus is When angry Boreas loads his double head With sudden drifts of snow. No good Madam; For your own sake I am glad you came no sooner. Since this bold, bade man, Sir Giles Overreach Made such a plain discovery of himself, And read this morning such a devilish Matin's, That I should think it a sin next to his; But to repeat it. You lessen else Your favour to me. Madam, it's confessed; But what infer you from it? I do sweet Madam; And long since have considered it I know The sum of all that makes a joust man happy Consists in the well choosing of his wife And there well to discharge it, does require Equality of years, of birth, of fortune, For beauty being poor, and not cried up By birth or wealth, can truly mix with neither. And wealth, where there's such difference in years, And fair descent, must make the yoke uneasy: But I come nearer. Were Overreach, stat's thrice centupled; his daughter Millions of degrees, much fairer than she is, (How ever! might urge presidents to excuse me) I would not so adulterate my blood By marrying Margaret, and so leave my issue Made up of several pieces, one partly Scarlet And the other London-blew. In my own tomb I will inter my name first. I make answer And aptly, with a question. Wherefore have you, That since your Husbands death, have lived a strict, And chaste Nuns life, on the sudden given your self To visits, and entertainments? think you Madam It's not growge public conference? or the favours Which you too prodigally have thrown on Welborne Being too reserved before, incur not censure? On my soul so are mine To Margaret: but leave both to the event And since this friendly privacy does serve But as and offered means unto our selves To search each other farther; you having shown Your care of me, I, my respect to you; Deny me not, but still in chaste words Madam And afternoons discourse. What you intended Madam For the poor Gentleman, hath found good success, For as I understand his debts are paid, And he once more furnished for fair employment But all the arts that I have used to raise The Fortune's of your loy, and mine, young Alworth, Stand yet in supposition, though I hope well For the young lovers are in wit more pregnant, Than their years can promise; and for their desires On my knowledge they are equal. Despair not Madam: Hard things are compassed oft by easy means, And judgement, being a gift derived from heaven, Though sometime lodged it'h hearts of worldly men (That never consider from whom they receive it) Forsakes such as abuse the giver of it. Which is the reason, that the politic, And cunning Statesman, that believes he fathoms The counsels of all Kingdoms on the earth Is by simplicity oft overreach. May it to my self Prove so good Lady in my suit to you: What think you of the motion? You are too modest, And undervalue that which is above My title, or what ever I call mine. I grant, were I a Spaniard to marry A widow might disparage me, but being A true born Englishman, I cannot find How it can taint my Honour; nay what's more, That which you think a blemish is to me The fairest lustre. You already Madam Have given sure proofs how dearly you can cherish A Husband that deserves you: which confirms me, That if I am not wanting in my care To do you service, you'll be still the same That you were to your Alworth, in a word Our years, our states, our births are not unequal, You being descended nobly and allied so, If then you may be won to make me happy, But join your lips to mine, and that shall be A solemn contract. If I return not with all tenderness, Equal respect to you, may I die wretched. It is a thankfulness that well becomes you; You could not make choice of a better shape, To dress your mind in. It may be Sweer heart, my pro iect took. You shall direct me. Heau ns hand is in this, One Bandog worry the other. Hold for your own sake Though charity to your daughter hath quite left you Will you do and act, though in your Hope's lost here Can leave no hope for peace, or rest hereafter Consider; at the best you are but a man, And cannot so create your aims, but that They may be crossed. I am ready. Fear not I am your guard. How he fomes! Here is a president to teach wicked men, That when they leave Religion, and turn Atheists Their own abilities leaue'em, pray you take comfort I will endeavour you shall be his guardians In his distractions: and for your land master Welborne, Be it good, or ill in law, I'll be and umpire, Between you, and this, undoubted heir Of Sir Giles Overreach, for me, here's the anchor That I must fix on. Your suit is granted, And you loved for the motion, Walk the horses down the hill: something in private, I must impart to Alworth. It's well: give me my cloak: I now discharge you From further service. Mind your own of fairs, I hope they will prove successful. Now break we off our conference. Sir Giles. Where is Sir Giles? And you the sooner freed From your jealous fears. You are and early riser, Sir Giles.