346this thy journey to Nunck, to set down the history of

347me, my state and fortunes:

348Shall I, that dedicated my self to pleasure, be now con-

349fin'd in service to crouch, and stand like an old man ith'

350hams, my Hat off? I that could never abide to uncover

351my head ith' Church: base slut, this fruit beares thy com-

352plaints.

353 Wife. Oh, heaven knowes,

354That my complaints were praises, and best words

355Of you, and your estate; onely my friends

356Knew of your morgag'd Lands, and were possest

357Of every accident before I came.

358If you suspect it but a plot in me,

359To keep my dowry, or for mine own good,

360Or my poor Childrens (though it suits a mother

361To shew a naturall care in their reliefs)

362Yet I'le forget my self to calme your blood,

363Consume it, as your pleasure counsels you,

364And all I wish, e'ne Clemency affords,

365Give me but pleasant looks, and modest words.

368What the Devil? how now thy hasty newes?

369 Ser. May it please you, sir.

370 Hus.What, may I not look upon my Dagger?

371Speak, Villain, or I will execute the point on thee:

372quick, short.

373 Ser. Why sir, a Gentleman from the University stayes

374below to speak with you.

375 Hus. From the University? so, University,

377 Wife. Was ever Wife so wretchedly beset?

378Had not this newes stept in between, the point

379Had offered violence unto my breast.

380That which some women call great misery,

381Would shew but little here, would scarce be seen

382Among my miseries: I may compare

383For wretched fortunes, with all Wives that are,

384Nothing will please him, untill all be nothing.

385He calls it slavery to be preferr'd,

386A place of credit, a base servitude.

387What shall become of me, and my poor Children?

388Two here, and one at Nurse, my pretty beggars,

389I see how ruine with a palsie hand

390Begins to shake the ancient seat to dust:

391The heavy weight of sorrow drawes my lids

392Over my dankish eyes: I can scarce see;

393Thus grief will last, it wakes and sleeps with me.

395 Hus. Please you draw near, sir, y'are exceeding wel-

396come.

397 Ma. That's my doubt, I fear I come not to be wel-

398come.

399 Hus. Yes, howsoever.

400 Ma. 'Tis not my fashion, sir, to dwell in long cir-

401cumstance, but to be plain and effectuall; therefore to

402the purpose.

403The cause of my setting forth was pittious and lamenta-

404ble; that hopefull young Gentleman your Brother, whose

405virtues we all love dearly, through your default and unna-

406turall negligence, lies in bond executed for your debt, a

407prisoner, all his studies amazed, his hope struck dead, and

408the pride of his youth muffled in these dark clouds of op-

409pression.

410 Hus. Hum, hum, hum.

411 Mast. Oh you have kill'd the towardest hope of all

412our University, wherefore without repentance and a-

413mends, expect ponderous and sudden judgements to fall

414grievously upon you; your Brother, a man who profited

415in his divine employments, and might have made ten

416thousand soules fit for heaven, now by your carelesse

417courses cast in prison, which you must answer for, and

418assure your spirit it will come home at length.

419 Hus. Oh God, oh.

420 Ma. Wise men think ill of you, others speak ill of you, no

421man loves you, nay, even those whom honesty condemns,

422condemns you: and take this from the virtuous affection

423I bear your Brother, never look for prosperous hour,

424good thought, quiet sleeps, contented walks, nor any

425thing that makes man perfect, till you redeem him: what

426is your answer? how will you bestow him? upon despe-

427rate misery, or better hopes? I suffer till I hear your an-

428swer.

429 Hus. Sir, you have much wrought with me, I feel you

430in my soule, you are your Arts master.

431I never had sence till now; your syllables have cleft me,

432both for your words and pains I thank you: I cannot

433but acknowledge grievous wrongs done to my Brother,

434mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty wrongs.

435Within there.

437 Hus. Fill me a Bowle of Wine. Alass poor Brother,

438Bruised with an execution for my sake.

439 Ma. A bruise indeed makes many a mortall sore,

441 Hus. Sir, I begin to you, y'ave chid your welcome.

442 Ma. I could have wisht it better for your sake,

443I pledge you, sir, to the kind man in prison.

444 Hus. Let it be so.

445Now, sir, if you so please, to spend but a few minutes in

446walking about my grounds below, my man shall here

447attend you: I doubt not but by that time to be furnisht

448of a sufficient answer, and therein my Brother fully sa-

449tisfied.

450 Ma. Good sir, in that the Angels would be pleased,

451and the worlds murmures calm'd, and I should say, I set

453 Hus. O thou confused man, thy pleasant sins have un-

454done thee, thy damnation has begger'd thee, that heaven

455should say we must not sin, and yet made women: gives

456our sences way to find pleasure, which being found, con-

457founds us, why should we know those things so much

458misuse us? Oh would virtue had been forbidden, we

459should then have proved all virtuous, for 'tis our blood

460to love what we are forbidden, what man would have

461been forbidden, what man would have been fool to a

462beast, and zany to a swine, to shew tricks in the mire,

463what is there in three Dice, to make a man draw thrice

464three thousand acres into the compasse of a little round ta-

465ble, and with the Gentlemans palsie in the hand shake

466out his posterity, thieves, or beggars; 'tis done, I have

467don't ifaith: terrible, horrible misery,----------how well

468was I left, very well, very well.

469 My Lands shewed like a Full-Moon about me, but

470now the Moon's in the last quarter, waining, waining,

471and I am mad to think that Moon was mine: