Priscilla, Meanwell.

Pris. Pray y' entertain your self a while, untill
I give my Mistris notice of your presence.
I'd leave a book with you, but that I see
You are a Gentleman: perhaps you'l find
Some pretty stories in the hangings there.
Mean. Thank you sweet-heart.
Prisc. (A very proper man)
If't lye in me to doe you any pleasure,
Pray you Sir use me, you shall find me ready.
Me. I make no doubt of that: these Implements,

Credulous , and Shape dogging him.

Cred. So now the Morgage is mine own outright;
I swear by the faith of my Body now
It is a pretty thing, o my corporal Oath
A very pretty thing. Besides the house,
Orchards, and Gardens: some two hundred Acres
Of Land that beareth as good Country corn,
For Country corn, as may be.
Shap. As I'd have it.
Cr. How now good friend! where dost thou live? dost thou
Know Caster's Farme?

Moth. Harrow alas! I swelt here as I go;
Brenning in fire of little Cupido .
I no where hoart yfeele, but on mine head.
Huh, huh, huh, so; ycapred very wele.
I am thine Leeke, thou Chaucer eloquent;
Mine head is white, but o mine taile is green.
This is the Palyes where mine Lady wendeth.

Saint Francis, and Saint Benedight,
Blesse this house from wicked wight,

To them, Sir Thomas Bitefig, Credulous .

Mea. God save you good Sir Thomas .
Sr Tho. Save you Sir.
Mean. You'r welcome Mr Credulous .
Cred. Come hither;
Whither do you steal now? what? where's your cloak?
And. Going to foiles ev'n now, I put it off.
Mea. To tell you truth he hath lost it at Doublets.
Cred. With what a lie you'd flap me in the mouth?

Andrew, Meanwell.

And. Vpon my Conscience now he cheated me;
I could have never lost it else so strangely.
Mean. What is a paltry cloak to a man of worth?
It barr'd men only o'th' sight of your body:
Your handsomnesse will now appear the better.
And. He was as like our Mr Shape , as could be;
But that he had a patch upon his Cheek,
And a black beard, I should have sworn 'twere he:
It was some body in his cloaths I'm sure.

Hearsay, Caster, Shape.

Hear. Can I lie hid no where securely from
The throng, and presse of men? must every place
Become a Theater, where I seek shelter?
And solitudes become markets, cause I'm there?
Good Sir, I know your tricks: you would intrap;
This is your snare, not your request.
Sha. Take heed,
He's nois'd about for a deep searching head:
Ile pawn my life 'tis a trick.
Hear. Leave off these Ginnes,
You do not do it handsomly; you think

Meanwell, Moth.

Mean . If what I speak prove false, then stigmatize me.
Mo. I has not what you mean; Depardieux you
Snyb mine old years, Sans fail I wene you bin
A Jangler, and a Golierdis.
Mean. I swear
By these two Janus heads you had of us.
And your own too, as reverend as these,
There is one loves you that you think not on.
Mot. Nad be, none pleasaunce is me ylaft,
This white top writeth my much years, I wis;

Have-at-all, Slicer, Hearsay , having rescued him in a Quarrell.

Have. 'Tis destin'd, I'l be valiant, I am sure
I shall be beaten with more credit then,
Than now I do escape. Lieutenant hast
Bethought thy self as yet? hast any way
To make my Sword fetch bloud?
Slic. You never yet
Did kill your man then?
Have. No.
Hear. Nor get your Wench
With child I warrant?
Have. O Sir.

Hearesay, Slicer, Meanewell, Shape.

Our life methinks is but the same with others;
To couzen, and be couzen'd, makes the Age.
The Prey and Feeder are that Civill thing
That Sager heads call Body Politick.
Here is the only difference; others cheat
By statute, but we do't upon no grounds.
The fraud's the same in both, there only wants
Allowance to our way: the Common-wealth
Hath not declar'd her self as yet for us;
Wherefore our Policy must be our Charter.
Mea. Well mannag'd Knav'ry is but one degree

To Hearsay , enter Slicer and Credulous .

Hear. Sir let me tell you this is not the least
Of things wherein your wisedome shewes it self,
In that you 've plac'd your Son in this good sort.
Cred. Nay nay, let me alone to give him breeding;
I did not hold the University
Fit for the training up of such a Spirit.
Slic. The University ? 't had been the only way
T' have took him off his courage, and his mettal,
He had return'd as Slaves doe from the Gallies,