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OR,

THE LITTLE THIEF.

A COMEDY.

The first edition of this Play, in 1640, has the name of Fletcher alone to it, and it was probably therefore his production, without any assistance from his partner Beaumont. It used to be acted frequently in the last century; but we have not heard of: any alteration or representation of it these many years.

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ACT I.

[hither?

Wildb. What wind brought thee In what old hollow tree, or rotten wall, Hast thou been, like a swallow, all this winWhere hast thou been, man?

[ter?

Lurc. Following the plough. Wildb. What plough? Thou hast no land; stealing is thy own purchase. Lurc. The best inheritance. Wildb. Not in my opinion; Thou hadst five hundred pound a year. Lurc. 'Tis gone:

Prithee, no more on't! Have I not told thee, And oftentimes, Nature made all men equal, Her distribution to each child alike;

'Till labour came and thrust a new will in, Which I allow not: 'till men won a privilege By that they call endeavour, which indeed

Is nothing but a lawful cozenage, [neighbour,
An allow'd way to cheat? Why should my
That hath no more soul than his horsekeeper,
Nor bounteous faculties above a broom-man,
Have forty thousand pounds, and I four
Why should he keep it?
[groats?

Wildb. Thy old opinion still.

Lurc. Why should that scriv'ner, [thing
That ne'er-writ reason in his life, nor any
That time e'er gloried in; that never knew
How to keep any courtesy conceal'd,
But noverint universi must proclaim it,
Purchase perpetually, and I a rascal? [ler
Consider this; why should that mouldy cob-
Marry his daughter to a wealthy merchant,
And give five thousand pounds? is this good
justice?

Because he has a tougher constitution,
Can feed upon old songs, and save his money,
Therefore inust I go beg?
Wildb.

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He that shall sit down frighted with that Is not worth pity; let me alone to shuffle! Thou art for wenching.

Wildb. For beauty I, a safe course: No halter hangs in my way; I defy it.

Lurc. But a worse fate, a wilful poverty; For where thou gain'st by one that indeed loves thee, [destiny!

A thousand will draw from thee; 'tis thy
One is a kind of weeping cross, Jack,
A gentle purgatory: do not fling at all;
You'll pay the box so often, 'till you perish.
Wildb. Take you no care for that, sir, 'tis
my pleasure:

I will employ my wits a great deal faster
Than you shall do your fingers; and my loves,
If I mistake not, shall prove riper harvest
And handsomer, and come within less dan
Where's thy young sister?

[ger.

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could spare;

She had a mind to th' country; she is turn'd, By this, some farmer's dairy-maid'; I may meet her

[sers; Riding from market one day, 'twixt her dorIf I do, by this hand I wo'not spare Her butter-pence.

Wildb. Thou wilt not rob thy sister? Lurc. She shall account me for her eggs and cheeses. [love her? Wildb. A pretty girl.-Did not old Algripe

A very pretty girl she was.

Lurc. Some such thing;

But he was too wise to fasten. Let her

Wildb. Then where's thy mistress?
Lurc. Where you sha' not find her,

pass.

Nor know what stuff she is made on; ne, indeed, sir,

I chose her not for your use.

Wilb. Sure she's handsome. [handsome;
Lurc. Yes, indeed is she; she is very

But that's all one.

Wildb. You'll come to th' marriage?

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tal

And as untowardly she prepares herself:
But it is mine aunt's will, that this dull me-
[someness.
Must be mix'd with her, to allay her hand-
1 Gent. Had Heartlove no fast friends?
Wildb. His means are little;

And where those littles are, as little comforts
Ever keep company: I know she loves him,
His memory beyond the hopes of—
Beyond the Indies in his mouldy cabinets;
But 'tis her unhandsome fate-

Enter Heartlove.

1 Gent. I'm sorry for't. [start not, sir! Here comes poor Frank.-Nay, we're friends; We see your willow, and are sorry for't; And, tho' it be a wedding, we're half mourn[my fortunes: Heartl. Good gentlemen, remember not They are not to be help'd with words. Wildb. Look up, man!

ers.

[a wench? A proper sensible fellow, and shrink for a Are there no more? or is she all the handHeartl. Prithee, leave fooling. [someness? Wildb. Prithee, leave thou whining! Have maids forgot to love?

Heartl. You are injurious.

[low thee. Wildb. Let 'em alone a while, they'll fol1 Gent. Come, good Frank,

Forget now, since there is no remedy, [do. And shew a merry face, as wise men would 2 Gent. Be a free guest, and think not of those passages.

Wildb. Think how to nick him home; thou know'st she dotes on thee;

Graft me a dainty medlar on his crabstock; Pay me the dreaming puppy.

1 Some farrier's dairy maid.] That this is sense, and may be true, I won't dispute; but I can't yet help thinking that the better reading is,

A farmer's dairy maid.

Sympson.

2 Dorsers.] i. e. Panniers. See Johnson's Dictionary.

Heart!.

Heartl. Well, make your mirth, the whilst
I bear my misery:

Honest minds would have better thoughts.
Wildb. I am her kinsman,

And love her well, am tender of her youth;
Yet, honest Frank, before I'd have that stink-
ard,
[head-
That walking rotten tomb, enjoy her maiden-
Heartl. Prithee, leave mocking!

Wildb. Prithee, Frank, believe me; Go to, consider. Hark, they knock to dinner! [Knock within.

Come, wo't thou go?

2 Gent. I prithee, Frank, go with us, And laugh and dance as we do.

Heart. You're light, gentlemen, [leave! Nothing to weigh your hearts; pray give me I'll come and see, and take my leave. Wildb. We'll look for you.

Do not despair; I have a trick yet.

[Exit. Heartl. Yes, [jects. When I'm mischievous I'll believe your pro She's gone, for ever gone, (I cannot help it) My hopes and all my happiness gone with ber,

[jollity

Gone like a pleasing dream! What mirth and Reigns round about this house! how every office

Sweats with new joys! Can she be merry too? Is all this pleasure set by her appointment? Sure sh' has a false heart then. Still they grow louder. [her, The old man's god, his gold, has won upon (Light-hearted, cordial gold!) and all my ser

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[enemy,

Lady. He shall come in! Walk without doors o'this day? Tho' an It must not be.

Wildb. You must compel him, madam. Lady. No, she shall fetch him in, nephew; it shall be so.

Wildb. It will be fittest. [Exit with Lady. Heartl. Can fair Maria look again upon me? [ness? Can there be so much impudence in sweetEnter Maria.

Or has she got a strong heart to defy me?
She comes herself: how rich she is in jewels!
Methinks they shew like frozen isicles,
Cold winter had hung on her. How the roses,
That kept continual spring within her cheeks,
Are wither'd with the old man's dull embraces!
She would speak to me.—I can sigh too lady;

But from a sounder heart: yes, and can weep But 'tis for you, that ever I believ'd you, [too; Tears of more pious value than your marriage! You would encase yourself3, and I must credit you,

So much my old obedience compels from me! Go, and forget me, and my poverty

I need not bid you, you're too perfect that way: But still remember that I lov'd, Maria, [me! Lov'd with a loyal love. Nay, turn not from I will not ask a tear inore, you are bountiful; Go, and rejoice, and I will wait upon you That little of my life left!

Maria. Good sir, hear me! [obedience What has been done, was th' act of my And not my will, forc'd from me by my pa

rents:

Now 'tis done, do as I do, bear it handsomely;
And if there can be more society,
Without dishonour to my tie of marriage,
Or place for noble love, I shall love you still.
You had the first; the last, had my will pros
per'd.

You talk of little time of life, dear Frank;
Certain, I am not married for eternity:
The joy my marriage brings, tells me I'm
mortal,
[serable;
And shorter-liv'd than you, else I were mi-
Nor can the gold and ease his age hath
brought me

Add what I coveted, content. Go with me; They seek a day of joy; prithee let's shew it, Tho' it be forc'd; and, by this kiss believe me, However I must live at his command now, I'll die at yours.

Heartl. I have enough; I'll honour you! [Exeunt.

Enter Lurcher.

Lurc. Here are my trinkets, and this lusty marriage

I mean to visit; I have shifts of all sorts, And here are thousand wheels to set 'em working.

I'm very merry, for I know this wedding Will yield me lusty pillage: ifmad Wildgoose, That debauchi'd rogue, keep but his ancient revels,

And breed a hubbub in the house, I'm happy. Enter Alathe.

Now, what are you?

Alathe. A poor distressed boy, sir, [treat
Friendless and comfortless, that would en-
Some charity and kindness from your worship.
I would fain serve, sir, and as fain endeavour
With duteous labour to deserve the love
Of that good gentleman shall entertain me.
Lurc. A pretty boy, but of too mild a
breeding,

Too tender, and too bashful, a behaviour.
What canst thou do?

3 You would encase yourself.] Sympson supposes encase a corruption, and would substitute excuse. We think encase may be genuine, and used in the sense of defend, arm yourself with an excuse.

VOL. III.

K

Alathe.

Alathe. I can learn any thing [master. That's good and honest, and shall please a Lurc. He blushes as he speaks, and that I like not;

I love a bold and secure confidence, [now,
An impudence that one may trust: this boy
Had I instructed him, had been a jewel,
A treasure for my use. Thou canst not lie?
Alathe. I would not willingly.

Lure. Nor thou hast no wit

To dissemble neatly?

Alathe. Do you love such boys, sir?
Lure. Oh, mainly, mainly; I'd have my
boy impudent,

Out-face all truth, yet do it piously;

Like Proteus, cast himself into all forms,
As sudden and as nimble as his thoughts;
Blench at no danger, tho' it be the gallows,
Nor make no conscience of a cozenage,
Though't be i' th' church, Your soft, demure,
still children

Are good for nothing, but to get long graces, And sing songs to dull tunes: I would keep thee,

[lity,

And cherish thee, hadst thou any active qua-
And be a tender master to thy knavery;
But thou art not for my use.

Alathe. Do you speak this seriously?
Lurc. Yes, indeed do I.

Alathe. Would you have your boy, sir,
Read in these moral mischiefs?

Lure. Now thou mov'st me. [activities? Alathe. And be a well-train'd youth in all Lure. By any means.

Alathe. Or do you this to try me, Fearing a proneness?

Lurc. I speak this to make thee. Alathe. Then take me, sir, and cherish me, and love me;

you

[sir,

You have me what would: believe me, I can do any thing for your advantage.

I

guess at what you mean; I can lie naturally, As easily as I can sleep, sir, and securely; As naturally I can steal too

Lure. That I'm glad on, [thou'rt excellent. Right heartily glad on; hold thee there, Alathe. Steal any thing from any body livLurch. Not from thy master? Alathe. That is mine own body,

And must not be.

Lure. The boy mends mightily.

Ling.

Alathe. A rich man, that like snow heaps up his monies,

I have a kind of pious zeal to meet still;
A fool, that not deserves 'em, I take pity on,
For fear he should run mad, and so I ease
him.
Lurc. Excellent boy, and able to instruct

Of mine own nature just!

Alathe. I scorn all hazard.

[me!

And on the edge of danger I do best, sir.
I have a thousand faces to deceive, [ter:
And, to those, twice so many tongues to flat-
An impudence, no brass was ever tougher;
And for my conscience-

Lurc. Peace! I've found a jewel,
A jewel all the Indies cannot match!
And thou shalt feel-

Alathe. This tittle, and I've done, sir: I never can confess, I've that spell on me; And such rare modesties before a magistrate, Such innocence to catch a judge, such igno[Come, boy! Lurc. I'll learn of thee; thou art mine own. I'll give thee action presently. Alathe. Have at you!

rance

Lurc. What must I call thee?
Alathe. Snap, sir.

Lure. 'Tis most natural;

A name born to thee: sure thou art a fairy! Shew but thy skill, and I shall make thee happy. [Exeunt.

Enter Lady, Nurse, Mrs. Newlove, and Toby.

Lady. Where be these knaves? who strews up all the liveries?

Is the bride's bed made?

Toby. Yes, madam, and a bell Hung under it artificially.

lady. Out, knave, out! Must we have larums now?

Toby. A little warning, [healths, madam. That we may know when to begin our The justice is a kind of old jade, madam, That will go merriest with a bell. Lady. All the house drunk? Toby. This is a day of jubilee.

Lady. Are the best hangings up? and the plate set out?

Who makes the posset, Nurse?

Nurse. The dairy-maid,

[per.

And she will put that in will make him caWell, madam, well, you might ha' chose anoA handsomer, for her years+.

Lady. Peace! he is rich, Nurse;

He's rich, and that is beauty.

[ther,

Nurse. I am sure he's rotten; [saw her! 'Would h' had been hang'd when he first Lady. Termagant! [looks to him?

What an angry quean is this! Where, who Toby. He's very merry, madam; master Wildbrain

Has him in hand, i'th' bottom o' the cellar: He sighs and tipples

Nurse. Alas, good gentleman!

My heart's sore for thee.

[rah,

Sir

Lady. Sorrow must have his course. Give him some sack to dry up his remem

brance.

[him.

How does the bridegroom? I am afraid of

A handsomer for your years.] The amendment proposed by Sympson.

5 When he first saw her. Termagant.] The word termagant has hitherto been made a part of the Nurse's speech. It undoubtedly (as Sympson supposes) belongs to the Lady; though he would omit the words angry queun in the next line, and put termogent in their place. Nurse.

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