When headlong dissipation quell'd my reason.
The fancy pleases: if the plot succeed,

"Tis a New Way to Pay Old Debts, indeed. [Exit, L.

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-The Skirts of Lady Allworth's Park.

Enter MARRALL and SIR Giles, r.

Sir G. (L.) He's gone, I warrant thee; this commission crush'd him.

Mar. (R.) Your worship has the way on't, and ne'er miss

To squeeze these unthrifts into air: and yet
The chap-fall'n justice did his part, returning,
For your advantage, the certificate,

Against his conscience and his knowledge too,
To the utter ruin

Of the poor farmer.

Sir G. 'Twas for these good ends

I made him a justice: he that bribes his belly,
Is certain to command his soul.

Mar. I wonder why, your worship having
The power to put this thin-gut in commission,
You are not in't yourself.

Sir G. Thou art a fool;

In being out of office, I am out of danger;
Where, if I were a justice, besides the trouble,
I might, or out of wilfulness, or error,

Run myself finely into a præmunire,
And so become a prey to the informer,
No, I'll have none on't: 'tis enough I keep
Greedy at my devotion: so he serve

My purposes, let him hang, or damn, I care not;
Friendship is but a word.

[Crosses to R.

Mar. (R. c.) You are all wisdom.

SirG. I would be worldly wise; for the other wis dom,

That does prescribe us a well-goven❜d life,

And to do right to others as ourselves,

I value not an atom.

Mar. What course take you,

To hedge in the manor

Of your neighbour, Mr. Frugal? As 'tis said,
He will nor sell, nor borrow, nor exchange;

And his land, lying in the midst of your many lordships,
Is a foul blemish.

Sir G. I have thought of't, Marrall ;

And it shall take.

[Placing his hand on MARRALL'S

shoulder.] I must have all men, sellers,

And I the only purchaser.

Mar. "Tis most fit, sir.

Sir G. I'll therefore buy some cottage near his manor; Which done, I'll make my men break ope' his fences, Ride o'er his standing corn, and in the night

Set fire to his barns, or break his cattle's legs;
These trespasses draw on suits, and suits expences,
Which I can spare, but will soon beggar him.
When I have harried him thus two or three year,
Though he sue in forma pauperis, in spite
Of all his thrift and care, he'll grow behind-hand.
Mar. The best I ever heard! I could adore you.
Sir G. Then, with the favour of my man of law,
I will pretend some title: want will force him
To put it to arbitrement; then, if he sell
For half the value, he shall have ready money,
And I possess his land.

Mar. Wellborn was apt to sell, and needed not
These fine arts, şir, to hook him in.

Sir G. Well thought on,

That varlet, Wellborn, lives too long, to upbraid me With my close cheat put upon him. Will nor cold Nor hunger kill him?

Mar. I know not what to think on't.

I've us'd all means; and, the last night, I caus'd
His host the tapster turn him out of doors;

And have been since with all your friends and tenants,
And, on the forfeit of your favour, charg'd them,
Though a crust of mouldy bread would keep him from
starving,

Yet they should not relieve him. This is done, sir

Sir G. That was something, N. I; but thou must

go further,

And suddenly, Marrall.

Mar. Where and when you please, sir.

Sir G. I'd have thee seek him out, and, if thou canst, Persuade him that 'tis better steal than beg:

Then, if I prove he has but robb'd a hen-roost,
Not all the world shall save him from the gallows
Do any thing to work him to despair,

And 'tis thy master-piece.

Mar. I'll do my best, sir.

Sir G. I'm now on my main work, with the Lord Lovell,

The gallant-minded, popular, Lord Lovell,

The minion of the people's love. I hear

He's come into the country; and my aims are,

To insinuate myself into his knowledge,

And then invite him to my house.

Mar. I have you;

This points at my young mistress.
Sir G. She must part with

That humble title, and be honourable,

Right honourable, Marrall, my right honourable daughter;

If all I have, or e'er shall get, will do it!
I'll have her well-attended; there are ladies

Of errant knights decay'd, and brought so low,

That, for cast clothes and meat, will gladly serve her And 'tis my glory, tho' I come from the city,

To have their issue, whom I have undone,

To kneel to mine, as bond-slaves.

Mar. 'Tis fit state, sir.

Sir G. And therefore, I'll not have a chamber-maid That ties her shoes, or any meaner office,

But such whose fathers were right worshipful.

'Tis a rich man's pride! there having ever been More than a feud, a strange antipathy,

Between us and true gentry.

Enter WELLBORN, R.

Mar. (c.) See, who's here, sir.

[Crosses to L.C

Sir G. (L.) Hence, monster! prodigy!
Well. (R.) Call me what you will;-

I am your nephew, sir, your sister's son.

Sir G. Avoid my sight! thy breath's infectious, rogue!

I shun thee as a leprosy, or the plague.

Come hither, Many
Mar. (L.) I

Well. (R. C.) By

so-This is the time to work him. rayyou, sir. [Exit SIR GILES, L. s light, I think, he's mad.

Mar. (c.) Mad! had you ta'en compassion on your

self,

You long since had been mad.

Well. You've ta'en a course,

Between you and my venerable uncle,

To make me so.

Mar. (R. c.) The more pale-spirited you, That would not be instructed. I swear deeplyWell. (L. C.) By what?

Mar. By my religion.

Well. Thy religion?

The devil's creed!—But what would you have done? Mar. Had there been but one tree in the whole shire, Or any hope to compass a single halter,

Before, like you, I had outliv'd my fortunes,

A withe had serv'd my turn to hang myself.
I'm zealous in your cause: 'pray, hang yourself,
And presently, as you love your credit.

Well. I thank you.

Mar. Will you stay till you die in a ditch?
Or, if you dare not do the feat yourself,

But that you'll put the state to charge and trouble,
Is there no purse to be cut? house to be broken?
Or market-woman with eggs that you may murder,
And so dispatch the business?

Well. Here's variety,

I must confess; but I'll accept of none

Of all your gentle offers, I assure you.

Mar. If you like not hanging, drown yourself; take

some course

For your reputation.

Well. "Twill not do, dear tempter,

With all the rhetorick the fiend hath taught you,

I am as far as thou art from despair;

Nay, I have confidence, which is more than hope,

To live and suddenly, better than ever. [Crosses to L c. Mar. Ha! ha! these castles, you build in the air, Will not persuade me or to give or lend

A token to you.

Well. I'll be more kind to thee:

Mar. (c.) Under what hedge, I pray you? or at

whose cost?

Are they padders, or gipsies, that are your consorts ? Well. Thou art incredulous; but thou shalt dine, Not alone at her house, but with a gallant lady; With me, and with a lady.

Mar. Lady! what lady?

With the lady of the lake, or queen of fairies?
For, I know, it must be an enchanted dinner.
Well. With the Lady Allworth, knave.

Mar. Nay, now there's hope

Thy brain is crack'd.

Well. Mark there with what respect

I am entertained.

Mar. With choice, no doubt, of dog-whips. Why, dost thou ever hope to pass her porter?

Well. "Tis not far off, go with me; trust thine own

eyes.

Mar. Troth, in my hope, or my assurance rather, To see thee curvet and mount like a dog in a blanket, If ever thou presume to pass her threshold,

I will endure thy company.

Well. Come along then.

[Crosses, and exeunt, R.

SCENE II.-The Hall in Lady Allworth's House. Enter WATCHALL, FURNACE, ORDER, AMBLE, and ALLWORTH, R.

Allw. (L.) Your courtesies o'erwhelm me: I much grieve

To part with such true friends; and yet find comfort.
My attendance on my honourable lord,
Whose resolution holds to visit my lady,

Will speedily bring me back.

[WELLBORN and MARRALL without, L.
BORN knocks-Exit WATCHALL, L.

Mar. Dar'st thou venture further?

Well. Yes, yes, and knock again.

Ord. (c.) 'Tis he; disperse.

Amb. (R. c.) Perform it bravely.

Fur. (L. c.) I know my cue, ne'er doubt me.

WELL

[Knocks.

[Exeunt FURNACE, L. S. E. ORDER and AMBLE, R. Enter WATCHALL, WELLBORN, and MARRALL, L.

Wat. Beast that I was, to make you stay! Most wel

come;

You were long since expected.