Page images
PDF
EPUB

Of the rich Tyrian dye: a canopy

To cover the brat's cradle; you in state,

Like Pompey's Julia.

Lady. No more, I pray you.

Luke. Of this be sure you shall not. I'll cut off Whatever is exorbitant in you,

Or in your daughters; and reduce you to

Your natural forms and habits: not in revenge

Of your base usage of me; but to fright

Others by your example.

[This bitter satire against the city women for aping the fashions of the court ladies, must have been peculiarly gratifying to the females of the Herbert family and the rest of Massinger's noble patrons and patronesses.

A NEW WAY TO PAY OLD DEBTS: A COMEDY. BY PHILIP MASSINGER.

Overreach (a cruel extortioner) treats about marrying his daughter with Lord Lovell.

LOVELL. OVERREACH.

Over. To my wish we are private.

I come not to make offer with my daughter
A certain portion; that were poor and trivial:
In one word I pronounce all that is mine,

In lands or leases, ready coin or goods,

With her, my lord, comes to you; nor shall you have
One motive to induce you to believe

I live too long, since every year I'll add

Something unto the heap, which shall be yours too.
Lov. You are a right kind father.

Over. You shall have reason

To think me such. How do you like this seat?
It is well-wooded and well-water'd, the acres
Fertile and rich: would it not serve for change,
To entertain your friends in a summer's progress?
What thinks my noble lord?

Lov. 'Tis a wholesome air,

And well built, and she,* that is mistress of it,
Worthy the large revenues.

Over. She the mistress ?

It may be so for a time: but let my lord

Say only that he but like it, and would have it;

I

say, ere long 'tis his.

Lov. Impossible.

Over. You do conclude too fast; not knowing me, Nor the engines that I work by. 'Tis not alone The lady Allworth's lands: but point out any man's In all the shire, and say they lie convenient And useful for your lordship; and once more I say aloud, they are yours.

Lov. I dare not own

What's by unjust and cruel means extorted:
My fame and credit are more dear to me,
Than so to expose 'em to be censur'd by
The public voice.

Over. You run, my lord, no hazard :
Your reputation shall stand as fair
In all good men's opinions as now:

Nor can my actions, though condemn'd for ill,
Cast any foul aspersion upon yours.
For though I do contemn report myself,
As a mere sound; I still will be so tender
Of what concerns you in all points of honor,
That the immaculate whiteness of your fame,
Nor your unquestioned integrity,

Shall e'er be sullied with one taint or spot
That may take from your innocence and candor
As my ambition is to have my daughter
Right honorable; which my lord can make her:
And might I live to dance upon my knee
A young lord Lovell, born by her unto you,
I write nil ultra to my proudest hopes.

[blocks in formation]

As for possessions and annual rents,
Equivalent to maintain you in the port
Your noble birth and present state require,

I do remove that burden from your shoulders,
And take it on mine own: for though I ruin
The country to supply your riotous waste,

The scourge of prodigals (want) shall never find you.
Lov. Are you not frighted with the imprecations
And curses of whole families, made wretched
By your sinister practices?

Over. Yes, as rocks are

When foamy billows split themselves against
Their flinty ribs; or as the moon is mov'd

When wolves, with hunger pined, howl at her brightness.

I am of a solid temper, and, like these,

Steer on a constant course: with mine own sword,

If call'd into the field, I can make that right,
Which fearful enemies murmur'd at as wrong.
Now, for those other piddling complaints,
Breath'd out in bitterness; as, when they call me
Extortioner, tyrant, cormorant, or intruder
On my poor neighbor's right, or grand encloser
Of what was common to my private use;

Nay, when my ears are pierc'd with widows' cries.
And undone orphans wash with tears my threshold :
I only think what 'tis to have my daughter
Right honorable; and 'tis a powerful charm,
Makes me insensible of remorse or pity,

Or the least sting of conscience.

Lov. I admire

The toughness of your nature.

Over. "Tis for you,

My lord and for my daughter, I am marble.

THE PICTURE: A TRAGI-COMEDY. BY PHILIP MASSINGER.

Matthias, a knight of Bohemia, going to the wars; in parting with his wife, shows ner suostantial reasons why he should go.

MATTHIAS. SOPHIA.

Mat. Since we must part, Sophia, to pass further

Is not alone impertinent, but dangerous.

We are not distant from the Turkish camp

Above five leagues; and who knows but some party
Of his Timariots, that scour the country,

May fall upon us? Be now, as thy name
Truly interpreted* hath ever spoke thee,
Wise and discreet; and to thy understanding
Marry thy constant patience.

Soph. You put me, sir,

To the utmost trial of it.

Mat. Nay, no melting:

Since the necessity, that now separates us,
We have long since disputed; and the reasons,
Forcing me to it, too oft wash'd in tears.

I grant that you in birth were far above me,
And great men my superiors rivals for you;
But mutual consent of heart, as hands

Join'd by true love, hath made us one and equal :
Nor is it in me mere desire of fame,

Or to be cried up by the public voice
For a brave soldier, that puts on my armor ;
Such airy tumors take not me: you know

How narrow our demeans are; and what's more,
Having as yet no charge of children on us,
We hardly can subsist.

Soph. In you alone, sir,

I have all abundance.

Mat. For my mind's content,

In your own language I could answer you.

* Sophia; wisdom.

You have been an obedient wife, a right one;
And to my power, though short of your desert,
I have been ever an indulgent husband.

We have long enjoy'd the sweets of love, and though
Not to satiety or loathing, yet.

We must not live such dotards on our pleasures,

As still to hug them to the certain loss

Of profit and preferment. Competent means
Maintains a quiet bed, want breeds dissension
Even in good women.

Soph. Have you found in me, sir,
Any distaste or sign of discontent,

For want of what's superfluous?

Mat. No, Sophia;

Nor shalt thou ever have cause to repent
Thy constant course in goodness, if heaven bless

My honest undertakings. 'Tis for thee,

That I turn soldier, and put forth, dearest,
Upon this sea of action as a factor,

To trade for rich materials to adorn

Thy noble parts, and show 'em in full lustre.
I blush that other ladies, less in beauty

And outward form, but, in the harmony
Of the soul's ravishing music, the same age
Not to be named with thee, should so outshine thee
In jewels and variety of wardrobes;

While you, to whose sweet innocence both Indies
Compar❜d are of no value, wanting these,
Pass unregarded.

Soph. If I am so rich,

Or in your opinion so, why should you borrow
Additions for me?

Mat. Why? I should be censur'd
Of ignorance, possessing such a jewel,
Above all prices, if I forbear to give it
The best of ornaments. Therefore, Sophia,

In a few words know my pleasure, and obey me;
As
you have ever done. To your discretion

« PreviousContinue »