SCENE II.-CARTER'S House.

Enter CARTER, WARBECK, and SOMERTON.

Car. How now, gentlemen! cloudy? I know, master Warbeck, you are in a fog about my daughter's marriage.

War. And can you blame me, sir?

Car. Nor you me justly. Wedding and hanging are tied up both in a proverb; and destiny is the juggler that unties the knot: my hope is, you are reserved to a richer fortune than my poor daugh

ter.

War. However, your promise

Car. Is a kind of debt, I confess it.
War. Which honest men should pay.

Car. Yet some gentlemen break in that point, now and then, by your leave, sir.

Som. I confess thou hast had a little wrong in the wench; but patience is the only salve to cure it. Since Thorney has won the wench, he has most reason to wear her.

War. Love in this kind admits no reason to

wear her.

Car. Then Love's a fool, and what wise man will take exception?

Som. Come, frolick, Ned; were every man master of his own fortune, Fate might pick straws, and Destiny go a wool-gathering.

War. You hold your's in a string though: 'tis well; but if there be any equity, look thou to meet the like usage ere long.

In

Som. In my love to her sister Katherine? deed, they are a pair of arrows drawn out of one quiver, and should fly at an even length; if she do run after her sister,

War. Look for the same mercy at my hands, as I have received at thine.

3

Som. She'll keep a surer compass; I have too strong a confidence to mistrust her.

War. And that confidence is a wind that has blown many a married man ashore at Cuckold's Haven, I can tell you; I wish your's more prosperous though.

Car. Whate'er you wish, I'll master my promise to him.

War. Yes, as you did to me.

Car. No more of that, if you love me but for the more assurance, the next offer'd occasion shall consummate the marriage; and that once seal'd—

Som. Leave the manage of the rest to my

care.

3 She'll keep a surer compass.] The metaphor is still from archery. Arrows shot compass-wise, that is, with a certain elevation, were generally considered as going more steadily to the mark.

Enter FRANK THORNEY and SUSAN.

But see, the bridegroom and bride come; the new pair of Sheffield knives, fitted both to one sheath. War. The sheath might have been better fitted, if somebody had their due; but

Som. No harsh language, if thou lovest me, Frank Thorney has done-

War. No more than I, or thou, or any man, things so standing, would have attempted.

Som. Good-morrow, master bridegroom.

War. Come, give thee joy: may'st thou live long and happy

In thy fair choice!

Frank. I thank ye, gentlemen; kind master Warbeck,

I find you loving.

War. Thorney, that creature,-(much good do
thee with her!)

Virtue and beauty hold fair mixture in her;
She's rich, no doubt, in both; yet were she fairer,
Thou art right worthy of her: love her, Thorney,
'Tis nobleness in thee, in her but duty.

The match is fair and equal, the success

4 Som. No harsh language, &c.] I have given this short speech to Somerton. Warbeck's reply sufficiently shows that it could not be spoken by Carter.

I leave to censure; farewell, mistress bride!

Till now elected thy old scorn deride."

Som. Good master Thorney

[Exit.

Car. Nay, you shall not part till you see the barrels run a-tilt, gentlemen.

[Exit with SOMERTON.

Sus. Why change you your face, sweetheart? Frank. Who, I? for nothing.

Sus. Dear, say not so; a spirit of your constancy

Cannot endure this change for nothing.-
I have observ'd strange variations in you.
Frank. In me?

Sus. In you, sir.

Awake, you seem to dream, and in your sleep
You utter sudden and distracted accents,

Like one at enmity with peace. Dear loving husband,

If I

May dare to challenge any interest in you,
Give me the reason fully; you may trust
My breast as safely as your own.

5 Till now elected thy old scorn deride.] I believe that this line (which has probably suffered at the press) is addressed to Frank, and conveys some obscure hint of a knowledge of his former connection with Winnifrede. It is evident, from what follows, that it awakens the conscience of Frank; and Susan apparently alludes to the siguificant gesture with which it was accompanied, in a subsequent passage, (page 490,) where she tells her husband that she has discovered his secret :

"Your pre-appointed meeting

Of single combat with young Warbeck.
Even so dissemble not; 'tis too apparent.
THEN, in his look, 1 read it."

Frank. With what?

You half amaze me; prithee

Sus. Come, you shall not,

Indeed you shall not shut me from partaking The least dislike that grieves you; I am all your's.

Frank. And I all thine.

Sus. You are not, if you keep

The least grief from me; but I find the cause,
It grew from me.

Frank. From you?

Sus. From some distaste

In me or my behaviour: you are not kind
In the concealment. 'Las, sir, I am young,
Silly and plain; more, strange to those contents
A wife should offer: say but in what I fail,
I'll study satisfaction.

Frank. Come; in nothing.

Sus. I know I do; knew I as well in what,
You should not long be sullen. Prithee, love,
If I have been immodest or too bold,

Speak't in a frown; if peevishly too nice,
Shew't in a smile: thy liking is the glass

By which I'll habit
Frank. Wherefore

Dost weep now?

my

behaviour.

Sus. You, sweet, have the power

To make me passionate as an April-day;"

6

❝ Passionate as an April-day.] i. e. changeful, capricious, of many moods.