The Ancient British Drama ...

It had been for my good to marry you,
You are deceiv'd; for that, in my esteem,
(Though once I was so foolish to give way
To that ridiculous motion) had brought with it
As great a misery, as that which now

Is fall'n upon me.

Sir Arg. How! as great a misery as to be
beggar'd?

L. Cov. Yes, sir, I'll assure you,
I am of that opinion, and still shall be:
But know, Sir Argent, though I now want power
To give you that which you still gap'd for, wealth,
I can be charitable, and bestow
Somewhat upon you that is better far.

Sir Arg. Better than wealth! what's that?
L. Cov. Honest counsel.

Let my calamity admonish you

To make a better use of your large wealth,
While you may call it yours. Things may be
chang'd:

For know, that hand that has afflicted me,
Can find out you. You do not stand above it.
Sir Arg. I hope, I shall know how to keep
mine own.

Euph. I do begin to pity the poor lady.
Free. This has wrought goodness in her.
Who are these?

Enter EARTHWORM and THEODORE.
My neighbour Earthworm? Lord! how he is
chang'd!

Earth. 'Twas basely done, and like a covet-
ous wretch,

I'll tell him to his face: What care I for him?
I have a purse as well as he.

Euph. How's this?

Eug. I am come.

Methinks these looks of mine, inhuman wretch!
Though I were silent, should have power to pierce
That treacherous breast, and wound thy con-
science,

Though it be hard and senseless as the idol
Which thou ador'st, thy gold.

Sir Arg. Is this to me, kinsman, you speak?
Eug. Kinsman! Do not wrong

That honest name with thy unhallowed lips.
To find a name for thee, and thy foul guilt,
Has so far pos'd me, as I cannot make
Choice of a language fit to tell thee of it.
Treacherous, bloody man! that has betray'd
And sold my life to thy base avarice!
Sir Arg. Who, I betray you?

Eug. Yes, can you deny it?

L. Cov. I'll witness it against him, if he do. 'Twas his intent, I know.

Euph. And so do I; I overheard his counsels.
Earth. Out upon him, unworthy man!
Euph. I could e'en laugh to hear old Earth-
worm chide.

Eug. But think upon the deed;
Think on your own decrepid age; and know,
That day, by nature's possibility,
Cannot be far from hence, when you must leave
Those wealthy hoards that you so basely lov'd,
And carry nothing with thee, but the guilt
Of impious getting; then if you would give
To pious uses what you cannot keep,
Think what a wretched charity it is;
And know, this act shall leave a greater stain
On your detested memory, than all

Earth. Betray a kinsman's life to purchase Those seeming deeds of charity can have

wealth!

Earth. Mr Freeman, happily met.

Free. Sir, I am glad to see you.

A power to wash away; when men shall say,
In the next age, This goodly hospital,

This house of alms, this school, though seeming

fair,

Was the foul issue of a cursed murder;
And took foundation in a kinsman's blood.

Earth. I have been long your neighbour, sir; The privilege that rich men have in evil,

but liv'd

Is, that they go unpunish'd to the devil.

Sir Arg. Oh! I could wish the deed undone

again:

Ah me! What means are left to help it now?
Free. Sure the old man begins to melt indeed.
Eug. Now let me turn to you, my truer friends,
And take my last farewell.

Enter FRUITFUL and TRUSTY.
Euph. My noble chaplain !

I made not restitution.

Fruit. He was poor,

And by the law could not recover it;

Therefore this means was taken: By this deed
They have convey'd it hither, where it ought
Of right to be: Are you content with this?
And all the rest of your estate is yours.
L. Cov. With all my heart.

Free. Madam, the deed is good.

Scud. Excuse it, noble Euphues.

Art. Oh happiness! beyond what could be
hop'd!

My Eugeny is safe, and all his griefs
At quiet now.

Eug. Is this a vision,

A mere fantastick shew? or do I see
Scudinore himself alive? then let me beg
Pardon from him.

Scud. Long ago 'twas granted;

Thy love I now shall seek: But though a while,
For these my ends, I have conceal'd myself,
I ever meant to secure thee from danger.
Eug. What strange unlook'd-for happiness
this day

Has brought forth with it!

Scud. To tell you by what means

I was most strangely cur'd, and found a way
How to conceal my life, will be too long
Now to discourse of here; I will anon
Relate at large. But one thing much has
griev'd me,

That my too long concealment, has been cause
Of so much sorrow to my constant love,
The fair Matilda. Sir, she is your niece,
Let me intreat my pardon, next to her,
From you.

Earth. You have it: Go, good Theodore,
And bring her hither, but prepare her first:
Too sudden apprehension of a joy
Is sometimes fatal.

Theod. I'll about it gladly.

[Erit.

Sir Arg. Dear cousin, Eugeny, if I yet may be Thought worthy of that name, pardon my crime, And my whole life, how short soe'er it be, Shall testify my love to be unfeign'd.

Eug. I do forgive you freely. Now to you, Grave sir, in whose rich bounty it must lie, To make me happy, in conferring on me So bright a jewel as Artemia, 'Tis your consent I beg.

Free. You have it freely;

Her heart, I know, she gave you long ago,
And here I give her hand,

Eug. A richer gift

Than any monarch of the world can give :

L. Cov. For that estate, which justly is pass'd Bless'd happines! "Gently, my joys, distil,

" Gently, my joys, distil.—See Dodsley's Old Plays, Vol. X. p. 194.

That cannot be undone: this gentleman is witness of it.

suppose,

Bar. Yes, I saw it finish'd. L. Whim. Mrs Artemia, as I I may pronounce as much to you? Art. You may, as much as I shall wish your ladyship.

Enter THEODORE and MATILDA.

Scud. Here comes the dearest object of my soul,

In whom too much I see my cruelty,

And chide myself: Oh pardon me, dear love,
That I too long a time have tyranniz'd
Over thy constant sorrow.

Mat. Dearest Scudmore,

But that my worthy cousin has prepar'd
My heart for this, I should not have believ'd
My flattering eyes.

Scud. To know brave Theodore,

Next to enjoying thee, was my ambition;
Which now affinity hath blest me with.
Eug. His friendship, worthy Scudmore, is a

treasure.

Theod. I shall endeavour to deserve your loves. Earth. Come, leave your compliments, at all hands, now,

And hear an old man speak; I must intreat This favour from all this noble company, Especially from you, good Mr Freeman, Although this be your daughter's wedding-day, That you would all be pleas'd to be my guests, And keep with me your marriage festivals. Grant my request.

Free. 'Tis granted, sir, from me.

Eug. And so, I think, from all the company. Earth. Then let's be merry, Earthworin's jovial now;

And that's as much as he desires from You. [To the Pit.

EDITION.

The Old Couple; a Comedy. By Thomas May, Esq. London: Printed by J. Cottrel, for Samuel Speed, at the Signe of the Printing Press in St Paul's Church-yard. 1658. 4to.

2 H

VOL. III.

ANDROMANA;

OR,

THE MERCHANT'S WIFE.

JAMES SHIRLEY.

This play was printed in the year 1660, and hath the letters J. S. in the title-page. Chetwood, in his British Theatre, p. 47, says, that it was revived in 1671, when a prologue was spoken before it, in which were the following lines :

""Twas Shirley's muse that labour'd for its birth,

Tho' now the sire rests in the silent earth."

The plot is taken from the story of Plangus, in Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia. The same subject had before been made use of by Beaumont and Fletcher, in their play of Cupid's Revenge.

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