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RULE A WIFE AND HAVE

A WIFE.

The Commendatory Verses by Hills ascribe this Comedy solely to Fletcher; in the title of the first copy, Fletcher's name is mentioned, without Beaumont's; and the Prologue speaks singly of the Poet.' The first edition was printed in 1640. Many years ago, some judicious alterations in the catastrophe of this Comedy were made by David Garrick, Esq.

THE PROLOGUE.

Pleasure attend ye! and about
ye sit
The springs of mirth, fancy, delight and wit,
To stir ye up! Do not your looks let fall,
Nor to remembrance our late errors call,
Because this day we're Spaniards all again,
The story of our play, and our Scene in Spain:
The errors too, do not for this cause hate;
Now we present their wit, and not their state.
Nor, ladies, be not angry, if you see,
A young fresh beauty, wanton, and too free,
Seek to abuse her husband; still 'tis Spain;
No such gross errors in your kingdom reign:
You're vestals all, and tho' we blow the fire,
We seldom make it flame up to desire;

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Nor to remembrance our late errors call,

Because this day we're Spaniards all again.] This part of the Prologue seems to refer to the ill success of some tragedy, founded on a Spanish story, which had then been presented to the publick.

Ware vestals all.] The context very evidently requires the change which Mr. Sympson Gst suggested here. Seward.

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has no hurt yet;

[tainly

Good promising hopes; I never yet heard cer
Of any gentleman that saw him angry.

Perez. Preserve him; he'll conclude a peace
if need be.

Many as strong as he will go along with us,5
That swear as heartily as heart can wish,
Their mouths charg'd with six oaths at once,
and whole ones,
[mole-hills.

That make the drunken Dutch creep into
Juan. 'Tis true, such we must look for.
But, Michael Perez,
[heiress?

When heard you of donna Margarita, the great
Perez. I hear every hour of her, tho' I
never saw her;
[de Castro,

She is the main discourse. Noble don Juan
How happy were that man could catch this

wench up,

And live at case! she's fair and young, and
wealthy,

Infinite wealthy, and as gracious too
In all her entertainments, as men report.
Juan. But she is proud, Sir, that I know

for certain,

find that wisdom

And that comes seldom without wantonness:
He that shall marry her, must have a rare hand.
Perez. 'Would I were married; I would
[man
With a light rein to rule my wife. If ever wo-
Of the most subtile mould went beyond me,
I'd give the boys leave to hoot me out o'th
parish.

Serv. Sir,

Enter a Servant.

[with you. There be two gentlewomen attend to speak

Juan. Wait on 'em in.

Perez. Are they two handsome women? Serv. They seem so, very handsome; but they're veil'd, Sir.

Perez. Thou put'st sugar in my mouth; how it melts with me!

I love a sweet young wench.

Juan, Wait on them in, I say.

Perez. Don Juan!

[Exit Servant.

Juan. How you itch, Michael! how you

burnish!

[yet?

Will not this soldier's heat out of your bones
Do your eyes glow now?

Perez. There be two.
Juan. Say, honest;
What shame have you then?

Perez I would fain see that:

I've been i' th' Indies twice, and have seen

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3 A strange goodly fellow.] The variation in the text was proposed by Theobald, and rejected by Seward.

4 Alferes. Ensign. Spanish.

R.

5 Many as strong as he will go along with us.] Mr. Theobald for strong would substitute strange; and Mr. Seward, who alters the text to stout, says, 'I believe whoever fully considers the context, where strength of body had before been mentioned as joined with cowardice, will think with me, that stout either was or OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN the original.' This belief of what ought to have been betrays Mr. Seward into numberless arbitrary variations, though he seldom is ingenuous enough to mention them.-We apprehend strong to be the right word, and to be used here ironically.

6 What shame have you then?] Mr. Theobald reads share, and the same change was sug gested by an ingenious friend. But I see no reason for it. How will you be asham'd if you offer rudeness to women of virtue? Juan is a good character, and the sentiment very proper for him.

Seward.

The

May be they'd learn to raise the pike; I'm for 'em.

They're very modest; 'tis a fine preludium. Juan. With me, or with this gentleman, would you speak, lady? [Castro. Clara. With you, Sir, as I guess; Juan de Perez. Her curtain opens; she's a pretty gentlewoman. [fortune. Juan. I am the man, and shall be bound to I may do any service to your beauties. Clara. Captain, I hear you're marching down to Flanders,

To serve the Catholick king.

Juan. I am, sweet lady.

Clara. I have a kinsman, and a noble friend, Employ'd in those wars; may be, Sir, you know him;

Don Campusano, captain of carbines,
To whom I would request your nobleness
To give this poor remembrance.

Juan. I shall do it;

[Gives a letter.

I know the gentleman, a most worthy captain.
Clara. Something in private.
Juan. Step aside: I'll serve thee.
[Exeunt Juan and Clara.
Perez. Prithee, let me see thy face.
Estif. Sir, you must pardon me:
Women of our sort, that maintain fair me-
mories,7

And keep suspect off from their chastities,
Had need wear thicker veils

Perez. I am no blaster of a lady's beauty,
Nor bold intruder on her special favours;
I know how tender reputation is,
And with what guards it ought to be pre-
You may to me.
[serv'd, lady:
Estif. You must excuse me, Signior;

I come not here to sell myself.

Perez. As I'm a gentleman!

By th' honour of a soldier!

Estif. I believe you;

I pray you be civil; I believe you'd see me, And when you've seen me I believe you'll

like me;

But in a strange place, to a stranger too,
As if I came on purpose to betray you!
Indeed, I will not.

Perez. I shall love you dearly;

And 'tis a sin to fling away affection:

I have no mistress, no desire to honour
Any but you.-Will not this oyster open?-
I know not, you have struck ine with your
modesty-

[me

She will draw sure-so deep, and taken from All the desire I might bestów on others-Quickly, before they come!

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Estif. Indeed, I dare not: But, since I see you're so desirous, Sir, To view a poor face that can merit nothing But your repentance

Perez. It must needs be excellent. [of me; Estif. And with what honesty you ask it When I am gone let your man follow me, And view what house I enter; thither come; For there I dare be bold to appear open, And, as I like your virtuous carriage then,

(Enter Juan, Clara, and Servant.) I shall be able to give welcome to you.— Sh' hath done her business; I must take my leave, Sir.

Perez. I'll kiss your fair white hand, and thank you, lady:

My man shall wait, and I shall be your servant. Sirrah, come near; hark!

[Exit.

Serv. I shall do it faithfully. Juan. You will command me no more ser[dear Sir,

vices?

Clara. To be careful of your noble health, That I may ever honour you.

Juan. I thank you,

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The meaning may be, how will you be disgraced, if you offer gallantry, where it will not be accepted.'

7 Fair memories] i. e. Fair characters.

8 I fear a fly. Both Mr. Theobald and Mr Sympson make a query about this. I suppose it a metaphor taken from fishing with flies. Seward.

We apprehend fly alludes to some common saying in the time of our Authors. It obviously implies a trick; musca, mosca, a fly.

And mouldy biscuits, to run mad for honour. When you're all gone, I have my choice before me.

Sanc. Of which hospital thou'lt sweat in, Never leave whoring? [Wilt thou Alon. There is less danger in't than gunning, Sanchio:

Tho' we be shot sometimes, the shot's not Besides, it breaks no limbs. [morta]; Sanc. But it disables 'em; dost thou see how thou pull'st

Thy legs after thee, as they hung by points? Alon. Better to pull 'em thus, than walk

on wooden ones;

Serve bravely for a billet to support me.

Sunc. Fy, fy! 'tis base.

Alon. Dost thou count it base to suffer? Suffer abundantly? 'tis the crown of honour. You think it nothing to lie twenty days Under a surgeon's hands, that has no mercy. Sanc. As thou hast done, I'm sure. But I perceive now

Why you desire to stay; the Orient heiress,
The Margarita, Sir!

Alon. I would I had her.
Sanc. They say she'll marry.
Alon. Yes, I think she will.

[too!

Sanc. And marry suddenly, as report goes She fears her youth will not hold out, Alonzo.

Alon. I would I had the sheathing on't.
Sanc. They say too

She has a greedy eye, that must be fed
With more than one man's meat.

Alon. Would she were mine!

I'd cater for her well enough. But, Sanchio, There be too many great men that adore her; Princes, and princes' fellows, that claim privilege. [marriage;

Sanc. Yet those stand off i' th' way of To be tied to a man's pleasure is a second labour. [town.

Alon. Sh' has bought a brave house here in
Sanc. I've heard so.

Alon. If she convert it now to pious uses, And bid poor gentlemen welcome!

Sanc. When comes she to it?

Alon. Within these two days; she's i' th' country yet,

And keeps the noblest house!

Sanc. Then there's some hope of her. Wilt thou go my way?

Alon. No, no, I must leave you, And repair to an old gentlewoman

That has credit with her, that can speak a good word.

Sanc. Sendt hee good fortune! but make thy body sound first.

Alon. I am a soldier, and too sound a body Becomes me not. Farewell, Sanchio!

[Exeunt.

Enter a Servant of Michael Perez. Serv. 'Tis this or that house, or I've lost my aim; [plaguy fast; They're both fair buildings. She walk'd (Enter Estifania.)

And hereabouts I lost her. Stay! that's she, "Tis very she. She makes me a low court'sy. Let me note the place; the street I well remember. She's in again.

Certain some noble lady: [Exit Estif. How happy should I be if she love my master! A wondrous goodly house; here are brave lodgings,

And I shall sleep now like an emperor, And eat abundantly. I thank my fortune! I'll back with speed, and bring him happy tidings. [Exit.

Enter three old Ladies.

1 Lady. What should it mean, that in such haste we're sent for? [business

2 Lady. Belike the lady Margaret has some She'd break to us in private.

3 Lady. It should seem so. 'Tis a good lady, and a wise young lady. 2 Lady. And virtuous enough too, I war

rant ye,

For a young woman of her years: 'Tis pity To load her tender age with too much virtue. 3 Lady. 'Tis more sometimes than we can well away with.

Enter Altea.

Altea. Good morrow, ladies!
All. Morrow, my good madam!

1 Lady. How does the sweet young beauty,
lady Margaret?
[last night?
Lady. Has she slept well after her walk
1 Lady. Are her dreams gentle to her mind?
Altea. All's well;

She's very well; she sent for you thus suddenly
To give her counsel in a business
That much concerns her.

2 Lady. She does well and wisely, To ask the counsel of the ancient'st, madam; Our years have run thro' many things she Altea. She would fain marry. [knows not, 1 Lady. 'Tis a proper calling, And well beseems her years. Who would she yoke with? [come in, Altea. That's left to argue on. I pray

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9 Well away with.] This mode of expression needs no explanation; we shall only observe, that it is frequently to be found in our ancient writers. In the Second Part of Henry IV. act iii. scene ii. Shallow says, she could never away with me.' And among The orders thought meete by her majestie to be executed throughout the counties of this realme, in such townes, villages, and other places, as are or may be hereafter infected with the plague, for the stay of further increase of the same,' B. L. 4to. printed by Barker, is a receipt for women with child, or such as be delicate and tender, and cannot away with taking medicines.' Ꭱ.

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