The Devil Is an Ass Act 4 Scene 1

Taile-bush, Mere-craft, Manly.

A Pox upo' referring to Commissioners,
I' had rather hear that it were past the Seals:
You Courtiers move so Snail-like i' your Business.
Would I had not begun wi' you.

Mer.
We must move,
Madam, in order, by degrees: not jump.

Tay.
Why, there was Sir John Monie-man could jump
A Business quickly.

Mer.
True, he had great Friends,
But, because some, sweet Madam, can leap Ditches,
We must not all shun to go over Bridges.
The harder Parts, I make account are done,

[He flatters her.

Now 'tis referr'd. You are infinitly bound
Unto the Ladies, they ha' so cri'd it up!

Tay.
Do they like it then?

Mer.
The ha' sent the Spanish Lady,
To gratulate with you —

Tay.
I must send 'em thanks,
And some Remembrances.

Mer.
That you must, and visit 'em. Where's Ambler?

Tay.
Lost, to day, we cannot hear of him.

Mer.
Not, Madam?

Tay.
No in good faith. They say he lay not
At home to night. And here has fall'n a Business
Between your Cousin, and Master Manly, has
Unquieted us all.

Mer.
So I hear, Madam.
Pray you how was it?

Tay.
Troth, it but appears
Ill o' your Kinsmans part. You may have heard,
That Manly is a Sutor to me, I doubt not.

Mer.
I guess'd it, Madam.

Tay.
And it seems, he trusted
Your Cousin to let fall some fair reports
Of him unto me,

Mer.
Which he did!

Tay.
So far
From it, as he came in, and took him rayling
Against him.

Mer.
How! And what said Manly to him?

Tay.
Enough, I do assure you: and with that scorn
Of him, and the Injury, as I do wonder
How Everil bore it! But that guilt undoes
Many Mens Valours.

Mer.
Here comes Manly.

Man.
Madam, I'll take my leave ———

[Manly offers to be gone.

Tay.
You sha' not go, i' faith.
I'll ha' you stay, and see this Spanish Miracle,
Of our English Lady.

Man.
Let me pray your Ladiship,
Lay your Commands on me some other time.

Tay.
Now, I protest: and I will have all piec'd
And Friends again.

Man.
It will be but ill solder'd!

Tay.
You are too much affected with it.

Man.
I cannot
Madam, but think on't for th' Injustice.

Tay.
Sir,
His Kinsman here is sorry.

Mer.
Not I, Madam,
I am no kin to him, we but call Cousins;

[Merecraft denies him.

And if we were, Sir, I have no relation
Unto his Crimes.

Man.
You are not urged with 'em.
I can accuse, Sir, none but mine own Judgment,
For though it were his Crime, so to betray me,
I' am sure, 'twas more mine own, at all to trust him:
But he therein, did use but his old Manners,
And favour strongly what he was before.

Tay.
Come, he will change!

Man.
Faith, I must never think it.
Nor were it reason in me to expect,
That for my sake, he should put off a Nature
He suck'd in with his Milk. It may be Madam,
Deceiving trust, is all he has to trust to:
If so, I shall be loth, that any hope
Of mine, should bate him of his means.

Tay.
Yo' are sharp, Sir.
This Act may make him honest!

Man.
If he were
To be made honest by an Act of Parliament,
I should not alter i' my faith of him.

Tay.
Eitherside!
Welcom, dear Eitherside! how hast thou done, good

[She spies the Lady Eitherside.

Wench?
Thou hast been a stranger! I ha' not seen thee this Week.