The Magnetick Lady. Act 2. Scene 5.

Compass.

Com. Nay, Parson, stand not off; you may approach:
This is no such hid Point of State, we handle,
But you may hear it: for we are all of Counsel.
The gentle Mr. Practise hath dealt clearly,
And nobly with you, Madam.

Lad. Ha' you talk'd with him?
And made the Overture?

Com. Yes, first I mov'd
The Business trusted to me by your Ladiship,
I' your own words, almost your very Syllables:
Save where my Memory trespass'd 'gainst their Elegance:
For which I hope your Pardon. Then I inlarg'd
In my own homely Stile, the special goodness
And greatness of your Bounty in your Choice,
And free conferring of a Benefit,
So without ends, conditions, any type,
But his meer Vertue, and the value of it,
To call him to your Kindred, to your Veins,
Insert him in your Family, and to make him
A Nephew by the offer of a Neice,
With such a Portion; which when he had heard,
And most maturely acknowledg'd (as his Calling
Tends all unto maturity) he return'd
A Thanks as ample as the Curtesie,
(In my Opinion); said it was a Grace,
Too great to be rejected or accepted
By him! But as the Terms stood with his Fortune,
He was not to prevaricate with your Ladiship,
But rather to require ingenious leave,
He might with the same love that it was offer'd
Refuse it, since he could not with his honesty,
(Being he was ingag'd before) receive it.

Pal. The same he said to me.

Com. And name the Party?

Pal. He did, and he did not.

Com. Come, leave your Schemes,
And fine Amphibolies, Parson.

Pal. You'll hear more.

Pol. Why, now your Ladiship is free to chuse
The Courtier Sir Diaphanous: he shall do it,
I'll move it to him my self.

Lad. What will you move to him?

Pol. The making you a Countess.

Lad. Stint, fond Woman.
Know you the Party Mr. Practise means?

[To Compass.

Com. No, but your Parson says he knows, Madam.

Lad. I hear the Fables; Parson, do you know
Where Mr. Practise is ingag'd?

Pal. I'll tell you!
But under seal, her Mother must not know:
'Tis with your Ladiships Woman, Mrs. Pleasance.

nbsp;   Com. How!

Lad. He is not mad.

Pal. O hide the hideous Secret
From her, she'll trouble all else. You do hold
A Cricket by the Wing.

Com. Did he name Pleasance?
Are you sure, Parson?

Lad. O' tis true, your Mistris!
I find where your Shooe wrings you, Mr. Compass:
But, you'll look to him there.

Com. Yes, here's Sir Moath,
Your Brother, with his Bias, and the Party
Deep in discourse; 'twill be a Bargain and Sale,
I see by their close working of their Heads,
And running them together so in Counsel.

Lad. Will Mr. Practise be of counsel against us?

Com. He is a Lawyer, and must speak for his Fee,
Against his Father and Mother, all his Kindered;
His Brothers or his Sisters: no exception
Lies at the Common-Law. He must not alter
Nature to Form, but go on in his Path --
It may be he will be for us. Do not you
Offer to meddle, let them take Their Course:
Dispatch, and marry her off to any Husband;
Be not you scrupulous; let who can have her:
So he lay down the Portion, though he geld it:
It will maintain the suit against him: somewhat,
Something in hand is better than no Birds;
He shall at least accompt for the utmost Farthing,
If you can keep your hand from a Discharge.

Pol. Sir, do you make her Worshipful Aunt a Countess,
And she is yours: her Aunt has Worlds to leave you!
The Wealth of six East-Indian Fleets at least!
Her Husband, Sir John Loadstone, was the Governour
O' the Company seven years.

Dia. And came there home
Six Fleets in seven years?

Pol. I cannot tell,
I must attend my Gossip her good Ladiship.

Pla. And will you make a Vi-countess too? For,
How do they make a Countess? in a Chair?
Or 'pon a Bed?

Dia. Both ways, sweet Bird, I'll shew you.