The Magnetick Lady. Act 5. Scene 10.

Enter to them running, Rut.

Rut. Help, help for Charity; Sir Moath Interest
Is fall'n into the Well.

Lad. Where? where?

Rut. I' the Garden.
A Rope to save his life.

Com. How came he there?

Rut. He thought to take possesion of a Fortune,
There newly drop't him, and the old Chain broke,
And down fell he i' the Bucket.

Com. Is it deep?

Rut. We cannot tell. A Rope: help with a Rope.

Enter Silk-worm, Ironside, Item, Needle, and Interest, Rut.

Sil. He is got out again. The Knight is sav'd.

Iro. A little sows'd i' the Water: Needle sav'd him.

Ite. The Water sav'd him, 'twas a fair escape.

Nee. Ha' you no hurt?

Int. A little wet.

Nee. That's nothing.

Rut. I wish'd you stay, Sir, till to morrow: And told you,
It was no lucky hour: since six a Clock
All Stars were retrograde.

Lad. I' the name

[Lady.
Of fate, or folly, how came you i' the Bucket?

Int. That is Quere of another time, Sister,
The Doctor will resolve you -- who hath done
The admirablest cure upon your Needle!
Gi' me thy Hand good Needle: thou cam'st timely:
Take off my Hood and Coat; And let me shake
My self a little. I have a world of business.

[Bias.
Where is my Nephew Bias? and his Wife?

[Placentia.
Who bids God gi' em joy? Here they both stand
As sure affianced, as the Parsons, or words

[Palate.
Can tie 'em.

Rut. We all wish 'em joy, and happiness.

Silk. I saw the Contract, and can witness it.

Int. He shall receive ten thousand pounds to morrow.
You look'd for't, Compass, or a great summ,
But 'tis dispos'd of, this, another way.
I have but one Niece, verily Compass.

Com. I'll find another. Varlet, do your office.

Var. I do arrest your Body, Sir Moath Interest,
In the king's name: at suit of Mr. Compass,

[Varlet.
And Dame Placentia his Wife. The Action's entred,
Five hundred thousand pound.

Int. Hear you this, Sister?
And hath your House the Ears, to hear it too?
And to resound the affront?

Lad. I cannot stop
The Laws, or hinder Justice. I can be
Your Bail, if't may be taken.

Com. With the Captains,
I ask no better.

Rut. Here are better Men,
Will give their Bail.

Com. But yours will not be taken,
Worshipful Doctor; you are good security
For a suit of Clothes, to th' Taylor, that dares trust you:
But not for such a summ, as is this Action.
Varlet, you know my mind.

Var. You must be Prison, Sir,
Unless you can find Bail the Creditor likes.

Int. I would fain find it, if you'd shew me where.

Silk. It is a terrible Action; more indeed,
Than many a Man is worth. And is call'd Fright-Bail.

Iro. Faith I will bail him, at mine own apperil.
Varlet, be gone: I'll once ha' the reputation,
To be security for such a summ.
Bear up, Sir Moath.

Rut. He is not worth the Buckles
About his Belt, and yet this Ironside clashes.

Int. Peace, lest he hear you Doctor; we'll make use of him.
What doth your brother Compass, Captain Ironside,
Demand of us, by way of challenge, thus?

Iro. Your Nieces portion; in the right of his Wife.

Int. I have assur'd one Portion, to one Niece,
And have no more t' account for, that I know of:
What I may do in charity -- if my Sister
Will bid an off'ring for her Maid, and him,
As a Benevolence to'em, after Supper,
I'll spit into the Bason, and intreat
My Friends to do the like.

Com. Spit out thy Gall,
And Heart, thou Viper: I will now no mercy,
No pitty of thee, thy false Niece, and Needle;
Bring forth your Child, or I appeal you of murder,
You, and this Gossip here, and Mother Chair.

[Pleasance steps out.

Cha. The Gentleman's fall'n mad!

Ple. No, Mrs. Midwife.
I saw the Child, and you did give it me,
And put i' my Arms, by this ill token,
You wish'd me such another; and it cry'd.

Pra. The Law is plain; if it were heard to cry,
And you produce it not, he may Indict
All that conceal't, of Felony, and Murder.

Com. And I will take the boldness, Sir, to do it:
Beggining with Sir Moath here, and his Doctor.

Silk. Good faith this same is like to turn a business.

Pal. And a shrew'd business, marry: they all start at't.

Com. I ha' the right Thread now, and I will keep it.
You, goody Keep, confess the truth to my Lady,
The truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.

Pol. I scorn to be prevented of my glories.
I plotted the deceit, and I will own it.
Love to my Child, and lucre of the Portion
Provok'd me; wherein though th' event hath fail'd
In part, I will make use of the best side.
This is my Daughter, and she hath had a Child
This day, unto her shame, (I now profess it.)
By this meer false-stick, Squire Needle, but
Since the wise Knight hath thought it good to change
The foolish Father of it, by assuring
Her to his dead friend, Mr.Bias; and him
Again to her, by clapping of him on
With his free promise of ten thousand Pound,
Afore so many witnesses.

Silk. Whereof I
Am one.

Pal. And I another.

Pol. I should be unnatural
To my own Flesh, and Blood, would I not thank him.
I thank you, Sir: and I have reason for it.
For here your true Niece stands, fine Mrs. Compass.
(I'll tell you truth, you have deserv'd it from me.)
To whom you are by Bond engag'd to pay
The sixteen thousand Pound, which is her Portion,
Due to her Husband, on her Marriage-day.
I speak the truth, and nothing but the truth.

Iro. You'll pay it now, Sir Moath, with Interest?
You see the truth breaks out on every side of you.

Int. Into what Nets of cous'nage am I cast
On ev'ry side? each Thread is grown a Noof.
A very Mesh: I have run my self into
A double break, of paying twice the Money.

Bia. You shall be releas'd, of paying me a Penny,
With these conditions.

Pol. Will you leave her then?

Bias. Yes, and the summ, twice old, e'er take a Wife,
To pick out Monsieur Needle's Basting-threads.

Com. Gossip you are paid: though he be a fit nature,
Worthy to have a Whore justly put on him;
He is not bad enough to take your Daughter,
On such a cheat. Will you yet pay the Portion?

Int. What will you bate?

Com. No Penny the Law gives.

Int. Yes, Bias's Money.

Com. What, your friend in Court?
I will not rob you of him, not the purchase,
Nor your dear Doctor here, stand altogether.
Birds of a nature all, and of a feather.

Lad. Well, we are all now reconcil'd to truth.
There rests yet a gratuity from me,
To be conferr'd upon his Gentleman;
Who (as my Nephew Compass says) was cause
First of th' offence, but since of all th' amends,
The quarrel caus'd th' affright; that fright brought on
The travel, which made peace; the peace drew on
This new discovery, which endeth all
In reconcilment.

Com. When the Portion
Is tender'd, and receiv'd.

Int. Well, you must have it,
As good at first as last.

Lad. 'Tis well said Brother.
And I, if this good Captain, will accept me,
Give him my self, endow him with my Estate,
And make him Lord of me, and all my Fortunes:
He hath sav'd my hour, though by chance,
I'll really study his, and how to thank him.

Iro. And I imbrace you, Lady, and your goodness,
And vow to quit all thought of War hereafter;
Save what is fought under your Colours, Madam.

Pal. More work then for the Parson; I shall cap
The Loadstone with an Ironside, I see.

Iro. And take in these, the forlorn Couple, with us,
Needle, and's Thread, whose portion I will think on;
As being a business, waiting on my bounty:
Thus I do take possession of you, Madam,
My true Magnetick Mistris, and my Lady.