Compass, Keep, Practice.
Com. How now, Nurse? where's my Lady?
Kee. In her Chamber,
Lock'd up, I think: she'll speak with no body.
Com. Knows she o' this accident?
Kee. Alas, Sir! no:
Would she might never know it.
Pra. I think her Ladiship
Too vertuous, and too nobly innocent,
To have a hand in so ill-form'd a Business.
Com. Your Thought, Sir, is a brave Thought, and a safe one;
The Child now to be born, is not more free
From the aspertion of all spot, than she.
She have her Hand in plot 'gainst Mr. Practice,
If there were nothing else, whom she so loves,
Cries up and values? knows to be a Man
Mark'd out for a Chief Justice in his cradle,
Or a Lord Paramount, the Head o' the Hall,
The Top or the Top-gallant of our Law?
Assure your self, she could not so deprave
The rectitude of her Judgement, to wish you
Unto a Wife might prove your Infamy,
Whom she esteem'd that part o' the Commonwealth,
And had up for Honour to her Blood.
Pra. I must confess a great Beholdingness
Unto her Ladiship Offer, and good Wishes.
But the truth is, I never had affection,
Or any liking, to this Niece of hers.
Com. You foresaw somewhat then?
Pra. I had my Notes,
And my Prognosticks.
Com. You read Almanacks,
And study 'em to some purpose, I believe.
Pra. I do confess, I do believe, and pray too,
According to the Planets, at some times.
Com. And do observe the Sign in making Love?
Pra. As in Phlebotomy.
Com. And chuse your Mistris
By the good Days, and leave her by the bad?
Pra. I do, and I do not.
Com. A little more
Would fetch all his Astronomy from Allestree.
Pra. I tell you, Mr. Compass, as my Friend,
And under Seal, I cast mine Eye long since
Upo' the other Wench, my Ladies Woman,
Another manner of Piece for Handsomness,
Than is the Niece, (but that is sub sigillo,
And as I give it to you) in hope o' your aid,
And counsel in the Business.
Com. You need counsel?
The only famous Counsel o' the Kingdom,
And in all Courts? That is a Jeer in faith,
Worthy of your Name, and your Proffesion too,
Sharp Mr. Practice.
Pra. No, upo' my Law,
As I am a Bencher, and now double reader,
I meant in meer simplicity of Request.
Com. If you meant so. th' affairs are now perplex'd,
And full of trouble; give'em breath and settling.
I'll do my best. But in mean time do you
Prepare the parson. (I am glad to know
This; for my self lik'd the young Maid before,
And lov'd her too.) Ha' you a License?
Pra. No;
But I can fetch one straight.
Com. Do, do, and mind
The parson's Pint t'ingage him -- the Business;
A knitting Cup there must be.
Pra. I shall do it.