I prize my Honour more than Life,
Yet I had rather have given him all he wish'd of me,
Than be guilty of his Undoing.
_Pert_. And I think the Sin were less.
L. _Ful_. I must confess, such Jewels, Rings and Presents as he made me,
must needs decay his Fortune.
_Bred_. Ay, Madam, his very Coach at last was turned into a Jewel for
your Ladyship. Then, Madam, what Expences his Despair have run him on
--As Drinking and Gaming, to divert the Thought of your marrying my
old Master.
L. _Ful_. And put in Wenching too.--
_Bred_. No, assure your self, Madam--
L. _Ful_. Of that I would be better satisfied--and you too must assist
me, as e'er you hope I should be kind to you in gaining you _Diana_.
[_To_ Bredwel.
_Bred_. Madam, I'll die to serve you.
_Pert_. Nor will I be behind in my Duty.
L. _Ful_. Oh, how fatal are forc'd Marriages!
How many Ruins one such Match pulls on!
Had I but kept my Sacred Vows to _Gayman_,
How happy had I been--how prosperous he!
Whilst now I languish in a loath'd embrace,
Pine out my Life with Age--Consumptions, Coughs.
--But dost thou fear that Gayman is declining?
_Bred_. You are my Lady, and the best of Mistresses--
Therefore I would not grieve you, for I know
You love this best--but most unhappy Man.
L. _Ful_. You shall not grieve me--prithee on.
_Bred_. My Master sent me yesterday to Mr. _Crap_, his Scrivener, to
send to one Mr. _Wasteall_, to tell him his first Mortgage was out,
which is two hundred pounds a Year--and who has since ingaged five or
six hundred more to my Master; but if this first be not redeem'd, he'll
take the Forfeit on't, as he says a wise Man ought.
L. _Ful_. That is to say, a Knave, according to his Notion of a wise
Man.
_Bred_. Mr. _Crap_, being busy with a borrowing Lord, sent me to Mr.
_Wasteall_, whose Lodging is in a nasty Place called _Alsatia_, at a
Black-Smith's.
L. _Ful_. But what's all this to _Gayman_?
_Bred_. Madam, this _Wasteall_ was Mr. _Gayman_.
L. _Ful_. _Gayman_! Saw'st thou _Gayman_?
_Bred_. Madam, Mr. _Gayman_, yesterday.
L. _Ful_. When came he to Town?
_Bred_. Madam, he has not been out of it.
L. _Ful_. Not at his Uncle's in _Northamptonshire_?
_Bred_. Your Ladyship was wont to credit me.
L. _Ful_. Forgive me--you went to a Black-Smith's--
_Bred_. Yes, Madam; and at the door encountred the beastly thing he
calls a Landlady; who lookt as if she
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