Flow. Sen. Sir, to tell you true, my mafter is within, but indeed would not be fpoke withal. There be fome terms that ftand upon his reputation; therefore he will not admit any conference till he hath fhook them off.

Sir Lane. I pr'ythee tell him, his very good friend, fir Lancelot Spurcock, entreats to speak with him.

Flow. Sen. By my troth, fir, if you come to take up the matter between my mafter and the Devonshire man, you do but beguile your hopes, and lofe your labour;

Sir Lanc. Honeft friend, I have not any fuch thing to him. I come to fpeak with him about other matters. Flow. Sen. For my mafter, fir, hath fet down his refolution, either to redeem his honour, or leave his life behind him ;

Sir Lan. My friend, I do not know any quarrel touching thy mafter or any other perfon. My bufinefs is of a different nature to him; and I pr'ythee fo tell him.

Flow. Sen. For howsoever the Devonshire man is, my master's mind is bloody. That's a round O'; and therefore, fir, entreaty is but vain.

Sir Lanc. I have no fuch thing to him, I tell thee once again.

Flow. Sen. I will then fo fignify to him.

[Exit Flowerdale Senior. Sir Lanc. A firrah! I fee this matter is hotly carried; but I'll labour to diffuade him from it.

or leave his life behind him.] This appears to have been anciently a common phrafe, meaning to lofe his life. So in Sir John Oldcastle: "Nay I am of Lawrence's mind for that, for he means to leave his life behind him." MALONE.

That's a round Q;] That is a complete and abfolute truth. In this affertion there is no break or flaw for cavil to lay hold on. MALONE.

I believe that by a round O is meant a plump falfhood: a circle in arithmetick being the reprefentative of nothing, unlefs in conjunction with other figures. These words were probably meant to be fpoken afide. STEEVENS.

114

Enter

Enter M. Flowerdale and Flowerdale Senior.

Good morrow, mafter Flowerdale.

M. Flow. Good morrow, good fir Lancelot; good morrow, mafter Weathercock. By my troth, gentlemen, I have been reading over Nick Machiavel; I find him good to be known, not to be followed. A peftilent human fellow 3! I have made certain an notations on him, fuch as they be. And how is't, fir Lancelot ha! how is't? A mad world! men cannot live quiet in it.

Sir Lanc. Mafter Flowerdale, I do understand there is fome jar between the Devonshire man and you. Flow. Sen. They, fir? they are good friends aş can be.

M. Flow. Who mafter Oliver and I? as good friends as can be,

Sir Lanc. It is a kind of fafety in you to deny it, and a generous filence, which too few are endued withal; but, fir, fuch a thing I hear, and I could wifh it otherwise.

M. Flow. No fuch thing, fir Lancelot, on my reputation; as I am an honest man.

Sir Lanc. Now I do believe you then, if you do engage your reputation there is none.

M. Flow. Nay I do not engage my reputation there is not. You fhall not bind me to any condition of hardness; but if there be any thing between us, then there is; if there be not, then there is not. Be or be not, all is one.

Sir Lanc. I do perceive by this, that there is fomething between you; and I am very forry for it,

M. Flow. You may be deceiv'd, fir Lancelot. The Italian hath a pretty faying. Questo-I have

3 A peftilent human fellow!. 1 Should we not readinhuman. PERCY.

for

forgot it too; 'tis out of my head: but in my tranflation, if it hold, thus. If thou hast a friend, keep him; if a foe, trip him.

Sir Lanc. Come, I do fee by this there is fomewhat between you; and before God I could wish it otherwise.

M. Flow. Well, what is between us, can hardly be alter'd. Sir Lancelot, I am to ride forth to-morrow. That way which I must ride, no man muft deny me the fun I would not by any particular man be denied common and general paffage. If any one faith, Flowerdale, thou paffeft not this way; my answer is, I must either on, or return; but return is not my word; I muft on: if I cannot then make my way, nature hath done the laft for me; and there's the fine .

Sir Lanc. Mafter Flowerdale, every man hath one tongue, and two ears. Nature in her building is a moft curious work-mafter.

M. Flow. That is as much as to fay, a man fhould hear more than he should speak.

Sir Lanc. You say true; and indeed I have heard more than at this time I will ípeak.

M. Flow. You fay well.

Sir Lanc. Slanders are more common than truths, mafter Flowerdale; but proof is the rule for both. M. Flow. You fay true. What-do-you-call-him hath it there in his third cantons.

Sir Lanc. I have heard you have been wild; I have believ'd it.

M. Flow. 'Twas fit, 'twas neceffary.

Sir Lanc. But I have seen somewhat of late in you, that hath confirm'd in me an opinion of goodness toward you.

- and there's the fine.] So in Shakspeare paffim-" and there an end." MALONE.

in his third canton.] In his third canto. MALONE.

I fuppofe he means the third Canto of the first Book of Spenfer's Faery Queen, in which Abessa flanders the lady Una. STEEVENS.

M. Flow.

M. Flow. I'faith, fir, I'm fure I never did you
harm:

Some good I have done, either to you or your's,
I am fure you know not; neither is it my will

You fhould.

Sir Lanc. Ay, your Will, fir.

M. Flow. Ay, my will, fir. 'Sfoot do you know ought of my Will? By God an you do, fir, I am abus'd.

Sir Lanc. Go, mafter Flowerdale; what I know, I know and know you thus much out of my knowledge, that I truly love you. For my daughter, fhe's yours. And if you like, a marriage better than a brawl, all quirks of reputation fet afide, go with me prefently; and where you should fight a bloody battle, you fhall be married to a lovely lady.

M. Flow. Nay but, fir Lancelot

Sir Lane. If you will not embrace my offer, yet affure yourself thus much; I will have order to hinder your encounter. ".

M. Flow. Nay but hear me, fir Lancelat.

Sir Lane. Nay, ftand not you upon imputative honour. 'Tis merely unfound, unprofitable, and idle inference. Your bufinefs is to wed my daughter; therefore give me your prefent word to do it. I'll go and provide the maid; therefore give me your prefent refolution; either now or never

M. Flow. Will you fo put me to it?

Sir Lanc. Ay, afore God, either take me now, or take me never. Elfe what I thought fhould be our match, fhall be our parting: fo fare you well for

ever.

M. Flow. Stay; fall out, what may fall, my love is above all I will come.

6

I will have order to hinder your encounter.] I will take measures to prevent your meeting. So in Othello:

"Honett Jago hath ta'en order for it." MALOne. See note on Othello, laft edit. vol. x. p. 606. STEEVENS.

Sir Lanc. I expect you; and fo fare you well. [Exeunt fir Lancelot and Weathercock. Flow. Sen. Now, fir, how fhall we do for wedding apparel ?

M. Flow. By the maís that's true. Now help Kit: the marriage ended, we'll make amends for all.

Flow. Sen. Well, well, no more; prepare you for your bride:

We will not want for cloaths, whate'er betide.
M. Flow. And thou fhalt fee, when once I have
my dower,

In mirth we'll spend full many a merry hour:
As for this wench, I not regard a pin,
It is her gold muft bring my pleasures in.

[Exit.

Flow. Sen. Is't poffible he hath his fecond living?? Forfaking God, himself to the devil giving? But that I knew his mother firm and chafte, My heart would fay, my head fhe had difgrac'd; Elfe would I fwear, he never was my fon: But her fair mind fo foul a deed did fhun.

Enter Flowerdale Funior.

Flow. Jun. How now, brother! how do you find your fon?

Flow. Sen. O brother, heedlefs as a libertine;
Even grown a mafter in the fchool of vice:
One that doth nothing, but invent deceit;
For all the day he humours up and down,
How he the next day might deceive his friend.
He thinks of nothing but the prefent time.
For one groat ready down, he'll pay a fhilling;

Is't poffible he hath his fecond living?] Is it poffible that his fellow, one equally abandoned, is to be found on earth? MALONE. be humours up and down,] Perhaps we should read hammers. We now fay, a perfon is hammering and contriving, &c.

8

PERCY.

Perhaps the old reading is the true one. So in the Merry Wives . Nym fays, it is good: humour me the angels. STEEVENS.

But