Laf.

No, no, no, your son was misled with a snipt-taffeta fellow14Q0419 there; whose villanous saffron would have

made all the unbak'd and dowy youth of a nation in his colour: your daughter-in-law had been alive at this hour; and your son here at home, more advanc'd by the king, than by that ^note red-tail'd humble-bee I speak of.

Cou.

I would, I had ^note not known him; it was the death of the most virtuous gentlewoman, that ever nature had praise for creating: if she had partaken of my flesh, and cost me the dearest groans of a mother, I could not have owed her a more rooted love.

Laf.

'Twas a good lady, 'twas a good lady: we may pick a thousand sallets, ere we light on such another herb.

Clo.

Indeed, sir, she was the sweet marjoram of the sallet; or, rather, the herb of grace.

Laf.

They are not sallet-herbs, you knave, they are nose-herbs.

Clo.

I am no great Nebuchadnezzar, sir, I have not much skill in grass. ^note

Laf.

Whether dost thou profess thyself; a knave, or a fool?

Clo.

A fool, sir, at a woman's service, and a knave at a man's.

Laf.

Your distinction?

Clo.

I would cozen the man of his wife ^note, and do his service.

Laf.

So you were a knave at his service, indeed.

Clo.

And I would give his wife my bauble, sir, ^note to do her service.

Laf.

I will subscribe for thee; thou art both knave and fool.

Clo.

At your service.

Laf.

No, no, no.

Clo.

Why, sir, if I cannot serve you, I can serve as great a prince as you are.

Laf.

Who's that? a Frenchman?

Clo.

'Faith, sir, he has an English name; ^note but his phisnomy is more honour'd in ^note France, than there.

Laf.

What prince is that?

Clo.

The black prince, sir; alias, the prince of darkness; alias, the devil.

Laf.

Hold thee, there's my &dagger2; purse: I give thee not this to suggest thee ^note from thy master thou talk'st of, serve him still.

Clo.

I am a wood-land fellow, sir, that always lov'd a great fire; and the master, I speak of, ever keeps a good fire. But, for he ^note is14Q0420 the prince of the world, let his nobility remain in his court; I am for the house with the narrow gate, which I take to be too little for pomp to enter: some, that humble themselves, may, but the many will be too chill and tender; and they'll be for the flow'ry way, that leads to the broad gate, and the great fire.

Laf.

Go thy ways, I begin to be aweary of thee; and I tell thee so before, because I would not fall out with thee. Go thy ways; let my horses be well look'd to, without any tricks.

Clo.

If I put any tricks upon 'em, sir, they shall be jades' tricks; which are their own right by the law of nature.

Laf.

A shrewd knave, and an unhappy.

Cou.

So he is. My lord, that's gone, made himself much sport out of him: by his authority he remains here, which he thinks is a patent for his sauciness; and,

indeed, he has no pace, but runs where he will.

Laf.

I like him well; 'tis not amiss: and I was about to tell you, Since I heard of the good lady's death, and that my lord your son was upon his return home, I moved the king, my master, to speak in the behalf of my daughter; which, in the minority of them both, his majesty, out of a self-gracious remembrance, did first propose: his highness hath promis'd me to do it; and, to stop up the displeasure he hath conceived against your son, there is no fitter matter. How does your ladyship like it?

Cou.

With very much content, my lord; and I wish it happily effected.

Laf.

His highness comes post from Marseilles ^note, of as able body as when he number'd thirty; he will be here to-morrow, or I am deceiv'd by him that in such intelligence hath seldom fail'd.

Cou.

It rejoices ^note me, that I hope I shall see him ere I dye. I have letters, that my son will be here to-night: I shall beseech your lordship, to remain with me 'till they meet together.

Laf.

Madam, I was thinking, with what manners I might safely be admitted.

Cou.

You need but plead your honourable priviledge.

Laf.

Lady, of that I have made a bold charter; but, I thank my God, it holds yet.

Clo.

O madam, yonder's my lord your son with a patch of velvet on's face: whether there be a scar under't, or no, the velvet knows; but 'tis a goodly patch of velvet: his left cheek is a cheek of two pile and a half, but his right cheek is worn bare.

Laf.

A scar nobly got, or a noble scar, is a good livery of honour: so, belike, is that.

Clo.

But it is your carbinado'd face.

Laf.

Let us go see your son, I pray you; I long to talk with the young noble soldier.

Clo.

'Faith, there's a dozen of 'em, with delicate fine hats, and most courteous feathers, which bow the head, and nod at every man.