Totenham Court A pleasant comedie: acted in the yeare MDCXXXIII. At the private house in Salisbury-Court. The author Thomas Nabbes.

Scoen. 1.

Enter FRANKE and GEORGE, as walking to TOTENHAM-COVET.

George.

FIe Franke; there's such a disproportion, 'Twill nere be brought to an equalitie.

Fr.

Why George, dost think th'exterior goods of ••ortune, Or titular greatnesse that derives it selfe From larger springs, and slow's to swell the blood With attributes of gentle, or of noble Can make the difference such, that the free soule Must have the limits of her large desires Prescrib'd by them? Nature's impartiall: And in her worke of man pre••er's not names Of auncestors▪ She sometimes formes a piece For admiration from the basest earth That holds a soule: and to a Beggars issue Gives those perfections make a beauty up; When purer molds po'ish'd and g'oss'd with titles, Honours and wealth, bestow upon their bloods Deform'd impressions; objects onely fit For sport or pitty.

Geo.

Yet never can the mixture Of gold with clay make any transformation Of that base matter into purer metall.

Fran.

The Chymistry of Love can surely doe it. Wedlocke conferres all honour that's a husbands Vpon his wife.

Geor.

And therefore you will marry A milke wench; one that's drudge unto necessitie. 'Twould be a credit to that long continuance Of noble matches which your anncestors Have link'd to the chaine of their owne bloods▪ To make the series of their Families Spread in so many glorious divisions. Come, let my counsell guide these passive Fires To flame aright, and send their Pyramids More upwards. Let the grosser stuffe that feeds them, By an inversion, choake them. From advice Men must choose wives, not passion.

Fran.

She is faire: Upon her person all the graces waite, And dance in rings about her. Her bright eye Is Loves chiefe mansion where he keepes his Court. Envy not faire ones, if my fancie doth Give all your dues to her, save onely those Which your defects supply from wanton art. Her white and red she borrow's not from any Cosmetique drugs; nor puzzles the invention Of learn'd practitioners for oyle of Talxe To blanch an Ethiops skin. Lillies and Roses Are figures fitting common beauties: hers Wants a comparison but its proper selfe.

Geo.

You swell her praise too high; so meane a subject fits not these raptures.

Fran.

Shee's a subject, George, For larger volumes then invention Yet ever fill'd with flattering hyperboles. The very thought of her hath strain'd my heart-strings Vp to a pitch of joy; whose musicke makes My spleene dance lusty measures.

Geo.

If she be So rare a piece, her low condition Makes me suspitious shee's some common wanton Lurks in that maske for safety.

Fran.

Did not friendship Restrain't, I should be angry: nay more; punish So great a sin against her innocence. I have laid all the baits that might entice Apt inclination to sweet wickednesse; But could not catch her that way. She hath shund them With witty scorne, and such imperious checks Have made me blush at my intentions soulenesse: Which now is cleer'd with noble resolution To give my hot desires their satisfaction In faire embraces, such as the reverence Of lawfull Wedlock sweetens.

Geor.

Vertuou•• policie. Kill reputation, that you may preserve A little better conscience. Any judgement Would make a faire construction of my life, That surfets in delights, and playes the Epicure In all varietie and choyce of pleasures Sooner then of thy act. Where ils doe want A faire excuse (as thine doth) they are doubled.

Fran.

When thou hast seene her, thou wilt soone acknowledge In what a misty error thy invectives Have lost themselves.

Geo.

Nay rather hide her from me. She may raise motions; and if I should rivall thee, I must be serv'd: nothing was ere devis'd To fright libidinous nature from it's pronenesse, That can restraine me.

Fran.

Shal't not make me jealous▪ Her soule is guarded with so many vertues Temptations cannot b••tter it: and ••'th'way

Of noble love (though yet she n••ver sung The musicke of consent) I dare preferre My selfe the first accepted.

Geor.

Still be confident.