The wild-goose chase a comedie as it hath been acted with singular applause at the Black-Friers : being the noble, last, and onely remaines of those incomparable drammatists, Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Gent. : retriv'd for the publick delight of all the ingenious and private benefit of John Lowin and Joseph Taylor, servants to His late Majestie / by a person of honour.

SCENA SECUNDA.

Enter Mirabell, Pinac, Belleure, and Servants.

Mir.

Welcom to Paris once more, Gentlemen: We have had a merry, and a lusty Ord'nary, And wine, and good meat, and a bounsing Reckning; And let it go for once; 'Tis a good physick: Only the wenches are not for my dyet, They are too lean and thin; their embraces brawn-fall'n. Give me the plump Venetian, fat, and lusty, That meets me soft and supple; smiles upon me, As if a cup of full wine leap'd to kiss me; These slight things I affect not.

Pi.

They are ill built; Pin-buttockt, like your dainty Barbaries, And weak i'th pasterns; they'l endure no hardness.

Mir.

There's nothing good, or handsom, bred amongst us; Till we are travail'd, and live abroad, we are coxcombs: Ye talk of France, a slight, unseason'd Country; Abundance of gross food, which makes us block-heads: We are fair set-out indeed, and so are fore-horses. Men say we are great Courtiers, men abuse us: We are wise, and valiant too, non credo Signior: Our women the best Linguists, they are Parrats; O' this side the Alpes they are nothing but meer Drollaries: Ha Roma la Santa, Italie for my money: Their policies, their customs; their frugalities, Their curtesies so open, yet so reserved too, As when ye think y' are known best, ye are a stranger; Their very pick-teeth speak more man than we do, And season of more salt.

Pi.

'Tis a brave Country; Not pester'd with your stubborn precise puppies, That turn all usefull, and allow'd contentments To scabs and scruples; hang'em Capon-worshippers.

Bel.

I like that freedom well, and like their women too, And would fain do as others do; but I am so bashfull, So naturally an Ass: Look ye, I can look upon 'em, And very willingly I go to see 'em, (There's no man willinger) and I can kiss 'em, And make a shift—

Mir.

But if they chance to flout ye, Or say ye are too bold; fie Sir remember; I pray sit farther off;—

Bel.

'Tis true, I am humbled, I am gone, I confess ingenuously I am silenced, The spirit of Amber cannot force me answer.

Pi.

Then would I sing and dance.

Bel.

You have wherewithall, Sir.

Pi.

And charge her up again.

Bel.

I can be hang'd first: Yet where I fasten well, I am a tyrant.

Mir.

Why, thou darst fight?

Bel.

Yes, certainly, I dare fight; And fight with any man, at any weapon, Would th' other were no more; but, a pox on't, When I am sometimes in my height of hope, And reasonable valiant that way, my heart harden'd; Some scornfull jest or other, chops between me And my desire: What would ye have me to do then, Gentlemen?

Mir.

Belvere, ye must be bolder: Travell three years, And bring home such a baby to betray ye As bashfulness? a great fellow, and a souldier?

Bel.

You have the gift of impudence, be thankful; Every man has not the like talent: I will study And if it may be reveal'd to me.

Mir.

Learn of me, And of Pinac: no doubt you'll find imployment; Ladies will look for Courtship.

Pi.

'Tis but fleshing, But standing one good brunt or two: ha'st thou any mind to ma∣riage? Wee'll provide thee some soft-natur'd wench, that's dumb too.

Mir.

Or an old woman that cannot refuse thee in charity.

Bel.

A dumb woman, or an old woman, that were eager, And car'd not for discourse, I were excellent at.

Mir.

You must now put on boldness, there's no avoyding it; And stand all hazards; fly at all games bravely; They'll say you went out like an Ox, and return'd like an Ass else.

Bel.

I shall make danger sure.

Mir.

I am sent for home now, I know it is to mary, but my father shall pardon me, Although it be a witty ceremony, And may concern me hereafter in my gravitie; I will not lose the freedom of a Traveller; A new strong lusty Bark cannot ride at one anchor; Shall I make divers suits to shew to the same eyes? 'Tis dull, and home-spun: Study severall pleasures, And want employments for'em? I'll be hang'd first; Tie me to one smock? make my travels fruitless? I'll none of that: For every fresh behaviour, By your leave, father, I must have a fresh Mistris, And a fresh favour too.

Bel.

I like that passingly; As many as you will, so they be willing; Willing, and gentle, gentle.

Pi.

There's no reason A Gentleman, and a Traveller, should be clapt up, For 'tis a kind of Baeboes to be maryed Before he manifest to the world his good parts: Tug ever like at a rascall at one oar? Give me the Italian liberty.

Mir.

That I study; And that I will enjoy: Come, go in Gentlemen, There mark how I behave my self, and follow.

Exeunt.