BOTH.  O butler!

BUT.  Wenches, bona robas[410], blessed beauties, without colour or counterfeit.  Away, put on your best clothes, get you to the barber’s, curl up your hair, walk with the best struts you can:  you shall see more at the window, and I have vowed to make you—­

BAR.  Wilt thou?

BUT.  Both fools [Aside]; and I’ll want of my wit, but I’ll do’t.

BAR.  We will live together as fellows.

WEN.  As brothers.
                     [Exeunt.

BUT.  As arrant knaves, if I keep you company. 
O, the most wretched season of this time! 
These men, like fish, do swim within one stream,
Yet they’d eat one another, making no conscience
To drink with them they’d poison; no offence
Betwixt their thoughts and actions has control,
But headlong run, like an unbiass’d bowl. 
Yet I will draw[411] them on; but like to him,
At play knows how to lose, and when to win.

    Enter THOMAS and JOHN SCARBOROW.

THOM.  Butler.

BUT.  O, are you come,
And fit as I appointed? so, ’tis well,
You know your cues, and have instructions
How to bear yourselves:  all, all is fit,
Play but your part, your states from hence are firm.
          
                                   [Exit.

JOHN.  What shall I term this creature? not a man,

      [Betwixt this BUTLER leads ILFORD in.

He’s not of mortal’s temper, but he’s one
Made all of goodness, though of flesh and bone: 
O brother, brother, but for that honest man,
As near to misery had been our breath,
As where the thundering pellet strikes, is death.

THOM.  Ay, my shift of shirts and change of clothes know’t.

JOHN.  We’ll tell of him, like bells whose music rings
On coronation-day for joy of kings,
That hath preserv’d their steeples, not like tolls,
That summons living tears for the dead souls.

    Enter BUTLER and ILFORD above[412].

BUT.  God’s precious, see the hell, sir:  even as you had new-kissed, and were about to court her, if her uncles be not come.

ILF.  A plague on the spite on’t.

BUT.  But ’tis no matter, sir; stay you here in this upper chamber, and I’ll stay beneath with her:  ’tis ten to one you shall hear them talk now of the greatness of her possessions, the care they have to see her well-bestowed, the admirableness of her virtues, all which for all their coming shall be but happiness ordained for you, and by my means be your inheritance.

ILF.  Then thou’lt shift them away, and keep me from the sight of them?

BUT.  Have I not promised to make you?

ILF.  Thou hast.

BUT.  Go to, then, rest here with patience, and be confident in my trust; only in my absence you may praise God for the blessedness you have to come, and say your prayers, if you will.  I’ll but prepare her heart for entertainment of your love, dismiss them for your free access, and return straight.