Const.  He has as good, I warrant you.

Trice.  Nay, that’s a lie.  I could sit and cry for him sometimes; he does not know what ’tis to eat a good meal in a whole year.  His cooks are asses:  I have a delicate dish of ruffs to dinner, sirrah.

Const.  To dinner!

Trice.  To dinner! why by supper they had been past their prime.  I’ll tell thee the story of ’em:  I have a friend—­

Enter Servant.

Serv.  Sir, dinner’s upon the table.

Trice.  Well, well; I have a friend, as I told you—­

Serv.  Dinner stays, sir:  ’tis dinner that stays:  Sure he will hear now.

Trice.  I have a friend, as I told you—­

Isa.  I believe he’s your friend, you are so loth to part with him.

Trice.  Away, away;—­I’ll tell you the story between the courses.  Go you to the cook immediately, sirrah; and bring me word what we have to supper, before we go to dinner:  I love to have the satisfaction of the day before me. [Exeunt.

ACT II.  SCENE I.

Enter, as from Dinner, TRICE, TIMOROUS, FAILER, BURR, CONSTANCE, ISABELLA.

Trice.  Speak thy conscience; was it not well dressed, sirrah?

Tim.  What think you of the Park, after our plenteous entertainment, madam?

Isa.  I defy the Park, and all its works.

Const.  Come, Mr Trice, we’ll walk in your garden.

[Exeunt all but FAILER and BURR.

Fail.  O, one thing I had almost forgot to tell you; one of us two must ever be near Sir Timorous.

Burr.  Why?

Fail.  To guard our interest in him from the enemy, madam Isabella; who, I doubt, has designs upon him.  I do not fear her wit, but her sex; she carries a prevailing argument about her.

Enter BIBBER with a Bottle.

Bib.  By this hand, I have alight upon the best wine in your cousin’s cellar; drink but one glass to me, to shew I am welcome, and I am gone.

Fail.  Here then, honest Will; ’tis a cup of forbearance to thee.

Bib.  Thank you, sir, I’ll pledge you—­now here’s to you again.

Fail.  Come away; what is’t, Will?

Bib.  ’Tis what you christened it, a cup of forbearance, sir.

Fail.  Why, I drank that to thee, Will, that thou shouldst forbear thy money.

Bib.  And I drink this to you, sir; henceforward I’ll forbear working for you.

Fail.  Then say I: 

Take a little Bibber,
And threw him in the river;
And if he will trust never,
Then there let him lie ever.

Bib.  Then say I: 

Take a little Failer,
And throw him to the jailor;
And there let him lie,
Till he has paid his tailor.