+De L.+ I would ha' you so: I have provided some mirth And good company for you. Please you, but spare an Idle hour from your sleep, we'll allow't again in The total of your business (I must not lose his Money). If you can smile, you shall not want a Subject: Besides, we shall have the wit of a Handsome lady or two, and hear their voices. _Enter +Steward+, and a man with bottles._ Look ye, sir, here's the _imprimis_ of the house: Master steward himself, whose company may be worth Your observation. Signior Silliman, this gentleman Is a friend of my lord duke's: pray, let him know he's welcome. +Stew.+ I am but the duchess's poor steward, sir, but my Place is at your command, sir. You shall not have Me claim kindred of her for all that; yet Sir Thomas de Loome here can say something, If he please, sir. +De F.+ Thank ye, sir. +Stew.+ Look ye, Sir Thomas, I never fail; here be the Perquisites of life and good company. There's that Will elevate voices. Come, disburthen thyself in That lobby, my honest rational camel! Is this gentleman dumb? He can say nothing but _Thank you, sir._ +De L.+ I fear he's planetstruck. +Stew.+ 'Tis great pity; yet he makes very gentle signs. +De F.+ I'm got into a dark and slippery labyrinth, and Grope but by a spark; whilst every pause is fatal. No. It had miscarried; and the king's presence Was a sacred guard: now, to break in upon them were To betray our lives to nothing. Sure, heaven will not Lose the glory of such a justice, and by a hand so Justly engaged. _Enter +La Gitterne+, +Torguina+, and +La Prate+._ +De L.+ The ladies! Good girls, this deserves a double Thanks. Here's a gentleman, whose merits may Invite him to your acquaintance, ladies. +Tor.+ I shall ever study that due honour, by all the Ambitiousness of your humble servant, sir. +La P.+ You may please to pardon her, whose demerits Make her modest in her expressions to honour You, noble sir. +De F.+ You engage a poor life to your virtue. +De L.+ What, ladies, have you put 'em together for a brave boy to-night? +La P.+ That's as the dice run, sir. +La G.+ The colonel will find a piece of service on't to-night. +La P.+ If he put her to the worst, 'twill be worth her pardon, being so tried a soldier. +Tor.+ If his valour should be shortbreath'd, a retreat may be honourable sometimes. +La P.+ If he fight not flat coward, and make it in policy. +Tor.+ Sir, we have read over Aristotle's _Politics_ and Polybius to that purpose. +La P.+ Who calls policy the very breath of all war. +Tor.+ And so, by your ladyship's good licence, in all battalions, leaguers, skirmishes, sieges, invasions, parleys, treaties, truces, and other cessations. +De F.+ Excellent ladies! +De L.+ For the theoric.