OVER. I cannot beget a project, with all my political brain yet: my project is how to fetch off this proper young man from his debauched company. I have followed him all the Fair over, and still I find him with this songster, and I begin shrewdly to suspect their familiarity; and the young man of a terrible taint, poetry! with which idle disease if he be infected, there's no hope of him, in a state-course. _Actum est_ of him for a commonwealth's-man, if he go to't in rhyme once. [_Aside._ EDG. [_to Nightingale._] Yonder he is buying of gingerbread; set in quickly, before he part with too much of his money. NIGHT. [advancing and singing.] _My masters, and friends, and good people, draw near--_ COKES. [_runs to the ballad-man._] Ballads! hark! hark! pray thee, fellow, stay a little; good Numps, look to the goods. What ballads hast thou? let me see, let me see myself. WASPE. Why so! he's flown to another lime-bush, there he will flutter as long more; till he have ne'er a feather left. Is there a vexation like this, gentlemen? will you believe me now, hereafter, shall I have credit with you? QUAR. Yes, faith shalt thou, Numps, and thou art worthy on't, for thou sweatest for't. I never saw a young pimp-errant and his squire better match'd. WINW. Faith, the sister comes after them well too. GRACE. Nay, if you saw the justice her husband, my guardian, you were fitted for the mess, he is such a wise one his way-- WINW. I wonder we see him not here. GRACE. O! he is too serious for this place, and yet better sport then than the other three, I assure you, gentlemen, wherever he is, though it be on the bench. COKES. How dost thou call it? _A caveat against cut-purses!_ a good jest, i'faith, I would fain see that demon, your cut-purse you talk of, that delicate-handed devil; they say he walks hereabout; I would see him walk now. Look you, sister, here, here [_he shews his purse boastingly_], let him come, sister, and welcome. Ballad-man, does any cut-purses haunt hereabout? pray thee raise me one or two; begin, and shew me one. NIGHT. Sir, this is a spell against them, spick and span new; and 'tis made as 'twere in mine own person, and I sing it in mine own defence. But 'twill cost a penny alone, if you buy it. COKES. No matter for the price; thou dost not know me, I see, I am an odd Bartholomew. MRS. OVER. Has it a fine picture, brother? COKES. O, sister, do you remember the ballads over the nursery chimney at home o' my own pasting up? there be brave pictures, other manner of pictures than these, friend. WASPE. Yet these will serve to pick the pictures out of your pockets, you shall see. COKES. So I heard them say! Pray thee mind him not, fellow; he'll have an oar in every thing. NIGHT. It was intended, sir, as if a purse should chance to be cut in my presence, now, I may be blameless though; as by the sequel will more plainly appear. COKES. We shall find that in the matter: pray thee begin.