_Lit._ He weares her favor with ore pride. _Ar._ Her favor? _Lit._ A feather that he ravish'd from her fan. _Lit._ And is so full of courtship, which she smiles on. _Are._ Tis well. _Lit._ And praises her beyond all poetry. _Are._ I'me glad he has so much wit. _Lit._ Not jealous! _Are._ This secures me, what would make other Ladies pale With jealousie, gives but a licence to my wandrings, Let him now taxe me if he dare----and yet Her beauti's worth my envie, and I wish Revenge upon it, not because he loves, But that it shines above my owne. _Enter Alex._ _Al._ Deare Madam. _Are._ I have it, you two gentlemen professe Much service to me, if I have a way To employ your wit and secrecie. _Both._ You'le honour us. _Are._ You gave a high and worthy character Of _Celestina_. _Alex._ I remember Madam. _Are._ Doe either of you love her? _Alex._ Not I Madam. _Lit._ I wod not, if I might. _Are._ Shee's now my guest, And by a tricke invited by my husband To disgrace me, you gentlemen are held Wits of the towne, the Consulls that doe governe The Senate here, whose jeeres are all authenticke, The Tavernes and the Ordinaries are Made academies where you come, and all Your sinnes and surfets made the times example, Your very nods can quell a Theater, No speech or Poem good without your seale, You can protect scurrility, and publish By your authority beleev'd, no rapture Ought to have honest meaning. _Alex._ Leave our characters. _Lit._ And name the emploiment. _Are._ You must exercise The strength of both your wits upon this Lady, And talke her into humblenesse or anger Both which are equall to my thought, if you Dare undertake this slight thing for my sake, My favour shall reward it, but be faithfull, And seeme to let all spring from your owne freedome. _Ale._ This all? We can defame her, if you please My friend shall call her whore or any thing, And never be endangerd to a duell. _Are._ How's that? _Al._ He can endure a cudgelling, and no man Will fight after so faire a satisfaction, But leave us to our Art, and doe not limit us. _Are._ They are here, begin not till I whisper you. _Enter Sir Thomas, Celestina, Marcana, Isabella._ Ar. _Je vous prie Madam d'excuser l'importunitè de mes affaires Qui m'ont fait offenser, par mon absence, une dame de la quelle I'ay receu tant d'obligation._ Cel. _Pardonnez moy Madame; vous me faictez trop d'hónneur._ Are. _C'est bien de la douceur de vostre naturel que vous tenez Ceste language; mais j'espere que mon mary n'a pas Manquè de vous entretenir en mon absence._ Ce. _En verité Monsieur nous a fort obligè._ Are. _Il eut trop failly, s'il n'eust tasché de tout son pouvoir à vous rendre toutes fortes de services._ Cel. _C'est de sa bontè qu'il nous a tant favorisè._ Ar. _De la vostre plustost Madame que vous fait donner D'interpretation si benigne à ses efforts._ Cel. _Ie voy bien que la victoire sera toutsjours à Madame, & de language, & de la courtesie._