Page:Biographical and critical studies by James Thomson ("B.V.").djvu/227

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BEN JONSON 211 "Give me but leave to make the best of my fortune, And only pardon me the abuse of your house : It's all I beg. I'll help you to a widow, In recompense, that you shall give me thanks for, Will make you seven years younger, and a rich one. 'Tis but your putting on a Spanish cloak : I have her within." Drugger returns with Hieronimo's cloak, hat, and ruflf; Face tells Subtle to take the suit, and bid him fetch a parson presently : " Say he shall marry the widow." Face goes off with the things to his master ; but Subtle thinks that he means to don the Don himself and marry Dame Pliant, and so informs Dol, who exclaims, " 'Tis direct against our articles." Subtle plans with her to get off with the plunder to Brentford instead of Ratcliff, and leave Face in the lurch, Dol beforehand getting what she can from the widow. Nab returns with the parson, and is sent back again to wash himself. Face re-enters, and finds that all the purchase is safely packed up, money and goods, including poor Abel's damask and tobacco : — '■^ Face. Give me the keys. Dol. Why you the keys ? Sub. No matter; Dol ; because We shall not open them before he comes. Face. 'Tis true, you shall not open them, indeed ; Nor have them forth, do you see ? not forth, Dol. Dol. No! Face. No, my smock-rampant. The right is, my master Knows all, has pardoned me, and he will keep them ; Doctor, 'tis true — you look [astonished] — for all your figures : I sent for him, indeed.* Wherefore, good partners, • A falsehood, to frighten them.