第11章 SCENE I.--A Drawing-room(1)

[ENTER LORD TINSEL and the EARL OF ROCHDALE.]

Tin. Refuse a lord! A saucy lady this.

I scarce can credit it.

Roch. She'll change her mind.

My agent, Master Walter, is her guardian.

Tin. How can you keep that Hunchback in his office?

He mocks you.

Roch. He is useful. Never heed him.

My offer now do I present through him.

He has the title-deeds of my estates, She'll listen to their wooing. I must have her.

Not that I love her, but that all allow She's fairest of the fair.

Tin. Distinguished well!

'Twere most unseemly for a lord to love! -

Leave that to commoners! 'Tis vulgar--she's Betrothed, you tell me, to Sir Thomas Clifford?

Roch. Yes.

Tin. That a commoner should thwart a lord!

Yet not a commoner. A baronet Is fish and flesh. Nine parts plebeian, and Patrician in the tenth. Sir Thomas Clifford!

A man, they say, of brains! I abhor brains As I do tools: they're things mechanical.

So far are we above our forefathers They to their brains did owe their titles, as Do lawyers, doctors. We to nothing owe them, Which makes us far the nobler.

Roch. Is it so?

Tin. Believe me. You shall profit by my training;You grow a lord apace. I saw you meet A bevy of your former friends, who fain Had shaken hands with you. You gave them fingers!

You're now another man. Your house is changed -Your table changed--your retinue--your horse -Where once you rode a hack, you now back blood; -Befits it, then, you also change your friends!

[Enter WILLIAMS.]

Will. A gentleman would see your lordship.

Tin. Sir!

What's that?

Will. A gentleman would see his lordship.

Tin. How know you, sir, his lordship is at home?

Is he at home because he goes not out?

He's not at home, though there you see him, sir;Unless he certify that he's at home!

Bring up the name of the gentleman, and then Your lord will know if he's at home or not.

[WILLIAMS goes out.]

Your man was porter to some merchant's door, Who never taught him better breeding Than to speak the vulgar truth! Well, sir?

[WILLIAMS having re-entered.]

Will. His name, So please your lordship, Markham.

Tin. Do you know The thing?

Roch. Right well! I'faith a hearty fellow, Son to a worthy tradesman, who would do Great things with little means; so entered him In the Temple. A good fellow, on my life.

Nought smacking of his stock!

Tin. You've said enough!

His lordship's not at home.

[WILLIAMS goes out.]

We do not go By hearts, but orders! Had he family -Blood--though it only were a drop--his heart Would pass for something; lacking such desert, Were it ten times the heart it is, 'tis nought!

[Enter WILLIAMS.]

Will. One Master Jones hath asked to see you lordship.

Tin. And what was your reply to Master Jones?

Will. I knew not if his lordship was at home.

Tin. You'll do. Who's Master Jones?

Roch. A curate's son.

Tin. A curate's! Better be a yeoman's son!

Was it the rector's son, he might be known, Because the rector is a rising man, And may become a bishop. He goes light, The curate ever hath a loaded back!

He may be called the yeoman of the church, That sweating does his work, and drudges on, While lives the hopeful rector at his ease.

How made you his acquaintance, pray?