The Spanish Curate: A Comedy. Beaumont Francis
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have a Letter to your worship.
Lop.
Well Sir,
From whence I pray you?
Lea.
From Nova Hispania, Sir,
And from an ancient friend of yours.
Lop.
'Tis well, Sir,
'Tis very well: the devil a-one I know there.
Die.
Take heed of a Snap, Sir, h'as a cozening countenance
do not like his way.
Lop.
Let him goe forward.
Cantabit vacuus, They that have nothing fear nothing,
All I have to lose, Diego, is my learning,
And when he has gotten that, he may put it in a Nut shell.
LETTER READ.
Signior Lopez, Since my arrival from Cordova to these parts, I have written divers Letters unto you, but as yet received no Answer of any (Good and very good) And although so great a forgetfulness might cause a want in my due correspondence, yet the desire I have still to serve you must more prevail with me (Better and better: the devil a man know I yet) and therefore with the present occasion offered I am willing to crave a continuance of the favours, which I have heretofore received from you, and do recommend my Son Leandro the Bearer to you with request that he may be admitted in that Universitie till such time as I shall arrive at home; his studies he will make you acquainted withall; This kindness shall supply the want of your slackness: And so heaven keep you.
Yours
Alonzo Tiveria.
Alonzo Tiveria, very well,
A very ancient friend of mine, I take it,
For till this hour I never heard his name yet.
Lea.
You look, Sir, as if ye had forgot my Father.
Lop.
No, no, I look, as I would remember him,
For that I never remembred, I cannot forget, Sir,
Alonzo Tiveria?
Lea.
The same, Sir.
Lop.
And now i'th' Indies?
Lea.
Yes.
Lop.
He may be any where,
For ought that I consider.
Lea.
Think again, Sir,
You were Students both at one time in Salamanca,
And, as I take it, Chamber-fellows.
Lop.
Ha?
Lea.
Nay, sure you must remember.
Lop.
Would I could.
Lea.
I have heard him say, you were Gossips too.
Lop.
Very likely,
You did not hear him say, to whom? for we Students
May oft-times over-reach our memories.
Do'st thou remember, Diego, this same Signiour?
Thou hast been mine these twenty years.
Die.
Remember?
Why this Fellow would make ye mad: Nova Hispania?
And Signiour Tiveria? what are these?
He may as well name ye Friends out of Cataya.
Take heed I beseech your worship: do you hear, (my friend?)
You have no Letters for me?
Lea.
Not any letter,
But I was charged to doe my Fathers love
To the old honest Sexton Diego: are you he, Sir?
Di[e].
Ha? have I friends, and know 'em not? my name is Diego,
But if either I remember you or your Father,
Or Nova Hispania (I was never there Sir)
Or any kindred that you have—for heaven-sake, Master,
Let's cast about a little, and consider,
We may dream out our time.
Lea.
It seems I am deceiv'd, Sir,
Yet, that you are Don Lopez all men tell me,
The Curate here, and have been some time, Sir,
And you the Sexton Diego, such I am sent to,
The letter tells as much: may be they are dead,
And you of the like names succeed: I thank ye Gentlemen,
Ye have done honestly, in telling truth,
I might have been forward else. For to that Lopez,
That was my Fathers friend, I had a charge,
(A charge of mony) to deliver (Gentlemen)
Five hundred Duckets, a poor small gratuity,
But since you are not he—
Lop.
Good Sir, let me think,
I pray ye be patient,
Pray ye stay a little,
Nay, let me remember, I beseech ye stay, Sir.
Die.
An honest noble friend, that sends so lovingly;
An old friend too; I shall remember sure, Sir.
Lop.
Thou sayst true Diego.
Die.
'Pray ye consider quickly,
Doe, doe, by any means, me thinks already
A grave staid gentleman comes to my memory.
Lea.
He's old indeed, sir.
Die.
With a goodly white Beard,
(For now he must be so: I know he must be)
Signior Alonzo, Master.
Lop.
I begin to have him.
Die.
H'as