THE LONDON PRODIGAL, As it was played by the King’s Majesties
servants.
The Actor’s Names in the London Prodigal.
M. FLOWERDALE (Senior), a Merchant trading at Venice.
MATTH. FLOWERDALE, his Prodigal Son.
M. FLOWERDALE (Junior), Brother to the Merchant.
SIR LANCELOT SPURCOCK, of Lewsome in Kent.
FRANCES, LUCY, DELIA, Daughters to Sir Lancelot Spurcock.
DAFFODIL, ARTICHOKE, Servants to Sir Lancelot Spurcock.
SIR ARTHUR GREENSHOOD, a Commander, in love with Lucy.
OLIVER, a Devonshire Clothier, in love with Lucy.
WEATHERCOCK, a Parasite to Sir Lancelot Spurcock.
TOM CIVET, in love with Frances.
DICK and RALPH, two cheating Gamesters.
RUFFIAN, a Pander to Mistress Apricot a Bawd.
SHERIFF and OFFICERS.
A CITIZEN and his wife.
Drawers.
The Scene: London (and the Parts adjacent).
[Enter old Flowerdale and his brother.]
FATHER.
Brother, from Venice, being thus disguised,
I come to prove the humours of my son.
How hath he borne himself since my departure,
I leaving you his patron and his guide?
UNCLE.
Ifaith, brother, so, as you will grieve to hear,
And I almost ashamed to report it.
FATHER.Why, how ist, brother? what, doth he spend beyondthe allowance I left him?
UNCLE.How! beyond that? and far more: why, your exhibitionis nothing. He hath spent that, and since hath borrowed;protested with oaths, alleged kindred to wring moneyfrom me,—by the love I bore his father, by the fortunesmight fall upon himself, to furnish his wants: that done,I have had since his bond, his friend and friend’s bond.Although I know that he spends is yours; yet it grievesme to see the unbridled wildness that reins over him.
FATHER.Brother, what is the manner of his life? how is the nameof his offences? If they do not relish altogether ofdamnation, his youth may privilege his wantonness: Imyself ran an unbridled course till thirty, nay, almosttill forty;—well, you see how I am: for vice, once lookedinto with the eyes of discretion, and well-balanced withthe weights of reason, the course past seems so abominable,that the Landlord of himself, which is the heart of the body,will rather entomb himself in the earth, or seek a newTenant to remain in him:—which once settled, how muchbetter are they that in their youth have known all thesevices, and left it, than those that knew little, and in theirage runs into it? Believe me, brother, they that die mostvirtuous hath in their youth lived most vicious, and noneknows the danger of the fire more than he that falls intoit. But say, how is the course of his life? let’s hear hisparticulars.
UNCLE.Why, I’ll tell you, brother; he is a continual swearer, anda breaker of his oaths, which is bad.
FATHER.I grant indeed to swear is bad, but not in keeping thoseoaths is better: for who will set by a bad thing? Nay, bymy faith, I hold this rather a virtue than a vice. Well, I pray,proceed.
UNCLE.
He is a mighty brawler, and comes commonly by the worst.
FATHER.By my faith, this is none of the worst neither, for if he brawland be beaten for it, it will in time make him shun it: Forwhat brings man or child more to virtue than correction?What reigns over him else?
UNCLE.
He is a great drinker, and one that will forget himself.
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