warrant my son thought nothing belonged to a father but forgiveness
and affection; no authority, no correction, no arbitrary power;
nothing to be done, but for him to offend and me to pardon. I
warrant you, if he danced till doomsday he thought I was to pay the
piper. Well, but here it is under black and white, signatum,
sigillatum, and deliberatum; that as soon as my son Benjamin is
arrived, he's to make over to him his right of inheritance. Where's
my daughter that is to be?--Hah! old Merlin! body o' me, I'm so glad
I'm revenged on this undutiful rogue.

FORE. Odso, let me see; let me see the paper. Ay, faith and troth,
here 'tis, if it will but hold. I wish things were done, and the
conveyance made. When was this signed, what hour? Odso, you should
have consulted me for the time. Well, but we'll make haste -

SIR SAMP. Haste, ay, ay; haste enough. My son Ben will be in town
to-night. I have ordered my lawyer to draw up writings of
settlement and jointure--all shall be done to-night. No matter for
the time; prithee, brother Foresight, leave superstition. Pox o'
the time; there's no time but the time present, there's no more to
be said of what's past, and all that is to come will happen. If the
sun shine by day, and the stars by night, why, we shall know one
another's faces without the help of a candle, and that's all the
stars are good for.

FORE. How, how? Sir Sampson, that all? Give me leave to
contradict you, and tell you you are ignorant.

SIR SAMP. I tell you I am wise; and sapiens dominabitur astris;
there's Latin for you to prove it, and an argument to confound your