Wit Without Money; A Comedy / The Works of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher

A gallant gentleman determined to abandon estate management and embrace improvidence refuses offers of marriage and sensible counsel, preferring witty extravagance to responsibility. Relations, tenants and a concerned merchant press him for repayment while friends and rivals pursue a wealthy widow whose suitors and servants complicate courtship. The action moves through comic confrontations, mock-serious lectures, practical jokes and social posturing, exposing the gulf between appearance and security. Sharp repartee and contrasting social ranks drive a satirical exploration of prodigality, honor, and the costs of living by wit rather than means.