English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Mom_. Three houres? nay Neece, if I daunce attendance three hours
(alone in her Chamber) with any Lady so neere alide to me, I am very
idle yfaith--Mary with such an other I would daunce, one, two, three,
foure, and five, tho it cost me ten shillings. And now I am in, have at
it! my head must devise something, while my feet are pidling thus, that
may bring her to some fit consideration of my friend, who indeed is
onely a great scholler, and all his honours, and riches lie in his
minde.
_Eu_. Come, come, pray tell me uncle, how does my cosen _Momford_?
_Mom_. Why, well, very well Neece, and so is my friend _Clarence_ well
too, and then is there a worthy gentleman well as any is in England I
can tell ye. [_He daunceth speaking_.
_Eug_. But when did you see my Cosen?
_Mom_. And tis pitty but he should do well, and he shall be well too,
if all my wealth will make him well.
_Eug_. What meanes he by this, tro? your Lord is very dancitive me
thinkes.
_Mom_. I, and I could tell you a thing would make your Ladyship very
dancitive, or else it were very dunsative yfaith. O how the skipping of
this Christmas blocke of ours moves the block-head heart of a woman and
indeed any thing that pleaseth the foolish eye which presently runnes
with a lying tale of Excellence to the minde.
_Eug_. But I pray tell me my Lord could you tell me of a thing would
make me dance say you?
_Mom_. Well, farewell sweet Neece, I must needs take my leave in
earnest.
_Eu_. Lord blesse us, heres such a stir with your farewels.
_Mom_. I will see you againe within these two or three dayes a my word
Neece.
_Eug_. Cods pretious, two or three dayes? why this Lord is in a
maruallous strange humor. Sit downe, sweet Vnkle; yfaith I have to
talke with you about greate matters.
_Mom_. Say then deere Neece, be short utter your minde quickly now.
_Eug_. But I pray tell me first, what's that would make me daunce
yfaith?
_Mom_. Daunce, what daunce? hetherto your dauncers legges bow for-sooth,
and Caper, and jerke, and Firke, and dandle the body above them, as it
were their great childe; though the speciall jerker be above this place
I hope here lies that shud fetch a perfect woman over the Coles yfaith.
_Eug_. Nay good Vnkle say what's the thing you could tell me of?
_Mom_. No matter, no matter: But let me see a passing prosperous
fore-head of an exceeding happy distance betwixt the eye browes; a cleere
lightning eye; a temperate, and fresh bloud in both the cheekes:
excellent markes, most excellent markes of good fortune.
_Eug_. Why, how now Vnkle did you never see me before?
_Mom_. Yes Neece; but the state of these things at this instant must be
specially observed, and these outward signes being now in this cleere
elevation, show your untroubled minde is in an excellent power, to
preferre them to act forth then a little, deere Neece.
_Eug_. This is excellent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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