English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Scillicet_. By this illuminate Welkin ye shall now.[235] Sir, I doe not
bestowe it, for that I thinke you have neede of it; for if you had, by
this bright Horizon, I would not give it, for I know tis no credit to
give to the poore. By this illuminate welkin I have (since I tooke upon
me this fleshie desire of a Gentleman) throwne out of a window, for a
hunts-up, when I had as leef have heard the grinding of a Mustard-Mill;
for those are thinges are heere too day, and gone to morrowe; this will
sticke by a man, and doe him credit where ere hee goes.
_Acut_. I, when the foole is clad in clay,
It will sticke sore unto thy soule for aye.
_Phy_. Signior _Scillicet_, I assure you I have discovered the most
queint and new-found device for the encounter of the Ladies at the
interview; tis in pricke-song.
_Scil_. That's excellent and rare.
_Phi_. I, for prick-song to Ladies is most pleasant and delightfull: as
thus for your congie, All hayle to my belooved; then for your departure,
sad dispaire doth drive me hence: for all must be to effect.
_Grac_. Nay, prethee raise no quarrels.
_Acut_. I can holde no longer: heare you, sir, are not you a foole? and
you an Asse? and you a knave?
_Phy_. Zoundes! an Asse?
_Scil_. A Foole?
_Ser_. A Knave, without respect?
_Acut_. I, for an Asse can beare, a Foole abide, and a Knave deserve.
_Omn_. Helpe, Helpe!
_Gra_. Prethee let's away.
_Acut_. Fooles often brings wise men to trouble,
Farewell, another time ile pay ye double.
[_Exit_.
_Enter Host, Hostesse, and Prentises_.
_Host_. Bring your Clubs out of doores. There goe in, my fine hostes,
Ile talke to the proudest; what, knaves are i'th streete, my dore is my
dore, my house is my castell, goe in dame _Helena_, let thine Host alon
with this; he that knocks at my hobby, while I have Ale in my house,
shall pay for a Surgeon: the honest shall come in, the knaves shall go
by; bring Clubs, I say.
_Scil_. Nay, sir, the heate is past, they that did it have tooke them to
their heeles, for indeed heere are of us--
_Host_. Away with your Clubs then; welcome, my brave Bullies, my Guests
shall take no wrong; but welcome, my Bullies.
_Scil_. Indeede sir, I am a man of few words, I have put up a little
bloodshed; marrie, I hope it shall be no stain to my manhoode, if I
keepe it out of my clothes.
_Host_. He shall pay for the blood-shed, my guestes shall take no wrong;
mine Host will spend his Cruse as franke as an Emperor; welcome, my
brave bullies.
_Ser_. Sir, be pacificall, the fellowe was possest with some critique
frenzie, and wee impute it to his madnes.
_Scil_. Madde! by Gods slid, if he were as madde as a weaver, I can
hardly put it up; for my blow, I care not so much, but he cald me foole;
slid, if I live till I dye, the one of us shall prove it.
_Host_. Some prophane Villaine, ile warrant him.
_Scil_. Doe you thinke I may not have an action against him?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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