English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Raphael_. Post you back to the citty; make inquiries
And most strickt search to find that _Mildewe_ out;
Whom if you meete, fyrst rate his last neclect,
Then hasten his repayer. Heare you shall finde mee
Or in the waye home; for in all this villaige
I woll not leave a howse, a place unsearcht.
If where hee dwells you misse him, then demande
Att every bey what shippinge late went out.
If any vowed love still remane betwixt us,
Make it appear nowe in your present care
And expedition.
_Treadw_. I'l be your _Mercury_,
Not fayle you in the least.
_Raphael_. And so betwixt us
Increase a frendshipp that was never flawed.
[_Exit[67] Treadway_.
_Ashburne_. This gentleman, itt seemes, hathe in this tempest
Sustein'd som losse, he appears so much disturb'd.
_Clowne_. See, syr, heare are some it may bee beelonge to this
villadge; you had best aske of them.
_Raphael_. And well advysed. Hayle, father!
_Godfrey_. No more hayle if you love mee; we had too much of that
last night.
_Ashburne_. Of what sexe are you that you call me so?
I have bene father of a doughter once,
Though not these many yeares blest with her sight,
But of a soone yet never.
_Raphael_. What you have lost
May you in som most fayer and fortunate hower
Againe find to your comfort.
_Ashburne_. You wishe well.
_Raphael_. Sawe you not bowte this villadge late last night,
Or early now i'th morninge, a short fellowe
Thin heyred, flat nosed, sand-bearded and squint eyde?
_Clowne_. The mapp of misfortune and very picture of ill luck.
_Raphael_. Grosse-wasted, gowty-legg'd.
_Clowne_. Whose face is puft up like a bladder and whose belly
lyke a toonne.
_Raphael_. Owld, graye and hoary.
_Clowne_. And withall cheatinge, cousininge, and crafty; a remarkable
raskall, a damnable deceiver, and a most substantiall cinner.
_Ashburne_. By such I have much suffred in my state,
Opprest almost to utmost penury
In my once better fortune; but so late
I sawe not any such.
_Raphael_. Hee was expected
To bee attended by too [_sic_] handsome gurles,
Boathe younge, boathe fayre, but th'one unparreld [_sic_];
Neather of which by computation
Hathe told so hye as twenty.
_Ashb_. If such I chance to meete by accident
I'l send you notyce. Please you leave your name
And place of your abode.
_Raphael_. _Raphael_ I am cald,
A marchant in _Marcellis_, and my lodginge
Is at the _Parratt_ in the markett-place;
There you shall finde mee knowne.
_Ashb_. And by that name
Presume I'l not forgett you.
_Raph_. For which curtesy,
Fare you well, syr;
You shall oblighe mee to you. If not heare
Weele seeke her further; _France_ shall not conteine them
But I will finde theire start-holes.
_Ashb_. Good speede with you.
_Clowne_. If I weare a dogge nowe and coold hunt dry foote[68]
I could smell them out presently.
[_Exeunt[69] Raphael and Clown_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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