English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Woman_. Sweete charity! nay, usury withall!
For one chyld lost, whose goodnes might have blest
And bin an honor to our family,
To bringe mee home a cuple of loose thinges!
I know not what to terme them, but for thee,
Owld fornicator, that jad'st mee at home
And yet can fend [?] a yonge colt's toothe abroad,
Ould as I am myne eyes are not so dimme
But can discerne this without spectacles.
Hence from my gate, you syrens com from sea,
Or as I lyve I'l washe your painteinges off
And with hotte skaldeinge water instantly.
[_Exit_.
_Godfr_. Nay then, sweeteharts, you canott staye, you have had could
interteinment.
_Pal_. The land's to us as dreadfull as the seas,
For wee are heare, as by the billows, tost
From one feare to another.
_Ashb_. Pretty sowles,
Despyer not you of comfort; I'l not leive you
To the least danger till som newes returne
From him that undertakes your patronadge.
You, syrrah, usher them into the fryary,
Whence none dares force them. I have a cross wyfe you see,
And better you then I take sanctuary.
_Scrib_. Wee will be sweyde by you as one in whome
Wee yet have fownd all goodnes.
_Ashb_. Leive them theere
To safety, then returne.
[_Ex't. ma: Ashb_.[128]
_Clown_. What say'st thou to this gentleman?
_Fisher_. No man better.--Now it will go on my syde; this is my owne
master, sure hee cannot bee so unatrall to give sentens against his
owne natural servant.--Syr, good daye.
_Ashb_. Gramercyes, I in truth much suffered for thee,
Knowing howe rashly thou exposd thyself
To such a turbulent sea.
_Clown_. I likewyse, Syr, salute you.
_Ashb_. Thanks, good frend.
_Clown_. But, syr, is this your servant.[129]
_Ashb_. Yes, I acknowledge him;
And thou I thinke belongst to Mr _Raphael_,
Imployde about these women.
_Clown_. Yes I acknowledge it; but you are sure hee's yours?
_Ashb_. Once againe I doo confesse him myne.
_Clown_. Then heare mee speake.
_Fisher_. Heare mee your servant.[130]
_Ashb_. I'l heare the stranger fyrst.
_Clown_. In this you doo but justyce, I pray tell mee[131] ... Sea, is
this a fishe or no, or if a fishe what fishe do you call it (peace you).
_Ashb_. It is no fishe nor fleshe.
_Clowne_. Nor good redd herringe--fisherman, y'r gone.
_Fisher_. Thou art deceav'd I am heare still, and may have heare for
ought I knowe to by all the redd herringe in _Marcell[es]_.
_Clowne_. Did you ever heare of a fishe cal'd a budgett?
_Ashb_. I protest never synce I knew the sea.
_Clowne_. You are gone againe fisherman.
_Fisher_. I am heare still; and now, master, heare mee.
_Clowne_. Lett mee proceede. This bagge, this knapsacke, or this
portmanteau hee woold make a fishe bycause tooke in his nett. Nowe,
syr, I com to you with this ould proverbe, all's not fishe that com's
to nett.--There you are, gone againe.
_Fisher_. But--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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