English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600
_Ashb_. Saye that this daye shee shalbee made his wyfe.
_Cl_. Ay, syr.
_Ashb_. Why then add winges unto your heeles and fly, syr.
_Cl_. Ay syr, but ere I take my flight, for this good servyce
You'll mediate with him for my freedom?
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. And woo your doughter to doo so too?
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. And, syr, to him I shalbee thankefull.
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. Your doughters and your servant ever.
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. To go, roonne, ryde of all your arrants.
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. In all this you'l bee slack in nothinge?
_Ashb_. So.
_Cl_. And you'l heareafter love mee still?
_Ashb_. So, so.
_Cl_. Howe, but so, so?
_Ashb_. Yes, so and so and so.
_Cl_. Why, then I go, go, goe. [_Exit Clown_.
_Ashb_. But one thinge I intreate you, _Mirable_:
This thyrteene yeares, since by rude creditors
Tost and opprest, nay rent out of myne owne,
I have bin forct to seeke my fate abroad,
Howe weare you ravisht thence, or since that tyme
What strange adventures past?
_Enter Godfrey, and the wyfe with the handkercher_.
_Mirable_. My mother's presence
Must now prevent my answer.
_Wyfe_. Where is shee? oh wheare, wheare? for by these tokens,
These of her childhood most unfallid signes,
I knwe her for my doughter.
_Mir_. I have bene
The longe and wretched owner of that cabinet
With all therein contein'd.
_Wyfe_. Into thy boosom
Oh lett mee rayne a shower of joyfull teares
To welcom thee, my _Mirable_.
_Godf_. You threatned her but nowe with skaldinge water; mee thinks you
had more neede to comfort her with hott waters, for sure shee canott bee
warme synce shee came so late out of the could bathe.
_Wyf_. Make fyares, bid them make ready wholesom brothes,
Make warme the bedd, and see the sheetes well ayred.
Att length then have I fownd thee?
_Ashb_. But what's shee
That's in thy fellow-shippe?
_Mir_. My fellowe sharer
In all misfortunes; and for many yeares
So deere to mee, I canot tast a blessednes
Of which shee's not partaker.
_Wyfe_. For thy sake
Shee shall bee myne too, and (in her) I'l thinke
The powers above have for my single losse
Given mee at lengthe a duble recompense.
_Scrib_. For which hee that protects all inocence
Will in good tyme reward you.
_Wyfe_. Praye, in, in;
This could is prejuditiall to your Healthes.
I'l count you boathe my twinnes.
[_Ext. Wife, Palestra, and Scribonia_.
_Ashb_. Strange alteration!
Skoldinge is turn'd to pittye, spleen and mallyce
To mercye and compassion.
_Fisher_. But your promisse
Tutchinge my budgett?
_Ashb. Godfreye_, beare it in
And lodge it safe; there's no tyme for that;
We'll talke of it herafter.
_Godf_. Fellow _Gripus_, I am made for this tyme porter. Ladeys, your
trusty treasurer.
[_Ext. Ashbourne and Godfrey_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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