A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 02
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 02
English drama
[_Let Will call for dances, one after another_.
WILL.
Come, damsel, in good faith, and let me have you in,
Let him practise in dancing all things to make himself breathless.[415]
RECREATION.
Enough at once, now leave, and let us part.
WIT.
This exercise hath done me good, even to the very heart.
Let us be bold with you more acquaintance to take,
And dance a round yet once more for my sake,
Enough is enough; farewell, and at your need
Use my acquaintance, if it may stand you in stead.
Right worthy damsels both, I know you seek no gains
In recompense of this desert your undeserved pains.
But look what other thing my service may devise,
To show my thankful heart in any enterprise.
Be ye as bold therewith, as I am bold on you,
And thus with hearty thanks I take my leave as now.
RECREATION.
Farewell, friend Wit, and since you are relieved,
Think not upon your foil, whereat you were so griev'd,
But take your heart to you, and give attempt once more:
I warrant you to speed much better than before.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT IV., SCAENA 4.
WIT, WILL, IDLENESS, IGNORANCE.
WIT.
One dance for thee and me; my boy, come on.
WILL.
Dance you, sir, if you please, and I will look upon.
WIT.
This gear doth make me sweat, and breathe apace.
IDLENESS.
Sir, ease yourself awhile; here is a resting-place.
WIT.
Home, Will, and make my bed, for I will take a nap.
IGNORANCE.
Sure, and it please your mastership, here in my dame's lap.
IDLENESS _singeth_.
_Come, come, lie down, and thou shall see,
None like to me to entertain
Thy bones and thee oppressed with pain.
Come, come, and ease thee in my lap,
And if it please thee, take a nap;
A nap, that shall delight thee so,
That fancies all will thee forego.
By musing still, what canst thou find,
But wants of will and restless mind?
A mind that mars and mangles all,
And breedeth jars to work thy fall!
Come, gentle Wit, I thee require,
And thou shalt hit thy chief desire:
Thy chief desire, thy hoped prey;
First ease thee here, and then away_.
WIT. [_Falls down into her lap_.
My bones are stiff, and I am wearied sore,
And still me-think I faint and feeble more and more;
Wake me again in time, for I have things to do,
And as you will me for mine ease, I do assent thereto.
IDLENESS. [_Lulls him_.
Welcome, with all my heart: sir boy, hold here this fan,
And softly cool his face; sleep soundly, gentleman.
This char is char'd[416] well now, Ignorance, my son,
Thou seest all this, how featly[417] it is done;
But wot'st thou why?
IGNORANCE.
Nay, bumfay,[418] mother, not I.
Well, I wot 'tis a gay worched trick and trim:
Chould rejouce my heart to chance coots[419] with him.
IDLENESS.
Dost thou remember how many I have served in the like sort?
IGNORANCE.
It doth my heart good to think on this sport.
IDLENESS.
Wilt thou see this proper fellow served so?
IGNORANCE.
Chould give tway pence to see it and tway pence mo.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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