A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
English drama
Why, then, let's make us ready, and about it.
ERASTUS.
What store of crowns have you brought?
GUELPIO.
Fear not for money, man, I'll bear the box!
JULIO.
I have some little relay,[404] if need require.
PISTON.
Ay, but hear you, master, was not he a fool,
That went to shoot, and left his arrows behind him?
ERASTUS.
Yes, but what of that?
PISTON.
Marry, that you may lose your money, and go
Without the chain, unless you carry false dice.
GUELPIO.
'Mass, the fool says true; let's have some got.
PISTON.
Nay, I use not to go without a pair of false dice;
Here are tall men and little men.
JULIO.
High men and low men,[405] thou wouldst say.
ERASTUS.
Come, sirs, let's go. Drumsler, pray for me,
And I'll reward thee. And, sirrah Piston,
Mar not our sport with your foolery.
PISTON.
I warrant you, sir, they get not one wise word of me.
[_Sound up the drum to_ LUCINA'S _door_.
_Enter_ LUCINA.
LUCINA.
Ay, marry, this shows that Charlemagne[406] is come.
What, shall we play here? content,
Since Signor Ferdinand will have it so.
[_Then they play; and when she hath lost her_
_gold_, ERASTUS _pointeth to her chain, and_
_then she says_--
Ay, were it Cleopatra's union![407]
[_Then_ ERASTUS _winneth the chain, and loseth_
_his gold_.
LUCINA.
Signor Ferdinando, I am sure 'tis you!
And, gentlemen, unmask, ere you depart,
That I may know to whom my thanks are due
For this so courteous and unlook'd-for sport.
No! will't not be? then sup with me to-morrow?
Well, then, I'll look for you; till then, farewell.
[_Exit_ LUCINA.
ERASTUS.
Gentlemen, each thing hath sorted to our wish;
She took me for Ferdinando, mark'd you that?
Your gold shall be repaired with double thanks;
And, fellow drumsler, I'll reward you well.
PISTON.
But is there no reward for my false dice.
ERASTUS.
Yes, sir, a guarded suit from top to toe.
_Enter_ FERDINANDO.
Dazzle mine eyes, or is't Lucina's chain?--
False treacher, lay down the chain that thou hast stolen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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