A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 05
English drama
Nor I, nor I: but this same one of mine
Was worth a legion. But all is one.
Pedro, Jaques, go in a-doors: Isabella, go,
And this good fellow here and I
Will range this hideous orchard up and down,
Like to two lions reaved of their young.
Go in a-doors, I say. [_Exeunt._
[_The_ PAINTER _and he sit down_.
Come, let's talk wisely now.
Was thy son murder'd?
PAINTER.
Ay, sir.
HIERONIMO.
So was mine.
How dost thou take it? art thou not sometime mad?
Is there no tricks that comes before thine eyes?
PAINTER.
O Lord, yes, sir.
HIERONIMO.
Art a painter? canst paint me a tear or a wound?
A groan or a sigh? canst paint me such a tree as this?
PAINTER.
Sir, I am sure you have heard of my painting:
My name's Bazardo.
HIERONIMO.
Bazardo! 'fore God, an excellent fellow. Look you, sir,
Do you see? I'd have you paint me my gallery,
In your oil-colours matted, and draw me five
Years younger than I am: do you see, sir? let five
Years go: let them go like the marshal of Spain,
My wife Isabella standing by me,
With a speaking look to my son Horatio,
Which should intend to this, or some such like purpose:
_God bless thee, my sweet son_; and my hand leaning upon his head thus.
Sir; do you see? may it be done?
PAINTER.
Very well, sir.
HIERONIMO.
Nay, I pray, mark me, sir:
Then, sir, would I have you paint me this tree,
This very tree. Canst paint a doleful cry?
PAINTER.
Seemingly, sir.
HIERONIMO.
Nay, it should cry; but all is one. Well, sir,
Paint me a youth run through and through
With villains' swords, and hanging upon this tree--
Canst thou draw a murd'rer?
PAINTER.
I'll warrant you, sir;
I have the pattern of the most notorious villains
That ever liv'd in all Spain.
HIERONIMO.
O, let them be worse, worse: stretch thine art;
And let their beards be of Judas his own colour,[226]
And let their eyebrows jutty over: in any case observe that;
Then, sir, after some violent noise,
Bring me forth in my shirt, and my gown under mine arm,
With my torch in my hand, and my sword rear'd up thus:
And with these words:
_What noise is this? who calls Hieronimo?_
May it be done?
PAINTER.
Yes, sir.
HIERONIMO.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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