A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
English drama
MR GOUR. Faith, this occasion, sir: women will jar;
And jar they did to-day, and so they parted;
We, knowing women's malice let alone
Will, canker-like, eat farther in their hearts,
Did seek a sudden cure, and thus it was:
A match between his daughter and my son;
No sooner motioned but 'twas agreed,
And they no sooner saw but wooed and lik'd:
They have it sought to cross, and cross['d] it thus.
SIR RALPH. Fie, Mistress Barnes and Mistress Goursey both;
The greatest sin wherein your souls may sin,
I think, is this, in crossing of true love:
Let me persuade ye.
MRS BAR. Sir, we are persuaded,
And I and Mistress Goursey are both friends;
And, if my daughter were but found again,
Who now is missing, she had my consent
To be dispos'd of to her own content.
SIR RALPH. I do rejoice that what I thought to do,
Ere I begin, I find already done:
Why, this will please your friends at Abington.
Frank, if thou seek'st that way, there thou shalt find
Her, whom I hold the comfort of thy mind.
MAL. He shall not seek me; I will seek him out,
Since of my mother's grant I need not doubt.
MR[S] BAR. Thy mother grants, my girl, and she doth pray
To send unto you both a joyful day!
HOD. Nay, Mistress Barnes, I wish her better: that those joyful days
may be turn'd to joyful nights.
COOMES. Faith, 'tis a pretty wench, and 'tis pity but she should
have him.
NICH. And, Mistress Mary, when ye go to bed, God send you good rest,
and a peck of fleas in your nest, every one as big as Francis!
PHIL. Well said, wisdom! God send thee wise children!
NICH. And you more money.
PHIL. Ay, so wish I.
NICH. 'Twill be a good while, ere you wish your skin full of
eyelet-holes.
PHIL. Frank, hark ye: brother, now your wooing's done,
The next thing now you do is for a son,
I prythee; for, i'faith, I should be glad
To have myself called nunkle[444], and thou dad.
Well, sister, if that Francis play the man,
My mother must be grandam and you mam.
To it, Francis--to it, sister!--God send ye joy!
'Tis fine to sing, dancey, my own sweet boy!
FRAN. Well, sir, jest on.
PHIL. Nay, sir[445], do you jest on.
MR BAR. Well, may she prove a happy wife to him!
MR GOUR. And may he prove as happy unto her!
SIR RALPH. Well, gentlemen, good hap betide them both!
Since 'twas my hap thus happily to meet,
To be a witness of this sweet contract,
I do rejoice; wherefore, to have this joy
Longer present with me, I do request
That all of you will be my promis'd guests:
This long night's labour doth desire some rest,
Besides this wished end; therefore, I pray,
Let me detain ye but a dinner time:
Tell me, I pray, shall I obtain so much?
MR BAR. Gentle Sir Ralph, your courtesy is such,
As may impose command unto us all;
We will be thankful bold at your request.
PHIL. I pray, Sir Ralph, what cheer shall we have?
SIR RALPH. I'faith, country fare, mutton and veal,
Perchance a duck or goose [upon the platter.]
MAL. O, I am sick!
ALL. How now, Mall? what's the matter?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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