A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 07
English drama
JOHN. There shall I know where this damned Gloster is,
I'll have the devils rous'd to find that devil,
O[r] else I'll conjure the old conjuror.
I'll to Blackheath, and there with friends conspire,
But I'll have Gloster's head, my heart's desire.
RICH. Would mad Earl Robin saw these humourists:
'Twould feed him fit with laughter! O, 'twould fit him.
Wherever he is, I know the bare conceit
Is better to him than his daintiest food.
Well, and it fits me well, now I have time,
To court my Lady Fauconbridge at leisure.
Love, I implore thy aid; fair Cipria,
Thou sea-born mother at affection's ring,
Shine brightly in thy sphere, that art[505] my star,
My planet, thou of all lights most beauteous,
Be thou to my desires auspicious.
[_Exit_.
SCENE THE TWENTY-FOURTH.
_Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _in the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE'S
_gown, night attire on his head_.
ROB. O, for this lady! Was never poor gentleman troubled with
gentlewoman as I am with myself! My Lady Fauconbridge hath fitted me
a turn. Here I am, visited with sleeveless errands and with asking for
_This thing, Madam_, and _That thing, Madam_, that they make me almost
mad in earnest. Whoop, here's another client.
_Enter a_ SERVING-MAN.
SER. Here's my Lady Rawford's page attends to speak with your ladyship.
ROB. I pray ye bid her lordship's page come into my Ladyship.
[_Exit_. SERVINGMAN.]
Well, Robin Hood, part with these petticoats,
And cast these loose devices from thy back,
I'll ne'er go more untruss'd, never be kerchief'd,
Never have this ado with _what do you lack_?
_Enter_ PAGE.
PAGE. Madam, my lady greets your honour kindly,
And sends you the first grapes of her young vine.
ROB. I am much indebted to her honour, there's an angel for you to
drink; set them up till after supper. Humphrey, pray look about for
Block. Humphrey! trust me, I think the fool be lost.
PAGE. No, forsooth, madam, he's upon the green, jesting with a
stammerer, one Redcap.
ROB. It is a lewd fellow; pray, bid him come in, youth; I'll give him
his welcome at the door. Commend me to your lady, I pray ye, heartily.
[_Exit_ PAGE.
Humphrey, I marvel where Sir Richard is so late! Truly, truly, he does
not as beseems a gentleman of his calling; pray, let some go forth to
meet him on the green, and send in that blockhead Block.
[_Exit_ HUMPHREY.
_Enter_ REDCAP, _and_ BLOCK _after him_.
BLO. Will ye tell tales, ye ass, will ye?
RED. I'll te-te-tell your la-la-lady, or I would to G-God we were
ha-hang'd else, as my fa-father should have been.
ROB. Now, what's the matter there, I pray you? What company have you
there, a-God's name? where spend you the day, I pray?
BLO. Why, where you gave me leave; at the gallows I was--no farther.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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