A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08
English drama
CAS. Musgrave, now, on my faith, heartily welcome.
Give me thy hand, my cousin and my friend,
My partner in the loss of Honorea;
We two must needs be friends: our fortune's like:
Marry, yet I am richer by a shrew.
MAR. 'Tis better to be a shrew, sir, than a sheep;[451]
You have no cause, I hope, yet to complain?
CAS. No, dame; for yet you know 'tis honeymoon.
What! we have scarcely settled our acquaintance.
MUS. I doubt not, cousin, but ye shall agree,
For she is mild enough, if she be pleas'd.
CAS. So is the devil, they say[452] [_aside_]: yea, cousin, yea,
My dear and I, I doubt not, shall agree.
_Enter_ ROBIN GOODFELLOW.
ROB. Sir, here be two or three gentlemen at the door
Would gladly speak a word with your worship.
_Enter_ CLINTON, FORREST, HARVEY.
[CAS.] They need no bidding, methinks: they can come alone!
CLIN. God save you, Signior Castiliano.
CAS. O captain, _come sta_?[453] welcome all, my friends!
FOR. Sir, we are come to bid God give you joy,
And see your house.
MAR. Welcome, gentlemen:
'Tis kindly done to come to see us here.
ROB. This kindness makes me fear my master's head:
Such hotspurs must have game, howe'er they get it.
CLIN. We have a suit to you, Castiliano.
CAS. What is it, sir? if it lies in me, 'tis done.
CLIN. Nay, but a trifle, sir, and that is:
This same young man, by trade apothecary,
Is willing to retain unto your cures.
CAS. Marry, with all my heart, and welcome too.
What may I call your name, my honest friend?
HAR. Ralph Harvey, sir; your neighbour here hard by.
The Golden Lion is my dwelling-place,
Where what you please shall be with care perform'd.
CAS. Gramercies, Harvey! welcome, all my friends!
Let's in, and handsel our new mansion-house
With a carousing round of Spanish wine.
Come, cousin Musgrave, you shall be my guest;
My dame, I trow, will welcome you herself.
MAR. No, boy, Lord Lacy's wife shall welcome thee.
ROB. So now the game begins, here's some cheer toward;
I must be skinker[454] then: let me alone;
They all shall want, ere Robin shall have none.
[_Exeunt omnes nisi_ CLINTON _and_ HARVEY.
CLIN. Sirrah Ralph Harvey, now the entry is made,
Thou only hast access without suspect.[455]
Be not forgetful of thy agent here;
Remember Clinton was the man that did it.
HAR. Why, captain, now you talk in jealousy.
Do not misconstrue my true-meaning heart.
CLIN. Ralph, I believe thee, and rely on thee.
Do not too long absent thee from the doctor:
Go in, carouse, and taint his Spanish brain;
I'll follow, and my Marian's health maintain.
HAR. Captain, you well advise me; I'll go in,
And for myself my love-suits I'll begin.
[_Exeunt_.
ACT III., SCENE I.
_Enter_ ROBIN GOODFELLOW _with his head broken_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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