A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
English drama
FRIS. O, I have it now, for I remember my great grandfather's
grandmother's sister's cousin told me, that pigs and Frenchmen
speak one language, _awee, awee_; I am dog at this. But what
must he speak else?
PIS. Dutch.
FRIS. Let's hear it?
PIS. _Haunce butterkin slowpin._
FRIS. O, this is nothing, for I can speak perfect Dutch when I
list.
PIS. Can you? I pray let's hear some.
FRIS. Nay, I must have my mouth full of meat first, and then
you shall hear me grumble it forth full-mouth; as, _haunce
butterkin slowpin frokin_. O,[486] I am a simple Dutchman.
Well, I'll about it.
PIS. Stay, sirrah, you are too hasty; for he must speak one
language more.
FRIS. More languages? I trust he shall have tongues enough for
one mouth. But what is the third?
PIS. Italian.
FRIS. Why, that is the easiest of all, for I can tell whether
lie have any Italian in him even by looking on him.
PIS. Can you so? as how?
FRIS. Marry, by these three points: a wanton eye, pride in his
apparel, and the devil in his countenance. Well, God keep me
from the devil in seeking this Frenchman. But do you hear me,
master? what shall my fellow Anthony do? it seems he shall
serve for nothing but to put Latin into my young mistresses.
PIS. Hence, ass! hence, loggerhead! begone, I say.
And now to you that read philosophy. [_Exit_ FRISCO.
Pack from my house: I do discharge thy service,
And come not near my doors: for if thou dost,
I'll make thee a public example to the world.
ANTH. Well, crafty fox, you that work by wit,
It may be I may live to fit you yet.
[_Aside. Exit_ ANTHONY.
PIS. Ah! sirrah, this trick was spied in time,
For if but two such lectures more they'd heard,
For ever had their honest names been marr'd.
I'll in and rate them; yet that's not best:
The girls are wilful, and severity
May make them careless, mad, or desperate.
What shall I do? O, I have found it now.
There are three wealthy merchants in the town,
All strangers, and my very special friends:
The one of them is an Italian,
A Frenchman and a Dutchman be the other.
These three entirely do affect my daughters,
And therefore mean I they shall have the tongues,
That they may answer in their several language.
But what helps that? they must not stay so long;
For whiles they are a-learning languages,
My English youths both wed and bed them too.
Which to prevent, I'll seek the strangers out.
Let's look; 'tis past eleven; Exchange time full:
There shall I meet them, and confer with them.
This work craves haste, my daughters must be wed;
For one month's stay saith,[487] farewell, maidenhead. [_Exit._
SCENE II.
_Enter_ HARVEY, HEIGHAM, _and_ WALGRAVE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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