A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
English drama
PIS. How this news glads me, and revives my soul!
How say you, sirs? What, will you have a jest
Worth the telling; nay, worth the acting?
I have it, gentlemen--I have it, friends.
ALV. Signer Pisaro, I pray de gratia wat manner sal we have?
wat will the parlar? what bon do you know, Signer Pisaro, diche
di noi, Signer Pisaro?
PIS. O, that youth so sweet
So soon should turn to age! Were I as you,
Why, this were sport alone for me to do.
Hark ye, hark ye. Here my man
Saith that the girls have sent for Master Heigham
And his two friends: I know they love them dear,
And therefore wish them late at night be here,
To revel with them. Will you have a jest,
To work my will and give your longings rest?
Why then Master Vandal and you two
Shall soon at midnight come, as they should do,
And court the wenches; and to be unknown,
And taken for the men whom they alone
So much affect, each one shall change his name:
Master Vandal, you shall take Heigham, and you
Young Harvey, and Monsieur Delion, Ned,
And under shadows be of substance sped.
How like you this device? how think you of it?
DEL. O de brave, de galliard devise: me sal come by de nite and
contrefaire de Anglois gentlehommes--dites-nous ainsi, Monsieur
Pisaro?
PIS. You are in the right, sir.
ALV. And I sal name me de Signer Harvey, and Monsieur Delion
sal be de piccolo Signer Ned, and when Madonna Laurentia sal
say, who be dare? Monsieur Vandal sal say, O my sout lady, hier
be your love Maestro Heigham. Is no dis de bravissime, Master
Vandal?
VAN. Slaet up den tromele, van ick sal come up to de camerken,
wan my new wineken slaet up den tromele, van ick sal come.
PIS. Ha, ha, ha, Master Vandal!
I trow you will be merry soon at night,
When you shall do indeed what now you hope of.
VAN. I sal you seg, vader, ic sal teash your daughter such a
ting make her laugh too.
PIS. Well, my sons all (for so I count you shall)
What we have here devised, provide me for;
But above all, do not (I pray) forget
To come but one by one, as they did wish.
VAN. Mar, hortens vader, ic veit neit de way to your hous,
hortens sal Master Frisco your maniken come to call de me, and
bring me to your house.
PIS. Yes, marry, shall he. See that you be ready,
And at the hour of eleven soon at night,
Hie you to Bucklersbury to his chamber,
And so direct him straight unto my house.
My son Alvaro and Monsieur Delion
I know do know the way exceeding well.
Well, we'll to the Rose in Barking for an hour:
And, sirrah Frisco, see you prove no blab.
[_Exeunt_ PISARO, ALVARO, DELION,
_and_ VANDAL.
SCENE III.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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