A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 10
English drama
HEIGH. How would you use him, sweet, if he should come?
MAR. Nay nothing, sweet, but only wash his crown.
Why, the ass wooes in such an amorous key,
That he presumes no wench should say him nay:
He slavers on[534] his fingers, wipes his bill,
And swears, "in faith you shall," "in faith I will;"
That I am almost mad to bide his wooing.
HEIGH. Look, what he said in word, I'll act in doing.
WAL. Leave thought of him--for day steals on apace--
And to our loves. Will you perform your words?
All things are ready, and the parson stands,
To join our[535] hearts in hearts, our hands in hands.
Night favours us, the thing is quickly done;
Then truss up bag and baggage, and begone;
And ere the morning, to augment your joys,
We'll make you mothers of six goodly boys.
HEIGH. Promise them three, good Ned, and say no more.
WAL. But I'll get three, and if I get not four.
PIS. There's a sound card at maw[536]--a lusty lad!
Your father thought him well, when one he had.
HEIGH. What say you, sweets? will you perform your words?
MATH. Love to true love no lesser meed affords.
We say we love you, and that love's fair breath
Shall lead us with you round about the earth:
And that our loves, vows, words, may all prove true.
Prepare your arms; for thus we fly to you. [_They embrace._[537]
WAL. This works like wax. Now, ere to-morrow day,
If you two ply it but as well as I,
We'll work our lands out of Pisaro's daughters,
And cancel all our bonds in their great bellies.
When the slave knows it, how the rogue will curse!
MATH. Sweetheart.
WAL. Mat.
MATH. Where art thou?
PIS. Here.
MATH. O Jesus! here's our father.
WAL. The devil he is!
HAR. Master Pisaro, twenty times good morrow,
PIS. Good-morrow? now, I tell you, gentlemen,
You wrong and move my patience overmuch.
What, will you rob me, kill me, cut my throat,
And set mine own blood here against me too?
You huswives, baggages, or what is worse.
Wilful, stubborn, [and] disobedient!
Use it not, gentlemen; abuse me not,
Newgate hath room, there's law enough in England.
HEIGH. Be not so testy; hear what we can say.
PIS. Will you be wiv'd? first learn to keep a wife:
Learn to be thrifty, learn to keep your lands,
And learn to pay your debts too, I advise, else----
WAL. What else? what lands? what debts? what will you do?
Have you our land in mortgage for your money?
Nay, since 'tis so, we owe you not a penny.
Fret not, fume not, never bend the brow:
You take ten in the hundred more than law.
We can complain--extortion--simony--
Newgate hath room, there's law enough in England.
HEIGH. Prythee, have done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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