A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
W. RASH. Which makes thee as sprightly as the treble. Now dost thou play
thy prize: here's the honourable science, one against another. Do you
hear, lover; the thing is done you wot of; you shall have your wench
alone without any disturbance; now if you can do any good, why so; the
silver game be yours; we'll stand by and give aim,[202] and halloo, if
you hit the clout.
STAINES. 'Tis all the assistance I request of you.
Bring me but opportunely to her presence,
And I desire no more; and if I cannot win her,
Let me lose her.
GERT. Well, sir, let me tell you, perhaps you undertake
A harder task than yet you do imagine.
STAINES. A task! what, to win a woman, and have opportunity? I would
that were a task, i' faith, for any man that wears his wits about him.
Give me but half an hour's conference with the coldest creature of them
all; and if I bring her not into a fool's paradise, I'll pull out my
tongue, and hang it at her door for a draw-latch. Ud's foot! I'd ne'er
stand thrumming of caps for the matter; I'll quickly make trial of her.
If she love to have her beauty praised, I'll praise it; if her wit, I'll
commend it; if her good parts, I'll exalt them. No course shall 'scape
me; for to whatsoever I saw her inclined, to that would I fit her.
W. RASH. But you must not do thus to her; for she's a subtle, flouting
rogue, that will laugh you out of countenance, if you solicit her
seriously. No, talk me to her wantonly, slightly, and carelessly, and
perhaps so you may prevail as much with her as wind does with a
sail--carry her whither thou wilt, bully.
_Enter_ JOYCE.
STAINES. Well, sir, I'll follow your instruction.
W. RASH. Do so: and see, she appears. Fall you two off from us; let us
two walk together.
JOYCE. Why did my inquiring eye take in this fellow,
And let him down so easy to my heart,
Where, like a conqueror, he seizes on it,
And beats all other men out of my bosom?
W. RASH. Sister, you're well met. Here's a gentleman desires to be
acquainted with you.
JOYCE. See, the servingman is turned a gentleman! That villanous wench,
my sister, has no mercy. She and my brother have conspired together to
play upon me; but I'll prevent their sport; for, rather than my tongue
shall have scope to speak matter to give them mirth, my heart shall
break. [_Aside._]
W. RASH. You have your desire, sir; I'll leave you;
Grapple with her as you can. [_Aside. Exit._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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