A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
JOYCE. Nay, that cannot be; for they say, they that are mad lose their
wits, and I am sure he had none to lose. [_Aside._]
_Enter_ SCATTERGOOD.
SIR LIONEL. How now, son Bubble? how come you thus attir'd?
What! do you mean to make yourself a laughing-stock, ha?
BUB. Um! Ignorance, ignorance. [_Aside._]
GERA. For the love of laughter, look yonder:
Another herring in the same pickle.
W. RASH. T'other hobby-horse, I perceive, is not forgotten.[214]
BUB. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
SCAT. Ha, ha, ha, ha!
BUB. Who has made him such a coxcomb, trow?
An Italian _Tu quoque_?
SCAT. I salute you according to the Italian fashion.
BUB. Puh! the Italian fashion! The tattered-demalian fashion he
means.
SCAT. Save you, sweet bloods, save you.
SIR LIONEL. Why, but what jig is this?
SCAT. Nay, if I know, father, would I were hanged. I am e'en as innocent
as the child new-born.
SIR LIONEL. Ay, but son Bubble, where did you two buy your felts?
SCAT. Felts! By this light, mine is a good beaver:
It cost me three pounds this morning upon trust.
SIR LIONEL. Nay, I think you had it upon trust, for no man that has any
shame in him would take money for it. Behold, sir.
BUB. Ha, ha, ha!
SIR LIONEL. Nay, never do you laugh, for you're i' th' same block.
BUB. Is this the Italian fashion?
SCAT. No, it is the fool's fashion:
And we two are the first that follow it.
BUB. _Et tu quoque_. Are we both cosened? Then let's show ourselves
brothers in adversity, and embrace.
SIR LIONEL. What was he that cheated you?
BUB. Marry, sir, he was a knave that cheated me.
SCAT. And I think he was no honest man that cheated me.
SIR LIONEL. Do you know him again if you see him?
_Enter_ STAINES [_in his own costume._]
BUB. Yes, I know him again, if I see him; but I do not know how I should
come to see him. O Gervase, Gervase! Do you see us two, Gervase?
STAINES. Yes, sir, very well.
BUB. No, you do not see us very well, for we have been horribly abused.
Never were Englishmen so gulled in Italian as we have been.
STAINES. Why, sir, you have not lost your cloak and hat?
BUB. Gervase, you lie; I have lost my cloak and hat; and therefore you
must use your credit for another.
SCAT. I think my old cloak and hat must be glad to serve me till next
quarter-day.
SIR LIONEL. Come, take no care for cloaks: I'll furnish you.
To-night you lodge with me; to-morrow morn,
Before the sun be up, prepare for church;
The widow and I have so concluded on't.
The wenches understand not yet so much,
Nor shall not until bedtime: then will they
Not sleep a wink all night for very joy.
SCAT. And I'll promise the next night they shall not sleep for joy
neither. [_Aside._]
SIR LIONEL. O Master Geraldine, I saw you not before:
Your father now is come to town, I hear.
GERA. Yes, sir.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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