A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 11
English drama
Y. LORD W. Why, Peter, wilt not answer me?
P. SER. O, my Lord above, stand still; I'm fallen down at least thirty
fathom deep. If you stand not still till I recover, and have lighted a
candle, you're but a dead man.
HOG. I am robb'd, I am undone, I am deluded! Who's in my chamber?
Y. LORD W. 'Tis I, the lord your son, that shall be; upon my honour, I
came not to rob you.
HOG. I shall run mad! I shall run mad!
Y. LORD W. Why, then, 'tis my fortune to be terrified with madmen.
_Enter_ PETER SERVITUDE, _with a candle_.
P. SER. Where are you, my lord?
HOG. Here, my lady. Where are you, rogue, when thieves break into my
house?
P. SER. Breaking my neck in your service--a plague on't!
Y. LORD W. But are you robbed, indeed, father Hog? Of how much, I pray?
HOG. Of all, of all! See here, they have left me nothing but two or
three rolls of parchment; here they came up like spirits, and took my
silver, gold, and jewels. Where's my daughter?
P. SER. She's not in the house, sir. The street-doors are wide open.
Y. LORD W. Nay, 'tis no matter where she is now. She'll scarce be worth
a thousand pound, and that's but a tailor's prize.[399]
HOG. Then you'll not have her, sir?
Y. LORD W. No, as I hope to live in peace.
HOG. Why, be't so, be't so; confusion cannot come in a fitter time on
all of us. O bountiful Croesus! how fine thy shadow hath devoured my
substance!
P. SER. Good my lord, promise him to marry his daughter, or he will be
mad presently, though you never intend to have her.
Y. LORD W. Well, father Hog, though you are undone, your daughter shall
not be, so long as a lord can stand her in any stead. Come, you shall
with me to my lord and father, whose warrants we will have for the
apprehending of all suspicious livers; and, though the labour be
infinite, you must consider your loss is so.
HOG. Come, I'll do anything to gain my gold.
P. SER. Till which be had, my fare will be but cold.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter_ HADDIT, REBECCA, LIGHTFOOT, _and_ PRIEST.
HAD. Now, Master Parson, we will no further trouble you; and, for the
tying of our true love-knot, here's a small amends.
PRIEST. 'Tis more than due, sir; yet I'll take it all.
Should kindness be despis'd, goodwill would fall
Unto a lower ebb, should we detest
The grateful giver's gift, _verissimo est_.
HAD. It's true, indeed; good morrow, honest parson.
PRIEST. Yet, if you please, sir John will back surrender
The overplus of what you now did tender.
HAD. O, by no means; I prythee, friend, good morrow.
LIGHT. Why. if you please, sir John, to me restore
The overplus: I'll give it to the poor.
PRIEST. O, pardon, sir, for, by your worship's leave,
We ought to give from whence we do receive.
HAD. Why, then, to me, sir John.
PRIEST. To all a kind good-morrow. [_Exit_ PRIEST.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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