A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
CRE. So now the mortgage is mine own outright;
I swear by the faith of my body now,
It is a pretty thing--o' my corporal oath,
A very pretty thing. Besides the house,
Orchards, and gardens, some two hundred acres
Of land, that beareth as good country corn,
For country corn, as may be.
SHAPE. As I'd have it.
CRE. How now, good friend? Where dost thou live?
Dost thou know Caster's farm?
SHAPE. Yes, sir; I fear 'tis gone:
Sure, Caster's farm is cast away!
CRE. A jest!
Good troth, a good one of a country one;
I see there's wit there too. Then thou dost know it?
SHAPE. I am afraid I shall not know it long;
I shall lose my acquaintance.
CRE. 'Snigs, another!
A very perilous head! a dangerous brain!
SHAPE. God bless my master, and the devil take
Somebody else.
CRE. Um! that's not quite so good
As th' other two; that somebody else is me:
Now you shall see how he'll abuse me here
To mine own face. [_Aside._] Why somebody else, good brother?
SHAPE. The rich gout rot his bones! An hungry, old,
Hard-griping citizen, that only feeds
On heirs' and orphans' goods, they say must have it:
One that ne'er had the wisdom to be honest,
And's therefore knave, 'cause 'tis the easier art.
I know he hath not given half the worth on't:
'Tis a mere cheat.
CRE. 'Slid, brother, thou hast paid him
To th' utmost, though he hath not paid thy master.
Now is my wit up too. This land, I see,
Will make men thrive i' th' brain. [_Aside._
SHAPE. Would he were here,
Whoe'er he be, I'd give him somewhat more
Into the bargain: a base, thin-jaw'd sneaksbill,
Thus to work gallants out of all! It grieves me,
That my poor tenement too goes into th' sale.
CRE. What have I done? Now, wit, deliver me!
If he know I am he, he'll cut my throat;
I never shall enjoy it. [_Aside._] Sure, it was
Your master's seeking, friend; he would ne'er else
Have had to do with it: he that bought it is
A very honest man, and if you please him,
Will deal with you. I may speak a word
In your behalf; 'twon't be the worse for you.
SHAPE. I'm going, sir, unto him; do you know
Where I may find him?
CRE. What if I am he?
SHAPE. I am afraid he is not half so honest
As you do seem.
CRE. Faith, I'm the same. I tried
What metal thou wast made of: I perceive
Thou wilt not flinch for th' wetting;[191] thou may'st be
My bailiff there, perhaps.
SHAPE. An't please your worship! [_Aside._
CRE. So now the case is alter'd.
SHAPE. I do know
It was my master's seeking; you would ne'er
Have had to do with't else. He sent me to you
For the last hundred pound by the same token
That you invited him to th' eating-house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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