A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
JANE. That care, sir, shall be mine. [_Exeunt_ JANE _and_ PRISCILLA.
AND. I doubt not but
I shall be in the Chronicle for this,
Or in a ballad else. This handkerchief
Shall be hung up i' th' parish church, instead
Of a great silken flag to fan my grave:
With my arms in't, portray'd in good blue thread,
With this word underneath--_This, this was he_
_That shut his eyes because he would not see._
Hold, who comes there?
_Enter_ MEANWELL, SHAPE.
MEAN. One, sir, to lead you home.
AND. Who? tutor Meanwell?
[SHAPE _counterfeits_ MISTRESS JANE'S _voice_.
SHAPE. Yes, I do commit you
Unto your trusty friend: if you perform
This vow, we may----
AND. I'll say your sentence out--
Be man and wife.
SHAPE. If you'll do something else
That I'll propose.
AND. Pray make your own conditions.
SHAPE. You'll promise me you'll not be jealous of me?
AND. Do what you will, I'll trust you.
SHAPE. Never hire
Any to tempt me?
AND. By this light (I would say,
By this darkness), I never will.
SHAPE. Nor mark
On whom I laugh?
AND. No.
SHAPE. Nor suspect my smiles,
My nods, my winks?
AND. No, no.
SHAPE. Nor yet keep count
From any gallant's visit?
AND. I'll ne'er reckon:
You shall do what you will.
SHAPE. You'll never set
Great chests and forms against my chamber-door;
Nor pin my smock unto your shirt a-nights,
For fear I should slip from you ere you wake?
AND. As I do hope for day, I will not.
SHAPE. Give me
Some small pledge from you to assure your love;
If that you yet prove false, I may have something
To witness your inconstancy. I'll take
This little ruby--this small blushing stone
From your fair finger.
AND. Take it, sweet. There is
A diamond in my band-string; if you have
A mind to that, I pray, make use of't too.
SHAPE. In troth, a stone of lustre. I assure you,
It darts a pretty light, a veget spark,[221]
It seems an eye upon your breast.
AND. Nay, take it,
For love's sake, take it then: leave nothing that
Looks like an eye about me.
SHAPE. My good Andrew,
'Cause of thy resolution, I'll perform
This office for thee. Take my word for't, this
Shall ne'er betray thee. [_Exit_ SHAPE.
AND. Farewell, honest Jany;
I cannot see to thank thee, my sweet Jany.
Tutor, your hand; good tutor, lead me wisely.
MEAN. Take comfort, man; I have good news for thee:
Thine eyes shall be thine own before next morning. [_Exeunt._
SCENE IV.
SHAPE, CHIRURGEON, MERCER.
SHAPE. He's a good friend of mine, and I presume
Upon your secrecy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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