A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 12
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
DITTY. Ay, ay; but what makes you so pale, Budget? There's
a cup of ale at mine host Welcome's will make your nose of
another colour.
BUD. O Ditty, there is a nail knocked into my heart! It pricks,
it pricks.
GUM. Why, if you can't wrench it out, we'll send for a smith.
DITTY. Has Cupid played the joiner with you, then? Who is't he
has fastened to your heart with that nail? What metal is she
made of, that you cannot hammer her?
BUD. It is the city's beauty!
DITTY. The city's beauty? who's that? One of my lord major's
spaniels?
GUM. I knew a bitch of that name was a very pretty dog, and
would fetch and carry as nimbly as any porter in the town.
BUD. What, villain, do you make a puppy of me! I'll kick you
into glove-dogs, you mongrels, hell-hounds, whelps! [_Kicks
them._
DITTY. Hold, good Budget, a jest is but a jest; I spoke but in
jest.
GUM. Nor I, indeed, Master Budget.
BUD. Then I kicked you but in jest.
GUM. Ay, ay, sir, we take it so; you must think, if it had been
in earnest, though it had been the best man i' th' land, he had
kicked his last.
BUD. Had he so, slave?
GUM. Yes, when he had done kicking.
DIT. Good Budget, be pacified, and we'll recompense the injury
we have done you with our forwardness to promote your desires
and translation out of the circle of love into the wedding-ring.
BUD. Thanks, kind Ditty; walk along with me, and I will show
thee the sweet empress of my heart. I am appeased. [_Exeunt._
SCENE VII.
_Enter_ BRISTLE _and_ JENNITING.
BRIS. Yes, truly, I am one of the gentle craft, though I
have got somewhat of the tailor's trade too; some hangers
on--fellow-travellers, that I cannot be rid of, though, are
still upon my back: they put me to foul shifts sometimes.
JEN. Then you know Crispianus?
BRIS. Yes, he is a saint amongst us, of whose votaries I am
one, that each Monday morning liquor his altar with ale, and
grease it with bacon.
JEN. So you sacrifice the hog to get the bristles?
BRIS. She knows my name, sure. [_Aside._] But 'tis no matter
for him. Hereafter I'll know no saints but thee; be not
therefore unkind, but look with a favourable aspect on him that
can expect no bad influence from so benign a star.
JEN. You do but flatter me; I am not so good a one as you make
me.
BRIS. Now, by Jove, thou art fairer than Calisto (and more
like a bear), more divine than Cassiopeia! Do but consider that
every sow has a ring, and will not you have one?
JEN. Well, Vamp, you know how to take the length of women's
feet.
BRIS. Come, my Jenniting, we will have twins every year.
JEN. Such as shall be christened at Saint James' tide, I
warrant!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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