A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Tim.+ Who's this? goodman File, the blacksmith! I thought it
had been our old collier. Did you go to bed with that dirty
face, goodman File?
+Smith.+ And rise with it too, sir.
+Tim.+ What have you bumming out there, goodman File?
+Smith.+ A vice, sir, that I would fain be furnished with a
little money upon.
+Tim.+ Why, how will you do to work then, goodman File?
+Smith.+ This is my spare vice, not that I live by.
+Tim.+ Hum! you did not buy this spare vice of a lean courtier,
did ye?
+Smith.+ No, sir, of a fat cook, that 'strained[8] of a smith
for's rent.
+Sim.+ O hard-hearted man of grease!
+Tim.+ Nay, nay, Sim, we must do't sometimes.
+Blood.+ Ha, thrifty whoreson!
+Tim.+ And what would serve your turn, goodman File?
+Smith.+ A noble, sir.
+Tim.+ What! upon a spare vice to lend a noble?
+Sim.+ Why, sir, for ten groats you may make yourself drunk,
and so buy a vice outright for half the money.
+Tim.+ That is a noble vice, I assure you.
+Sim.+ How long would you have it?
+Smith.+ But a fortnight; 'tis to buy stuff, I protest, sir.
+Tim.+ Look you, being a neighbour, and born one for another----
+Blood.+ Ha, villain, shalt have all!
+Tim.+ There is five shillings upon't, which, at the
fortnight's end, goodman File, you must make five shillings
sixpence.
+Smith.+ How, sir?
+Tim.+ Nay, an' it were not to do you a courtesy----
+Blood.+ Ha, boy!
+Tim.+ And then I had forgot threepence for my bill; so there
is four shillings and ninepence,[9] which you are to tender
back five shillings sixpence, goodman File, at the end of the
fortnight.
+Smith.+ Well, an' it were not for earnest necessity----Ha,
boys! I come, I come, you black rascals, let the cans go round.
[_Exit +Smith+._
+Tim.+ Sim, because the man's an honest man, I pray lay up his
vice, as safe as it were our own.
+Sim.+ And if he miss his day, and forfeit, it shall be yours
and your heirs for ever.
+Blood.+ What, disbursing money, boy? Here is thy mother-in-law.
+Sim.+ Your nose drops: 'twill spoil her ruff.
+Tim.+ Pray, forsooth, what's a clock?
+Maid.+ O, fie upon him, mistress, I thought he had begun to
ask you blessing.
+Wid.+ Peace, we'll have more on't. [_Walks towards him._
+Tim.+ I wonnot kiss, indeed.
+Sim.+ An' he wonnot, here are those that will, forsooth.
+Blood.+ Get you in, you rogue. [_Exit +Sim.+_
+Wid.+ I hope you will, sir: I was bred in Ireland, where the
women begin the salutation.
+Tim.+ I wonnot kiss truly.
+Wid.+ Indeed you must.
+Tim.+ Would my girdle may break if I do.[10]
+Wid.+ I have a mind.
+Tim.+ Niggers-noggers, I wonnot.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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