A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13 — John Shaqi
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Jar.+ And he could but get her down there.
+Blood.+ By my troth, we shall pop him fairly. Where is she?
where is she?
+Jar.+ Ha! do you not perceive a fellow walk up and down
muffled yonder?
+Blood.+ There is something walks.
+Jar.+ That fellow has dogged us all the way, and I fear all is
frustrate.
+Blood.+ Not, I hope, man.
+Mis. Coote.+ This it is to be in love; if I do not dwindle----
+Jar.+ I know him now.
+Blood.+ 'Tis none of Sir Nicholas' spies, is't?
+Jar.+ He serves him.
+Blood.+ He wonnot murder me, will he?
+Jar.+ He shall not touch you: only, I remember, this afternoon
this fellow, by what he had gathered by eavesdropping, or by
frequent observation, asked me privately if there were no
meeting betwixt you and my mistress to-night in this place, for
a widow, he said, he knew you were to meet.
+Blood.+ Good.
+Jar.+ Now I handsomely threw dust in's eyes, and yet kept the
plot swift afoot too. I told him you were here to meet a widow
too, whom you long loved, but would not let her know't till
this afternoon, naming to him one of my aunts[90], a widow
by Fleet-ditch. Her name is Mistress Gray, and keeps divers
gentlewomen lodgers.
+Blood.+ Good again.
+Jar.+ To turn the scent then, and to cheat inquisition the
more ingeniously----
+Blood.+ And to bob Sir Nicholas most neatly.
+Jar.+ Be sure, all this night, in the hearing of any that you
shall but suspect to be within hearing, to call her nothing but
Mistress Coote.
+Blood.+ Or Widow Coote.
+Jar.+ Yes, you may put her in so; but be sure you cohere
in every particle with the precedent fallacy, as that you
have loved her long, though till this day--and so as I did
demonstrate.
+Blood.+ But how an' she should say she is not Widow Coote, and
that she knows no such woman, and so spoil all?
+Jar.+ Trust that with her wit and my instructions. We
suspected a spy, and therefore she will change her voice.
+Blood.+ Thou hast a delicate mistress of her.
+Jar.+ One thing more, and you meet presently. Mine aunt has
had nine husbands; tell her you'll hazard a limb, and make the
tenth.
+Blood.+ Prythee, let me alone; and Sir Nicholas were here
himself, he should swear 'twere thine aunt.
+Jar.+ [_To +Mistress Coote+._] Go forwards towards him; be not
too full of prattle, but make use of your instructions.
+Blood.+ Who's there? Widow Coote?
+Mis. Coote.+ Master Bloodhound, as I take it.
+Blood.+ She changes her voice bravely. I must tell thee,
true widow, I have loved thee a long time (look how the rogue
looks!), but had never the wit to let thee know it till to-day.
+Mis. Coote.+ So I was given to understand, sir.
+Jar.+ Is't not a fool finely? [_Aside._
+John.+ Handsome, by this hand.
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