A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Moll.+ Nay, nay; and we talk, we are undone. Do you not see
the watch coming up Gracious Street yonder? This cross-way was
the worst place we could have met at; but that is yours, and I
am yours; but, good sir, do not blame me, that I so suddenly
yielded to your love; alas! you know what a match on't I should
have to-morrow else.
+Ran.+ Hur means the scurvy Ancient. [_Aside._
+Moll.+ I' th' morning we shall be man and wife, and
then--Alas, I am undone! the watch are hard upon us: go
you back through Cornhill, I'll run round about the 'Change
by the Church Corner, down Cateaton Street, and meet you at
Bartholomew Lane end. [_Exit._
+Ran.+ Cat's Street was call hur? sure, Randalls was wrapped
in['s][91] mother's smock.
_Enter +Constable+ and +Watch+._
+Con.+ Keep straight towards Bishopsgate: I'm deceived if I
heard not somebody run that way.
_Enter +Maid+ with a bandbox._[92]
+Watch.+ Stay, sir; her's somebody come from Aldgate Ward?
+Maid.+ Alas! I shall be hanged for staying so long for this
cuff.
+Watch.+ Come before the constable here.
+Maid.+ Let the constable come before me, and he please.
+Con.+ How now! where ha' you been, pray, dame, ha!
+Maid.+ For my mistress's ruff at her sempstress', sir; she
must needs use it to-morrow, and that made me stay till it was
done.
+Con.+ Pray, who's your mistress? where dwell you?
+Maid.+ With one Mistress Wag, in Blackfriars, next to the sign
of the Feathers and the Fool, sir.
+Con.+ O, I know her very well; make haste home; 'tis late.
Come, come, let's back to Gracechurch; all's well, all's well.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter severally, +Ancient+ and +Moll+._
+Anc.+ I 'scaped the watch at Bishopsgate with ease: there is
somebody turning down the church corner towards the Exchange;
it may be Mistress Mary.
+Moll.+ Ancient!
+Anc.+ Yes.
+Moll.+ Are you here again? you have nimbly followed me: what
said the watch to you?
+Anc.+ I passed them easily; the gates are but now shut in.
+Moll.+ As we go, I'll tell thee such a tale of a Welsh wooer
and a lamentable love-letter.
+Anc.+ Yes, Sim told me of such a rat, and where he lodges: I
thought I should have met him here.
+Moll.+ Here? out upon him! But the watches walk their station,
and in few words is safety. I hope you will play fair, and
lodge me with the maid you told me of.
+Anc.+ She stays up for us, wench: in the word of a gentleman,
all shall be fair and civil.
+Moll.+ I believe you. [_Exeunt._
_Enter at several doors, +Randall+ and +Maid+._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account