A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Blood.+ Nay, nay, 'tis like; the boy had ever a captivating
tongue to take a woman. O excellent money, excellent money,
mistress of my devotions! My widow's estate is little less too;
and then Sander--he has got a moneyed woman too; there will be
a bulk of money. Tim is puling, I may tell thee, one that by
nature's course cannot live long: t'other a midnight surfeit
cuts off: then have I a trick to cosen both their widows, and
make all mine. O Jarvis, what a moneyed generation shall I then
get upon thy mistress?
+Jar.+ A very virtuous brood.
+Blood.+ Hast done?
+Jar.+ I have done, sir.
+Blood.+ I'll in and get some music for thy mistress, to
quicken her this morning; and then to church in earnest. When
'tis done, where is Sir Nicholas Nemo and his wards.[99]
That watch so for her? Ha, ha, ha! all's mixed with honey:
I have mirth, a sweet young widow, and her money.
O that sweet saint, call'd Money! [_Exeunt._
+Anc.+ Joy! ay, and a hundred pound a year in a black box to
the bargain, given away i' th' dark last night to we know not
who, and to be heard of, we know not when. 'Sfoot, an' this be
joy, would we had a handsome slice of sorrow to season it.
+Alex.+ By this light, 'twas strange.
+Moll.+ Believe me, sir, I thought I had given it you: he that
took it called me by my name.
+Sim.+ Did he speak Welsh or English?
+Moll.+ Alas! I know not; I enjoined him silence, seeing the
watch coming, who parted us.
+Sim.+ If this were not Master Randalls of Randall Hall, that I
told you of, I'll be flayed.
+Alex.+ Be masked, and withdraw awhile; here comes our dad.
[_Exeunt._
_Enter +Bloodhound+, +Sir Marmaduke Many-Minds+,
+Sir Janus Ambidexter+, and +Master
Busy+._
+Blood.+ Why, Master Busy, asleep as thou stand'st, man!
+Sim.+ Some horse taught him that; 'tis worth god-a-mercy.[100]
+Con.+ I watch all night, I protest, sir; the compters pray for
me: I send all in, cut and long tail.[101]
+Sir Mar.+ What, what?
+Con.+ I sent twelve gentlewomen, our own neighbours, last
night, for being so late but at a woman's labour.
+Blood.+ Alas, sir! a woman in that kind, you know, must have
help.
+Con.+ What's that to me? I am to take no notice of that: they
might have let her alone till morning, or she might have cried
out some other time.
+Sir Mar.+ Nay, nay, Master Busy knows his place, I warrant you.
_Enter +Alexander+, +Ancient Young+, +Widow+,
and +Moll+._[102]
+Blood.+ Son Alexander, welcome; and Ancient Young too: I have
heard all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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