A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13Dodsley, Robert
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 13
Dodsley, Robert
English drama
+Sim.+ Nay, sir, the jest was, that they should fall asleep
together, and forget themselves; for very lovingly we found
them together, like the Gemini, or the two winter mornings met
together. Look, look, look, where they come, sir, and Jarvis
between 'em--just like the picture of knavery betwixt fraud and
lechery.
_Enter +Jarvis+, +Ear-lack+, and +Mistress Coote+._
+Jar.+ _Tim is a puling sirrah, I may tell it thee: a midnight
surfeit too may cut off Sander; I'll cosen their wives, make
all mine own; and then, O Jarvis, what a moneyed generation
shall I get upon this Widow Coote that hath two teeth!_
+Blood.+ Did we bring you to music, with a mischief? Ear-lack,
thou'rt a goat; thou hast abused the best bed in my house; I'll
set a sumner[104] upon thee.
+Ear.+ Bloodhound, thou art a usurer, and takest forty in the
hundred; I'll inform against thee.
+Blood.+ Are you a bawd, huswife, ha?
+Mis. Coote.+ Alas, sir! I was merely conied, betrayed by
Jarvis; but as I have been bawd to the flesh, you have
been bawd to your money; so set the hare-pie against the
goose-giblets, and you and I are as daintily matched as can be,
sir.
+Blood.+ Sim, run to the Widow Wag's; tell her we are both
abused; this Jarvis is a juggler, say.
+Anc.+ I can save Sim that labour, sir. I assure you the widow
is married to your son Alexander, and, as a confirmation, she
is come herself to witness it. [_Discovers._
+Alex.+ Your fair young daughter is wife to this Ancient, who
is come likewise to witness it.
+Wid.+ The plain truth is, Master Bloodhound, I would entreat
you to keep the kennel: the younger dog, being of the better
scent, has borne the game before you.
+Alex.+ We have clapped hands on't, sir; and the priest that
should have married you to her is to marry her to me: so,
sister, talk for yourself.
+Blood.+ Ha, brave tricks and conceits! Can you dance, Master
Ear-lack?
+Ear.+ Ha, ha! the old man's a little mad. But thou art not
married, Moll?
+Moll.+ Yes, indeed, sir, and will lie with this gentleman soon
at night. Do you think I would chew ram-mutton when I might
swallow venison? That's none of Venus's documents, Monsieur
Dotterel.
+Ear.+ Pox of that Venus! she's a whore, I warrant her.
+Blood.+ And were not you the other juggler with Jarvis in
this, hey? pass and repass!
+Alex.+ Good sir, be satisfied; the widow and my sister
sung both one song, and what was't, but _Crabbed age and
youth cannot live together._[105] Now we persuaded them,
and they could not live together, they would never endure
to lie together; this consequently descended, there was the
antecedent: we clapped hands, sealed lips, and so fell unto the
relative.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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