A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
General
A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 14
English drama
WAN. Sure, I have seen this fellow's face. Friend, have I never
seen your face before?
PAR. If I mistake not, I have seen one very like your ladyship's
too. She was a captain's cast whore in the town. I shall have a
time to be revenged.
WILD. How now, sirrah, are you threatening? Away with him.
CAPT. I'll fetch a stronger watch, sir, and return presently.
WILD. Do, master constable; and give the poor woman something,
and set her free; for I dare say 'twas his wickedness. She looks
like one that ne'er thought on such a thing.
BAWD. God bless your worship, I am innocent. He never left making
love till I consented.
_Enter_ CAPTAIN _in his own shape_.
PAR. O miserable, miserable!
CAPT. How now, what's the news here? My honoured friend and
master parson, what makes you here at this time of night? why, I
should have thought this a time to have envied you for your fair
bride's embraces. Do you give these favours? Are these your
bride-laces? It's a new way.
[_Plays with the cord that binds his arms._
PAR. Is it new to you?
WAN. How now, captain?
CAPT. Wanton, is this your plot to endear your husband to you?
PAR. No, 'tis thy plot, poor beaten captain; but I shall be
revenged.
CAPT. Yes, faith, it was my plot, and I glory in't; to undermine
my Machiavel, which so greedily swallowed that sweet bait that
had this hook.
PAR. 'Tis well.
CAPT. But my anger ends not here. Remember the base language you
gave me--son of a thousand fathers; captain of a tame band; and
one that got my living by the longstaff-speeches--for which and
thy former treacheries I'll ruin thee, slave. I'll have no more
mercy on thee than old women on blind puppies. I'll bring you to
your commendations in Latin epistles again, nor leave thee
anything to live on--no, not bread--but what thou earn'st by
raking gentlewomen's names in anagrams.[263] And, master justice,
if ever you'll oblige me, stand to me now, that I may procure the
whipping of him from the reverend bench.
PAR. I am undone.
WILD. I can do nothing but justice: you must excuse me. I shall
only make it appear how fit it is to punish this kind of sin in
that coat in time, and to crush such serpents in the shells.
PAR. Mercy, O, mercy!
WILD. Officers, away with him.
[_They pull him away._
PAR. No mercy?
WAN. Yes, upon conditions, there may be some mercy.
[_The_ PARSON _looks very dejected_.
WILD. And these they are: let the watch stay in t'other room.
[_Exit_ WATCH.] First, your wife shall have her liberty, and you
yours, as she reports of you; and when you bring her with you,
you shall be welcome. Then you shall not be jealous; that's
another point.
CAPT. That he shall have a cure for.
WAN. Yes, yes, I'll apply something to his eyes shall cure him of
his doubt.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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