Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works; Tragedies (Drama); Yorkshire (England) -- Drama
HUSBAND.
Please you draw near, sir, y’are exceeding welcome.
MASTER.
Thats my doubt; I fear, I come not to be welcome.
HUSBAND.
Yes, howsoever.
MASTER.
Tis not my fashion, Sir, to dwell in long circumstance, but
to be plain, and effectual; therefore, to the purpose. The
cause of my setting forth was piteous and lamentable: that
hopeful young gentleman, your brother, whose vertues we all
love dearly, through your default and unnatural negligence,
lies in bond executed for your debt, a prisoner, all his
studies amazed, his hope struck dead, and the pride of his
youth muffled in these dark clouds of oppression.
HUSBAND.
Hum, um, um.
MASTER.
Oh, you have kild the towardest hope of all our university:
Wherefore, without repentance and ameds, expect pondrous and
sudden Judgements to fall grievously upon you. Your brother,
a man who profited in his divine Imployments, might have made
ten thousand souls fit for heaven, now by your careless courses
cast in prison, which you must answer for, and assure your
spirit it will come home at length.
HUSBAND.
Oh god! oh!
MASTER.
Wise men think ill of you, others speak ill of you, no man
loves you, nay, even those whom honesty condemns, condemn
you: and take this from the vertuous affection I bear your
brother; never look for prosperous hour, good thought, quiet
sleeps, contented walks, nor any thing that makes man perfect
til you redeem him. What is your answer? how will you bestow
him? upon desperate misery, or better hopes? I suffer, till I
have your answer.
HUSBAND.
Sir, you have much wrought with me. I feel you in my soul,
you are your arts master. I never had sense til now; your
syllables have cleft me. Both for your words and pains I
thank you: I cannot but acknowledge grievous wrongs done to
my brother, mighty, mighty, mighty wrongs.—Within there!
[Enter a servingman.]
HUSBAND.
Sir, Fill me a bowl of wine. Alas, poor brother,
Brus’d with an execution for my sake.
[Exit servant for wine.]
MASTER.
A bruse indeed makes many a moral sore
Till the grave cure em.
[Enter with wine.]
HUSBAND.
Sir, I begin to you, y’ave chide your welcome.
MASTER.
I could have wisht it better for your sake.
I pledge you, sir, to the kind man in prison.
HUSBAND.
Let it be so. Now, Sir, if you so please.
[Drink both.]
To spend but a few minutes in a walk
About my grounds below, my man here shall
Attend you.
I doubt not but by that time to be furnisht
Of a sufficient answer, and therein
My brother fully satisfied.
MASTER.
Good sir, in that the Angells would be pleased,
And the worlds murmurs calmd, and I should say
I set forth then upon a lucky day.
[Exit.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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