COKES. O Numps! are you here, Numps? look where I am, Numps, and
mistress Grace too! Nay, do not look angerly, Numps: my sister is here
and all, I do not come without her.
WASPE. What the mischief do you come with her; or she with you?
COKES. We came all to seek you, Numps.
WASPE. To seek me! why, did you all think I was lost, or run away with
your fourteen shillings' worth of small ware here? or that I had
changed it in the fair for hobby-horses? S'precious--to seek me!
MRS. OVER. Nay, good master Numps, do you shew discretion, though he
be exorbitant, as master Overdo says, and it be but for conservation
of the peace.
WASPE. Marry gip, goody She-justice, mistress Frenchhood! turd in your
teeth, and turd in your Frenchhood's teeth too, to do you service, do
you see! Must you quote your Adam to me! you think you are madam
Regent still, mistress Overdo, when I am in place; no such matter. I
assure you, your reign is out, when I am in, dame.
MRS. OVER. I am content to be in abeyance, sir, and be governed by
you; so should he too, if he did well; but 'twill be expected you
should also govern your passions.
WASPE. Will it so, forsooth! good Lord, how sharp you are, with being
at Bedlam yesterday! Whetstone has set an edge upon you, has he?
MRS. OVER. Nay, if you know not what belongs to your dignity, I do yet
to mine.
WASPE. Very well then.
COKES. Is this the license, Numps? for love's sake let me see't; I
never saw a license.
WASPE. Did you not so? why, you shall not see't then.
COKES. An you love me, good Numps.
WASPE. Sir, I love you, and yet I do not love you in these fooleries:
set your heart at rest, there's nothing in it but hard words;--and
what would you see it for?
COKES. I would see the length and the breadth on't, that's all; and I
will see it now, so I will.
WASPE. You shall not see it here.
COKES. Then I'll see it at home, and I'll look upon the case here.
WASPE. Why, do so; a man must give way to him a little in trifles,
gentlemen. These are errors, diseases of youth; which he will mend
when he comes to judgment and knowledge of matters. I pray you
conceive so, and I thank you: and I pray you pardon him, and I thank
you again.
QUAR. Well, this dry nurse, I say still, is a delicate man.
WINW. And I am, for the cosset his charge: did you ever see a fellow's
face more accuse him for an ass?
QUAR. Accuse him! it confesses him one without accusing. What pity
'tis yonder wench should marry such a Cokes!
WINW. 'Tis true.
QUAR. She seems to be discreet, and as sober as she is handsome.
WINW. Ay, and if you mark her, what a restrained scorn she casts upon
all his behaviour and speeches!
COKES. Well, Numps, I am now for another piece of business more, the
Fair, Numps, and then--
WASPE. Bless me! deliver me! help, hold me! the Fair!
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