BRI. How now, all 'scaped! where's the woman? it is witchcraft! her
velvet hat is a witch, o' my conscience, or my key! the one.--The
madman was a devil, and I am an ass; so bless me, my place, and mine
office!
[_Exeunt, affrighted._
ACT V
SCENE I.--_The Fair, as before._
A Booth.
_LANTHORN LEATHERHEAD, dressed as a puppet-show man, FILCHER, and
SHARKWELL with a flag._
LEATH. Well, luck and Saint Bartholomew! out with the sign of our
invention, in the name of wit, and do you beat the drum the while: all
the foul i' the Fair, I mean all the dirt in Smithfield,--that's one
of master Littlewit's carwhitchets now--will be thrown at our banner
to-day, if the matter does not please the people. O the motions that I
Lanthorn Leatherhead have given light to, in my time, since my master
Pod died! Jerusalem was a stately thing, and so was Nineveh, and the
city of Norwich, and Sodom and Gomorrah, with the rising of the
prentices, and pulling down the bawdy-houses there upon
Shrove-Tuesday; but the Gun-powder plot, there was a get-penny! I have
presented that to an eighteen or twenty pence audience, nine times in
an afternoon. Your home-born projects prove ever the best, they are so
easy and familiar; they put too much learning in their things now o'
days: and that I fear will be the spoil of this. Littlewit! I say,
Micklewit! if not too mickle! look to your gathering there, goodman
Filcher.
FILCH. I warrant you, sir.
LEATH. An there come any gentlefolks, take two-pence apiece,
Sharkwell.
SHARK. I warrant you, sir, three-pence an we can.
[_Exeunt._
SCENE II.--_Another part of the Fair._
_Enter OVERDO, disguised like a Porter._
OVER. This latter disguise, I have borrow'd of a porter, shall carry
me out to all my great and good ends; which however interrupted, were
never destroyed in me: neither is the hour of my severity yet come to
reveal myself, wherein, cloud-like, I will break out in rain and hail,
lightning and thunder, upon the head of enormity. Two main works I
have to prosecute: first, one is to invent some satisfaction for the
poor kind wretch, who is out of his wits for my sake, and yonder I see
him coming, I will walk aside, and project for it.
_Enter WINWIFE and GRACE._
WINW. I wonder where Tom Quarlous is, that he returns not: it may be
he is struck in here to seek us.
GRACE. See, here's our madman again.
_Enter QUARLOUS, in TROUBLEALL'S clothes, followed by DAME PURECRAFT._
QUAR. I have made myself as like him, as his gown and cap will give me
leave.
PURE. Sir, I love you, and would be glad to be mad with you in truth.
WINW. How! my widow in love with a madman?
PURE. Verily, I can be as mad in spirit as you.
QUAR. By whose warrant? leave your canting. Gentlewoman, have I found
you? [_To mistress Grace._] save ye, quit ye, and multiply ye! Where's
your book? 'twas a sufficient name I mark'd, let me see't, be not
afraid to shew't me.
GRACE. What would you with it, sir?
QUAR. Mark it again and again at your service.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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