Recently Recovered "Lost" Tudor Plays with some others
History
Recently Recovered "Lost" Tudor Plays with some others
English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Interludes, English; Moralities, English
_Wit._ Hark, in thine ear!--if the whoreson hap
To complain to him that wears the red cap,
I fear then shortly he will us clap D3,_r._
By the heels from our living.
_Ill-W._ Nay, nay! there is no doubt;
By him I have reported, all about,
That he doth not well his good name to put out:
Ill-Will cannot say well.
_Rem._ Friend! therein thou art the more to blame,
To slander me wrongfully and undeserved;
But, or thou depart thou shalt answer for the same.
Where is Wealth and Liberty? how hast thou them ordered?
_Ill-W._ Qury cisis quest is un malt ombre;
Me is un Spyanardo compoco parlavere.
_Health._ Thou false thief! is thine English tongue gone?
As mischievous Ill-Will and Shrewd Wit ye have destroyed many one.
_Wit._ Sir! hurt not me, and I will tell you truth, anon:
This same is as false a knave as ever came within Saint John's.
_Ill-W._ Per amor de my as pica un poco
Eo queris andar pour lagtaunt creae so.
_Rem._ I cannot tell what thou dost mean, babbler!
But thou shall speak English, and confess another matter.
_Health._ Sir! I beseech your lordship, in the way of charity,
Let not these thieves escape your hands: they have destroyed us
utterly.
_Wit._ Sir! believe him not! he speaks but of malice only.
We be true men; thereof we shall fetch good witness,
An honest man that shall be bound for him and me.
The law saith plain: _Nulla fides contra testes_.
_Rem._ That is truth; but who will be witness or bound for thee?
_Ill-W._ There is three among you in this house.
_Wit._ I will go to fetch them quickly.
_Rem._ They will come unsend for, I warrant you, if they wist.
What be their names? tell me what they be!
_Ill-W._ That one is John Irische and John Sholer:
But full these be honest men, all three. D3,_v._
_Health._ Trust not their words! they will dissemble still;
They are so false and crafty, all their intent is ill.
_Ill-W._ Ye lie falsely! I speak but right and reason;
And by the law of arms, ye must needs be tane.
You are called Good Remedy which, at all season,
Should lean to man's life, and maintain the same.
We be here both your prisoners, wrongfully accused by defame:
Keep one of us fast; let him lie for all;
That other for friends and witness go shall.
_Wit._ Sir! let him not go, and leave me behind;
He will ever be a false knave, for I know his mind.
_Ill-W._ Hold thy tongue, foolish knave! I do not mean so.
_Rem._ I hear now ye cannot agree which of you should go.
_Ill-W._ No, by God's body! there shall none go but I.
_Wit._ Thou playest the knave! it must needs be I!
_Health._ Keep them safe, I pray you; for if they scape again
Many men shall repent it: it shall be to our pain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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