English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Greene, Robert, 1558-1592
_Sir Bar._ Ho, fellow! stay, and let me speak with thee.
_Slip._ Fellow! friend, thou dost disbuse me; I am a gentleman.
_Sir Bar._ A gentleman! how so?
_Slip._ Why, I rub horses, sir.
_Sir Bar._ And what of that?
_Slip._ O simple-witted! mark my reason. They that do good service in
the commonweal are gentlemen; but such as rub horses do good service
in the commonweal; ergo, tarbox, master courtier, a horse-keeper is a
gentleman.
_Sir Bar._ Here is overmuch wit, in good earnest. But, sirrah, where is
thy master?
_Slip._ Neither above ground nor under ground, drawing out red into
white, swallowing that down without chawing that was never made without
treading.
_Sir Bar._ Why, where is he, then?
_Slip._ Why, in his cellar, drinking a cup of neat and brisk claret,
in a bowl of silver. O, sir, the wine runs trillill down his throat,
which cost the poor vintner many a stamp before it was made. But I must
hence, sir, I have haste.
_Sir Bar._ Why, whither now, I prithee?
_Slip._ Faith, sir, to Sir Silvester, a knight, hard by, upon my
master's errand, whom I must certify this, that the lease of East
Spring shall be confirmed; and therefore must I bid him provide trash,
for my master is no friend without money.
_Sir Bar._ [_aside_]. This is the thing for which I su'd so long,
This is the lease which I, by Gnatho's means,
Sought to possess by patent from the king;
But he, injurious man, who lives by crafts,
And sells king's favours for who will give most,
Hath taken bribes of me, yet covertly
Will sell away the thing pertains to me:
But I have found a present help, I hope,
For to prevent his purpose and deceit.--
Stay, gentle friend.
_Slip._ A good word; thou hast won me: this word is like a warm caudle
to a cold stomach.
_Sir Bar._ Sirrah, wilt thou, for money and reward,
Convey me certain letters, out of hand,
From out thy master's pocket?
_Slip._ Will I, sir? why, were it to rob my father, hang my mother, or
any such like trifles, I am at your commandment, sir. What will you
give me, sir?
_Sir Bar._ A hundred pounds.
_Slip._ I am your man: give me earnest. I am dead at a pocket, sir;
why, I am a lifter, master, by my occupation.
_Sir Bar._ A lifter! what is that?
_Slip._ Why, sir, I can lift a pot as well as any man, and pick a purse
as soon as any thief in my country.
_Sir Bar._ Why, fellow, hold; here is earnest, ten pound to assure
thee. [_Gives money_]. Go, despatch, and bring it me to yonder tavern
thou seest; and assure thyself, thou shalt both have thy skin full of
wine and the rest of thy money.
_Slip._ I will, sir.--Now room for a gentleman, my masters! who gives
me money for a fair new angel,[271] a trim new angel? [_Exeunt._
SCENE II.--_The Same._
_Enter_ ANDREW _and_ Purveyor.
_Pur._ Sirrah, I must needs have your master's horses: the king cannot
be unserved.
_And._ Sirrah, you must needs go without them, because my master must
be served.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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