Roister Doister: Written, probably also represented, before 1553. Carefully edited from the unique copy, now at Eton CollegeUdall, Nicholas
General
Roister Doister: Written, probably also represented, before 1553. Carefully edited from the unique copy, now at Eton College
Udall, Nicholas
English drama (Comedy)
+M. Mumbl.+ A sore man by zembletee.
+M. Mery.+ Why, he wrong a club
Once in a fray out of the hande of Belzebub.
+R. Roister.+ And how when Mumfision?
+M. Mery.+ Oh your coustrelyng
Bore the lanterne a fielde so before the gozelyng.
Nay that is to long a matter now to be tolde:
Neuer aske his name Nurse, I warrant thee, be bolde,
He conquered in one day from _Rome_, to _Naples_,
And woonne Townes nourse as fast as thou canst make Apples.
+M. Mumbl.+ O Lorde, my heart quaketh for feare: he is to sore.
+R. Roister.+ Thou makest hir to much afearde, Merygreeke no more.
This tale woulde feare my sweete heart Custance right euill.
+M. Mery.+ Nay let hir take him Nurse, and feare not the deuill.
But thus is our song dasht. Sirs ye may home againe.
+R. Roister.+ No shall they not. I charge you all here to remaine:
The villaine slaues a whole day ere they can be founde.
+M. Mery.+ Couche on your marybones whooresons, down to the ground.
Was it meete he should tarie so long in one place
Without harmonie of Musike, or some solace?
Who so hath suche bees as your maister in hys head,
Had neede to haue his spirites with Musike to be fed.
By your maisterships licence.
+R. Roister.+ What is that? a moate?
+M. Mery.+ No it was a fooles feather had light on your coate.
+R. Roister.+ I was nigh no feathers since I came from my bed.
+M. Mery.+ No sir, it was a haire that was fall from your hed.
+R. Roister.+ My men com when it plese them.
+M. Mery.+ By your leue.
+R. Roister.+ What is that?
+M. Mery.+ Your gown was foule spotted with the foot of a gnat.
+R. Roister.+ Their maister to offende they are nothing afearde.
What now?
+M. Mery.+ A lousy haire from your masterships beard.
_Omnes famulæ._ And sir for Nurses sake pardon this one offence.
We shall not after this shew the like negligence.
+R. Royster.+ I pardon you this once, and come sing nere the wurse.
+M. Mery.+ How like you the goodnesse of this gentleman nurse?
+M. Mumbl.+ God saue his maistership that so can his men forgeue,
And I wyll heare them sing ere I go, by his leaue.
+R. Royster.+ Mary and thou shalt wenche, come we two will daunce.
+M. Mumbl.+ Nay I will by myne owne selfe foote the song perchaunce.
+R. Royster.+ Go to it sirs lustily.
+M. Mumbl.+ Pipe vp a mery note,
Let me heare it playde, I will foote it for a grote.
_Cantent._
+R. Royster.+ Now nurse take thys same letter here to thy mistresse.
And as my trust is in thee plie my businesse.
+M. Mumbl.+ It shalbe done?
+M. Mery.+ Who made it?
+R. Royster.+ I wrote it ech whit.
+M. Mery.+ Then nedes it no mending.
+R. Royster.+ No, no.
+M. Mery.+ No I know your wit.
I warrant it wel.
+M. Mumbl.+ It shal be deliuered.
But if ye speede, shall I be considered?
+M. Mery.+ Whough, dost thou doubt of that?
+Madge.+ What shal I haue?
+M. Mery.+ An hundred times more than thou canst deuise to craue.
+M. Mumbl.+ Shall I haue some newe geare? for my olde is all spent.
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