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. Mery.+ Ye shall haue choise of a thousande as good as shee,
And ye must pardon hir, it is for lacke of witte.
+R. Royster.+ Yea, for were not I an husbande for hir fitte?
Well what should I now doe?
+M. Mery.+ In faith I can not tell.
+R. Royster.+ I will go home and die.
+M. Mery.+ Then shall I bidde toll the bell?
+R. Royster.+ No.
+M. Mery.+ God haue mercie on your soule, ah good gentleman,
That er ye shuld th[u]s dye for an vnkinde woman.
Will ye drinke once ere ye goe.
+R. Royster.+ No, no, I will none.
+M. Mery.+ How feele your soule to God.
+R. Royster.+ I am nigh gone.
+M. Mery.+ And shall we hence streight?
+R. Royster.+ Yea.
+M. Mery.+ _Placebo dilexi._
Maister Doister Doister will streight go home and die. _vt infra._*
[Footnote *: _See pp. 87, 88._]
[Transcriber’s Note:
“Ut infra” directions refer to “Certaine Songs” printed separately
at the end of the play. The text “Maister Doister Doister” is
unchanged.]
+R. Royster.+ Heigh how, alas, the pangs of death my hearte do breake.
+M. Mery.+ Holde your peace for shame sir, a dead man may not speake.
_Nequando_: What mourners and what torches shall we haue?
+R. Royster.+ None.
+M. Mery.+ _Dirige._ He will go darklyng to his graue,
_Neque, lux, neque crux, neque_ mourners, _neque_ clinke,
He will steale to heauen, vnknowing to God I thinke.
_A porta inferi_, who shall your goodes possesse?
+R. Royster.+ Thou shalt be my sectour, and haue all more and lesse.
+M. Mery.+ _Requiem æternam._ Now God reward your mastershyp.
And I will crie halfepenie doale for your worshyp.
[Sidenote: _Euocat seruos militis._]
Come forth sirs, heare the dolefull newes I shall you tell.
Our good maister here will no longer with vs dwell,
But in spite of Custance, which hath hym weried,
Let vs see his mashyp solemnely buried.
And while some piece of his soule is yet hym within,
Some part of his funeralls let vs here begin.
_Audiui vocem_, All men take heede by this one gentleman,
Howe you sette your loue vpon an vnkinde woman.
For these women be all such madde pieuishe elues,
They will not be wonne except it please them selues.
But in fayth Custance if euer ye come in hell,
Maister Roister Doister shall serue you as well.
And will ye needes go from vs thus in very deede?
+R. Royster.+ Yea in good sadnesse?
+M. Mery.+ Now Iesus Christ be your speede.
Good night Roger olde knaue, farewell Roger olde knaue,
Good night Roger olde knaue, knaue knap. _vt infra.**_
Pray for the late maister Roister Doisters soule,
And come forth parish Clarke, let the passing bell toll.
[Sidenote: _Ad seruos militis._]
Pray for your mayster sirs, and for hym ring a peale.
He was your right good maister while he was in heale.
_Qui Lazarum._
[Footnote **: See p. 88.]
+R. Royster.+ Heigh how.
+M. Mery.+ Dead men go not so fast In Paradisum.
+R. Royster.+ Heihow.
+M. Mery.+ Soft, heare what I haue cast
+R. Royster.+ I will heare nothing, I am past.
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