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.+ By this crosse I haue seene you eate your meate as well,
As any that ere I haue seene of or heard tell,
A stomacke quod you? he that will that denie
I know was neuer at dynner in your companie.
+R. Royster.+ Nay, the stomacke of a man it is that I meane.
+M. Mery.+ Nay the stomacke of a horse or a dogge I weene.
+R. Royster.+ Nay a mans stomacke with a weapon meane I.
+M. Mery.+ Ten men can scarce match you with a spoone in a pie.
+R. Royster.+ Nay the stomake of a man to trie in strife.
+M. Mery.+ I neuer sawe your stomacke cloyed yet in my lyfe.
+R. Royster.+ Tushe I meane in strife or fighting to trie.
+M. Mery.+ We shall see how ye will strike nowe being angry.
+R. Royster.+ Haue at thy pate then, and saue thy head if thou may.
+M. Mery.+ Nay then haue at your pate agayne by this day,
+R. Royster.+ Nay thou mayst not strike at me againe in no wise.
+M. Mery.+ I can not in fight make to you suche warrantise:
But as for your foes here let them the bargaine bie.
+R. Royster.+ Nay as for they, shall euery mothers childe die.
And in this my fume a little thing might make me,
To beate downe house and all, and else the deuill take me.
+M. Mery.+ If I were as ye be, by gogs deare mother,
I woulde not leaue one stone vpon an other.
Though she woulde redeeme it with twentie thousand poundes.
+R. Royster.+ It shall be euen so, by his lily woundes.
+M. Mery.+ Bee not at one with hir vpon any amendes.
+R. Royster.+ No though she make to me neuer so many frendes.
Nor if all the worlde for hir woulde vndertake,
No not God hymselfe neither, shal not hir peace make,
On therfore, marche forwarde, soft, stay a whyle yet.
+M. Mery.+ On.
+R. Royster.+ Tary.
+M. Mery.+ Forth.
+R. Royster.+ Back.
+M. Mery.+ On.
+R. Royster.+ Soft. Now forward set.
+C. Custance.+ What businesse haue we here? out alas, alas.
+R. Royster.+ Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Dydst thou see that Merygreeke? how afrayde she was?
Dydst thou see how she fledde apace out of my sight?
Ah good sweete Custance I pitie hir by this light.
+M. Mery.+ That tender heart of yours wyll marre altogether,
Thus will ye be turned with waggyng of a fether.
+R. Royster.+ On sirs, keepe your ray.
+M. Mery.+ On forth, while this geare is hot
+R. Royster.+ Soft, the Armes of Caleys, I haue one thing forgot.
+M. Mery.+ What lacke we now?
+R. Royster.+ Retire, or else we be all slain.
+M. Mery.+ Backe for the pashe of God, backe sirs, backe againe.
What is the great mater?
+R. Royster.+ This hastie forth goyng
Had almost brought vs all to vtter vndoing,
It made me forget a thing most necessarie.
+M. Mery.+ Well remembred of a captaine by sainct Marie.
+R. Royster.+ It is a thing must be had.
+M. Mery.+ Let vs haue it then.
+R. Royster.+ But I wote not where nor how.
+M. Mery.+ Then wote not I when.
But what is it?
+R. Royster.+ Of a chiefe thing I am to seeke.
+M. Mery.+ Tut so will ye be, when ye haue studied a weke.
But tell me what it is?
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