Roister Doister: Written, probably also represented, before 1553. Carefully edited from the unique copy, now at Eton College — John Shaqi
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.+ Why so? better nay: Wherfore?
+C. Custance.+ For an vsurer.
+R. Royster.+ I am no vsurer good mistresse by his armes.
+M. Mery.+ When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes?
+C. Custance.+ Yes, a fowle vsurer he is, ye shall see els.
+R. Royster.+ Didst not thou promise she would picke no mo quarels?
+C. Custance.+ He will lende no blowes, but he haue in recompence
Fiftene for one, whiche is to muche of conscience.
+R. Royster.+ Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man
Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.
+C. Custance.+ And where other vsurers take their gaines yerely,
This man is angry but he haue his by and by.
+Ga. Goodl.+ Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure.
+M. Mery.+ Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure.
Vpon your good vsage, he will now shake your hande.
+R. Royster.+ And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande.
+M. Mery.+ Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst.
+Ga. Goodl.+ Oh the moste honeste gentleman that ere I wist.
I beseeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with vs.
+M. Mery.+ He shall not say you nay and I too, by Iesus.
Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe.
+R. Royster.+ I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was.
+M. Mery.+ Then let me fet your quier that we may haue a song.
+R. Royster.+ Goe.
+G. Goodluck.+ I haue hearde no melodie all this yeare long.
+M. Mery.+ Come on sirs quickly.
+R. Royster.+ Sing on sirs, for my frends sake.
+D. Dough.+ Cal ye these your frends?
+R. Royster.+ Sing on, and no mo words make.
_Here they sing._
+Ga. Good.+ The Lord preserue our most noble Queene of renowne,
And hir virtues rewarde with the heauenly crowne.
+C. Custance.+ The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Maiestie,
Long to reigne ouer vs in all prosperitie.
+T. Trusty.+ That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende,
He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende.
+M. Mery.+ God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect,
Learning and vertue to aduaunce, and vice to correct.
+R. Royster.+ God graunt hir louyng subiects both the minde and grace,
Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace.
_Harpax._ Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers God prosper,
With honour and loue of all men to minister.
_Omnes._ God graunt the nobilitie hir to serue and loue,
With all the whole commontie as doth them behoue.
AMEN.
Certaine Songs to be song by
_those which shall vse this Comedie or Enterlude_.
+The Seconde Song.+
Who so to marry a minion Wyfe,
Hath hadde good chaunce and happe,
Must loue hir and cherishe hir all his life,
And dandle hir in his lappe.
If she will fare well, yf she wyll go gay,
A good husbande euer styll,
What euer she lust to doe, or to say,
Must lette hir haue hir owne will.
About what affaires so euer he goe,
He must shewe hir all his mynde,
None of hys counsell she may be kept free,
Else is he a man vnkynde.
+The fourth Song.+
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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