English drama -- 17th century; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works
LANCELOT.
Assure your self,
You shall be married with all speed we may:
One day shall serve for Frances and for Lucy.
OLIVER.
Why che would vain know the time, for providing
wedding raiments.
LANCELOT.
Why, no more but this: first get your assurance made,
touching my daughter’s jointer; that dispatched, we will
in two days make provision.
OLIVER.
Why, man, chil have the writings made by tomorrow.
LANCELOT.
Tomorrow be it then: let’s meet at the king’s head in
fish street.
OLIVER.
No, fie, man, no, let’s meet at the Rose at Temple-Bar,
That will be nearer your counsellor and mine.
LANCELOT.
At the Rose be it then, the hour nine:
He that comes last forfeits a pint of wine.
OLIVER.
A pint is no payment, let it be a whole quart or nothing.
[Enter Artichoke.]
ARTICHOKE.
Master, here is a man would speak with Master Oliver: he
comes from young Master Flowerdale.
OLIVER.
Why, chill speak with him, chill speak with him.
LANCELOT.
Nay, son Oliver, I’ll surely see what young Flowerdale hath
sent to you. I pray God it be no quarrel.
OLIVER.
Why, man, if he quarrel with me, chill give him, his hands full.
[Enter old Flowerdale.]
FATHER.
God save you, good Sir Lancelot.
LANCELOT.
Welcome, honest friend.
FATHER.
To you and yours my master wisheth health,
But unto you, sir, this, and this he sends:
There is the length, sir, of his rapier,
And in that paper shall you know his mind.
OLIVER.
Here, chill meet him, my vrend, chill meet him.
LANCELOT.
Meet him! you shall not meet the ruffian, fie.
OLIVER.
And I do not meet him, chill give you leave to call me cut;
where ist, sirrah, where ist? where ist?
FATHER.
The letter shows both the time and place,
And if you be a man, then keep your word.
LANCELOT.
Sir, he shall not keep his word, he shall not meet.
FATHER.
Why, let him choose, he’ll be the better known
For a base rascal, and reputed so.
OLIVER.
Zirrah, zirrah: and tweare not an old fellow, and sent after
an arrant, chid give thee something, but chud be no money:
But hold thee, for I see thou art somewhat testorne; hold thee,
there’s vorty shillings: bring thy master a veeld, chil give
thee vorty more; look thou bring him: chil mall him, tell
him, chill mar his dauncing tressels, chil use him, he was ne’er
so used since his dam bound his head; chill make him for
capyring any more, chy vor thee.
FATHER.
You seem a man, stout and resolute,
And I will so report, what ere befall.
LANCELOT.
And fall out ill, assure your master this,
I’ll make him fly the land, or use him worse.
FATHER.
My master, sir, deserves not this of you,
And that you’ll shortly find.
LANCELOT.
Thy master is an unthrift, you a knave,
And I’ll attach you first, next clap him up
Or have him bound unto his good behavior.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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