English drama -- 17th century; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works
FLOWERDALE.
Nay, master Oliver, I’ll not fight with you.
Alas, sir, you know it was not my doings,
It was only a plot to get Sir Lancelot’s daughter:
By God, I never meant you harm.
OLIVER.
And whore is the Gentle-woman thy wife, Mezell?
Whore is shee, Zirrah, ha?
FLOWERDALE.
By my troth, Master Oliver, sick, very sick; and God
is my judge, I know not what means to make for her,
good Gentle-woman.
OLIVER.
Tell me true, is she sick? tell me true, itch vise thee.
FLOWERDALE.
Yes, faith, I tell you true: Master Oliver, if you would
do me the small kindness, but to lend me forty shillings:
so God help me, I will pay you so soon as my ability
shall make me able, as I am a gentleman.
OLIVER.
Well, thou zaist thy wife is zick: hold, there’s vorty
shillings; give it to thy wife. Look thou give it her, or I
shall zo veze thee, thou wert not so vezed this zeven
year; look to it.
ARTHUR.
Yfaith, Master Oliver, it is in vain
To give to him that never thinks of her.
OLIVER.
Well, would che could yvind it.
FLOWERDALE.
I tell you true, Sir Arthur, as I am a gentleman.
OLIVER.
Well fare you well, zirrah: come, Sir Arthur.
[Exit both.]
FLOWERDALE.
By the Lord, this is excellent.
Five golden angels compassed in an hour!
If this trade hold, I’ll never seek a new.
Welcome, sweet gold: and beggary, adieu.
[Enter Uncle and Father.]
UNCLE.
See, Kester, if you can find the house.
FLOWERDALE.
Who’s here? my Uncle, and my man Kester? By
the mass, tis they. How do you, Uncle, how dost
thou, Kester? By my troth, Uncle, you must needs
lend me some money: the poor gentlewoman my
wife, so God help me, is very sick. I was robbed of
the hundred angels you gave me; they are gone.
UNCLE.
Aye, they are gone indeed; come, Kester, away.
FLOWERDALE.
Nay, Uncle, do you hear? good Uncle.
UNCLE.
Out, hypocrite, I will not hear thee speak;
Come, leave him, Kester.
FLOWERDALE.
Kester, honest Kester.
FATHER.
Sir, I have nought to say to you. Open the door,
Tanikin: thou hadst best lock it fast, for there’s a
false knave without.
FLOWERDALE.
You are an old lying Rascal, so you are.
[Exit both.]
[Enter Lucy.]
LUCY.
Vat is de matter? Vat be you, yonker?
FLOWERDALE.
By this light, a Dutch Frau: they say they are called
kind. By this light, I’ll try her.
LUCY.
Vat bin you, yonker? why do you not speak?
FLOWERDALE.
By my troth, sweet heart, a poor gentleman that
would desire of you, if it stand with your liking, the
bounty of your purse.
[Enter Father.]
LUCY.
O here, God, so young an armine.
FLOWERDALE.
Armine, sweet-heart? I know not what you mean by
that, but I am almost a beggar.
LUCY.
Are you not a married man? vere bin your wife? Here
is all I have: take dis.
FLOWERDALE.
What, gold, young Frau? this is brave.
FATHER.
—If he have any grace, he’ll now repent.
LUCY.
Why speak you not? were be your vife?
FLOWERDALE.
Dead, dead, she’s dead; tis she hath undone me:
spent me all I had, and kept rascals under mine
nose to brave me.
LUCY.
Did you use her vell?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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