English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Spurious and doubtful works
Ya’re welcome to a smelling Room here. You newly took leave
of the air; ist not a strange savour?
PYE.
As all prisons have: smells of sundry wretches,
Who, tho departed, leave their scents behind ’em.
By Gold, Captain, I am sincerely sorry for thee.
CAPTAIN.
By my troth, George, I thank thee; but pish,—what must be,
must be.
SKIRMISH.
Captain, what do you lie in for? ist great? what’s your
offence?
CAPTAIN.
Faith, my offence is ordinary,—common: A High-way; and I
fear me my penalty will be ordinary and common too: a halter.
PYE.
Nay, prophecy not so ill; it shall go heard,
But I’ll shift for thy life.
CAPTAIN.
Whether I live or die, thou’art an honest George. I’ll tell
you—silver flowed not with me, as it had done, (for now the
tide runs to Bawds and flatterers.) I had a start out, and
by chance set upon a fat steward, thinking his purse had been
as pursey as his body; and the slave had about him but the
poor purchase of ten groats: notwithstanding, being descried,
pursued, and taken, I know the Law is so grim, in respect of
many desperate, unsettled soldiers, that I fear me I shall
dance after their pipe for’t.
SKIRMISH.
I am twice sorry for you, Captain: first that your purchase
was so small, and now that your danger is so great.
CAPTAIN.
Push, the worst is but death,—ha you a pipe of Tobacco
about you?
SKIRMISH.
I think I have there abouts about me.
[Captain blows a pipe.]
CAPTAIN.
Here’s a clean Gentleman, too, to receive.
PYE.
Well, I must cast about some happy slight.
Work brain, that ever didst thy Master right!
CAPTAIN.
Keeper! let the key be turn’d!
[Corporal and Nicholas within.]
NICHOLAS.
Aye, I pray, Master keeper, give’s a cast of your office.
CAPTAIN.
How now? more Visitants?—what, Corporal Oath?
PYE.
Corporal?
SKIRMISH.
Corporal?
CORPORAL.
In prison, honest Captain? this must not be.
NICHOLAS.
How do you, Captain Kinsman>
CAPTAIN.
Good Cocks-comb! what makes that pure, starch’d fool here?
NICHOLAS.
You see, Kinsman, I am somewhat bold to call in, and see how
you do. I heard you were safe enough, and I was very glad
on’t that it was no worse.
CAPTAIN.
This is a double torture now,—this fool by’th book
Do’s vex me more than my imprisonment.
What meant you, Corporal, to hook him hither?
CORPORAL.
Who, he? he shall relieve thee, and supply thee;
I’ll make him do ’t.
CAPTAIN.
[Aside, to Oath.] Fie, what vain breath you spend! he supply?
I’ll sooner expect mercy from a Usurer when my bond’s
Forfeited, sooner kindness from a Layer when my money’s spent:
Nay, sooner charity from the devil, than good from a Puritan!
I’ll look for relief from him, when Lucifer is restor’d to
his blood, and in Heaven again.
NICHOLAS.
I warrant, my Kinsman’s talking of me, for my left ear burns
most tyrannically.
PYE.
Captain Idle, what’s he there? he looks like a Monkey upward,
and a Crane down-ward.
CAPTAIN.
Pshaw, a foolish Cousin of mine; I must thank God for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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