English drama -- 17th century; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
_Mist. T._ What should one do? Is there no law for
one that marries a woman's daughter against her will?
How shall we punish him, madam? 71
_Ge._ As I am a lady, an't would snow, we'd so pebble
'hem with snow-balls as they come from church; but,
sirrah Frank Quicksilver.
_Qu._ Ay, madam.
_Ge._ Dost remember since thou and I clapt what-d'ye-call'ts
in the garret?
_Qu._ I know not what you mean, madam.
_Ge._ _His_[58] _head as white as milk, all flaxen was his hair;_
_But now he is dead, and laid in his bed,_ 80
_And never will come again._
God be at your labour!
_Enter_ TOUCHSTONE, GOLDING, MILDRED, _with rosemary_.[59]
_Pe._ Was there ever such a lady?
_Qu._ See, madam, the bride and bridegroom!
_Ge._ God's my precious! God give you joy, mistress.
What lack you? Now out upon thee, baggage! My
sister married in a taffeta hat! Marry, hang you!
Westward with a wanion[60] t'ye! Nay, I have done wi'
ye, minion, then, i'faith; never look to have my
countenance any more, nor anything I can do for thee.
Thou ride in my coach, or come down to my castle! fie
upon thee! I charge thee in my ladyship's name, call
me sister no more. 93
_To._ An't please your worship, this is not your sister:
this is my daughter, and she calls me father, and so does
not your ladyship, an't please your worship, madam.
_Mist. T._ No, nor she must not call thee father by
heraldry, because thou makest thy prentice thy son as
well as she. Ah! thou misproud prentice, darest thou
presume to marry a lady's sister? 100
_Go._ It pleased my master, forsooth, to embolden me
with his favour; and though I confess myself far unworthy
so worthy a wife (being in part her servant, as I am your
prentice) yet (since I may say it without boasting) I am
born a gentleman, and by the trade I have learned of my
master (which I trust taints not my blood), able, with
mine own industry and portion, to maintain your
daughter, my hope is, heaven will so bless our humble
beginning, that in the end I shall be no disgrace to the
grace with which my master has bound me his double
prentice. 111
_To._ Master me no more, son, if thou think'st me
worthy to be thy father.
_Ge._ Son! Now, good Lord, how he shines! and you
mark him, he's a gentleman!
_Go._ Ay, indeed, madam, a gentleman born.
_Pe._ Never stand o' your gentry, Master Bridegroom;
if your legs be no better than your arms, you'll be able
to stand upright on neither shortly. 119
_To._ An't please your good worship, sir, there are two
sorts of gentlemen.
_Pe._ What mean you, sir?
_To._ Bold to put off my hat to your worship----
_Pe._ Nay, pray forbear, sir, and then forth with your
two sorts of gentlemen.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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