English drama -- 17th century; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
_To._ Indeed, and in very good sober truth, sir! Behind
my back thou wilt swear faster than a French foot-boy,
and talk more bawdily than a common midwife;
and now "indeed and in very good sober truth, sir!"
but if a privy search should be made, with what furniture
are you rigged now? Sirrah, I tell thee, I am thy
master, William Touchstone, goldsmith; and thou my
prentice, Francis Quicksilver, and I will see whither
you are running. Work upon that now. 14
_Qu._ Why, sir, I hope a man may use his recreation
with his master's profit.
_To._ Prentices' recreations are seldom with their
master's profit. Work upon that now. You shall give
up your cloak, though you be no alderman. Heyday!
ruffians'-hall sword, pumps, here's a racket indeed!
[TOUCHSTONE _uncloaks_ QUICKSILVER.
_Qu._ Work upon that now.
_To._ Thou shameless varlet! dost thou jest at thy
lawful master, contrary to thy indentures? 23
_Qu._ Why 'sblood, sir, my mother's a gentlewoman,
and my father a justice of peace and of Quorum; and
though I am a younger brother and a prentice, yet I
hope I am my father's son; and by God's lid, 'tis for
your worship and for your commodity that I keep company.
I am entertained among gallants, true;[5] they
call me cousin Frank, right; I lend them moneys, good;
they spend it, well. But when they are spent, must not
they strive to get more, must not their land fly? and to
whom? Shall not your worship ha' the refusal? Well,
I am a good member of the city, if I were well considered.
How would merchants thrive, if gentlemen would not be
unthrifts? How could gentlemen be unthrifts if their
humours were not fed? How should their humours be fed
but by white meat, and cunning secondings? Well, the
city might consider us. I am going to an ordinary now:
the gallants fall to play; I carry light gold with me; the
gallants call, "Cousin Frank, some gold for silver;" I
change, gain by it; the gallants lose the gold, and then
call, "Cousin Frank, lend me some silver." Why---- 43
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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