English drama -- 17th century; English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700
_To._ To make up the match with my eldest daughter,
my wife's dilling,[6] whom she longs to call madam. He
shall find me unwillingly ready, boy. [_Exit_ Page.]
There's another affliction too. As I have two prentices,
the one of a boundless prodigality, the other of a most
hopeful industry--so have I only two daughters: the
eldest, of a proud ambition and nice wantonness; the
other of a modest humility and comely soberness. The
one must be ladified, forsooth, and be attired just to the
court-cut and long tail.[7] So far is she ill-natured to the
place and means of my preferment and fortune, that she
throws all the contempt and despite hatred itself can
cast upon it. Well, a piece of land she has; 'twas her
grandmother's gift; let her, and her Sir Petronel, flash
out that; but as for my substance, she that scorns me,
as I am a citizen and tradesman, shall never pamper her
pride with my industry; shall never use me as men do
foxes, keep themselves warm in the skin, and throw the
body that bare it to the dunghill. I must go entertain
this Sir Petronel. Golding, my utmost care's for thee,
and only trust in thee; look to the shop. As for you,
Master Quicksilver, think of husks, for thy course is
running directly to the prodigal's hog's-trough; husks,
sirrah! Work upon that now.
[_Exit_ TOUCHSTONE.
_Qu._ Marry faugh,[8] goodman flat-cap![9] 'sfoot! though
I am a prentice I can give arms;[10] and my father's a
justice-a-peace by descent, and 'sblood---- 106
_Go._ Fie, how you swear!
_Qu._ 'Sfoot, man, I am a gentleman, and may swear
by my pedigree. God's my life! Sirrah Golding, wilt
be ruled by a fool? Turn good fellow, turn swaggering
gallant, and let the welkin roar, and Erebus also.[11] Look
not westward to the fall of Dan Phoebus, but to the east--Eastward-ho!
_Where radiant beams of lusty Sol appear,
And bright Eous makes the welkin clear._
We are both gentlemen, and therefore should be no
coxcombs: let's be no longer fools to this flat-cap,
Touchstone. Eastward, bully, this satin belly, and
canvas-backed Touchstone: 'slife! man, his father was a
maltman, and his mother sold gingerbread in Christchurch.[12] 121
_Go._ What would you ha' me to do?
_Qu._ Why, do nothing, be like a gentleman, be idle;
the curse of man is labour. Wipe thy bum with testones,
and make ducks and drakes with shillings. What, Eastward-ho!
Wilt thou cry, "what is't ye lack?" stand
with a bare pate, and a dropping nose, under a wooden
pent-house, and art a gentleman? Wilt thou bear
tankards, and mayst bear arms? Be ruled; turn gallant;
Eastward-ho! ta, lirra, lirra, ro! "Who[13] calls Jeronimo?
Speak, here I am." God's so! how like a sheep thou
look'st: o' my conscience, some cowherd begot thee,
thou Golding of Golding-hall! Ha, boy? 133
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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