The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 3 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
Sirrah, go you to Barthol'mew my page,
And see him dress'd in all suits like a lady:
That done, conduct him to the drunkard's chamber; 105
And call him 'madam,' do him obeisance.
Tell him from me, as he will win my love,
He bear himself with honourable action,
Such as he hath observed in noble ladies
Unto their lords, by them accomplished: 110
Such duty to the drunkard let him do
With soft low tongue and lowly courtesy,
And say, 'What is't your honour will command,
Wherein your lady and your humble wife
May show her duty and make known her love?' 115
And then with kind embracements, tempting kisses,
And with declining head into his bosom,
Bid him shed tears, as being overjoy'd
To see her noble lord restored to health,
Who for this seven years hath esteemed him 120
No better than a poor and loathsome beggar:
And if the boy have not a woman's gift
To rain a shower of commanded tears,
An onion will do well for such a shift,
Which in a napkin being close convey'd 125
Shall in despite enforce a watery eye.
See this dispatch'd with all the haste thou canst:
Anon I'll give thee more instructions. [_Exit a Servingman._
I know the boy will well usurp the grace,
Voice, gait and action of a gentlewoman: 130
I long to hear him call the drunkard husband,
And how my men will stay themselves from laughter
When they do homage to this simple peasant.
I'll in to counsel them; haply my presence
May well abate the over-merry spleen 135
Which otherwise would grow into extremes. [_Exeunt._
LINENOTES:
[INDUCTION.] Pope. om. Ff Q. See note (I).
[SCENE I. Before ...] Theobald. A Hedge Ale-house. Capell.
[Enter ...] Enter Begger and Hostes, Christophero Sly. Ff Q.
[1] _pheeze_] _fese_ (Q).
[2] _stocks_] F3 F4. _stockes_ F1 Q.] _stokes_ F2.
[4] _came in_] _came_ Rowe (ed. 1).
[5] _paucas_] _paucus_ F4.
[7] _Go by, Jeronimy_] _goe by Ieronimie_ Q. _go by S. Ieronimie_ Ff
(_Ieronimy_ F2. _Jeronimy_ F3 F4). _go by, Jeronimo_ Theobald. '_go
by_,' _says Jeronimy_ Steevens (Capell conj.). _go--by S. Jeronimy_
Knight. See note (II).
[9] _thirdborough_] Theobald. _head-borough_ Ff Q.
[10] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff Q.
[13] [Falls asleep.] Ff Q. Falls from off his bench, and sleeps.
Capell. Lies down on the ground, and falls asleep. Malone.
[14] SCENE II. Pope.
Horns winded.] Winde hornes. Ff Q.
[15] _Brach_] _Leech_ Hanmer. _Bathe_ Johnson conj. _Breathe_ Mitford
conj. _Brace_ Becket conj. _Trash_ Singer.
_Brach ... emboss'd_;] (_Brach_ _Merriman_, _the poor cur, is
emboss'd_,) Grant White. _Brach_, _Merriman_, _the ... emboss'd_
Johnson. (_Back_ _Merriman_!--_the ... emboss'd_) Anon. conj.
[23] _better_] om. Q.
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