The World's Greatest Books — Volume 17 — Poetry and Drama
General
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 17 — Poetry and Drama
Drama; Poetry
[_Exeunt. Then, enter_ YOUNG KNOWELL, _with the letter,
and_ BRAIN-WORM.
YOUNG KNOWELL: Did he open it, say'st thou?
BRAIN-WORM: Yes, o' my word, sir, and read the contents.
For he charged me on my life to tell nobody
that he opened it, which unless he had done he would
never fear to have it revealed.
[YOUNG KNOWELL _moves apart to read the letter. Enter_
STEPHEN. KNOWELL _laughs_.
STEPHEN: 'Slid, I hope he laughs not at me; an he
do----
KNOWELL: Here was a letter, indeed, to be intercepted
by a man's father! Well, if he read this with
patience---- (_Seeing_ STEPHEN) What, my wise cousin!
Nay, then, I'll furnish our feast with one gull more.
How now, Cousin Stephen--melancholy?
STEPHEN: Yes, a little. I thought you had laughed
at me, cousin.
KNOWELL: Be satisfied, gentle coz, and, I pray you,
let me entreat a courtesy of you. I am sent for this
morning by a friend in the Old Jewry: will you bear me
company?
STEPHEN: Sir, you shall command me twice as far.
KNOWELL: Now, if I can but hold him up to his
height!
SCENE II.--BOBADILL'S _room, a mean chamber, in_ COB'S _house_.
BOBADILL _lying on a bench. Enter_ MATTHEW, _ushered
in by_ TIB.
MATTHEW: 'Save you, sir; 'save you, captain.
BOBADILL: Gentle Master Matthew! Sit down, I pray
you. Master Matthew in any case, possess no gentlemen
of our acquaintance with notice of my lodging. Not
that I need to care who know it! But in regard I would
not be too popular and generally visited, as some are.
MATTHEW: True, captain, I conceive you.
BOBADILL: For do you see, sir, by the heart of valour
in me except it be to some peculiar and choice spirit like
yourself--but what new book have you there?
MATTHEW: Indeed, here are a number of fine
speeches in this book.
"O eyes, no eyes, but fountains fraught with tears"--
There's a conceit! Another:
"O life, no life but lively form of death!
O world, no world but mass of public wrongs"--
O the Muses! Is't not excellent? But when will you come to see my
study? Good faith I can show you some very good things I have done of
late. But, captain, Master Well-bred's elder brother and I are fallen
out exceedingly.
BOBADILL: Squire Down-right, the half-brother was't not? Hang him rook!
Come hither; you shall chartel him. I'll show you a trick or two you
shall kill him with, at pleasure, the first staccato, if you will, by
this air. Come, put on your cloak, and we'll go to some private place
where you are acquainted, some tavern or so. What money ha' you about
you?
MATTHEW: Faith, not past a two shillings or so.
BOBADILL: 'Tis somewhat with the least; but come, we will have a bunch
of radish and salt to taste our wine, and after we'll call upon Young
Well-bred.
[_Exeunt_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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