English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Robin.
Country, sir!
’Tis a thing they know not: here they feast,
Dice, drink, and drab; the company they keep,
Cheaters and roaring-lads, and these attended
By bawds and queans; your son hath got a strumpet
On whom he spends all that your sparing left;
And here they keep court, to whose damned abuses
Reignald gives all encouragement.
Old Lionel.
But stay, stay:
No living soul hath for these six months’ space
Here entered, but the house stood desolate.
Robin.
Last week I am sure, so late, and the other day,
Such revels were here kept.
Old Lionel.
And by my son?
Robin.
Yes, and his servant Reignald.
Old Lionel.
And this house
At all not haunted?
Robin.
Save, sir, with such sprites.
Owner.
This murder will come out.
_Enter_ Ricott.
Old Lionel.
But see, in happy time here comes my neighbour
Of whom he bought this mansion; he, I am sure,
More amply can resolve me.--I pray, sir,
What sums of moneys have you late received
Of my young son?
Ricott.
Of him? None, I assure you.
Old Lionel.
What of my servant Reignald?
Ricott.
But devise
What to call less than nothing, and that sum
I will confess received.
Old Lionel.
Pray, sir, be serious;
I do confess myself indebted to you
A hundred pound.
Ricott.
You may do well to pay’t then, for here’s witness
Sufficient of your words.
Old Lionel.
I speak no more
Than what I purpose; just so much I owe you,
And ere I sleep will tender.
Ricott.
I shall be
As ready to receive it, and as willing
As you can be to pay it.
Old Lionel.
But provided
You will confess seven hundred pounds received
Beforehand of my son.
Ricott.
But, by your favour,
Why should I yield seven hundred pounds received
Of them I never dealt with? Why? For what?
What reason? What condition? Where or when
Should such a sum be paid me?
Old Lionel.
Why? for this bargain. And for what? this house.
Reason? because you sold it. The conditions?
Such as were agreed between you. Where and when?
That only hath escaped me.
Ricott.
Madness all.
Old Lionel.
Was I not brought to take free view thereof,
As of mine own possession?
Ricott.
I confess
Your servant told me you had found out a wife
Fit for your son, and that you meant to build;
Desired to take a friendly view of mine,
To make it your example: but for selling,
I tell you, sir, my wants be not so great
To change my house to coin.
Old Lionel.
Spare, sir, your anger,
And turn it into pity. Neighbours and friends,
I am quite lost; was never man so fooled,
And by a wicked servant! Shame and blushing
Will not permit to tell the manner how,
Lest I be made ridiculous to all:
My fears are, to inherit what’s yet left,
He hath made my son away.
Robin.
That’s my fear too.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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