English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Sencer.
But, by thy favour, we may choose whether we will take any warning
or no. Well, farewell, old knight! though thou forbid’st me thine
house, I’ll honour thee, and extol thee; and, though thou keep’st me
from thy daughter, thou shalt not hinder me to love her and admire
her, and, by thy favour, sometimes to see her. A cat may look at a
king, and so may I at her. Give me thine hand, knight; the next time
I come into thy company, thou shalt not only bid me welcome, but
hire me to stay with thee, and thy daughter.
Sir Harry.
When I do that enjoy my full consent
To marry Gratiana.
Sencer.
’Tis a match; strike me luck. Wife that may be, farewell;
father-in-law that must be, adieu. Taber, play before my friend and
I will dance after.
[_Exeunt_ Sencer, Haringfield _and_ Taber.
Sir Harry.
When I receive thee gladly to mine house,
And wage thy stay, thou shalt have Gratiana,
Doubt not thou shalt. Here’s a strange humourist
To come a-wooing. [_Re-enter_ Taber.] Taber, are they gone?
Taber.
I have played them away, if it please your worship; and yonder at
the door attends a schoolmaster; you sent for him, if you remember,
to teach my little young master and mistress.
Sir Harry.
A proper scholar; pray him to come near.
_Enter_ Sir[4.24] Boniface.
Sir Boniface.
_Eques honoratus, ave salutatus! non video quid est in tergo, sed
salve, bona virgo_.
Sir Harry.
Sir, you may call me nicknames: if you love me,
Speak in your mother-tongue; or, at the least,
If learning be so much allied unto you,
That Latin unawares flows from your lips,
To make your mind familiar with my knowledge,
Pray utter it in English: what’s your name?
Sir Boniface.
_Sit faustum tibi omen_.
I’ll tell you my _nomen_.
Sir Harry.
Will you tell it to no men?
I’ll entertain none ere I know their names.
Nay, if you be so dainty of your name,
You are not for my service.
Sir Boniface.
_Intende, vir nobilis_.
Sir Harry.
Not for twenty nobles:
Trust me, I will not buy your name so dear.
Sir Boniface.
_O ignorantia_! what it is to deal with stupidity? Sir Henry, Sir
Henry, hear me one word: I see, _Preceptor legit, vos vero
negligitis_.
Taber.
I think he saith we are a company of fools and nidgets;[4.25] but
I hope you shall not find us such, Master Schoolmaster.
Sir Harry.
Friend, friend, to cut off all vain circumstance,
Tell me your name, and answer me directly,
Plainly, and to my understanding too,
Or I shall leave you. Here’s a deal of gibberish!
Sir Boniface.
_Vir bone_----
Sir Harry.
Nay, nay, make me no bones,[4.26] but do’t.
Sir Boniface.
Then, in plain vulgar English, I am called Sir Boniface Absee.
Sir Harry.
Why, this is somewhat like, Sir Boniface!
Give me thine hand; thou art a proper man,
And in my judgment, a great scholar too.
What shall I give thee by the year?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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