English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
[_Exeunt_ Young Chartley _and_ Boyster.
Sir Boniface.
_Curro, curris, cucurri_: my cheeks are all murrey,[4.32] and I am
gone in an hurry. [_Exit_.
Luce.
O Heaven! what shall become of me?
2nd Luce.
I know what shall become of me already.
Wise-woman.
O sweet daughter, shift clothes with this lady. Nay, as thou lovest
thy credit and mine, change habits--[_They change their outer
garments_.]--So, if thou be’st taken in her garments, finding the
mistake will let thee pass; and should they meet her in thine, not
knowing her, would no way question her; and this prove to both your
securities and my safety.
Luce.
As fast as I can, good mother. So, madam, farewell. [_Exit_.
2nd Luce.
All happy joys betide you! [_Exit_.
Wise-woman.
Ha, ha! let me hold my sides, and laugh. Here were even a plot to
make a play on, but that Chartley is so fooled by my boy Jack: well,
he’ll make a notable wag, I’ll warrant him. All the jest will be, if
Boyster should meet with him in Luce’s habit, which he hath now on,
he would think himself merely gulled and cheated; and should
Chartley meet with Luce as she is now robed, he would be confident
he had married her. Let me see how many trades have I to live by:
first, I am a wise-woman, and a fortune-teller, and under that I
deal in physic and fore-speaking, in palmistry, and recovering of
things lost; next, I undertake to cure mad folks; then I keep
gentlewomen lodgers, to furnish such chambers as I let out by the
night; then I am provided for bringing young wenches to bed; and,
for a need, you see I can play the match-maker.
She that is but one, and professeth so many,
May well be termed a wise-woman, if there be any. [_Exit_.
SCENE II.--_Before the_ Wise-woman’s _House_.
_Enter_ Boyster.
Boyster.
Why run away, and leave my wench behind? I’ll back. What have
warrants and pursuivants to do with me? with me! why should I budge?
why should I wear mask or visard? If lords or ladies offend, let
lords and ladies answer. Let me better bethink me. Why should I play
at hoodman-blind?[4.33] Hum: why marry _in tenebris_? ha! is there
no trick in it? If my grannam should make me a younger brother now,
and, instead of Luce, pop me off with some broken commodity, I were
finely served: most sure I am to be in for better and worse; but
with whom, Heaven and my grannam knows.
_Enter 2nd_ Luce, _half-dressed and masked_.
2nd Luce.
I am stolen out of doors, to see if I can meet my husband, with whom
I purpose to make some sport, ere I suddenly disclose myself. What’s
he?
Boyster.
Heyday, what have we here? an hobberdehoy! Come hither, you.
2nd Luce.
’Tis Mistress Luce’s husband, I’ll not leave him thus.
Boyster.
What art thou?
2nd Luce.
Do you not know me?
Boyster.
That mask and robe I know.
2nd Luce.
I hope so, or else I were in a woe[4.34] case.
Boyster.
That mask, that gown I married.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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