English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Bess.
’Tis of the best Graves wine,[2.11] sir.
Spencer.
Gramercy, girl: come sit.
Bess.
Pray pardon, sir, I dare not.
Spencer.
I’ll ha’ it so.
Bess.
My fellows love me not, and will complain
Of such a saucy boldness.
Spencer.
Pox on your fellows!
I’ll try whether their pottle-pots or heads
Be harder, if I do but hear them grumble.
Sit: now, Bess, drink to me.
Bess.
To your good voyage! [_Drinks_.
_Re-enter_ 2nd Drawer.
2nd Drawer.
Did you call, sir?
Spencer.
Yes, sir, to have your absence. Captain, this health.
Goodlack.
Let it come, sir.
2nd Drawer.
Must you be set, and we wait, with a----!
Spencer.
What say you, sir?
2nd Drawer.
Anon, anon: I come there. [_Exit_.
Spencer.
What will you venture, Bess, to sea with me?
Bess.
What I love best, my heart: for I could wish
I had been born to equal you in fortune,
Or you so low, to have been ranked with me;
I could have then presumed boldly to say,
I love none but my Spencer.
Spencer.
Bess, I thank thee.
Keep still that hundred pound till my return
From the Islands with my lord: if never, wench,
Take it; it is thine own.
Bess.
You bind me to you.
_Re-enter_ 1st Drawer.
1st Drawer.
Bess, you must fill some wine into the Portcullis; the gentlemen
there will drink none but of your drawing.
Spencer.
She shall not rise, sir. Go, let your master snick-up.[2.12]
1st Drawer.
And that should be cousin-german to the hick-up.
_Re-enter_ 2nd Drawer.
2nd Drawer.
Bess, you must needs come. The gentlemen fling pots, pottles,
drawers, and all down stairs. The whole house is in an uproar.
Bess.
Pray pardon, sir; I needs must be gone.
2nd Drawer.
The gentlemen swear if she come not up to them, they will come down
to her.
Spencer.
If they come in peace,
Like civil gentlemen, they may be welcome:
If otherwise, let them usurp their pleasures.
We stand prepared for both.
_Enter_ Carrol _and the two_ Captains.
Carrol.
Save you, gallants! We are somewhat bold, to press
Into your company: it may be held scarce manners;
Therefore, ’tis fit that we should crave your pardon.
Spencer.
Sir, you are welcome; so are your friends.
1st Captain.
Some wine!
Bess.
Pray give me leave to fill it.
Spencer.
You shall not stir. So, please you, we’ll join company.--
Drawer, more stools.
Carrol.
I take’t that’s a she drawer. Are you of the house?
Bess.
I am, sir.
Carrol.
In what place?
Bess.
I draw.
Carrol.
Beer, do you not? You are some tapstress.
Spencer.
Sir, the worst character you can bestow
Upon the maid is to draw wine.
Carrol.
She would draw none to us.
Perhaps she keeps a rundlet for your taste,
Which none but you must pierce.
2nd Captain.
I pray be civil.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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