English drama -- Early modern and Elizabethan, 1500-1600; Heywood, Thomas, approximately 1574-1641
Bess.
Then, first you said your ship was trim and gay:
I’ll have her pitched all o’er; no spot of white,
No colour to be seen; no sail but black;
No flag but sable.
Goodlack.
’Twill be ominous,
And bode disastrous fortune.
Bess.
I will ha’t so.
Goodlack.
Why, then, she shall be pitched black as the devil.
Bess.
She shall be called the Negro. When you know
My conceit,[2.51] captain, you will thank me for’t.
Roughman.
But whither are we bound?
Bess.
Pardon me that:
When we are out at sea, I’ll tell you all.
For mine own wearing I have rich apparel,
For man or woman, as occasion serves.
Clem.
But, mistress, if you be going to sea, what shall become of me
a-land?
Bess.
I’ll give thee thy full time.
Clem.
And shall I take time, when time is, and let my mistress slip away?
No; it shall be seen that my teeth are as strong to grind biscuit as
the best sailor of them all, and my stomach as able to digest
powdered beef and poor-john.[2.52] Shall I stay here to score a
pudding in the Half-moon, and see my mistress at the mainyard, with
her sails up and spread? No; it shall be seen that I, who have been
brought up to draw wine, will see what water the ship draws, or
I’ll bewray the voyage.
Bess.
If thou hast so much courage, the captain shall accept thee.
Clem.
If I have so much courage! When did you see a black beard with a
white liver, or a little fellow without a tall stomach? I doubt not
but to prove an honour to all the drawers in Cornwall.
Goodlack.
What now remains?
Fawcett.
To make myself associate
In this bold enterprise.
Goodlack.
Most gladly, sir.
And now our number’s full, what’s to be done?
Bess.
First, at my charge, I’ll feast the town of Foy;
Then set the cellars ope, that these my mates
May quaff unto the health of our boon voyage,
Our needful things being once conveyed aboard;
Then, casting up our caps, in sign of joy,
Our purpose is to bid farewell to Foy.
[_Exeunt. Hautboys long_.[2.53]
SCENE III.--_Morocco. The Court_.
_Enter_ Mullisheg, Bashaw Alcade, _and_ Bashaw Joffer, _with
other_ Attendants.
Mullisheg.
Out of these bloody and intestine broils
We have at length attained a fortunate peace,
And now at last established in the throne
Of our great ancestors, and reign as King
Of Fez and great Morocco.
Alcade.
Mighty Mullisheg,
Pride of our age and glory of the Moors,
By whose victorious hand all Barbary
Is conquered, awed, and swayed, behold thy vassals
With loud applauses greet thy victory.
[_Shout; flourish_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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