English drama (Comedy); English drama -- 17th century
_Mons._ How! I must look to my hits then. [_Aside._
_Don._ Look to't.
_Mons._ [_Aside._] Then I had best confess all, before he discover all,
which he will soon do.--
_Enter_ Parson.
O here's the parson too! he won't be in choler, nor brandish toledo
before the parson sure?--[_To_ Don DIEGO.] Well, uncle, I must confess,
rather than lose your favour, he is no dancing-master.
_Don._ No!
_Ger._ What! has the fool betrayed us then at last, nay, then 'tis time
to be gone; come away, miss. [_Going out._
_Don._ Nay, sir, if you pass this way, my toledo will pass that way,
look you. [_Thrusts at him with his sword._
_Hip._ O hold, Mr. Gerrard!--Hold father!
_Mons._ I tell you, uncle, he's an honest gentleman, means no hurt, and
came hither but upon a frolic of mine and your daughter's. [_Stops_ Don
DIEGO.
_Don. Ladron! traidor!_
_Mons._ I tell you all's but a jest, a mere jest, I vow and swear.
_Don._ A jest!--jest with my honour, _voto!_ ha! no family to dishonour
but the grave, wise, noble, honourable, illustrious, puissant, and
right worshipful family of the Formals!--Nay, I am contented to
reprieve you, till you know who you have dishonoured, and convict you
of the greatness of your crime before you die. We are descended, look
you--
_Mons._ Nay, pray, uncle, hear me.
_Don._ I say, we are descended--
_Mons._ 'Tis no matter for that.
_Don._ And my great, great, great-grandfather was--
_Mons._ Well, well, I have something to say more to the purpose.
_Don._ My great, great, great-grandfather, I say, was--
_Mons._ Well, a pinmaker in--
_Don._ But he was a gentleman for all that, fop, for he was a sergeant
to a company of the trainbands; and my great-great-grandfather was--
_Mons._ Was his son, what then? won't you let me clear this gentleman?
_Don._ He was, he was--
_Mons._ He was a felt-maker, his son a wine-cooper, your father a
vintner, and so you came to be a Canary merchant.
_Don._ But we were still gentlemen, for our coat was, as the heralds
say--was--
_Mons._ Was! your sign was the Three Tuns, and the field Canary; now
let me tell you, this honest gentleman--
_Don._ Now, that you should dare to dishonour this family!--by the
graves of my ancestors in Great St. Helen's church--
_Mons._ Yard.
_Don._ Thou shalt die for't, _ladron!_ [_Runs at_ GERRARD.
_Mons._ Hold, hold, uncle, are you mad?
_Hip._ Oh! oh!--
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