Drom. Break interjections like wind, as eho, ho, O. Ris. And what thou? Drom. Answer him in his own language, as, euax, vah, hui. Ris. These were conjunctions rather than interjections. But what of the plot? Drom. As we concluded; I told him that we understood that Silena was very wise, and could sing exceedingly; that my device was, seeing Accius, his son, a proper youth, could also sing sweetly, that he should come in the nick when she was singing, and answer her. Ris. Excellent! Drom. Then he asked, how it should be devised that she might come abroad; I told that was cast already by my means; then the song being ended, and they seeing one another, noting the apparel, and thanking the personages, he should call in his sou for fear he should overreach his speech*. Ris. Very good. Drom. Then, that I had gotten a young gentleman, that resembled his son in years and favour, that having Accius' apparel should court Silena; whom she finding wise, would after that by small entreaty be won without any words, and so the marriage clapt up by this cozenage, and his son never speak word for himself. Ris. Thou boy, so have I done in every point; for the song, the calling her in, and the hoping "Overreach his speech,” i. e. discover his folly by his con versation. that another shall woo Accius, and his daughter wed him; I told him this wooing should be tonight, and they early married in the morning, without any words saving to say after the priest. Drom. All this fadges well: now if Halfpenny and Lucio have played their parts, we shall have excellent sport; and here they come. How wrought the wine, my lads? Enter HALFPENNY and LUCIO. Half. How? like wine; for my body being the rundlet, and my mouth the vent, it wrought two days over, till I had thought the hoops of my head would have flown asunder. Luc. The best was, our masters were as well whitled* as we, for yet they lie by it. Ris. The better for us: we did but a little parboil our livers, they have sod theirs in sack these forty years. Half. That makes them spit white broth as they do. But to the purpose; Candius and Livia will send their attires; you must send the apparel of Accius and Silena; they wonder wherefore, but commit the matter to our quadrupartite wit. Luc. If you keep promise to marry them by our device, and their parent's consent, you shall have ten pounds a-piece for your pains. Drom. If we do it not, we are undone; for we have broached a cozenage already, and my master hath the tap in his hand, that it must needs * "As well whitled as we," as drunk as ourselves. A whittle was a clasped knife, and a person in liquor is still, sometimes, said to be cut. run out; let them be ruled, and bring hither their apparel, and we will determine; the rest commit to our intricate considerations; depart. [Exeunt Half. and Luc. Enter ACCIUS and SILENA. Drom. Here comes Accius tuning his pipes; I perceive my master keeps touch. Ris. And here comes Silena with her wit of proof; marry, it will scarce hold our question shot; let us in to instruct our masters in their cue. Drom. Come let us be jogging; but wert not a world to hear them woo one to another? Ris. That shall be hereafter to make us sport, but our masters shall never know it. [Exeunt MEMPHIO and STELLIO singing. SONG. Mem. O Cupid! monarch over kings, Stel. It is all one in Venus' wanton school, Who highest sits, the wiseman, or the fool: Nay, 'tis confest, That fools please women best. SCENE III. MEMPHIO and STELLIO. Mem. Accius, come in, and that quickly; what, walking without leave? Stel. Silena, I pray you look homeward; it is a cold air, and you want a mufler*. [Exeunt Accius and Silena. Mem. This is pat; if the rest proceed, Stellio is like to marry his daughter to a fool; but a bargain is a bargain. Stel. This frames to my wish; Memphio is like to marry a fool to his son; Accius' tongue shall tie all Memphio's land to Silena's dowry, let his father's teeth undo them if he can: but here I see Memphio; I must seem kind, for in kindness lies cozenage. Mem. Well, here is Stellio; I'll talk of other matters, and fly from the mark I shoot at, lapwing-like, flying far from the place where I nestle. Stellio, what makes you abroad? I heard you were sick since our last drinking. Stel. You see reports are no truths; I heard the like of you, and we are both well. I perceive sober men tell most lies, for in vino veritas, if they had drunk wine, they would have told the truth. Mem. Our boys will be sure then never to lie, for they are ever swilling of wine: but, Stellio, I must strain cursy † with you, I have business, I cannot stay. * The reader who will consult Mr. Douce's note on a passage in the second Scene of the fourth Act of the " Merry Wives of Windsor," may see a variety of specimens of this covering. + "Cursy," courtesy; possibly an error of the press. Stel. In good time, Memphio, for I was about to crave your patience to depart, it stands me upon. Perhaps move his patience ere it be long. [Aside. Mem. Good, silly Stellio, we must buckle shortly. (Aside.) [Exeunt. SCENE IV. HALFPENNY, LUCIO, and RIXULA. Luc. Come, Rixula, we have made thee privy to our whole pack, there lay down the pack. Rix. I believe, unless it be better handled, we shall out of doors. Half. I care not, omne solum forti patria, I can live in Christendom as well as in Kent. Luc. And I'll sing patria ubicunque bene, every house is my home, where I may stanch* hunger. Rix. Nay, if you set all on hazard, though I be a poor wench, I am as hardy as you both; I cannot speak Latin, but, in plain English, if any thing fall out cross, I'll run away. Half. He loves thee well that would run after. Rix. Why, Halfpenny, there's no goose so grey in the lake, that cannot find a gander for her make t. Luc. I love a nut-brown lass; 'tis good to recreate. Half. Thou meanest a brown nut is good to crack. * "Stanch," stop. + " Make," mate, conso:t. |