Green. Here! Ralph. Let me see your piece,11 neighbour [20 Greengoose: when was she shot in ? G. een. An't like you, master captain, I made a shot even now, partly to scour her, and partly for audacity. Ralph. It should seem so certainly, for her [25 breath is yet inflamed; besides, there is a main2 fault in the touch-hole, it runs and stinketh ; and I tell you moreover, and believe it, ten such touch-holes would breed the pox in the army. Get you a feather, neighbour, get you [30 a feather, sweet oil, and paper, and your piece may do well enough yet. Where's your powder? Green. Here. Ralph. What, in a paper! As I am a soldier and a gentleman, it craves a martial court! [35 You ought to die for 't. Where's your horn? Answer me to that. Green. An't like you, sir, I was oblivious. Ralph. It likes me not you should be so; 't is a shame for you, and a scandal to all our [40 neighbours, being a man of worth and estimation, to leave your horn behind you: I am afraid 't will breed example. But let me tell you no more on 't. - Stand, till I view you all. What's become o' th' nose of flask? your 1 Sold. Indeed, la, captain, 'twas blown away with powder. 45 Ralph. Put on a new one at the city's charge. - Where's the stone of this piece? 2 Sold. The drummer took it out to light [50 tobacco. Ralph. 'Tis a fault, my friend; put it in again. You want a nose, and you a stone. Sergeant, take a note on 't, for I mean to stop it in the pay. Remove, and march! [They [55 march.] Soft and fair, gentlemen, soft and fair! Double your files! As you were! Faces about! Now, you with the sodden face, keep in there! Look to your match, sirrah, it will be in your fellow's flask anon. So; make a crescent now: [60 advance your pikes: stand and give ear! Gentlemen, countrymen, friends, and my fellowsoldiers, I have brought you this day, from the shops of security and the counters of content, to measure out in these furious fields honour by [65 the ell, and prowess by the pound. Let it not, oh, let it not, I say, be told hereafter, the noble issue of this city fainted; but bear yourselves in this fair action like men, valiant men, and free men! Fear not the face of the enemy, [70 nor the noise of the guns, for, believe me, brethren, the rude rumbling of a brewer's car is far more terrible, of which you have a daily experience; neither let the stink of powder offend you, since a more valiant stink is nightly with I have no more to say but this: stand to your tacklings, lads, and show to the world you can as well brandish a sword as shake an apron. Saint George, and on, my hearts! All. Saint George, Saint George! Exeunt. » Wife. 'T was well done, Ralph! I'll send thee a cold capon a-field and a bottle of March beer; and, it may be, come myself to see thee. Cit. Nell, the boy has deceived me much; I did not think it had been in him. He has [ performed such a matter, wench, that, if I live, next year I'll have him captain of the galleyfoist or I'll want my will. [SCENE III.] Enter MERRYTHOUGHT. Mer. Yet, I thank God, I break not a wrinkle more than I had. Not a stoop, boys? Care, live with cats; I defy thee! My heart is as sound as an oak; and though I want drink to wet my whistle, I can sing; [Sings.] Come no more there, boys, come no more there; Mer. It's a brave boy. Canst thou sing? Sing we, and chant it; Whilst love doth grant it. Jasp. By my troth, sir, I ne'er came there; 't is too hot for me, sir. Mer. A merry ghost, a very merry ghost! [Sings And where is your true love? Oh, where is yours! Mist. Mer. [within.] You will not have us starve here, will you, Master Merrythought? Jasp. Nay, good sir, be persuaded; she is my mother. 55 If her offences have been great against you, Mer. Woman, I take you to my love again; but you shall sing before you enter; therefore despatch your song and so come in. Mist. Mer. [within.] Well, you must have [65 your will, when all 's done. - Mick, what song canst thou sing, boy? Mich. [within.] I can sing none, forsooth, but A Lady's Daughter, of Paris properly. Mist. Mer. Song.] It was a lady's daughter, &c. 70 More than my age can carry. His wand'ring spirit, Not yet at rest, pursues me every where, Or in [the] grave, 't is yet uncertain to me. Will sink me to my grave! Forgive me, sir, Mer. Why, sir, I do forgive you; and be Sir, if you will forgive him, clap their hands [115 together; there's no more to be said i' th' matter. Vent. I do, I do. Cit. I do not like this. Peace, boys! Hear me, one of you! Every body's part is come to an end but Ralph's, and he 's left out. 121 Boy. 'Tis 'long of yourself, sir; we have nothing to do with his part. Cit. Ralph, come away!- Make [an end]2 on him, as you have done of the rest, boys; come. 126 Wife. Now, good husband, let him come out and die. Cit. He shall, Nell. quickly, and die, boy! Boy. 'T will be very unfit he should die, sir, upon no occasion - and in a comedy too. Cit. Take you no care of that, sir boy; is not his part at an end, think you, when he's dead? Come away, Ralph! 2 Qq. omit. Added in Ed. of 1778. 135 Did lap up figs and raisins in the Strand; And underground he vamped many a boot. 140 Straight did her love prick forth me, tender sprig, To follow feats of arms in warlike wise Through Waltham-desert; where I did perform Many achievements, and did lay on ground 145 But yet prov'd constant to the black thumb'd And now I faint; therefore be warn'd by me, My fellows every one, of forked heads! Farewell, all you good boys in merry London ! Ne'er shall we more upon Shrove-Tuesday a song. Vent. A good motion. Mer. Strike up, then! SONG. 7 Better music ne'er was known EPILOGUS. 195 Exeunt. Cit. Come, Nell, shall we go? The play's done. Wife. Nay, by my faith, George, I have more manners than so; I'll speak to these gertlemen first. I thank you all, gentlemen, for [no your patience and countenance to Ralph, a poor fatherless child; and if I might see you at my house, it should go hard but I would have a pottle of wine and a pipe of tobacco for you: for, truly, I hope you do like the youth, but ( I would be glad to know the truth; I refer it to your own discretions, whether you will appland him or no; for I will wink, and whilst you shall do what you will. I thank you with all my heart. God give you good night !- Come, George. [Exeunt.] As the London prentices did on Shrove Tuesday. Cf. the speech of Andrea's Ghost in The Spani Tragedy, I. i., many lines of which are here parodied. 8 Meanwhile. 7 Part. ACT I SCENE I.2 [DRAMATIS PERSONAE Two Woodmen. The King's Guard and Train. ARETHUSA, Daughter of the King. EUPHRASIA, Daughter of Dion, but disguised like a Page and called BELLARIO. MEGRA, a lascivious Lady. GALATEA, a wise, modest Lady attending the Princess. Two other Ladies. SCENE.Sicily.]1 Thra. Many that will seem to know much say she looks not on him like a maid in love. Dion. Faith, sir, the multitude, that seldom know any thing but their own opinions, speak that they would have; but the prince, be- [15 fore his own approach, receiv'd so many confident messages from the state, that I think she's resolv'd to be rul'd. Cle. Sir, it is thought, with her he shall enjoy both these kingdoms of Sicily and Calabria. Dion. Sir, it is without controversy so [21 meant. But 't will be a troublesome labour for him to enjoy both these kingdoms with safety, the right heir to one of them living, and living so virtuously: especially, the people admir- [25 ing the bravery of his mind and lamenting his injuries. Cle. Who? Philaster? Dion. Yes; whose father, we all know, was by our late King of Calabria unrighteously [30 deposed from his fruitful Sicily. Myself drew 1 This list is taken with slight changes from Q3. Q2 omits it. 2 The presence chamber in the palace. some blood in those wars, which I would give my hand to be washed from. Cle. Sir, my ignorance in state-policy will not let me know why, Philaster being heir to one [35 of these kingdoms, the King should suffer him to walk abroad with such free liberty. Dion. Sir, it seems your nature is more constant than to inquire after state-news. But the King, of late, made a hazard of both the [0 kingdoms, of Sicily and his own, with offering but to imprison Philaster; at which the city was in arms, not to be charm'd down by any state-order or proclamation, till they saw Philaster ride through the streets pleas'd and [45 without a guard: at which they threw their hats and their arms from them; some to make bonfires, some to drink, all for his deliverance: which wise men say is the cause the King labours to bring in the power of a foreign nation to awe his own with. 51 |