Matthew then tells Ralph what great heroes the women mistake him for, and proceeds thus: It is enough for you (say I) to see his back. His face is for ladies of high and noble parages, With whom he hardly 'scapeth great marriages. R. Roister. That word maketh me alive again. With much more than this, and much otherwise. I promise thee, nurse, I favour her. R. Roister. I can thee thank that thou canst such answers devise: and gold for to spend. M. Merry. Then I trust to bring the day to a good end. M. Merry. What if Christian Custance will not have you, what? R. Roister. Have me? yes I warrant you, never doubt of that. I know she loveth me, but she dare not speak. She looked on me twenty times yesternight, M. Merry. In the meantime, sir, if you please, And call your musicians; for in this your case, It would set you forth, and all your wooing M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. R. Roister. Bid her sue to me for marriage. M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. R. Roister. And surely for thy sake she shall speed. M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. R. Roister. I shall be contented to take her. M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. R. Roister. But at thy request, and for thy sake. M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. R. Roister. And come, hark in thine ear what to say. M. Mumbl. E'en so, sir. [Here let him tell her a great long tale in her ear. ACT I-SCENE IV. MATTHEW MERRYGREEKE; DOBINET DOUGHTIE; RALPH ROISTER; MADGE MUMBLECRUST; HARPAX, M. Merry. Come on, sirs, apace, and quit yourselves like men. Your pains shall be rewarded. But with whom is he now so sadly rounding yond? 1 D. Dough. With Nobs Nicebecetur Miserere fond. M. Merry. God be at your wedding: be ye sped already? I did not suppose that your love was so greedy. I perceive now ye have choice of devotion, And joy have ye, lady, of your promotion. R. Roister. Tush, fool, thou art deceived: this is not she. M. Merry. Well, make much of her, and keep her well, I advise ye. I will take no charge of such a fair piece keeping. M. Mumbl. What aileth this fellow? he driveth me to weeping. M. Merry. What, weep on the wedding day? be merry, woman: Though I say it, ye have chosen a good gentle R. Roister. Nay, she shall make suit, ere she shall know that, ywis. M. Mumbl. Yet, let me somewhat know. M. Merry. This is he, understand, That killed the blue spider in Blanchepouder land. M. Mumbl. Yea, Jesus, William, zee law! did he zo law? M. Merry. Yea, and the last elephant that ever he saw, As the beast passed by, he start out of a buske,1 And e'en with pure strength of arms pluck'd out his great tusk. M. Mumbl. Jesus, Nomine Patris, what a thing was that! R. Roister. Yea, but Merrygreeke, one thing thou hast forgot. M. Merry. What? R. Roister. Of the other elephant. M. Merry. Oh, him that fled away? R. Roister. Yea. The letter is delivered to Christian Custance, who refuses to open it. Dobinet then meets with Truepenny, Tibet, and Annot, and persuades them to convey Ralph's token to their mistress, who rewards them with a sound scolding. That henceforth ye do letters or tokens receive, To bring unto me, from any person or place, Except ye first show me the party face to face, Either thou or thou, full truly abide thou shalt. Tib. Talk. Pardon this, and the next time powder me in salt. C. Custance. I shall make all girls, by you twain, to beware. Tib. Talk. If I ever offend again, do not me spare. But, if ever I see that false boy'any more, By your mistresship's licence, I tell you afore, But keep within doors, and ply their work earnestly. If one would speak with me, that is a man Ye shall have right good thank to bring me word quickly; 1 buske-bush. likely, 2 pastance-pastime. Matthew goes and gives Ralph an exaggerated version of Custance's answer, taking the opportunity of letting his silly friend know his own real opinion of his character. Under cover of Christian's answer, Ralph is called cause, 'Better nay,' (quo' I)-'I list not meddle with daws.' Will you drink once ere you go? R. Roister. I am nigh gone. M. Merry. And shall we hence straight? 1 A mome is another word for a fool, and the phrase 'cough me a fool' is common in old plays. 2 A burbolt is a bird-bolt, or arrow with which boys knocked down birds; it had a nob at the end. To play the devil in the horologue,' or in the clock, is an expression to indicate the making of confusion. The divell is in th' orloge, the houres to trye: J. Heywood's Proverbs, 1562. M. Merry. How feel your soul to God? Ralph is however persuaded to live, and by Matthew's advice resolves to try what a personal interview with Christian will do. Matthew tells him not to M. Merry. Ye know not where your preferment lieth, I see. He sendeth you such a token, ring, and letter. C. Custance. Marry, here it is, ye never saw a better. M. Merry. Let us see your letter. C. Custance. Hold, read it if ye can, And see what letter it is to win a woman. M. Merry. To mine own dear coney bird, sweetheart, and pigsny, Good Mistress Custance, present these by and by.' Of this superscription do ye blame the style? C. Custance. With the rest, as good stuff as yo read a great while. M. Merry. Sweet Mistress, whereas I love you nothing at all, Regarding your substance and riches chief of all; For your personage, beauty, demeanour, and wit, The letter goes on thus to some length, it being capable of affording two very different senses, according to the punctuation. 1 Meaning at the end of the play, where 'the Psalmodie' is inserted, which is supposed to be sung below. 2 Le. executor. 3 Haze means 'ha' us,' or 'have us.' On that vile scribbler, that did my wooing disgrace. M. Merry. Scribbler (quo' you)? Indeed, he is worthy no less. M. Merry. By the faith that I owe to God, I will call him to you, and ye bid me, doubtless. sir, but ye be. Would I might, for your sake, spend a thousand pound land. R. Roister. I daresay thou wouldst have me to thy husband. R. Roister. He shall never 'scape death on my sword's point, Though I should be torn therefor joint by joint. They then have an interview with the Scrivener, whom Ralph tries to bully, but is made to eat humble-pie. The Scrivener reads the letter, pointing it so as to bring out a sense different from Ralph's copy. Matthew and Ralph then resolve to have another interview with Christian, and put her right as to the letter. ACT IV.-SCENE I. SYM SURESBY. Sym Suresby. My master, Gavin Goodlucke, after me a day, Because of the weather, thought best his ship to stay; And now that I have the rough surges so well God grant I may find all things safe here at Is to salute Dame Christian Custance, his wife But lo, forth cometh herself happily indeed. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE; SYM SURESBY. C. Custance. I come to see if any more stirring be here. But what stranger is this, which doth to me Sym Sure. I will speak to her. - Dame, the C. Custance. What, friend Sym Suresby? How doth mine own Gavin Goodlucke? I pray thee tell. Sym Sure. When he knoweth of your health he will be perfect well. C. Custance. If he have perfect health, I am as I would be. Sym Sure. Such news will please him well, C. Custance. I think now long for him. His body cometh after. C. Custance. I would see that fain. Sym Sure. As fast as wind and sail can carry it amain. But what two men are yonder, coming hither ward? |