Arc. I've a good title, I am persuaded: This question, sick between's, By bleeding must be cur'd. I am a suitor That to your sword you will bequeath this plea, And talk of it no more. Pal. But this one word: You're going now to gaze upon my mistress; Pal. Nay, pray you !— You talk of feeding me to breed me strength: You're going now to look upon a sun That strengthens what it looks on; there you have A vantage o'er me; but enjoy it till I may enforce my remedy. Farewell. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter Jailor's Daughter. Daugh. He has mistook the beck I meant; tis gone After his fancy. 'Tis now well nigh morning; No matter! would it were perpetual night, And Darkness lord o' th' world!-Hark! 'tis a wolf: In me hath grief slain fear, and, but for one thing, I care for nothing, and that's Palamon: If he not answer'd, I should call a wolf, They have made prey of him? He has no wea pons; He cannot run; the jingling of his gyves Sipt some water; I've not clos'd mine eyes, now? Give me more wine: Here, Arcite, to the wenches We have known in our days! The lord-steward's daughter; Do you remember her? Arc. After you, coz. Pal. She lov'd a black-hair'd man. Arc. She did so: Well, sir? Pal. And I have heard some call him Arcite; and Arc. Out with it, faith! Pal. She met him in an arbour: What did she there, coz? Play o' th' virginals? Arc. Something she did, sir. Pal. Made her groan a month for❜t; Or two, or three, or ten. Arc. The marshal's sister Had her share too, as I remember, cousin, Arc. A pretty brown wench 'tis! There was a time When young men went a hunting, and a wood, And a broad beech; and thereby hangs a tale. Heigh-ho! Pal. For Emily, upon my life! Fool, Away with this strain'd mirth! I say again, That sigh was breath'd for Emily: Base cousin, Dar'st thou break first? Arc. You're wide. Pal. By Heav'n and earth, There's nothing in thee honest! Arc. Then I'll leave you: You are a beast now. Pal. As thou makʼst me, traitor. Arc. There's all things needful; files, and shirts, and perfumes: I'll come again some two hours hence, and bring That, that shall quiet all. Pal. A sword and armour? SCENE IV. Enter Jailor's Daughter. Daugh. I'm very cold; and all the stars are The little stars, and all that look like aglets: And there's a rock lies watching under water; 'Would I could find a fine frog! he would tell me News from all parts o' th' world; then would I make A carrack of a cockle-shell, and sail By east and north-east to the king of pigmies, SONG. For I'll cut my green coat, a foot above my knee; And I'll clip my yellow locks, an inch below mine eye. Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny. He's buy me a white cut, forth for to ride, And I'll go and seek him, thro' the world that is so wide. Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny. Oh, for a prick now like a nightingale, To put my breast against! I shall sleep like a top else. [Exit. SCENE V. Enter GERROLD, four Countrymen ( and the Bavian,) two or three Wenches, with a Taborer. Ger. Fy, fy! What tediosity and disensanity Is here among ye! Have my rudiments Ye most coarse freeze capacities, ye sleave judgments, Have I said thus let be, and there let be, Arc. Fear me not. You are now too foul: For why? here stand I; here the duke comes; Farewell! there are you, Close in the thicket; the duke appears, I meet him, And unto him I utter learned things, Gerrold. her master. Ger. Where be your ribands, maids? Swim with your bodies, And carry it sweetly, and deliverly; Ger. Where's the rest o' th' music? 3 Coun. Dispers'd as you commanded. And see what's wanting. Where's the Bavian? Ger. Quo usque tandem? Here's a woman wanting. 4 Coun. We may go whistle; all the fat's i' th' fire! Ger. We have, As learned authors utter, wash'd a tile; 2 Coun. This is that scornful piece, that scurvy That gave her promise faithfully she would be here, Cicely, the sempster's daughter! The next gloves that I give her shall be dog's skin! Ger. An eel and woman, And with thy teeth thou hold, will either fail. I Coun. A fire ill take her! does she flinch now? 3 Coun. What Shall we determine, sir? Ger. Nothing; Our business is become a nullity, Yea, and a woeful, and a piteous nullity! 4 Coun. Now, when the credit of our town lay on it, Now to be frampal, now to piss o' th' nettle! VOL. I. Go thy ways; I'll remember thee, I'll fit thee! Enter Jailor's Daughter. Daugh. The George alow came from the South, And there he met with brave gallants of war, Well hail'd, well hail'd, you jolly gallants! 'Till I come to the Sound-a! There was three fools, fell out about an howlet: The one said 'twas an owl, The other he said nay, The third he said it was a hawk, And her bells were cut away. 3 Coun. There is a dainty mad woman, magis ter, Comes i' th' nick; as mad as a March hare! 1 Coun. A mad woman? We are made, boys! Give me your hand. Ger. Why? Daugh. I can tell your fortune: You are a fool. Tell ten: I've poz'd him. Buz! I know you; you're a tinker: Sirrah tinker, A tinker, damsel? Daugh. Or a conjurer: And fluently persuade her to a peace: 2 Coun. Come, lass, let's trip it! [Wind horns. 3 Coun. Do, do. Ger. Persuasively, and cunningly; away, boys! [Exeunt all but GERROLD. I hear the horns; Give me some meditation, And mark your cue. Pallas inspire me! Enter THESEUS, PERITHOUS, Hippolita, Thes. This way the stag took. Thes. What have we here? Per. Some country-sport, upon my life, sir. Thes. Well, sir, go forward; we will edify. Ladies, sit down; we'll stay it. Ger. Thou doughty duke, all hail! all hail, sweet ladies! Thes. This is a cold beginning. Ger. If you but favour, our country pastime made is. B Come, we are all made! We are a few of those collected here, The birch upon the breeches of the small ones, Upon this mighty morr-of mickle weight; Thes. Ay, ay, by any means, dear domine! Ger. Intrate filii! Come forth, and foot it. Enter Countrymen, &c. They dance, Ladies, if we have been merry, Say the Schoolmaster's no clown. And have done as good boys should do, For a Maypole, and again, We'll make thee laugh, and all this rout. Thes. Take twenty, domine!-How does my sweetheart? Hip. Never so pleas'd, sir. Emi. 'Twas an excellent dance; And, for a preface, I never heard a better. Thes. Schoolmaster, I thank you. One sce 'em all rewarded! Per. And here's something to paint your pole withal, Thes. Now to our sports again. Ger. May the stag thou hunt'st stand long, [Wind horns. Dii Deaque omnes! ye have danc'd rarely, wenches. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Enter PALAMON from the bush. Pal. About this hour my cousin gave his faith To visit me again, and with him bring Two swords, and two good armours; if he fail, Thou'rt yet a fair foe; and I feel myself, That I lay fatting, like a swine, to fight, And not a soldier: therefore, this blest morning Arc. Good-morrow, noble kinsman ! Arc. That too much, fair cousin, Is but a debt to honour, and my duty. As kind a kinsman, as you force me find Arc, I shall think either, Well done, a noble recompense. Arc. Defy me in these fair terms, and you shew More than a mistress to me: No more anger, As you love any thing that's honourable! We were not bred to talk, man: when we're arm'd, And both upon our guards, then let our fury, Or if you feel yourself not fitting yet, And every day discourse you into health, Through far enough, Arc. I warrant you. Pal. My casque now. Arc. Will you fight bare-arm'd? Pal. We shall be the nimbler. say? Pal. This only, and no more: Thou art mine aunt's son, And that blood we desire to shed is mutual; more Come near thee with such friendship. Pal, I commend thee. Arc. If I fall, curse me, and say I was a coward; For none but such dare die in these just trials. Arc. But use your gauntlets though: those Once more, farewell, my cousin! are o' th' least; Pal. Farewell, Arcite! [Fight. [Horns within: they stand. Arc. Lo, cousin, lo! our folly has undone us ! Pal. Why? Arc. This is the duke, a-hunting, as I told you; If we be found, we're wretched! Oh, retire, For honour's sake! and safely presently Into your bush again, sir! We shall find Too many hours to die in. Gentle cousin, If you be seen you perish instantly, For breaking prison; and I, if you reveal me, For my contempt: then all the world will scorn |