A Select Collection of Old English Plays Part 100

[_Exeunt omnes._

SCENE III.

_Enter_ WANTON _and her_ MAID, _with her lap full of things_.

WANTON. Bid them ply him close, and flatter him, and rail upon the old lady and the captain: and, do you hear, give him some hints to begin the story of his life. Do it handsomely, and you shall see the sack will clip his tongue.

MAID. I warrant you, I'll fit him.

WAN. When he is in his discourse, leave him, and come down into the parlour, and steal away his box with the false rings that stands by his bedside. I have all his little plate here already.

MAID. Make you haste. I'll warrant you, you'll dress him.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.

_Enter the_ CAPTAIN, _with a letter in his hand, and his_ BOY _to him with a candle: is going to write the superscription_.

BOY. Sir, the Lady Loveall pa.s.sed by even now.

CAPT. The Lady Loveall! Which way went she?

BOY. To the rich lady, the widow, where your wors.h.i.+p dined.

CAPT. 'Tis no matter. Here, carry this letter, and bring an answer to the Devil quickly; and tell her we'll stay there till the time be fit for the design.

[_Exeunt._

SCENE V.

_Enter_ CARELESS, WILD, _and a_ DRAWER, _at the Devil_.

CARE. Jack, how goes the world? Bring us some bottles of the best wine.

DRAW. You shall, sir. Your wors.h.i.+p is welcome into England.

CARE. Why, look you: who says a drawer can say nothing but _Anon, anon, sir_; score a quart of sack in the half-moon?[243]

DRAW. Your wors.h.i.+p is merry; but I'll fetch you that, sir, shall speak Greek, and make your wors.h.i.+p prophesy. You drank none such in your journey.

WILD. Do it then, and make a hole in this angel thou may'st creep through. [_Gives him an angel._] Who is't that peeps? a fiddler?

Bring him by the ears.

_Enter the_ TAILOR _that peeps_.

TAI. A tailor, an't like your wors.h.i.+p.

CARE. A tailor! Hast thou a stout faith?

TAI. I have had, an't like your wors.h.i.+p; but now I am in despair.

CARE. Why, then, thou art d.a.m.ned. Go, go home, and throw thyself into thine own h.e.l.l; it is the next way to the other.

TAI. I hope your wors.h.i.+p is not displeased.

CARE. What dost do here? A tailor without faith! Dost come to take measure of ours?

TAI. No; I come to speak with one Master Jolly, a courtier; a very fine-spoken gentleman and a just counter, but one of the worst paymasters in the world.

WILD. As thou lov'st me, let's keep him here till he comes, and make him valiant with sack, that he may urge him till he beats him. We shall have the sport, and be revenged upon the rogue for dunning a gentleman in a tavern.

[_Aside_.

CARE. I'll charge him. Here, drink, poor fellow, and stay in the next room till he comes.

TAI. I thank your wors.h.i.+p, but I'm fasting; and if it please your wors.h.i.+p to call for a dozen of manchets, that I may eat a crust first, then I'll be bold with a gla.s.s of your sack.

WILD. Here, here, drink. In the meantime, fetch him some bread.

TAI. Will your wors.h.i.+p have me drink all this vessel of sack?

CARE. Yes, yes, off with't: 'twill do you no harm.

[_The_ Tailor _drinks_.

WILD. Why do you not take some order with that Jolly, to make him pay thee?

TAI. I have pet.i.tioned him often, but can do no good.

CARE. A pox upon him! Pet.i.tion him! his heart is hardened to ill.

Threaten to arrest him: nothing but a sergeant can touch his conscience.

TAI. Truly, gentlemen I have reason to be angry, for he uses me ill when I ask him for my money.

JOLLY. [_Speaking within._] Where is Master Wild and Master Careless?

TAI. I hear his voice.

JOLLY. Let the coach stay. How now, who would he speak with?

_Enter_ JOLLY.

WILD. Do not you know?