A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Ii Part 61

Perhaps you had never occasion to try her?

REASON.

That were great marvel in so many years.

WILL.

She hath won the mastery of you, it appears.

WIT.

Well, quiet yourself; thou shalt take no wrong, Methink our three companions tarry very long.

ACT III, SCAENA 3.

INSTRUCTION, STUDY, DILIGENCE, REASON, WIT, WILL.

INSTRUCTION.

Sir, we are come to know your pleasure.

REASON.

You are come in good time, Instruction, our treasure; This gentleman craveth your acquaintance and aid.

What you may do for him, let him not be denay'd.

WIT.

Welcome, good fellows, will ye dwell with me?

DILIGENCE.

If all parties be pleased, content are we.

WIT.

Welcome, Instruction, with all my heart.

WILL.

What, three new servants! then, farewell, my part. [_Aside_.

INSTRUCTION.

I heartily thank you, and look what I can do; I[398] shall be always ready to pleasure you.

REASON.

Consider and talk together with these, And you shall find in your travail great ease.

Take here of me, before I take my leave, This gla.s.s of crystal clear, which I you give, Accept it, and reserve it for my sake most sure, Much good to you in time it may procure.

Behold yourself therein, and view and pry: Mark what defects it will discover and descry; And so with judgment ripe and curious eye, What is amiss endeavour to supply, Farewell--

WIT.

Farewell to you, right honourable sir: And commend me to my love, my heart's desire, Let her think on me, when she sees me not, and wish me well.

WILL.

Farewell, master Reason, think upon us, when you see us not, And in any wise let not Will be forgot.

WIT.

Since I must take advice and counsel of you three, I must intreat you all to dwell in house with me, And look what order you shall prescribe as needful, To keep the same you shall find me as heedful: Come.

INSTRUCTION.

[I] come.

WIT.

[I] go.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV., SCAENA 1.

WIT, WILL, INSTRUCTION, STUDY, DILIGENCE.

WILL.

Tush, tush, Instruction, your talk is of no force: You tell us a tale of a roasted horse, Which, by his wounds, except we set to it, As fast as we make, these[399] fellows will undo it, Their talk is nothing but soft, and fair, and tarry; If you follow their counsel, you shall never marry.

INSTRUCTION.

To follow our counsel your charge and promise was.

WIT.

I would I had never known you, by the ma.s.s.

Must I look so long, and spend my life with toil?

Nay, sure, I will either win it, or take the foil.

STUDY.

The surer is your ground, the better you shall bear it.

WILL.

Ground us no ground; let him win it, and wear it.

INSTRUCTION.

Good sir, be ruled, and leave this peevish elf.

WIT.

I had even as lief ye bad me hang myself; Leave him? no, no, I would you all knew, You be but loiterers to him, my Will tells me true.

I could be content with a week, yea a month or twain, But three or four years! marry, that were a pain.

So long to keep me, and lie like a hog.

WILL.

A life, with all my heart, I would not wish a dog.

WIT.

Will a week serve?