A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 69

WID. Will you put up your naked weapon, sir?

SPEND. You shall pardon me, widow, I must have you grant first.

WID. You will not put it up?

SPEND. Not till I have some token of your love.

WID. If this may be a testimony, take it. [_Kisses him._ By all my hopes, I love thee: thou art worthy Of the best widow living: thou tak'st the course: And those that will win widows must do thus.

SPEND. Nay, I knew what I did when I came with my naked weapon in my hand; but come, unlace.

WID. Nay, my dear love: know that I will not yield My body unto l.u.s.t, until the priest Shall join us in Hymen's sacred nuptial rites.

SPEND. Then set your hand to this: nay, 'tis a contract Strong and sufficient, and will hold in law.

Here, here's pen and ink; you see I come provided.

WID. Give me the pen.

SPEND. Why, here's some comfort.

Yet write your name fair, I pray, and at large.

Why, now 'tis very well. Now, widow, You may admit your maid, For i' th' next room I'll go fetch a nap.

WID. Thou shalt not leave me so: come, prythee, sit, We'll talk awhile, for thou hast made my heart Dance in my bosom, I receive such joy.

SPEND. Thou art a good wench, i' faith; come, kiss upon't.

WID. But will you be a loving husband to me?

Avoid all naughty company, and be true To me and to my bed?

SPEND. As true to thee as steel to adamant.

[_Binds him to the post._

WID. I'll bind you to your word: see that you be, Or I'll conceal my bags. I have kinsfolk, To whom I'll make't over, you shall not have a penny.

SPEND. Pish, prythee, do not doubt me.

How now! what means this?

WID. It means my vengeance; nay, sir, you are fast, Nor do not dare to struggle: I have liberty Both of my tongue and feet; I'll call my maid.

_Enter_ PHILLIS.

Phillis, come in, and help to triumph Over this bold intruder. Wonder not, wench, But go unto him, and ransack all his pockets, And take from thence a contract which he forc'd From my unwilling fingers.

SPEND. Is this according to your oath?

PHIL. Come, sir, I must search you.

SPEND. I prythee, do.

And when thou tak'st that from me, take my life too.

WID. Hast thou it, girl?

PHIL. I have a paper here.

WID. It is the same: give it me. Look you, sir, Thus your new-fancied hopes I tear asunder.

Poor wretched man! thou'st had a golden dream, Which gilded over thy calamity; But, being awake, thou find'st it ill-laid on, For with one finger I have wip'd it off.

Go, fetch me hither the casket that contains My choicest jewels, and spread them here before him.

Look you, sir; Here's gold, pearls, rubies, sapphires, diamonds; These would be goodly things for you to p.a.w.n, Or revel with amongst your courtesans, Whilst I and mine did starve. Why dost not curse, And utter all the mischiefs of thy heart, Which I know swells within thee? pour it out, And let me hear thy fury.

SPEND. Never, never!

Whene'er my tongue shall speak but well of thee, It proves no faithful servant to my heart.

WID. False traitor to thy master and to me, Thou liest, there's no such thing within thee.

SPEND. May I be burn'd to ugliness, to that Which you and all men hate, but I speak truth.

WID. May I be turn'd a monster, and the shame Of all my s.e.x, and if I not believe thee.

Take me unto thee: these and all that's mine.

Were it thrice trebled, thou wert worthy all.

And do not blame this trial, 'cause it shows I give myself unto thee, am not forc'd, And with it love, that ne'er shall be divorc'd.

SPEND. I am glad 'tis come to this; yet, by this light, Thou putt'st me into a horrible fear.

But this is my excuse: know that my thoughts Were not so desperate as my action seem'd; For, 'fore my dagger should ha' drawn one drop Of thy chaste blood, it should have sluic'd out mine, And the cold point stuck deep into my heart.

Nor better be my fate, if I shall move To any other pleasure but thy love.

WID. It shall be in my creed: but let's away.

For night with her black steeds draws up the day. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ WILL RASH, STAINES, GERALDINE, GERTRUDE, JOYCE, _and a boy with a lanthorn_.

W. RASH. Softly, boy, softly; you think you are upon firm ground; but it is dangerous. You'll never make a good thief, you rogue, till you learn to creep upon all four. If I do not sweat with going this pace!

everything I see, methinks, should be my father in his white beard.

STAINES. It is the property of that pa.s.sion; for fear Still shapes all things we see to that we fear.

W. RASH. Well said, logic: sister, I pray, lay hold of him; for the man, I see, is able to give the watch an answer if they should come upon him with interrogatories.

_Enter_ SPENDALL, WIDOW, _and_ PHILLIS.

Zounds, we are discovered! boy, come up close, and use the property of your lanthorn. What dumb show should this be?

GERA. They take their way directly, [and] intend nothing against us.

STAINES. Can you not discern who they are?

JOYCE. One is Spendall.

GERT. The other is the widow, as I take it.