A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xi Part 131

FRANC. How comes this fool possess'd? he never touch'd her, I dare swear.

FRANK. No more, Francisco, as you will answer it.

Parson, set forward there.

FRANC. Stay.

If this will not suffice, Sumner, come forth.

FRANK. A sumner! we are all betray'd.

_Enter_ SUMNER.

SUM. G.o.d save you all! I think you guess my business; These are to cite to the spiritual court You, Master Shallow, and you, Mistress Luce!

Ask not the cause, for 'tis apparent here, A carnal copulation _ante matrimonium_.

FRANK. This was a bar unlook'd for. Spiteful Francisco!

FRANC. Injurious Franklin, could the laws divine Or humane suffer such an impious act, That thou shouldst take my true and lawful wife, And great with child by me, to give to another, Gulling his poor simplicity?

SHAL. Do you mean me, sir?

SUM. Gallants, farewell; my writ shall be obey'd?

FRANK. Sumner, it shall. [_Exit_ SUMNER.

PAR. I'll take my leave, there's nothing now for me to do.

[_Exit_ PARSON.

FRANC. Farewell, good master parson.

FRANK. Francisco, Canst thou say thou ever lov'dst my daughter, And wouldst thou thus disgrace her openly?

FRANC. No, I would win her thus; And, did you hold her credit half so dear As I, or her content, you would not thus Take her from me, and thrust her 'gainst her will On this rich fool.

SHAL. You are very bold with me, sir.

FRANC. Let me have news what happens, dearest Luce.

LUCE. Else let me die. [_Exit_ FRANCISCO.

FRANK. This was your doing, Luce; it had been impossible he should e'er have known the time so truly else; but I'll take an order next time for your blabbing.

SHAL. What's the matter, father?

FRANK. We may thank you for it; this was your haste, that will now shame us all; you must be doing afore your time!

SHAL. 'Twas but a trick of youth, father.

FRANK. And therefore now you must e'en stand in a white sheet for all to gaze at.

SHAL. How! I would be loth to wear a surplice now. 'Tis a disgrace the house of the Shallows never knew.

FRANK. All the hope is, officers may be bribed; and so they will. 'Twere a hard world for us to live in else.

SHAL. You say true, father; if 'twere not for corruption, every poor rascal might have justice as well as one of us, and that were a shame.

[_Exeunt_ SHALLOW _and_ LUCE.

FRANK. This was a cunning stratagem well-laid; But yet, Francisco, th' hast not won the prize.

What should I do? I must not let this cause Proceed to trial in the open court, For then my daughter's oath will cast the child Upon Francisco: no, I have found a better.

I will before the next court-day provide Some needy parson, one whose poverty Shall make him fear no canons; he shall marry My daughter to rich Shallow: when 'tis done, Our gold shall make a silence in the court. [_Exit._

_Enter_ PHILOCLES, PSECTAS.

PSEC. I must return your answer to my lady; I'll tell her you will come.

PHIL. Come!

And such an angel call, I should forget All offices of nature, all that men Wish in their second thoughts, ere such a duty.

Commend my service to her, and to you My thanks for this kind message. [_Exit_ PSECTAS.

I never breath'd till now, never till now Did my life relish sweetness. Break not, heart!

Crack not, ye feeble ministers of nature: With inundation of such swelling joy, Too great to bear without expression.

The lady writes that she has known me long By sight, and lov'd me; and she seems to thank Her stars she loves and is belov'd again.

She speaks my very thoughts! How strange it is And happy, when affections thus can meet!

She further writes, at such an hour to-day Her father's absence, and all household spies Fitly remov'd, shall give access to me Unmark'd to visit her; where she alone Will entertain discourse, and welcome me.

I hope 'tis truly meant; why should I fear?

But wisdom bids me fear: fie, fie! 'tis base To wrong a creature of that excellence'

With such suspicion; I should injure her.

I will as soon suspect an angel false; Treason ne'er lodg'd within so fair a breast.

No, if her hand betray me, I will run On any danger: 'tis alike to me To die or find her false; for on her truth Hangs my chief being. Well, I'll lose no time, No, not a minute: dearest love, I come!

To meet my sweetest wishes I will fly, Heaven and my truth s.h.i.+eld me from treachery. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[421] The original edition reads _sick_, which Mr Reed changed to _fickle_.--_Collier._

[422] [Portrait, likeness.]

[423] [Bristling; Lat. _horridus_.]

[424] [Old copy, _That I was_.]

[425] [Old copy, were _not_.]

[426] [Old copy, _Psectas_.]

[427] Or _Sompner_, now called an _apparitor_. He is an officer, whose proper business and employment are to attend the spiritual court, to receive such commands as the judge shall please to issue forth; to convene and cite the defendants into court; to admonish or cite the parties in the production of witnesses, and the like; and to make due return of the process by him executed.