A Select Collection of Old English Plays Volume Xiv Part 35

[_Exit._

_Enter_ CRAB _and_ COLE, _two friars, with a rout of stinkards following them_.

CRAB. Ah! brother, 'tis best so. Now we have drawn them to a head, we'll begin here i' the market-place. Tut, so long as we be commanded by the mother-queen, we'll say her son is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, an' he were ten Philips.

COLE. Take you one market-form, I'll take another.

CRAB. No, G.o.d's-so',[66] we must both keep one form.

 

COLE. Ay, in oration, but not in station. Mount, mount.

1ST STINK. Well, my masters, you know him not so well as I, on my word. Friar Crab is a sour fellow.

2D STINK. Yet he may utter sweet doctrine, by your leave. But what think you of friar Cole?

1ST STINK. He? all fire: an' he be kindled once, a hot catholic.

3D STINK. And you mark him, he has a zealous nose, and richly inflamed.

1ST STINK. Peace, you rogues! Now they begin.

CRAB. _Incipe, Frater._

COLE. _Non ego, Domine._

CRAB. _Nec ego._

COLE. _Quare?_

CRAB. _Quia?_

COLE. _Quaeso._

ALL. Here's a queasy beginning, methinks. Silence! silence!

CRAB. Brethren, citizens, and market-folks of Seville.

COLE. Well-beloved and honoured Castilians.

CRAB. It is not unknown to you.

COLE. I am sure you are not ignorant.

CRAB. How villanous and strong!

COLE. How monstrous and huge!

CRAB. The faction of Prince Philip is.

COLE. Philip, that is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

CRAB. Philip, that is a dastard.

COLE. Philip, that killed your king.

CRAB. Only to make himself king.

COLE. And, by Gad's blessed lady, you are all d.a.m.ned, and you suffer it.

1ST STINK. Friar Cole says true: he speaks out to the heat of his zeal: look how he glows!

2D STINK. Well, friar Crab for my money; he has set my teeth an edge against this b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

1ST STINK. O, his words are like vergis to whet a man's stomach.

ALL. Silence! silence!

CRAB. Now contrariwise.

COLE. Your n.o.ble king the Moor----

CRAB. Is a valiant gentleman;

COLE. A n.o.ble gentleman;

CRAB. An honourable gentleman;

COLE. A fair black gentleman.

CRAB. A friend to Castilians,

COLE. A champion for Castilians,

CRAB. A man fit to be a king.

COLE. If he were not borne down by him that would be king, who (as I said before) is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and no king.

1ST STINK. What think you, my masters? Do you mark his words well?

CRAB. Further, compare them together.

ALL. S'blood! there's no comparison between them.

COLE. Nay, but hear us, good countrymen.

ALL. Hear friar Cole! hear friar Cole!

COLE. Set[67] that b.a.s.t.a.r.d and Eleazar together.