The Puritaine Widdow Part 25

Nay, I should hardly deny you such a small kindness, Master Edmond Plus: why, look you, sir, tis no more but this and thus and again, and now yar invisible!

EDMOND.

Am I, ifaith? who would think it?

CAPTAIN.

You see the fortune-teller yonder at farder end ath chamber: go toward him, do what you will with him; he shall ne'er find you.

EDMOND.

Say you so? I'll try that, ifaith,--

[Justles him.]

PYE.

How now? Captain, who's that justled me?

CAPTAIN.

Justled you? I saw no body.

EDMOND.

Ha, ha, ha!--say twas a spirit.

CAPTAIN.

Shall I?--may be some spirit that haunts the circle.

[Edmond pulls him by the Nose.]

PYE.

O my nose again! pray conjure then, Captain.

EDMOND.

Troth, this is exlent; I may do any knavery now and never be Seen,--and now I remember me, Sir G.o.dfrey my Uncle abused me Tother day, and told tales of me to my Mother--Troth, now I'm Invisible, I'll hit him a sound wherrit ath' ear, when he comes out ath' garden.--I may be revengd on him now finely.

[Enter Sir G.o.dfrey, Widdow, Frances, Nicholas with the Chain.]

SIR G.o.dFREY.

I have my Chain again, my Chain's found again. O sweet Captain, O admirable Conjurer. [Edmond strikes him.] Oh!

what mean you by that, Nephew?

EDMOND.

Nephew? I hope you do not know me, Uncle?

WIDOW.

Why did you strike your Uncle, sir?

EDMOND.

Why, Captain, am I not invisible?

CAPTAIN.

A good jest, George!--not now you are not, Sir.

Why, did you not see me when I did uncharm you?

EDMOND.

Not I by my troth, Captain. Then pray you pardon me, Uncle; I thought I'd been invisible when I struck you.

SIR G.o.dFREY.

So, you would doo't? go,--y'are a foolish Boy, And were I not o'er-come with greater joy, I'd make you taste correction.

EDMOND.

Correction, pus.h.!.+--no, neither you nor my Mother shall think to whip me as you have done.

SIR G.o.dFREY.

Captain, my joy is such, I know not how to thank you: let me embrace you, hug you. O my sweet Chain! Gladness 'een makes me giddy. Rare man! twas as just ith' Rosemary bank, as if one should ha' laid it there--oh, cunning, cunning!

WIDOW.

Well, seeing my fortune tells me I must marry, let me marry a man of wit, a man of parts. Here's a worthy Captain, and 'tis a fine t.i.tle truly la to be a Captain's Wife. A Captain's Wife, it goes very finely; beside all the world knows that a worthy Captain is a fit Companion to any Lord, then why not a sweet bed-fellow for any Lady,--I'll have it so--

[Enter Frailty.]

FRAILTY.

O Mistress, Gentlemen, there's the bravest sight coming along this way.

WIDOW.

What brave sight?

FRAILTY.

Oh, one going to burying, & another going to hanging.

WIDOW.

A rueful sight.

PYE.

Sfoot, Captain, I'll p.a.w.n my life the Corporal's confined, and old Skirmish the soldier going to execution, and 'tis now full about the time of his waking; hold out a little longer, sleepy potion, and we shall have exlent admiration; for I'll take upon me the cure of him.

SCENE III. The street before the Widow's house.

[Enter the Coffin of the Corporal, the soldier bound, and lead by Officers, the Sheriff there. From the house, Sir G.o.dfrey, the Widow, Idle, Pyeboard, Edmond, Frailty, and Nicholas.]

FRAILTY.

Oh here they come, here they come!

PYE.

Now must I close secretly with the Soldier, prevent his impatience, or else all's discovered.

WIDOW.

O lamentable seeing! these were those Brothers, that fought and bled before our door.

SIR G.o.dFREY.