The Puritaine Widdow Part 26

What, they were not, Sister?

SKIRMISH.

George, look toot, I'll peach at Tyburn else.

PYE.

Mum,--Gentles all, vouchsafe me audience, and you especially, Master Sheriff: Yon man is bound to execution, Because he wounded this that now lies coffined?

SHERIFF.

True, true; he shall have the law,--and I know the law.

PYE.

But under favour, Master Sheriff, if this man had been cured and safe again, he should have been released then?

SHERIFF.

Why make you question of that, Sir?

PYE.

Then I release him freely, and will take upon me the death that he should die, if within a little season, I do not cure him to his proper health again.

SHERIFF.

How Sir? recover a dead man?

That were most strange of all.

[Frances comes to him.]

FRANCES.

Sweet Sir, I love you dearly, and could wish my best part yours,--oh do not undertake such an impossible venture.

PYE.

Love you me? then for your sweet sake I'll doo't: Let me entreat the corpse to be set down.

SHERIFF.

Bearers, set down the Coffin.--This were wonderful, and worthy Stoes Chronicle.

PYE.

I pray bestow the freedom of the air upon our wholesome Art.-- Ma.s.s, his cheeks begin to receive natural warmth: nay, good Corporal, wake betime, or I shall have a longer sleep then you.--Sfoot, if he should prove dead indeed now, he were fully revenged upon me for making a property on him, yet I had rather run upon the Ropes, then have the Rope like a Tetter run upon me. Oh--he stirs--he stirs again--look, Gentlemen, he recovers, he starts, he rises.

SHERIFF.

Oh, oh, defend us!--out, alas.

PYE.

Nay, pray be still; you'll make him more giddy else:--he knows no body yet.

CORPORAL.

Zounes: where am I? covered with Snow? I marvel.

PYE.

Nay, I knew he would swear the first thing he did, as soon as ever he came to life again.

CORPORAL.

Sfoot, Hostess, some hot Porridge,--oh, oh, lay on a dozen of f.a.gots in the Moon parlor, there.

PYE.

Lady, you must needs take a little pity of him, yfaith, and send him in to your Kitchen fire.

WIDOW.

Oh, with all my heart, sir. Nicholas and Frailty, help to bear him in.

NICHOLAS.

Bear him in, quatha? pray call out the Maids, I shall ne'er have the heart to doo't, indeed la.

FRAILTY.

Nor I neither, I cannot abide to handle a Ghost of all men.

CORPORAL.

Sblood, let me see: where was I drunk last night, heh--

WIDOW.

Oh, shall I bid you once again take him away?

FRAILTY.

Why, we're as fearful as you, I warrant you--oh--

WIDOW.

Away, villains; bid the Maids make him a Cawdle presently to settle his brain,--or a Posset of Sack; quickly, quickly.

[Exeunt Frailty and Nicholas, pus.h.i.+ng in the corpses.]

SHERIFF.

Sir, what so ere you are, I do more then admire you.

WIDOW.

O, aye, if you knew all, Master Sheriff, as you shall do, you would say then, that here were two of the rarest men within the walls of Christendome.

SHERIFF.

Two of 'em? O wonderful. Officers, I discharge you, set him free, all's in tune.

SIR G.o.dFREY.

Aye, and a banquet ready by this time, Master Sheriff, to which I most cheerfully invite you, and your late prisoner there. see you this goodly chain, sir? mun, no more words, twas lost, and is found again; come, my inestimable bullies, we'll talk of your n.o.ble Acts in sparkling Charnico, and in stead of a Jester, we'll ha the ghost ith white sheet sit at upper end a'th Table.

SHERIFF.

Exlent merry, man, yfaith.

[Exeunt all but Frances.]

FRANCES.

Well, seeing I am enjoined to love and marry, My foolish vow thus I cas.h.i.+er to Air Which first begot it.--Now, love, play thy part; The scholar reads his lecture in my heart.

[Exit.]