A Select Collection of Old English Plays Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the A Select Collection of Old English Plays novel. A total of 1049 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : A Select Collection of Old English Plays.by Robert Dodsley.INTRODUCTION.THOMAS RAWLINS,
A Select Collection of Old English Plays.by Robert Dodsley.INTRODUCTION.THOMAS RAWLINS, author of "The Rebellion," was a medallist by profession, and afterwards became an engraver of the Mint, a vocation which, in his preface, he prefers to the threadba
- 449 SEGASTO. Come, sir, your mind is all upon your belly.You have forgotten what I did bid you do.CLOWN. Faith, I know nothing, but you bad me go to breakfast.SEGASTO. Was that all?CLOWN. Faith, I have forgotten it, the very scent of the meat made me forget[1
- 448 MUCEDORUS. And must I go, and must I needs depart?Ye goodly groves, partakers of my songs, In time tofore, when fortune did not frown, Pour forth your plaints, and wail awhile with me.And thou bright sun, my comfort in the cold, Hide, hide thy face, and l
- 447 SEGASTO. Tremelio in the wars, O King, preserved thee.AMADINE. The shepherd in the woods, O King, preserved me.SEGASTO. Tremelio fought, when many men did yield.AMADINE. So would the shepherd, had he been in field.CLOWN. So would my master, had he not run
- 446 CLOWN. Why, how now, what's the matter?I thought you would be calling before I had done.SEGASTO. Come, help, away with my friend.CLOWN. Why, is he drunk? cannot he stand on his feet?SEGASTO. No, he is not drunk; he is slain. CLOWN. Flain! no, by[
- 445 SEGASTO. Well, sirrah, leaving idle talk, tell me, Dost thou know Captain Tremelio's chamber?CLOWN. Ay, very well, it hath a door.SEGASTO. I think so; for so hath every chamber.But dost thou know the man?CLOWN. Ay forsooth, he hath a nose on his face
- 444 CLOWN. Why, do you not know me?SEGASTO. Why, no; how should I know thee?CLOWN. Why then you know n.o.body, and you know not me[170]. I tell you, sir, I am the goodman Rat's son, of the next parish over the hill.SEGASTO. Goodman Rat's son; why, w
- 443 [_Exit MUCEDORUS_.ANSELMO. Prosperity forerun thee: awkward chance Never be neighbour to thy wishes' venture: Content and Fame advance thee: ever thrive, And glory thy mortality survive!_Enter_ MOUSE _with a bottle of hay_.MOUSE. O, horrible, terribl
- 442 ENVY: TREMELIO, _a Captain. For one_.BREMO, _a wild man_. COMEDY, _a boy, an old woman. For one_.ARIENA, AMADINE'S _maid_. COLLEN, _a Councillor, a Messenger. For one_.MOUSE, _the Clown. For one_.MUCEDORUS. _Enter_ COMEDY _joyfully, with a garland of
- 441 CORNELIA. How fares my lord? How doth my gentle Sylla.SYLLA. Ah, my Cornelia! pa.s.sing happy now: Free from the world, allied unto the heavens: Not curious of incertain chances now.CORNELIA. Words full of woe, still adding to my grief, A cureless cross o
- 440 CURTALL. These are very indiscreet counsels, neighbour Poppey, and I will follow your misadvis.e.m.e.nt.POPPEY. I tell you, goodman Curtall, the wench hath wrong. O vain world, O foolish men! Could a man in nature cast a wench down, and disdain in nature
- 439 POMPEY. What think you, citizens, why stand ye mute?Shall Sylla be dictator here in Rome?CITIZENS. By full consent Sylla shall be dictator.FLACCUS. Then in the name of Rome I here present The rods and axes into Sylla's hand; And fortunate prove Sylla
- 438 Hark how these murderous Romans, viper-like, Seek to bewray their fellow-citizens.O wretched world, from whence with speedy flight True love, true zeal, true honour late is fled!SOLDIER. What makes my lord so careless and secure, To leave the breach and h
- 437 _A great skirmish in Rome and long, some slain. At last enter_ SYLLA _triumphant, with_ POMPEY, METELLUS, _Citizens, Soldiers_.SYLLA. Now, Romans, after all these mutinies, Seditions, murders and conspiracies, Imagine with impartial hearts at last, What f
- 436 1ST SOLDIER. I prythee leave these rhymes, and tell us where thy master is?CLOWN. Faith, where you shall not be, Unless ye go with me.But shall I tell them so?O, no, sir, no, no, no.The man hath many a foe, As far as I do know: You do not flout me, I hope
- 435 MARIUS. By'r lady,[140] Fulvia, you are gaily read: Your mother well may boast you for her own; For both of you have words and scoffs at will.And since I like the compa.s.s of your wit, Myself will stand, and, ladies, you shall sit.And, if you please
- 434 FLACCUS. We grieve to see the aged Marius Stand like a private man in view of Rome.CINNA. Then bid him sit; and lo, an empty place: Revoke his exile from his government, And so prevent your farther detriment.LEPIDUS. We will account both Marius and his fr
- 433 LEPIDUS. Ay, even in death most courage doth appear.OCTAVIUS. Then, waiting death, I mean to seat me here; Hoping that consuls' name and fear of laws Shall justify my conscience and my cause._Enter a_ MESSENGER.Now, sirrah, what confused looks are th
- 432 What help to ease my weary pains have I?What comfort in distress to calm my griefs?_Griefs_.Sweet nymph, these griefs are grown, before I thought so._I thought so_. Thus Marius lives disdain'd of all the G.o.ds._G.o.ds_.With deep despair late overtak
- 431 Let us entreat him to forsake our town; So shall we gain a friend of Rome and him.[MARIUS _awaketh_.But mark how happily he doth awake.MARIUS. What, breathe I yet, poor man, with mounting sighs, Choking the rivers of my restless eyes?Or is their rage rest
- 430 OCTAVIUS. We will submit our honours to their wills: You, ancient citizens, come follow me.[_Exit_ OCTAVIUS; _with him_ ANTHONY _and_ LEPIDUS.CINNA. High Jove himself hath done too much for thee, Else should this blade abate thy royalty.Well, young Italia
- 429 YOUNG MARIUS. Sirrah, leave off this foolish dalliance, Lest with my sword I wake you from your trance.SLAVE. O happy man, O labours well-achiev'd!How hath this chance my weary limbs revived: O n.o.ble Marius! O princely Marius!YOUNG MARIUS. What mea
- 428 Frolic, brave soldiers, we must foot it now: Lucretius, you shall bide the brunt with me.Pompey, farewell, and farewell, Lepidus.Mark Anthony, I leave thee to thy books; Study for Rome and Sylla's royalty.But, by my sword, I wrong this greybeard'
- 427 SYLLA. And why not general 'gainst the King of Pontus?GRANIUS. And general against the King of Pontus.SYLLA. Sirrah, your words are good, your thoughts are ill.Each milkwhite hair amid this mincing beard, Compar'd with millions of thy treacherou
- 426 ANTHONY. For Sylla's haste! O, whither wilt thou fly?Tell me, my Sylla, what dost thou take in hand?What wars are these thou stirrest up in Rome?What fire is this is kindled by thy wrath?A fire that must be quench'd by Romans' blood. A war
- 425 Q. POMPEY. Believe me, n.o.ble Romans and grave senators, This strange election, and this new-made law Will witness our unstable government, And dispossess Rome of her empery: For although Marius be renown'd in arms, Famous for prowess, and grave in
- 424 FINIS.EPILOGUE.SPOKEN BY JULIO.Lo here the sweets of grisly pale despair!These are the blossoms of this cursed tree, Such are the fruits of too much love and care, O'erwhelmed in the sense of misery. With violent hands he that his life doth end, His
- 423 GISMUNDA. The dead fear not the force of men.CHORUS 1. His care and grief.GISMUNDA. That neither car'd for me, Nor grieved at the murther of my love.My mind is settled; you with these vain words Withhold me but too long from my desire.Depart ye to my
- 422 If birds or beasts had eaten up his corpse, Yea, heart and all within this cup I bring, And am constrained now unto the face Of his dear lady to present the same.CHORUS. What kind of cruelty is this you name?Declare forthwith, and whereunto doth tend This
- 421 Thou know'st our mind: our heart cannot be eas'd, But with the slaughter of this Palurin.[The KING hasteth into his palace.GUISCARD. O thou great G.o.d, who from thy highest throne Hast stooped down, and felt the force of love, Bend gentle ears
- 420 Gismund, it is no man's nor men's report, That have by likely proofs inform'd me thus.Thou know'st how hardly I could be induc'd To vex myself, and be displeas'd with thee, With flying tales of flattering sycophants.No, no, t
- 419 _Before this act_ MEGAERA _riseth out of h.e.l.l, with the other furies_, ALECTO _and_ TYSIPHONE _dancing an h.e.l.lish round; which done, she saith_: MEGAERA. Sisters, begone, bequeath the rest to me, That yet belongs unto this tragedy.[_The two furies d
- 418 ACT III., SCENE 1.CUPID. So now they feel what lordly Love can do, That proudly practise to deface his name; In vain they wrastle with so fierce a foe; Of little sparks arise a blazing flame."By small occasions love can kindle heat, And waste the oak
- 417 LUCRECE. Since when the princess hath entomb'd her lord, Her late deceased husband of renown; Brother, I see, and very well perceive, She hath not clos'd together in his grave All sparks of nature, kindness, nor of love: But as she lives, so liv
- 416 TANCRED. But reason saith thou shouldst the same subdue.GISMUNDA. His funerals are yet before my sight.TANCRED. In endless moans princes should not delight.GISMUNDA. The turtle pines in loss of her true mate.TANCRED. And so continues poor and desolate. GI
- 415 CUPID. There rest my chariot on the mountaintops.[18]I, that in shape appear unto your sight[19]A naked boy, not cloth'd but with my wings, And that great G.o.d of Love, who with his might Ruleth the vast wide world and living things.[20]This left ha
- 414 A Select Collection of Old English Plays.Vol. VII.by Various.EDITION The Tragedie of Tancred and Gismund. Compiled by the Gentlemen of the Inner Temple, and by them presented before her Maiestie. Newly reuiued and polished according to the decorum of thes
- 413 [297] [Old copy, _Abstrauogant_.][298] [Old copy, _peely_.][299] [Cakes. Old copy, _cats_.][300] [A Knight of the Post was a person hired to swear anything--a character often mentioned in old writers.][301] Some persons, not merely without reason, but dir
- 412 [249] [Old copy, _lent_.][250] [Old copy, _might_.][251] [Old copy, _might_.][252] Old copy, _tormented_.[253] [Old copy, _unmask'd_.] [254] Old copy, _our_.[255] i.e., A pack of cards; the expression was very common; _deck_, five lines lower, was of
- 411 [200] [The first 4 has _can_ for _should_, and _say_ for _'ssay_ or _essay_. The second 4 reads _lying_ for _living_.][201] [Old copy, _drudge_.][202] Edit. 1592 has _availeth_. See St Matthew xvi. 26.[203] [A synonym for a drubbing.] See "All&#
- 410 [154] A bully.[155] _i e, pox_.[156] Old copies, _alone_.[157] _Vile_.[158] _Your lives so farre amisse_, edit. 1592. [159] [Scrupulous.][160] [Old copies, _Fraud_.][161] [Dissimulation.][162] [Edit. 1592, _Iwis_.][163] Edit. 1584, _s.h.i.+ft it_.[164] Th
- 409 [106] [Old copy, _turn_.][107] Middleton uses _squall_ for a wench in his "Michaelmas Term" and in "The Honest Wh.o.r.e," edit. Dyce, i. 431, and iii. 55. Here it evidently means a person of the male s.e.x. [When used of men, a little
- 408 [60] [Old copy, _that that_.][61] [Old copy, _prayers_.][62] [Makes all the world believe.][63] [Old copy, _anchors_.][64] [Old copy, _impire_.] [65] [For _Whilome a goe_, possibly we ought to read "Whilome again,"but this would not remove the w
- 407 [13] We quote from Mr Utterson's, on all accounts, valuable reprint of Guilpin's collection of Epigrams and Satires, which was limited to sixteen copies. The same gentleman has conferred many other disinterested favours of the same kind on the l
- 406 [_Enter_ HONESTY.]HONESTY.A prize! though it be long, I have found him at last; But I could not bring him with me, And therefore I pinn'd a paper on his shoulder, Meaning thereby to mark him for the gallows.But husht, here he comes._Enter_ PERIN. KIN
- 405 Did you but see the man, I am a.s.sur'd You would not choose but pardon Ethenwald.PERIN.Why, Dunstan, you have seen as well as I, That Ethenwald hath dissembled with the king.My gracious lord, first cut that traitor down, And then will others fear th
- 404 PRIEST.I have been this morning with a friend of mine, That would borrow a small sum of money of me; But I have learn'd the best a.s.surance a man can have In such a matter is a good p.a.w.n of twice the value, Or bonds sufficient for five times the
- 403 Methinks it is a pretty homely wench: I promise thee, Ethenwald, I like her well.ETHENWALD.My lord, she is a homely kitchen-maid, And one whose bringing up hath been but rude, And far unfit for Edgar's company; But if your grace want merry company, I
- 402 What ho!_Enter_ OSRICK _and_ ALFRIDA.OSRICK.Ethenwald, my son, what news?ETHENWALD. Why ask you? I am sure you have heard the news.OSRICK.Not yet, I promise you, my lord.ETHENWALD.Why then 'tis thus: the king doth mean to come and visit you.OSRICK.An
- 401 Is she so foul as Ethenwald reports her?Believe me, then, she had been unfit for me.PERIN.My gracious lord, Ethenwald hath dissembled with your majesty, For Alfrida is fair and virtuous; For last night, being in private conference, He told me he had devis
- 400 KING.Alas, poor Piers Plowman! what ailest thou?Why dost thou weep? Peace, man: if any have Offended thee, thou shalt be made amends Unto the most.PIERS PLOWMAN.I beseech your grace To pity my distress. There is an unknown thief That robs the commonwealth
- 399 ETHENWALD.I cannot tell, but sure it pains me much.Nor did it ever trouble me till now; For till I came to lodge within your house, My eyes were clear, and I never felt the pain.OSRICK.I am sorry that my house should cause your grief. Daughter, if you hav
- 398 _Enter_ PERIN _and_ HONESTY.PERIN.G.o.d save you, gentlemen. The king greets you, and at this time Having some occasion to use money, hath sent to know What you that be knights and squires will lend his grace; And you, Master Farmer: be brief, sir[s,] for
- 397 Whither, distraught, roams my unruly thoughts?It is the king I cosen of his choice, And he nill brook Earl Ethenwald should prove False to his prince, especially in love.Then thus it shall be: I'll tell the king the maid is fair, Of nut-brown colour,
- 396 HONESTY.I told you, sir, how resolute you should find him: He doth it without fear, I warrant you. I think That in London you could not have found a man so fit For your purpose. I knew his father, sir: A man of honest reputation, and one whose life Was wi
- 395 HONESTY.And yet you are Cutbert the Coneycatcher, The bailiff's son of Hexham, whose father, being dead, The devil carried to h.e.l.l for his knavery.How sayest thou, art not thou his son?This grave black cloak makes you so proud, You have forgotten
- 394 Here is the man I told you of, that would lend you the money.He is a very honest man; and but for my sake, I know, He would not do it. But is the land despatch'd another way?If you be ready to seal, he is ready with the money.Hear you, sir, you have
- 393 Father, what wouldest thou have me do in this?Thou seest thy son is sorry for his fault, And I am sure thou would not wish his death, Because a father's care commands the contrary.Then, gentle father, let me plead for him, And be his pledge for shunn
- 392 If any, but in conference, name the king, Inform his majesty they envy him; And if the king but move, or speak to thee, Kneel on both knees, and say, G.o.d save your majesty.If any man be favoured by the king, Speak thou him fair, although in heart thou e
- 391 DUNSTAN.If it please your grace to think it good, Dunstan will say, as once Hephaestion did, When Alexander wan rich Macedon;[289]That whatsoe'er the king himself thought meet, He would in dutiful obedience yield unto.And so saith Dunstan to your maj
- 390 A most pleasant and merie new Comedie, int.i.tuled A Knacke to Knowe a Knaue. Newlie set foorth, as it hath sundrie tymes bene played by Ed: Allen and his Companie. With Kemps applauded Merrimentes of the men of Goteham, in receiuing the King into Goteham
- 389 If London list to look, the streets were ne'er so clean, Except it was, when best it might, in welcome of our Queen.Three lovely lords of London shall three London ladies wed: Strew sweetest flowers upon the stones; perfume the bridal bed.Strew the f
- 388 And that is your portion; for Conscience is bestowed on London's Pleasure, because London makes o'[286] Conscience what pleasure they use and admit, and what time they bestow therein, and to what end: so, my Lord Devotion, either that or nothing
- 387 DILIGENCE.What is it, Master Fraud, ye would demand of me?FRAUD.Sir, this you know, though yourself be a man of good reckoning, yet are ye known an officer unto these three lords, and what discredit it were to me, being a noted man, to pa.s.s through the
- 386 A crafty villain, perceiving how we meant to Usury, slipt away._Enter_ SIMPLICITY _in haste, and give the Lords a paper to read_.SIMPLICITY.All hail, all rain, all frost, and all snow Be to you three Lords of London on a row!Read my supplantation, and my
- 385 NEMO.So it please you, lordings, methinks it were meet, That the ladies took care to provide their own toys.Myself need to help them, who know their minds well, For I can keep women both quiet and constant.POLICY.It pleaseth us well that you will take the
- 384 _Enter_ S. PRIDE.S. PRIDE.Fuoro Viliagos! fuoro Lutheranos Ingleses! fuoro, sa, sa, sa!POMP.Their s.h.i.+elds are ours: they fled away with shame. But, lordings, whiles the stratagem is fresh, And memory of their misfortune green, Their hearts yet faintin
- 383 I see, Castilians, that you marvel much At this same emblem of the olive-tree Upon my back; lo, this it signifies.Spain is in wars; but London lives in peace: Your native fruit doth wither on your soil, And prospers where it never planted was.This London&
- 382 Advance again your lances now, my boys.[_Hold up again_.S. PRIDE.Dicito n.o.bis ideo, qui ades, quid sibi velint isthaec emblemata?Dicito (inquam) lingua materna: nos enim omnes belle intelligimus, quamvis Anglice loqui dedignamur. FEALTY.Then know, Casti
- 381 If they be conquer'd, greater is their shame.But, Diligence, go post alongst the coast To tell the news; and look, to welcome them, Let us alone. My lords, you hear the news: More words were vain; I know ye well resolv'd.[_Exit_ DILIGENCE.POMP.A
- 380 And thou too, I hope: why, what should we do?USURY.Whatsoever ye do, be not traitors to your native country.SIMONY.'Tis not our native country, thou knowest. I, Simony, am a Roman: Dissimulation, a mongrel--half an Italian, half a Dutchman: Fraud so,
- 379 SIMPLICITY.Of an old Frenchman, the old French disease take him!USURY.And where dwells that old Frenchman?SIMPLICITY. In France, I think, for he told me he was to go over the next tide or the next day: My wife can tell as well as I, If ye think I lie.For
- 378 POLICY.Right thankfully those favours we'll receive._Enter_ DILIGENCE _in haste_.DILIGENCE.My lords, if your affairs in present be not great, Greater than any, save regard of life, Yea, even the greatest of the commonwealth, Prepare ye to withstand a
- 377 Thou art not known to any of these lords By face or feature: till they hear thy name, Which must be Lucre for a fine device, And Conscience clear indeed's the greatest gain. [_Aside_.Lo, lordings, here fair Lucre whom ye love.Lucre, the choice is lef
- 376 Dere, mastra! O, pover necessity mak a me sell pour grand, grand loss: you shall gain ten pound at least. Go'boy[259].SIMPLICITY.What's your name?FRAUD.Merchant, I think I am even with ye now for calling me ostler. You'll thrive well with s
- 375 [_Exeunt ambo_.NEMO.Lucre consumes, being won by Fraud or s.h.i.+ft.Thus, lords, you see how these are qualified, And how these ladies shun that sharp rebuke, Which some deserve by taking of such toys, As women weak are tempted soon with gifts.But here th
- 374 POLICY.Sweet Love indeed!POMP.A lovely face!PLEASURE. A gallant grace!NEMO.Conscience, uncover.POLICY.Beauty divine!POMP.A face angelical!PLEASURE.Sweet creature of the world!NEMO.Enough for once; ladies, sit down again.As cunning chapmen do by curious wa
- 373 Then tempt me not, nor trouble me no more; I must not use you as I did before.If you be found within fair London's gate, You must to prison, whence we came of late.Conscience will accuse ye, if ye be in sight.FRAUD.That scurvy Conscience works us all
- 372 SIMPLICITY.No, I thank you heartily; I'll beg no more. I cannot with ye, though I would, for I am married to Painful-Penury. Look now, my proud stately masters, I may if I will; and you would, if ye might.FRAUD.No, not dwell with such a beggar as Con
- 371 That pray with faith, and with unfeign'd remorse, For true belief and tears make prayer of force.CONSCIENCE.Then veil ourselves, and silent let us stay, Till heaven shall please to send some friends this way.[_Sit all down_.[_Enter_ FRAUD, DISSIMULAT
- 370 If world would end, my woe should but begin: Lo, this the case of Conscience for her sin; And sin the food, wherewith my worm was fed, That stings me now to death, yet never dead.LOVE.Yet never dead, and yet Love doth not live, Love, that to loss in life
- 369 SIMPLICITY.So that Usury and an a.s.s are two of the profitablest beasts that a man can keep; yet th'one hath sharper teeth than th'other.FRAUD.But what means Dissimulation? He droops, methinks. What cheer, man?Why, cousin, frolic a fit. Art tho
- 368 PLEASURE.At liberty, thou spotless magistrate, That of the cause dost carry all regard, Careless of bribes, of birth and parentage, Because thyself art only born to bliss.Bless us so much, that lords of London are, That those three ladies, born and bred w
- 367 SIMPLICITY.Gramercy, good Will, my wife shall love thee still; And since I can neither get Wit nor Wealth, Let my wife have her Will, and let me have my health.G.o.d forgive me, I think I never name her, but it conjures her: look where she comes!Be manner
- 366 WIT.I dwelt with him.SIMPLICITY.Didst thou? now, give me thy hand: I love thee the better.WILL. And I, too, sometime.SIMPLICITY.You, child! did you dwell with him sometime?Wit dwelt with him, indeed, as appeared by his rhyme, And served him well; and Will
- 365 SIMPLICITY.Cus.h.i.+ons? Alas! it were pity to sit on such fine cus.h.i.+ons. But come, my boys, if you'll buy any of my wares, here's my stall, and I'll open and show straight.WEALTH.What dainty fine ballad have you now to be sold?SIMPLICI
- 364 WIT. True; for if three fools were one fool, that were a great fool. [_Points to_ SIMPLICITY. But how are we double chapboys? SIMPLICITY. Because ye have two chaps, an upper chap and a nether chap. WILL. Ha, ha, ha! WIT. Ha, ha, ha! WEALTH. Ha, ha, ha!
- 363 If ye be _non plus_, let the matter fall.WILL.Wit, dost thou see? thus goes Wealth away with all.WIT.Let's reason no further, for we shall have glee. Here is a challenger to our s.h.i.+elds: step we aside._Enter_ SIMPLICITY _in bare black, like a poo
- 362 _Pour temps_, for time.WIT.A very pretty one: I would it were in rhyme.WEALTH.In rhyme, Wit! why so? WIT.Because it wants reason.WILL.Look for my fist, Wit, if ye rap out such treason.WIT.Treason to what, boy?WILL.To my master's bird.WIT.Now, Will, m
- 361 And Policy may Lady Lucre gain Before you both, but let us not contend.For Nemo doth the ladies prisoners keep, Though they were slandered late with liberty, And marriage to three far-born foreigners.Then, first it fits we practise their release, And see
- 360 POLICY, POMP, _The three Lords of London_.PLEASURE, WIT, WEALTH, _Their Pages_.WILL, NEMO, _a grave old man_. LOVE, LUCRE, _Three Ladies of London_.CONSCIENCE, HONEST INDUSTRY, PURE ZEAL, _Three Sages_.SINCERITY, PRIDE, AMBITION, _Three Lords of Spain_.TY
- 359 Such terror doth affright me, that living I wish to die: I am afraid there is no spark left for me of G.o.d's mercy.JUDGE.Conscience, where hadst thou this letter?CONSCIENCE.It was put into my bosom by Lucre, Willing me to keep secret our lascivious
- 358 What is that to thee? why wouldst thou so fain know?SIMPLICITY.Marry, if you should be both right-handed, the one would hinder the other: Then it would not[226] be done finely, according to order; For if I be not whipp'd with credit, it is not worth
- 357 JUDGE.But, Signor Mercatore, I trow, ye will be a Turk for all this.MERCATORE.Signor, no: not for all da good in da world me forsake a my Christ.JUDGE. Why, then, it is as sir Gerontus said; you did more for the greediness of the money Than for any zeal o
- 356 SIMPLICITY.Marry, there was never a scutcheon, but there was two trees rampant, And then over them lay a sour tree pa.s.sant, With a man like you in a green field pendant, Having a hempen halter about his neck, with a knot under the left ear, because you
- 355 [_Exeunt_._Enter_ MERCATORE _reading a letter to himself; and let_ GERONTUS _the Jew follow him, and speak as followeth_.GERONTUS.Signor Mercatore, why do you not pay me? think you, I will be mock'd in this sort?This is three times you have flouted m
- 354 And I pray thee, make haste in decking of thy room, That I may find thy lodging fine, when with my friend I come.CONSCIENCE.I'll make speed; and where I have with brooms ofttimes been roaming, I mean henceforth not to be seen, but sit to watch your c
- 353 CONSCIENCE.What, Usury, it is great pity thou art unhanged yet.USURY.Believe me, Conscience, it grieves me thou art brought so low.CONSCIENCE. Believe me, Usury, it grieves me thou wast not hanged long ago; For if thou hadst been hanged, before thou slewe
- 352 SIMPLICITY.No, faith, Mistress Conscience, I'll not; for, and I should sell[205] broom, The maids would cosen me to competually with their old shoon.And, too, I cannot work, and you would hang me out of the way; For when I was a miller, Will did grin
- 351 CONSCIENCE.Well, well, Lucre, _Audeo et taceo_: I see and say nothing; But I fear the plague of G.o.d on thy head it will bring.DISSIMULATION.Good lady, grant that love be your waiting-maid.For I think, being brought so low, she will be well apaid. LUCRE.
- 350 O help, help, help for G.o.d's sake!_Enter_ CONSCIENCE, _running apace_.CONSCIENCE.What lamentable cry was that I heard one make?HOSPITALITY. O Lady Conscience! now or never help me.CONSCIENCE.Why, what wilt thou do with him, Usury?USURY.What will I