Sir Ar. Good, good! to con the lesson of our loves, Our secret game. Win. Oh, blush to speak it further. Sir Jlr. I for trial? Win. Can you name Sir Jr. Wilt thou turn monster now 4 art not asham'd Is built upon a rock. This very day 1 i.e. assure you. Of holy marriage. I have said enough ; SCENE II. Edmonton.—A Room w CARTER’s House. Enter Old THoRNEY and CARTER. Thor. You offer, master Carter, like a gentleman; I cannot find fault with it, "t is so fair. Car. No gentleman I, master Thorney; spare the mastership, call me by my name, John Carter.— Master is a title neither my father, nor his before him, were acquainted with; honest Hertfordshire yeomen; such a one am I; my word and my deed shall be proved one at all times. I mean to give you no security for the marriage-money. Thor. How ! no security ? although it need not so long as you live; yet who is he has surety of his life one hour? Men, the proverb says, are mortal; else, for my part, I distrust you not, were the sum double. Car. Double, treble, more or less, I tell you, master Thorney, I’ll give no security. Bonds and . bills are but terriers to catch fools, and keep lazy knaves busy; my security shall be present payment. And we here, about Edmonton, hold present payment as sure as an alderman's bond in London, master Thorney. Thor. I cry you mercy, sir; I understood you Inot. Car. I like young Frank well, so does my Susan too; the girl has a fancy to him, which makes me ready in my purse. There be other suitors within, that make much noise to little purpose. If Frank love Sue, Sue shall have none but Frank: ’t is a mannerly girl, master Thorney, though but a homely man's daughter: there have worse faces looked out of black bags, man. Thor. You speak your mind freely and honestly. I marvel my son comes not; I am sure he will be here some time to-day. * Car. To-day or to-morrow, when he comes he shall be welcome to bread, beer, and beef, yeoman's fare; we have no kickshaws: full dishes, whole bellyfuls. Should I diet three days at one of the slender city-suppers, you might send me to BarberSurgeon's hall the fourth day, to hang up for an anatomy.—Here come they that— Enter WARBECK with SUSAN, SoMERTON with KATHERINE, How now, girls' every day play-day with you? Valentine's day, too, all by couples Thus will young folks do when we are laid in our graves, master Thorney: here's all the care they take. And how do you find the wenches, gentlemen? Win'em and wear 'em; they shall choose for themselves by my consent. War. You speak like a kind father. Sue, thou hear'st The liberty that's granted thee ; what sayest thou ? Wilt thou be mine ! Sus. Your what, sir? I dare swear Never your wife. o War. Canst thou be so unkind, Considering how dearly I affect thee, Nay, dote on thy perfections ! us. You are studied, Too scholar-like, in words I understand not. I am too coarse for such a gallant’s love As Vou are. ar. By the honour of gentility— Sus. Good sir, no swearing; yea and may with us Prevail above all oaths you can invent. War. By this white hand of thine— Sus. Take a false oath ! War. Dost thou despise me? Car. Let them talk on, master Thorney; I know Sue's mind. The fly may buzz about the candle, he shall but singe his wings when all's done : Frank, Frank is he has her heart. Som. But shall I live in hope, Kate ; Kath. Better so, Som. Perhaps thou think'st it is thy portion Kath. Master Somerton, Som. Which is, As worthily in loving thee sincerely, As thou art worthy to be so beloved. Rath. I shall find time to try you. Som. Do, Kate, do; And when I fail, may all my joys forsake me ! Car. Warbeck and Sue are at it still. I laugh to myself, master Thorney, to see how earnestly he beats the bush, while the bird is flown into another's bosom. A very unthrift, master Thorney; one of the country' roaring-lads: we have such as well as 1 The reader who casts his eye over a preceding note, p. 113, and also over the following passages, extracted from others of our old dramas, will find Warbeck, much to his credit, to be but a very tame specimen of the roaring-boy. Timothy. What Plotwell. You see they wear Timothy. But I mean, can they roar, The City Match. Timothy. You are a captain, sir? Quartfield. I have seen service, sir. Timothy. Captain, I love Banausus. O, I have thought on 't: I will straightway build The Muse's Looking-glass. Barnacle. Mistake not, Compared with these heroes, Warbeck is more insipid than even Snore WoL. II.-14 |