Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

Cud. I would fain meet with mine ingle once more; he has had a claw amongst them: my rival that loved my wench is like to be hang'd like an innocent. A kind cur where he takes, but where he takes not, a dogged rascal; I know the villain loves me. [Dog barks.] No! art thou there? [Seeing the Dog,] that's Tom's voice, but 'tis not he; this is a dog of another hair, this. Bark, and not speak to me? not Tom then; there's as much difference betwixt Tom and this, as betwixt white and black.

Dog. Hast thou forgot me?

Cud. That's Tom again; prithee, ningle, speak, is thy name Tom?

Dog. Whilst I serv'd my old dame Sawyer, it was; I am gone from her now.

Cud. Gone? away with the witch then too! she'll never thrive if thou leavest her; she knows no more how to kill a cow, or a horse, or a sow, without thee, than she does to kill a goose.

Dog. No, she has done killing now, but must be killed for what she has done; she's shortly to be hang'd.

Cud. Is she? in my conscience if she be, 'tis thou hast brought her to the gallows, Tom.

Dog. Right; I serv'd her to that purpose; 'twas part of my wages.

Cud. This was no honest servant's part, by your leave, Tom. This remember, I pray you, between you and I; I entertain'd you ever as a dog, not as a devil.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

From an evil spirit, but that thy oaths,
Curses, and blasphemies pull him to thine elbow;
Thou never tell'st a lie, but that a devil
Is within hearing it; thy evil purposes
Are ever haunted; but when they come to act,
As thy tongue slandering, bearing false witness,
Thy hand stabbing, stealing, cozening, cheating,
He's then within thee: thou play'st, he bets upon
thy part;

Although thou lose, yet he will gain by thee.

Cud. Ay? then he comes in the shape of a rook?

Dog. The old cadaver of some self-strangled wretch

We sometimes borrow, and appear humane;
The carcass of some disease-slain strumpet
We varnish fresh, and wear as her first beauty.
Didst never hear? if not, it has been done;
An hot luxurious letcher in his twines,
When he has thought to clip his dalliance,
There has provided been for his embrace
A fine hot flaming devil in her place.

Cud. Yes, I am partly a witness to this; but I never could embrace her; I thank thee for that, Tom. Well, again I thank thee, Tom, for all this counsel; without a fee, too! there's few lawyers of thy mind now. Certainly, Tom, I begin to pity thee.

Dog. Pity me! for what?

Cud. Were it not possible for thee to become an honest dog yet ?-'tis a base life that you lead, Tom, to serve witches, to kill innocent children, to kill harmless cattle, to destroy corn and fruit, and so forth: 'twere better yet to be a butcher and kill for yourself.

Dog. Why, these are all my delights, my plea

sures, fool.

Cud. Or, Tom, if you could give your mind to ducking, (I know you can swim, fetch, and carry,) some shopkeeper in London would take great delight in you, and be a tender master over you: or if you have any mind to the game, either at bull or bear, I think I could prefer you to Moll Cutpurse.

Dog, Ha, ha! I should kill all the game, bulls, bears, dogs and all; not a cub to be left.

Cud. You could do, Tom; but you must play fair, you should be staved off else. Or if your stomach did better like to serve in some nobleman's, knight's, or gentleman's kitchen, if you could brook the wheel, and turn the spit (your labour could not be much) when they have roast meat, that's but once or twice in the week at most; here you might lick your own toes very well or if you could translate yourself into a lady's arming puppy, there you might lick sweet lips, and do many pretty offices; but to creep under an old witch's coats, and suck like a great

puppy!-fie upon't! I have heard beastly things grieve to see thee weep for him that hath my pity you, Tom.

of

Dog. Ha, ha!

The worst thou heard'st of me the better 'tis ;
Shall I serve thee, fool, at the self-same rate?
Cud. No, I'll see thee hang'd, thou shalt be
damn'd first! I know thy qualities too well, I'll
give no suck to such whelps; therefore, henceforth
I defy thee. Out! and avaunt !

Dog. Nor will I serve for such a silly soul.
I am for greatness now, corrupted greatness,
There I'll shug in, and get a noble countenance;
Serve some Briarean foot-cloth strider,

That has an hundred hands to catch at bribes,
But not a finger's nail of charity.

Such, like the dragon's tail, shall pull down hun-
dreds

To drop and sink with him: I'll stretch myself,
And draw this bulk small as a silver wire,
Enter at the least pore tobacco-fume
Can make a breach for: hence, silly fool!
I scorn to prey on such an atom soul.

Cud. Come out, come out, you cur! I will beat thee out of the bounds of Edmonton, and to-morrow we go in procession, and after thou shalt never come in again: if thou goest to London, I'll make thee go about by Tyburn, stealing in by Thievinglane. If thou canst rub thy shoulder against a lawyer's gown, as thou passest by Westminsterhall, do; if not, to the stairs amongst the ban-dogs, take water, and the devil go with thee!

[Exil, followed by Dog barking.

SCENE II.-LONDON.

too.

Win. My fault was lust, my punishment was

[blocks in formation]

Saw. Who doubts it? but is every devil
mine?

Would I had one now whom I might command
To tear you all in pieces! Tom would have
done't,

Car. Thou didst bewitch Ann Ratcliffe to kill herself.

The neighbourhood of Before he left me.
Tyburn.
Enter Justice, Sir ARTHUR SOMERTON, WARBECK, CARTER,
and KATHERINE.

Just. Sir Arthur, though the bench hath mildly censured your errors, yet you have indeed been the instrument that wrought all their misfortunes; I would wish you paid down your fine speedily and willingly.

Sir Ar. I shall need no urging to it.

Car. If you should, 'twere a shame to you; for, if I should speak my conscience, you are worthier to be hang'd of the two, all things considered; and now make what you can of it: but I am glad these gentlemen are freed.

War. We knew our innocence.
Som. And therefore fear'd it not.

Kath. But I am glad that I have you safe.
[A noise within.

Just. How now? what noise is that?
Car. Young Frank is going the wrong way.-
Alas, poor youth! now I begin to pity him.

Enter Old THORNEY and WINNIFREDE weeping.
Thor. Here let our sorrows wait him; to press

nearer

The place of his sad death, some apprehensions
May tempt our grief too much, at height already ;—
Daughter, be comforted.

Win. Comfort and I

Are too far separated to be join'd
But in eternity; I share too much
Of him that's going thither.

War. Poor woman, 'twas not thy fault; I

Saw. Churl, thou liest; I never did her hurt: would you were all as near your ends as I am, that gave evidence against me for it!

Coun. I'll be sworn, master Carter, she bewitch'd Gammer Washbowl's sow to cast her pigs a day before she would have farrowed: yet they were sent up to London, and sold for as good Westminster dog-pigs, at Bartholomew-fair, as ever great-belly'd ale-wife longed for.

Saw. These dogs will mad me; I was well re-
solv'd

To die in my repentance. Though 'tis true
I would live longer if I might, yet since

I cannot, pray torment me not; my conscience
Is settled as it shall be: all take heed

How they believe the devil; at last he'll cheat

you.

Car. Thou'dst best confess all truly.

Saw. Yet again?

Have I scarce breath enough to say my prayers,
And would you force me to spend that in bawl-
ing?

Bear witness, I repent all former evil;
There is no damned conjuror like the devil.
All. Away with her, away!

[She is led off.

Enter FRANK to Execution, Officers, &c.
Thor. Here's the sad object which I yet must

meet

With hope of comfort, if a repentant end
Make him more happy than misfortune would
Suffer him here to be.

[ocr errors]

Fran. Good sirs, turn from me; You will revive affliction almost kill'd

With my continual sorrow.

Thor. Oh, Frank, Frank!

Would I had sunk in mine own wants, or died But one bare minute ere thy fault was acted! Frank. To look upon your sorrows executes

me,

Before my execution.

Win. Let me pray you, sir—

Frank. Thou much-wrong'd woman, I must sigh for thee,

As he that's only loath to leave the world
For that he leaves thee in it unprovided,
Unfriended; and for me to beg a pity
From any man to thee when I am gone,
Is more than I can hope; nor, to say truth,
Have I deserv'd it: but there is a payment
Belongs to goodness from the great Exchequer
Above; it will not fail thee, Winnifrede;
Be that thy comfort.

Thor. Let it be thine too,
Untimely lost young man.
Frank. He is not lost,

Who bears his peace within him: had I spun
My web of life out at full length, and dream'd
Away my many years in lusts, in surfeits,
Murthers of reputations, gallant sins
Commended or approved; then, though I had
Died easily, as great and rich men do,
Upon my own bed, not compell'd by justice,
You might have mourn'd for me indeed; my

[blocks in formation]

Hangs on their heads, who rather choose to marry

A goodly portion than a dower of virtues !—
Are you there, gentlemen? there is not one
Amongst you whom I have not wrong'd; you
most,
[TO CARTER

I robb'd you of a daughter;—but she is
In heaven; and I must suffer for it willingly.

Car. Ay, ay, she's in heaven, and I am glad to see thee so well prepared to follow her. I forgive thee with all my heart; if thou hadst not had ill counsel, thou would'st not have done as thou didst; the more shame for them !

Som. Spare your excuse to me, I do conceive What you would speak; I would you could as easily

Make satisfaction to the law, as to

My wrongs: I am sorry for you.
War. And so am I,

And heartily forgive you.

Kath. I will pray for you,

For her sake, who, I'm sure, did love you dearly.

Sir Ar. Let us part friendly too; I am asham'd Of my part in thy wrongs.

Frank. You are all merciful,

And send me to my grave in peace.

Sir Arthur,

Heaven send you a new heart!-lastly, to you,

sir;

[blocks in formation]

O Frank, Frank, Frank !

Frank. Let me beseech you, gentlemen,

To comfort my old father, keep him with you;
Love this distressed widow; and as often

As you remember what a graceless man

I was, remember likewise that these are
Both free, both worthy of a better fate,
Than such a son or husband as I have been.

All help me with your prayers. On, on: 'tis just

That law should purge the guilt of blood and lust. [He is led off by the Officers.

Car. Go thy ways; I did not think to have shed one tear for thee, but thou hast made me water my plants spite of my heart. Master Thorney, cheer up, man; whilst I can stand by you, you shall not want help to keep you from falling: we have lost our children both on's the wrong way, but we cannot help it; better or worse, 'tis now as 'tis.

Thor. I thank you, sir; you are more kind than I

Have cause to hope or look for.

Car. Master Somerton, is Kate yours or no? Som. We are agreed.

Kath. And but my faith is pass'd, I should fear to be married, husbands are so cruelly unkind. Excuse me that I am troubled.

Som. Thou shalt have no cause.

Just. Take comfort, mistress Winnifrede. Sir

[blocks in formation]

Win. Sir, 'tis too great a sum to be employ'd Upon my funeral.

Car. Come, come; if luck had serv'd, Sir Arthur, and every man had his due, somebody might have tottered ere this, without paying fines; like it as you list. Come to me, Winnifrede, shalt be welcome. Make much of her, Kate, I charge

you; I do not think but she's a good wench, and hath had wrong as well as we. So let's every man home to Edmonton with heavy hearts, yet as merry as we can, though not as we would.

Just. Join friends in sorrow; make of all the Harms past may be lamented, not redrest. [best: [Exeunt.

EPILOGUE,

Spoken by WINNIFREDE.

I AM a widow still, and must not sort
A second choice, without a good report;

Which though some widows find, and few deserve,
Yet I dare not presume; but will not swerve
From modest hopes. All noble tongues are free;
The gentle may speak one kind word for me.

[blocks in formation]

Ban-dog; Paris-garden bandog,--a sort of mastiff kept to bait bears at Paris-garden in Southwark Banqueting-room, (""Tis Pity she's a Whore," act v. scene 6,-stage-direction,) the room where the dessert was placed, to which, after dinner, it was customary to remove Barking church; situated at the bot

tom of Seething Lane, was destroyed in the great fire of London Beadsman, one bound to pray for another, a vowed servant Begg'd; I fear my lands, and all I have,

is begg'd, ("Love's Sacrifice," act iv. scene 1.) as those of a person condemned

Bevers, slight repasts between meals Boar's sty, (" Perkin Warbeck," act i. scene 1.) an allusion to the armorial bearings of Richard the Third Bumby, Mother, ("The Witch of Edmonton," act iv. scene 1.) a celebrated 'wise-woman;' she figures in one of Lyly's plays, which is entitled Mother Bombie

Bonny-clabber, curds and whey, or sour butter-milk Bourd, to jest

Brach, a bitch-hound

C

Casting bottle, a small bottle for sprinkling perfumed waters Charm; You charm me, (" The Lover's Melancholy," act ii. scene 1.) you overcome my unwillingness to speak Choppine, a large clog, worn under the shoe, and made of cork or light frame-work, covered with leather Chouses, properly Chiouses, Turkish officers; rogues, swindlers Chrisome, an infant within the first month

Cittern,`

Barbers shall wear Cittern-headed; thee on their citterns, ("The Lover's Melancholy," act ii. scene 1.); A cittern-headed gew-gaw, ("The Fancies, Chaste and Noble," act i. scene 2.); citterns, the heads of which were generally grotesquely carved, used to be kept in barbers' shops for the amusement of customers

Clap-dish; Stop your clap-dish, ("Love's

Sacrifice," act iii. scene 1.) close your mouth, or hold your tongue : the clap-dish was a wooden dish with a moveable cover, which was originally carried by lepers, who clapped it as a warning that alms might be given without touching them. It was afterwards commonly carried by beggars Cob-nut; A cob-nut out of Africa, ("The Sun's Darling," act iii. scene 3.): what particular fruit is here alluded to, is uncertain; cob-nut is properly a large nut

iii. scene 3., "The Witch of Edmonton," act iii. scene 1.) green pease Colts; Painted colts, ("The Broken Heart," act iv. scene 1.) rude and silly persons; there seems to be an allusion to some allegorical picture, -perhaps in the "painted cloth," a kind of hangings for rooms Compass; She'll keep a surer compass, ("The Witch of Edmonton," act ii. scene 2.) an expression drawn from archery arrows shot with a compass, i. e. with a degree of elevation, were supposed to go more surely to the mark

Condition, temper, disposition Convinc'd, Too sure to be convinc'd,

("The Broken Heart," act v. scene 2.) conquered, overthrown Cotquean, one who meddles with female affairs

Counsel, In counsel, ("Fancies, Chaste and Noble," act i. scene 3.) in secret Courtship, the manners of, behaviour necessary at court Cousin, ("Tis Pity she's a Whore," act ii. scene 6.) nephew Coxcomb, fool's cap Crisled, shrivelled, roughened Cunning, skill

Cup and knee, ("The Fancies, Chaste and Noble," act i. scene 1.) should probably be "cap and knee" Curst, cross, splenetic

D

Days, eight to the week; Ask any soldier that ever received his pay but in the Low Countries, and he'll tell thee there are eight days in the week there, ("The Witch of Edmonton," act iii, scene 1.): this passage is explained by the following lines of Butler,

"The soldier does it every day,

Eight to the week, for sixpence pay." Den ye; Dentlemen, then ye, ("The Lady's Trial," act iv. scene 2.) Gentlemen, good even to ye

Branched velvet, ("The Witch of Ed- Codlings, ("The Sun's Darling," act Desvergonzado; Desver di Gonzado,

P

« PreviousContinue »