Tub. Shall we to Pancras or to Kentish town, Hilts? [to us, Hil. Let Kentish-town or Pancras come If either will: I will go home again. Tub. Faith, Basket, our success hath been but bad, And nothing prospers that we undertake; For we can neither meet with Clay nor Awdrey, The chanon Hugh, nor Turfe the constable: We are like men that wander in strange woods, [seek. And lose our selves in search of them we Hil. This was because we rose on the wrong side: But as I am now here, just in the mid-way, I'll zet my sword on the pummel, and that line The point valls to, we'll take, whether it be To Kentish-town, the church, or home again. Tub. Stay, stay thy hand; here's justice Bramble's clerk, Enter Metaphor. Th' unlucky hare hath crost us all this day. I'll stand aside whilst thou pump'st out of him His business, Hilts; and how he's now employed. Hil. Let me alone, I'll use him in his kind. Met. Oh for a pad-horse, pack-horse, or a post-horse, [crup! To bear me on his neck, his back, or his I am as weary with running as a mill-horse That hath led the mill once, twice, thrice about, After the breath hath been out of his body. You lie, sir Metaphor. Met. Lie? how? Hil. Lie so, sir. [He strikes up his heels. Dost thou know me ? Met. Yes, I did know you too late. Met. Basket. Hil, Basket? what? Met. Basket, the great Hil. The great what? Met. Lubber I should say, lover, of the 'squire his master. Hil. Great is my patience, to forbear thee thus, Thou scrape-hill, scoundrel, and thou scum of man; Uncivil, orange-tawny-coated clerk: And wast made up of patches, parings, shreds : Thou, that when last thou wert put out of service, Travell'dst to Hamstead-heath on an AshWe'nesday, Where thou didst stand six weeks the Jack of Lent, For boys to hurl three throws a penny at thee, To make thee a purse: seest thou this bold bright blade? [grave This sword shall shred thee as small unto the As minc'd meat for a pie. I'll set thee in earth All, save thy head and thy right-arm a liberty, To keep thy hat off while I question thee What? why? and whither thou wert going now, With a face ready to break out with business? And tell me truly, lest I dash't in pieces. Met. Then, Basket, put thy smiter up, and hear; I dare not tell the truth to a drawn sword. Hil. 'Tis sheath'd, stand up, speak with out fear or wit. Met. I know not what they mean; but constable Turfe Sends here his key for moneys in his cupboard. Which he must pay the captain that was robb'd This morning. Smell you nothing? Thy breeches yet are honest. Do you not smell a rat? I tell you truth, per'd [key, Me in the ear, when Turfe had gi’n me By the same token to bring Mrs. Awdrey, As sent for thither; and to say, John Clay Is found, which is indeed to get the wench Forth for my master, who is to be married When she comes there: the chanon has his rules Ready, and all there, to dispatch the matter. Tub. Now, on my life, this is the chanon's plot! [Baske Miles, I have heard all thy discourse to Wilt thou be true, and I'll reward thee well, To make me happy in my mistress Awdrey? Met. Your worship shall dispose of Me taphor, [head Thro' all his parts, e'en from the sole o' the To the crown o' the foot, to manage of your service. [Turic. Tub. Then do thy message to the mistress Tell her thy token, bring the money hither, And likewise take young Awdrey to tay charge: Which done, here, Metaphor, we will attend And intercept thee. And for thy reward You two shall share the money, I the maid: If any take offence, I'll make all good. Met. But shall I have half the money, sir, in faith? Tub. I, on my 'squireship shalt thou; and my land. Met. Then, if I make not, sir, the cleanliest 'scuse To get her hither, and be then as careful To keep her for you, as 'twere for myself, Down o' your knees, and pray that honest Miles May break his neck ere he get o'er two stiles. SCENE III Tub, Hilts. Tub. Make haste, then: we will wait here thy return. [hopes, This luck unlook'd for hath reviv'd my Which were opprest with a dark melancholy. In happy time we linger'd on the way, own: Like him that digs a trap to catch another, And falls into't himself! Tub. So would I have it; And hope 'twill prove a jest to twit the justice with. Hil. But that this poor white-liver'd rogue should do't? And merely out of fear? Tub. And hope of money, Hilts. A valiant man will nibble at that bait. Hil. Who, but a fool, will refuse money proffer'd? Tub. And sent by so good chance. Pray heaven he speed. [count Hil. If he come empty-handed, let him To go back empty-headed; I'll not leave him So much of brain in's pate, with pepper and vinegar, To be serv'd in for sauce to a calf's-head. Tub. Thou serv'd him rightly, Hilts. Hil. I'll seal as much With my hand, as I dare say now with my tongue; But if you get the lass from Dargison, What will you do with her? Tub. We'll think o' that When once we have her in possession, go vernor. SCENE IV. Puppy, Metaphor, Audrey. Pup. You see we trust you, Mr. Metaphor, With Mrs. Awdrey: 'pray you, use her well, As a gentlewoman should be us'd. For my part, I do incline a little to the serving-man; We have been of a coat—I had one like yours; Till it did play me such a sleeveless errand, As I had nothing where to put mine arms in, And then I threw it off. 'Pray you go before her, Serving-man like, and see that your nose drop not. As for example, you shall see me: mark, She for her own part, is a woman cares not I must go back now to make clean the rooms, Pup. Farewell, fine Metaphor. Met. Come, gentle mistress, will you please to walk? Awd. I love not to be led: I'd go alone. Be snap'd up in the trap of your suspicion, SCENE V. Tub, Awdrey, Hilts, Metaphor, Lady, PolMartin. [To them.] Tub. Welcome again, my Awdrey: welcome, love: You shall with me; in faith deny me not. I am not for your mowing. You'll be flown Hil. Hast thou the money, Miles? Met. Here are two bags, there's fifty pound in each. [time: Tub. Nay, Awdrey, I possess you for this Sirs, take that coin between you, and di vide it. My pretty sweeting, give me now the leave To challenge love and marriage at your hands. But if you get the lass from DARGISON.] The meaning of this last term is unknown to me; whether it be a proper name, taken from some romance, and how applied, I know not; or whether a corruption from Kentish-town, which is not improbable. What will my lady say? In faith, I think She was at our house and I think she ask'd for you: And I think she hit me i' th' teeth with you, I thank her ladyship: and I think she means Not to go hence till she has found you. Tub. How say you?? Was then my lady mother at your house? Let's have a word aside. Awd. Yes, twenty words. Lad. 'Tis strange, a motion, but I know Comes in my mind, to leave the way to Ere while we left her at her father's house: And hath he thence remov'd her in such haste! What shall I do? shall I speak fair, or chide? Pol. Madam, your worthy son with du teous care Can govern his affections: rather then Break off their conference some other way, Pretending ignorance of what you know. Tub. An' this be all, fair Awdrey, 1 am thine. Lad. Mine you were once, though scarcely now your own. Hil. 'sid, my lady! my lady! Met. Is this my lady bright? Tub. Madam, you took me now a little tardy. [devout Lad. At prayers I think you were: what, so Of late, that you will shrive you to all con fessors Lad. It must be now, my business lie this way. [cuse me? Tub. Will not an hour hence, madam, exLad. 'Squire, these excuses argue more your guilt. You have some new device now to project. Which the poor tileman scarce will thank you for. What? will you go? Tub. I ha'ta'en a charge upon me, To see this maid conducted to her father, Who, with the chanon Hugh, stays her z Pancras, To see her married to the same John Clay Lad. 'Tis very well: but, 'squire, take Pol. I smile to think, after so many proffes This maid hath had, she now should fall me: That I should have her in my custody: 'Twere but a mad trick to make the essay And jump a match with her immediately: She's fair and handsome; and she's r enough: Both time and place minister fair occasion. Not to go hence till she has found you, How SAY YOU? Tub. Was then my lady mother at your house?] If the reader thinks with me, he wil be disposed to alter the present ordination of these speeches: for I must own, that I think Tub's part here should begin with the question, How say you? which is expressive of his surprize at what Awdrey had just been telling him. We ought to read then, if the case be $0, as follows: She means Tub. How say you? house? Not to go hence till she has found you. • Tub. An' this all, fair Awdrey, I am thine.] We must supply something to give meaning to the first part of this verse. I suppose it stood originally thus; An' this be all, fair Awdrey, I am thine. 'Tis probable she was clearing some suspicions he had entertained; and as he was now satisfied, he had no scruple remaining, but was wholly hers. 9 Come, go with me, good squire, And leave your linen.] The words are spoke of Awdrey, and so perhaps there may be no difficulty in applying the last word; but Mr. Theobald queries the expression, and has wrote in his margin Leman, that is, mistress. Have at it then: fair lady, can you love? 3 toy: I pray you let me give it a short cut, sir. Pol. It's thus, fair maid: are you dispos'd to marry? Awd. You are dispos'd to ask. Awd. Nay, now I see you are dispos'd Pol. I see the wench wants but a little wit; And that defect her wealth may well supply: In plain terms, tell me, will you have me, Awdrey? Awd. In as plain terms, I tell you who would ha' me. John Clay would ha' me, but he hath too hard hands; I like not him: besides, he is a thief. And justice Bramble, he would fain ha' catch'd me: [life, Lady, D. Turfe, Squire Tub, Hilts, Puppy, Clay. Lad. And, as I told thee, she was intercepted [ruffian, By the 'squire, here, my son, and this bold His man; who safely would have carried her Unto her father, and the chanon Hugh; But for more care of the security, My huisher hath her now in his grave charge. [we are D. Tur. Now on my faith and holy-dom, Beholden to your worship. She's a girl, A foolish girl, and soon may tempted be: But if this day pass well once o'er her head, I'll wish her trust to herself. For I have been A very mother to her, though I say it. Tub. Madam, 'tis late, and Pancras is i' Over the fields to Pancras, to your husband? D. Tur. Madam, I had been there an hour ago, But that I waited on my man Ball Puppy. The devil! O the devil is in the barn: Pup. My name's Ball Puppy, I ha' seen go see. Among the straw: O for a cross! a collop such matter. [matter. Hil. An' they were giants, 'twere another But devils! no, if I be torn in pieces, What is your warrant worth? I'll see the fiend Set fire o' the barn, ere I come there. He is an ugly spright I warrant. [rather: Held flesh-hook, dame, or handled fire-fork They have put me in a sweet pickle, dame; But that my lady Valentine smells of musk, I should be asham'd to press into this pre[miracle! sence. Lad. Basket, I pray thee see what is the Tub. Come, go with me: I'll lead. Why stand'st thou, man? Hil. Cocks precious, master, you are not mad indeed? You will not go to hell before your time? [barn. But, by your leave, I'll come no near the D. Tur. Puppy, wilt thou go with me? Pup. How! go with you? Whither, into the barn? to whom, the devil? Or to do what there? to be torn amongst 'um? Stay for my master, the high constable, Hil. Heaven protect my master. Out by the collar. D. Tur. O this is John Clay. Lad. John Clay at Pancras, is there to be married. Tub. This was the spirit revell'd i' the barn. Pup. The devil he was: was this he was [barley, crawling Among the wheat-straw? had it been the I should ha' tane him for the devil in drink; The spirit of the bride-ale: but poor John, Tame John of Clay, that sticks about the bung-hole : Hil. If this be all your devil, I would take Tub. Well meant, Hilts. Lad. But how came Clay thus hid here i' When news was brought to you all he was D. Tur. Justice Bramble's man And other things, he had away my daughte Is he gone hence? D. Tur. H' was here, madam, but now. Chang'd' You mean to make the choice of your o gallows. Clay. Nay, then all's well: hearing you news, Ball Puppy, You ha' brought from Paddington, I e stole home here, [since. And thought to hide me in the barn e Pup. Owonderful! and news was broug! us here, 10 Like LOGGETS at a pear-tree.] The word loggats occurs in Shakspeare's Hamlet. act 5. sc. 1. "Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but to play at loggats with "'em?" Sir Thomas Hanmer, in the glossary to his edition, says, it is in the number of unlawful games enumerated 33 Hen. VIII. and is the same with what is now called kittle pins. But loggets here signifies no more than a billet or small chump of wood, and is probably a diminutive from the word log: the game itself was so called from the loggets ut wooden pins made use of in the play. |