Who'll therefore backward fall, who will launch In seas so foul, for ventures no more worth? What, shall I sound retreat? the battle's done : Bel. You? nay, then, as cowards do in fight, [Erit. Hip. Fly to earth's fixed centre: to the caves [Exit. Enter the Duke, LODOVICO, and ORLANDO: after them INFELICE, CAROLO, ASTOLFO, BERALDO, FONTINELL. Orl, I beseech your grace, though your eye be so piercing, as under a poor blue coat to cull out an honest father from an old serving-man; yet, good my lord, discover not the plot to any, but only this gentleman that is now to be an actor in our ensuing comedy. Duke. Thou hast thy wish, Orlando, pass un- Sforsa shall only go along with thee, Lod. To attach him upon felony, for two lars is't not so? [Exeunt LODOVICO and ORLANDO. Duke. The old fellow sings that note thou didst before, Only his tunes are, that she is no whore, Inf. And it may be my husband; Duke. It may be so too; for to turn a harlot Though 'twere impiety then to dim her light, Orl. Right, my noble knight; those pedlars were two knaves of mine; he fleeced the men before, and now he purposes to flea the master. He will rob me, his teeth water to be nibbling at my gold, but this shall hang him by the gills, till I pull him on shore. Duke. Away; ply you the business. Omnes. Yes, my lord. Car. All the city thinks he's a whoremonger. Orl. Thanks to your grace; but, my good lord, him. for my daughter. Duke. You know what I have said. Orl. And remember what I have sworn; she's more honest, on my soul, than one of the Turk's wenches, watched by a hundred eunuchs, Lod. So she had need, for the Turks make them whores. Orl. He's a Turk that makes any woman a whore, he's no true Christian I'm sure. I commit your grace. Duke. Infelice. Inf. Here, sir. Lod. Signior Friscobaldo. Orl. Frisking again? Pacheco. Ber. 'Tis like so; for when a man goes a wenching, it is as if he had a strong stinking breath, every one smells him out, yet he feels it not, though it be ranker then the sweat of sixteen bearwarders. Duke. I doubt then you have all those stinking breaths, You might be all smelt out. Car. Troth, my lord, I think we are all as you have been in your youth when you went a maying, we all love to hear the cuckoo sing upon other men's trees. Duke. It's well yet you confess; but, girl, thy bed 33 Pursenet "A net of which the mouth is drawn together by a string." "Conies are taken by pursenets in their burrows." Mortimer. Shall not be parted with a courtezan-'tis strange, Car. I have noted new moons Duke. He's no more like unto Hipolito, Duke. Oh, Bellafront! And catching her fast, cries, my Bellafront. Car. A drench that's able to kill a horse cannot kill this disease of smock-smelling, my lord, if it have once eaten deep. Duke. I'll try all physic, and this medicine first; I have directed warrants strong and peremptory, To purge our city Millan, and to cure the outward Parts, the suburbs, for the attaching Of all those women, who, like gold, want weight, Cities, like ships, should have no idle freight. Car. No, my lord, and light wenches are no idle freight; But what's your grace's reach in this? Duke. This, Carolo. If she whom my son Be in that master-book enroll'd, he'll shame Duke. Yet on harlots' heads New laws shall fall so heavy, and such blows shall Car. Attach all the light heels i'the city, and clap 'em up!-Why, my lord, you dive into a well unsearchable, all the whores within the walls, and without the walls. I would not be he should gone. Orl. Indeed, if you be right Dutchmen, if you fall to drinking, you must be gone. we'll fly high, my generous knight, for all that; Math. The worst is, my wife is not at home; but there's no music when a woman is in the concert. Orl. No, for she's 36 like a pair of virginals, Always with jacks at her tail. Enter ASTOLFO, CAROLO, BERALDO, FONTINELL Lod. See, the covey is sprung. Math. Happily encountered, sweet bloods. Lod. Gentlemen, you all know Signior Candido, the linen-draper, he that's more patient than a brown baker, upon the day when he heats his oven, and has forty scolds about him. Omnes. Yes, we know him all, what of him? Lod. Would it not be a good fit of mirth, to make a piece of English cloth of him, and to stretch him on the tenters, 37 till the threads of his own natural humour crack, by making him 36 Like a pair of virginals, Always with jacks at her tail-So, in Ram Alley, or Merry Tricks, 1611 : "Where be these rascals that skip up and down Like virginal jacks ?” Again, Bacon: “In a virginal, as soon as ever the jack falleth, and toucheth the string, the sound ceaseth." S. See note 74 to the First Part of this play, p. 555. 37 Stretch him on the tenters-i. e. the tenter-hooks, on which cloth after dyeing is hung to dry. The quarto reads tainters. S. VOL. I. 4 E 38 drink healths, tobacco, dance, sing bawdy songs, or to run any bias according as we think good to cast him? Car. 'Twere a morris-dance worth the seeing. Ast. But the old fox is so crafty, we shall hardly hunt him out of his den. Math. To that train I have given fire already; and the hook to draw him hither, is to see certain pieces of lawn, which I told him I have to sell, and indeed have such: Fetch them down, Pacheco. Orl. Yes, sir, I'm your water-spaniel, and will Enter BOTS, ushering Mistress HORSELEACH. 40 a Lod, Peace; two dishes of stewed prunes, bawd and a pander. My worthy Lieutenant Bots, why, now I see thou'rt a man of thy word, welcome; welcome, Mistress Horseleach. Pray, gentlemen, salute this reverend matron. Horse. Thanks to all your worships. Lod. I bade a drawer send in wine too: Did none come along with thee, grannam, but the lieutenant? Horse. None came along with me but Bots, if. it like your worship. Bots. Who the pox should come along with you but Bots? Enter two Vintners, with Wine. Omnes. Oh, brave! march fair. Lod. Are you come? that's well. Math. Here's ordnance able to sack a city.+ Lod. Come, repeat, read this inventory. 1 Vint. Imprimis, a pottle of Greek wine; a pottle of Peter sa meene; a pottle of Charnico; and a pottle of Ziattica. Lod. You're paid? 2 Vint. Yes, sir. 42 [Exeunt Vintners. Math. So shall some of us be anon, I fear, Bots. Here's a hot day towards: but, zounds! this is the life out of which a soldier sucks sweetness; when this artillery goes off roundly, some must drop to the ground, cannon, demi-cannon, saker, and basilisk! Lod. Give fire, lieutenant. Bots. So, so; must I venture first upon the breach? To you all, gallants; Bots sets upon you all. Omnes. Its hard, Bots, if we pepper not you, as well as you pepper us. 38 Drink healths, tobacco, &c.-To drink tobacco was a common phrase for smoking it. The Miseries of enforced Marriage, A. 1. “I tell thee, Wentloe, thou canst not live on this side of the world, feed well, drink tobacco," &c. Again, A. 3: "Do; and we'll stay here and drink tobacco." Again, in the Interlude of Wine, Beer, Ale, and Tobacco, contending for Superiority, Tobacco says, "What, do ye stand at gaze? Tobacco is a drink, too. Beer. A drink? Tobacco. Wine, you, and I, come both out of a pipe." The Country Captaine, by the Duke of Newcastle, 1649, p. 22. : “ I doe not thinke but thou wilt leave thy law, and exercise thy taking in compassing some treatises against longe hayre, and drinkinge that most unchristian weede yclept tobacco." 39 Gally-foist-See Note 8 to The Parson's Wedding. 40 Stewed prunes-See Notes of Mr Steevens and Dr Farmer to the First Part of Henry IV. A. 3. S. 3. 41 Here's ordnance able to sack a city -So Falstaff, on the same occasion, in the First Part of Henry IV. "there's that will sack a city." S. says, 42 Peter sa meene, Charnico-These wines are mentioned likewise in The Fair Maid of the West, 1615. Aragoosa, or Peter see me, or Charnico. S. They appear to have been Spanish wines, being enumerated in the following manner in Philocothonista, 1635, p. 48.: "From the Spaniard all kinds of Sacks, as Malligo, Charnio, Sherry, Canary, Leatica, Palerno, Frontiniack, Peeter see mee, Vino deriba davia, Vino dita Frontina, Vino blanco, Moscatell perarsivina callis, Callongallo, Paracomer," &c. The Discovery of a London Monster, called the Black Dog of Newgate, 1612, Sign. A 3: "I found English, Scottish, Welch, Irish, Dutch, and French, in severall roomes, some drinking the neate wine of Orleance, some the Gascony, some the Burdeaux, there wanted neither Sherry sack, nor Charnoco, Maligo, nor Peter Seemine, Amber coloured Candy, nor liquorish Ipocras, brown Bastard, fat Aligant, nor any quick spirited liquor that might draw their wits into a circle to see the devill by immagination." Dr Warburton says, as charneca is, in Spanish, the name of turpentine-tree, he imagines the growth of Charnico was in some district abounding with that tree; or that it had its name from a certain flavour resembling it. See Notes by Dr Warburton, Mr Hawkins, Mr Steevens, and Dr Percy, on the Second Part of Henry IV. A. 2. S. 3. Horse. Any citizen shall be most welcome to me. I have used to buy ware at your shop. Can. It may be so, good madam. Horse. Your 'prentices know my dealings well. I trust your good wife be in good case; if it please you, bear her a token from my lips by word of mouth. Can. I pray no more, forsooth; 'tis very well; .indeed I love no sweetmeats.-She's a breath stinks worse than fifty pole-cats!-Sir, a word; is she a lady? Lod. A woman of a good house, and an ancient; she's a bawd. Can. A bawd! Sir, I'll steal hence, and see your lawns some other time. Math. Steal out of such company? Pacheco, my man, is but gone for 'em. Lieutenant Bots, drink to this worthy old fellow, and teach him to fly high. Omnes. Swagger; and make him do't on his knees. Can. How, Bots? now, bless me, what do I with Bots?-No wine, in sooth, no wine, good master Bots. Bots. Grey-beard, goat's-pizzle, 'tis a health! Have this in your guts, or this; there. I will sing a bawdy song, sir, because your verjuice face is melancholy, to make liquor go down glib: Will you fall on your marrow-bones, and pledge this health; 'tis to my mistress, a whore? Can. Here's ratsbane upon ratsbane !-Master Bots, I pray, sir, pardon me; you are a soldier, press me not to this service, I am old, and shoot not in such pot-guns. Bots. Cap, I'll teach you. Can. To drink healths, is to drink sickness :Gentlemen, pray rescue me. Bots. Zounds! who dare? Omnes. We shall have stabbing, then. Can. I have reckonings to cast up, good master Bots. Bots. This will make you cast 'em up better, Lod. Why does your hand shake so? Can. The palsy, Signiors, danceth in my blood. Bots. Pipe, with a pox, sir, then; or I'll make your blood dance! Can. Hold, hold, good master Bots; I drink. Omnes. To whom? Can. To the old countess there. Horse. To me, old boy? this is he that never drank wine; once again to't. Can. With much ado the poison is got down, Though I can scarce get up; never before Drank I a whore's health, nor will never more. Enter ORLANDO, with Lawns. Math. Hast been at gallows? Orl. Yes, sir, for I make account to suffer today. Math. Look, Signior, here's the commodity. Math. Thus. Can. No, too dear; thus. Math. No: O fie! you must fly higher: Yet take them home, trifles shall not make us quarrel; we'll agree, you shall have them, and a pennyworth; I'll fetch money at your shop. Can. Be it so, good Signior, send me going. Math. Going? a deep bowl of wine for Signior Candido. Orl. He would be going. Can. I'll rather stay, than go so; stop your bowl. Enter Constable and Billmen. Lod. How now? Bots. 43 Is't Shrove-Tuesday, that these ghosts walk? Math. What's your business, sir? Con. From the Duke: You are the man we look for, Signior; I have warrant here from the Duke to apprehend you upon felony, for robbing two pedlars: I charge you, i'the Duke's name, go quickly. Math. Is the wind turned? well; this is that old wolf, my father-in-law. Seek out your mistress, sirrah. Orl. Yes, sir: as shafts by piecing are made strong, So shall thy life be straightened by this wrong. [Exit. 43 Is't Shrove-Tuesday, that these ghosts walk?-From this passage, I apprehend, it was formerly a custom for the peace-officers to make search after women of ill fame on that day, and to confine them during the season of Lent. So Sensuality says, in Microcosmus, A. 5: "But now welcome a cart, or a Shrove-Tuesday's tragedy." for my work, sir. Lod. We'll go before. [Exeunt. Who, Signior Candido? a citizen of your degree Can. Is't so? thanks, sir; I'm gone. Can. Lawns which I bought, sir, of the gentleman that keeps the house. Con. And I have warrant here, to search for such stolen ware. These lawns are stolen. Can. Indeed! Lod. Any man that has born office of consta ble, or any woman that has fallen from a horse load to a cart-load, or like an oid ben that has had none but rotten eggs in her nest, can direct you to her; there you shall see your punk amongst her back friends, there you may have her at your will, for there she beats chalk, or grinds in the Con. So he's the thief, you the receiver: I'm mill, 46 with a whip deedle, deedle, deedle, deedle; sorry for this chance, I must commit you. Can. Me, sir, for what? ah, little monkey." Hip. What rogue durst serve that warrant, Con. These goods are found upon you, and knowing I loved her? you must answer't. Can. Must I so? Con. Most certain. Can. I'll send for bail. Con. I dare not; yet because you are a citizen of worth, you shall not be made a pointing stock, but without guard pass only with myself. Lod. Some worshipful rascal, I lay my life. 44 Sils in a blue gown.—It appears from a passage in Promos and Cassandra, that a blue gown was the habit in which a strumpet did penance. So too, in the Northern Lass, 1633: "All the good you intended me was a lockram coif, a blue gown, a wheel, &c." The wheel, as well as the blue gown, are mentioned in subsequent scenes of this comedy. S. 45 Pronounce no letter well but O?— See Mr Steevens's Note on Twelfth Night, A. 2. S. 5. 46 Beats chalk, or grinds in the mill.-To beat chalk, grind in mills, raise sand and gravel, and make lime, were among the employments assigned for vagrants who were committed to Bridewell. See Orders appointed to be executed in the Cittie of London, for setting rogues and idle persons to worke, and fer releefe of the poore. Printed by Hugh Singleton. |