The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1827]
[Enter old Skirmish the soldier.]
SKIRMISH.
How now, creatures? what's a clock?
FRAILTY.
Why, do you take us to be Jack ath' Clock-house?
SKIRMISH.
I say again to you what's a clock.
SIMON.
Truly la, we go by the clock our conscience: all worldly Clocks, we know, go false, and are set by drunken Sextons.
SKIRMISH.
Then what's a clock in your conscience?--oh, I must break off, here comes the corporal--hum, hum!--what's a clock?
[Enter Corporal.]
CORPORAL.
A clock? why, past seventeen.
FRAILTY.
Past seventeen? nay, ha's met with his match now, Corporal Oath will fit him.
SKIRMISH.
Thou doost not bawk or baffle me, doost thou? I am a Soldier--past seventeen!
CORPORAL.
Aye, thou art not angry with the figures, art thou? I will prove it unto thee: 12. and 1. is thirteen, I hope, 2. fourteen, 3. fifteen, 4. sixteen, and 5. Seventeen; then past seventeen: I will take the Dials part in a just cause.
SKIRMISH.
I say 'tis but past five, then.
CORPORAL.
I'll swear 'tis past seventeen, then: doost thou not know numbers? Canst thou not cast?
SKIRMISH.
Cast? dost thou speak of my casting ith' street?
CORPORAL.
Aye, and in the Market place.
SIMON.
Clubs, clubs, clubs!
[Simon runs in.]
FRAILTY.
Aye, I knew by their shuffling, Clubs would be Trump; mass, here's the Knave, and he can do any good upon 'em: Clubs, clubs, clubs.
[Enter Pye-board.]
CORPORAL.
O villain, thou hast opened a vein in my leg.
PYE.
How no! for shame, for shame; put up, put up.
CORPORAL.
By yon blue Welkin, 'twas out of my part, George, to be hurt on the leg.
[Enter Officers.]
PYE.
Oh peace now--I have a Cordial here to comfort thee.
OFFICER.
Down with 'em, down with em; lay hands upon the villain.
SKIRMISH.
Lay hands on me?
PYE.
I'll not be seen among em now.
[Exit Pye-board.]
CORPORAL.
I'm hurt, and had more need have Surgeons Lay hands upon me then rough Officers.
OFFICER.
Go, carry him to be dressed then.
[Exeunt some of the Sheriff's Officers with Corporal Oath.]
This mutinous Soldier shall along with me to prison.
SKIRMISH.
To prison? where's George?
OFFICER.
Away with him.
[Exeunt with Skirmish.]
[Re-enter Pye-board.]
PYE.
So. All lights as I would wish. The amazed widdow Will plant me strongly now in her belief, And wonder at the virtue of my words: For the event turns those presages from em Of being mad and dumb, and begets joy Mingled with admiration. These empty creatures, Soldier and Corporal, were but ordained As instruments for me to work upon. Now to my patient; here's his potion.
[Exit Pye-board.]
SCENE II. An apartment in the Widow's house.]
[Enter the Widdow with her two Daughters.]
WIDDOW.
O wondrous happiness, beyond our thoughts: O lucky fair event! I think our fortunes, Were blest e'en in our Cradles: we are quitted Of all those shameful violent presages By this rash bleeding chance.
Go, Frailty, run, and know, Whether he be yet living, or yet dead, That here before my door received his hurt.
FRAILTY.
Madam, he was carried to the superiour, but if he had no money when he came there, I warrant he's dead by this time.
[Exit Frailty.]
FRANCES.
Sure, that man is a rare fortune-teller; never looked upon our hands, nor upon any mark about us: a wondrous fellow, surely.
MOLL.
I am glad, I have the use of my tongue yet: tho of nothing else. I shall find the way to marry too, I hope, shortly.
WIDDOW.
O where's my Brother, Sir Godfrey? I would he were here, that I might relate to him how prophetically the cunning Gentleman spoke in all things.
[Enter Sir Godfrey in a rage.]
SIR GODFREY.
O my Chain, my Chain! I have lost my Chain. Where be these Villains, Varlets?
WIDDOW.
Oh! has lost his Chain.
SIR GODFREY.
My Chain, my chain!
WIDDOW.
Brother, be patient, hear me speak: you know I told you that a cunning man told me that you should have a loss, and he has prophecied so true.
SIR GODFREY.
Out, he's a villain, to prophecy of the loss of my chain: twas worth above three hundred