The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1828]
WIDDOW.
Oh, brother, who can be against a misfortune! tis happy twas no more.
SIR GODFREY.
No, more! O goodly godly sister, would you had me lost more? my best gown, too, with the cloth of gold-lace? my holiday Gascoines, and my Jerkin set with pearl? No more!
WIDDOW.
Oh, Brother! you can read--
SIR GODFREY.
But I cannot read where my chain is.--What strangers have been here? you let in strangers, Thieves, and Catch-poles; how comes it gone? there was none above with me but my Tailor; and my Tailor will not--steal, I hope?
MOLL.
No, he's afraid of a chain!
[Enter Frailty.]
WIDDOW.
How now, sirrah? the news?
FRAILTY.
O Mistress, he may well be called a Corporal now, for his corps are as dead as a cole Capons.
WIDDOW.
More happiness.
SIR GODFREY.
Sirrah, what's this to my chain? where's my chain, knave?
FRAILTY.
Your chain, sir?
SIR GODFREY.
My chain is lost, villain.
FRAILTY.
I would he were hang'd in chains that has it then for me. Alas, sir, I saw none of your chain, since you were hung with it your self.
SIR GODFREY.
Out, varlet! it had full three thousand Links. I have oft told it over at my prayers: Over and over, full three thousand Links.
FRAILTY.
Had it so, sir: sure, it cannot be lost then; I'll put you in that comfort.
SIR GODFREY.
Why, why?
FRAILTY.
Why, if your chain had so many Links, it cannot choose but come to light.
[Enter Nicholas.]
SIR GODFREY.
Delusion! now, long Nicholas, where's my chain?
NICHOLAS.
Why, about your Neck, ist not, sir?
SIR GODFREY.
About my neck, Varlet! My chain is lost. Tis stole away, I'm robbed.
WIDDOW.
Nay, Brother, show your self a man.
NICHOLAS.
Aye, if it be lost or stole, if he would be patient, Mistress, I could bring him to a Cunning Kinsman of mine that would fetcht again with a Sesarara.
SIR GODFREY.
Canst thou? I will be patient: say, where dwells he?
NICHOLAS.
Marry, he dwells now, Sir, where he would not dwell, and he could choose: in the Marshalsea, sir; but he's a exlent fellow if he were out; has traveled all the world o'er, he, and been in the seven and twenty Provinces; why, he would make it be fetcht, Sir, if twere rid a thousand mile out of town.
SIR GODFREY.
An admirable fellow: what lies he for?
NICHOLAS.
Why, he did but rob a Steward of ten groats tother Night, as any man would ha done, and there he lies fort.
SIR GODFREY.
I'll make his peace: a Trifle! I'll get his pardon, Beside a bountiful reward. I'll about it. But see the Clerks, the Justice will do much. I will about it straight: good sister, pardon me. All will be well, I hope, and turn to good, The name of Conjurer has laid my blood.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE III.
A street.
[Enter two servants with Yeoman Dogson to arrest the Scholar, George Pye-board.]
PUT.
His Hostess where he lies will trust him no longer: she has feed me to arrest him; and if you will accompany me, because I know not of what Nature the Scholar is, whether desperate or swift, you shall share with me, Servant Raven- shaw. I have the good Angell to arrest him.
RAVEN.
Troth, I'll take part with thee, then, Sergeant, not for the sake of the money so much, as for the hate I bear to a Scholar: why, Sergeant, tis Natural in us, you know, to hate Scholars, natural: besides, the will publish our imperfections, Knaveries, and Convayances upon Scaffolds and Stages.
PUT.
Aye, and spitefully, too; troth, I have wondered how the slaves could see into our breasts so much, when our doublets are buttoned with Pewter.
RAVEN.
Aye, and so close without yielding; oh, they're parlous fellows, they will search more with their wits than a Constable with all his officers.
PUT.
Whist, whist, whist! Yeoman Dogson Yeoman Dogson.
DOGSON.
Ha, what says Sergeant?
PUT.
Is he in the Pothecaries shop still?
DOGSON.
Aye, aye.
PUT.
Have an eye, have an