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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1836]

By Root 19489 0
to bring you merry news of my father's death, and now--

MOLL.

Thy Father's death? is the old Faarmer dead?

PENNY.

As dead as his Barn door, Moll.

MOLL.

And you'll keep your word with me now, Sir John, that I shall have my Coach and my Coach-man?

PENNY.

Aye, faith.

MOLL.

And two white Horses with black Feathers to draw it?

PENNY.

Too.

MOLL.

A guarded Lackey to run befor't, and pied liveries to come trashing after't.

PENNY.

Thou shalt, Moll.

MOLL.

And to let me have money in my purse to go whether I will.

PENNY.

All this.

MOLL.

Then come what so ere comes on't, we'll be made sure together before the Maids a' the Kitchen.

[Exeunt.]

SCENE II. A room in the Widow's house, with a door at the side, leading to another apartment.

[Enter Widdow, with her eldest Daughter Frances and Frailty.]

WIDOW.

How now? where's my Brother, Sir Godfrey? went he forth this morning?

FRAILTY.

O no, Madame, he's above at break-fast, with, sir reverence, a Conjurer.

WIDOW.

A Conjurer? what manner a fellow is he?

FRAILTY.

Oh, a wondrous rare fellow, Mistress, very strongly made upward, for he goes in a Buff-jerkin: he says he will fetch Sir Godfrey's Chain again, if it hang between heaven and earth.

WIDOW.

What, he will not? then he's an exlent fellow, I warrant. How happy were that woman to be blest with such a Husband! a man a cunning! how do's he look, Frailty? very swartly, I warrant, with black beard, scorcht cheeks, and smoky eyebrows.

FRAILTY.

Fooh, he's neither smoke-dried, nor scorcht, nor black, nor nothing. I tell you, Madame, he looks as fair to see to, as one of us; I do not think but if you saw him once, you'd take him to be a Christian.

FRANCES.

So fair, and yet so cunning: that's to be wonderd at, Mother.

[Enter Sir Oliver Muck-hill, and Sir Andrew Tip-staff.]

MUCK.

Bless you, sweet Lady.

TIP.

And you, fair Mistress.

[Exit Frailty.]

WIDOW.

Coades? what do you mean, Gentlemen? fie, did I not give you your answers?

MUCK.

Sweet Lady.

WIDOW.

Well, I will not stick with you now for a kiss. Daughter, kiss the Gentleman for once.

FRANCES.

Yes, forsooth.

TIP.

I'm proud of such a favour.

WIDOW.

Truly la, sir Oliver, y'are much to blame to come again, when you know my mind, so well deliverd as a Widdow could deliver a thing.

MUCK.

But I expect a farther comfort, Lady.

WIDOW.

Why la you now, did I not desire you to put off your suit quite and clean, when you came to me again? how say you? did I not?

MUCK.

But the sincere love which my heart bears you--

WIDOW.

Go to, I'll cut you off: and Sir Oliver, to put you in comfort a far off, my fortune is read me: I must marry again.

MUCK.

O blest fortune!

WIDOW.

But not as long as I can choose;--nay, I'll hold out well.

MUCK.

Yet are my hopes now fairer.

[Enter Frailty.]

FRAILTY.

O Madam, Madam.

WIDOW.

How now, what's the haste?

[In her ear.]

TIP.

Faith, Mistress Frances, I'll maintain you gallantly.

I'll bring you to Court, wean you among the fair society of ladies, poor Kinswomen of mine, in cloth of silver: beside, you shall have your Monkey, your Parrot, your Muskrat, and your pisse, pisse, pisse.

FRANCES.

It will do very well.

WIDOW.

What, dos he mean to conjure here then? how shall I do be rid of these Knights?--Please you, Gentlemen, to walk a while ith Garden: go gather a pink, or a Lily-flower.

BOTH.

With all our hearts, Lady, and court us favourd.

[Exit. Within Sir Godfrey.]

SIR GODFREY.

Step in, Nicholas; look, is the coast clear.

NICHOLAS.

Oh, as clear as a Cat's eye, sir.

SIR GODFREY.

Then enter, Captain Conjurer:--now--how like you your Room, sir?

[Enter Sir Godfrey, Captain Pye-board, Edmond, Nicholas.]

CAPTAIN.

O, wonderful convenient.

EDMOND.

I can tell you, Captain, simply tho it lies here, tis the fairest Room in my Mother's house: as dainty a Room to Conjure in, me thinks--why, you may bid, I cannot tell how many devils welcome in't; my Father has had twenty here at once.

PYE.

What, devils?


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