The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [2007]
BANKS.
Tis well; but how, if any of us should be taken?
SMITH.
He shall have ransom, by the Lord.
HOST.
Tush, the knave keepers are my bosonians and my pensioners. Nine a clock! be valiant, my little Gogmagogs; I'll fence with all the Justices in Hartford shire. I'll have a Buck till I die; I'll slay a Doe while I live; hold your bow straight and steady. I serve the good duke of Norfolk.
SMUG.
O rare! who, ho, ho, boy!
SIR JOHN.
Peace, neighbor Smug. You see this is a Boor, a Boor of the country, an illiterate Boor, and yet the Citizen of good fellows: come, let's provide; a hem, Grass and hay! we are not yet all mortall; we'll live till we die, and be merry, and there's an end. Come, Smug1
SMUG.
Good night, Waltham—who, ho, ho, boy!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. The George Inn.
[Enter the Knights and Gentlemen from breakfast again.]
OLD MOUNTCHESNEY.
Nor I for thee, Clare, not of this.
What? hast thou fed me all this while with shalles.
And com'st to tell me now, thou lik'st it not?
CLARE.
I do not hold thy offer competent;
Nor do I like th' assurance of thy Land,
The title is so brangled with thy debts.
OLD MOUNTCHESNEY.
Too good for thee; and, knight, thou knowst it well,
I fawnd not on thee for thy goods, not I;
Twas thine own motion; that thy wife doth know.
LADY.
Husband, it was so; he lies not in that.
CLARE.
Hold thy chat, queane.
OLD MOUNTCHESNEY.
To which I hearkned willingly, and the rather,
Because I was persuaded it proceeded
From love thou bor'st to me and to my boy;
And gav'st him free access unto thy house,
Here he hath not behaved him to thy child,
But as befits a gentleman to do:
Nor is my poor distressed state so low,
That I'll shut up my doors, I warrant thee.
CLARE.
Let it suffice, Mountchensey, I mislike it;
Nor think thy son a match fit for my child.
MOUNTCHENSEY.
I tell thee, Clare, his blood is good and clear
As the best drop that panteth in thy veins:
But for this maid, thy fair and vertuous child,
She is no more disparaged by thy baseness
Then the most orient and the pretious jewell,
Which still retains his lustre and his beauty,
Although a slave were owner of the same.
CLARE.
She is the last is left me to bestow,
And her I mean to dedicate to God.
MOUNTCHENSEY.
You do, sir?
CLARE.
Sir, sir, I do, she is mine own.
MOUNTCHENSEY.
And pity she is so!
Damnation dog thee and thy wretched pelf!
[Aside.]
CLARE.
Not thou, Mountchensey, shalt bestow my child.
MOUNTCHENSEY.
Neither shouldst thou bestow her where thou mean'st.
CLARE.
What wilt thou do?
MOUNTCHENSEY.
No matter, let that be;
I will do that, perhaps, shall anger thee:
Thou hast wrongd my love, and, by God's blessed Angell,
Thou shalt well know it.
CLARE.
Tut, brave not me.
MOUNTCHENSEY.
Brave thee, base Churle! were't not for man-hood sake—
I say no more, but that there be some by
Whose blood is hotter then ours is,
Which being stird might make us both repent
This foolish meeting. But, Harry Clare,
Although thy father have abused my friendship,
Yet I love thee, I do, my noble boy,
I do, yfaith.
LADY.
Aye, do, do!
Fill the world with talk of us, man, man;
I never lookt for better at your hands.
FABELL.
I hop'd your great experience and your years
Would have proved patience rather to your soul,
Then with this frantique and untamed passion
To whet their skeens; and, but for that
I hope their friendships are too well confirmd,
And their minds temperd with more kindly heat,
Then for their froward parents soars
That they should break forth into publique brawles—
How ere the rough hand of th' untoward world
Hath moulded your proceedings in this matter,
Yet I am sure the first intent was love:
Then since the first spring was so sweet and warm,
Let it die gently; ne'er kill it with a scorn.
RAY.