The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [730]
Re-enter RUGBY
RUGBY.
Out, alas! here comes my master.
QUICKLY.
We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young
man; go into this closet. [Shuts SIMPLE in the closet] He
will not stay long. What, John Rugby! John! what, John,
I say! Go, John, go inquire for my master; I doubt he be
not well that he comes not home. [Singing]
And down, down, adown-a, etc.
Enter DOCTOR CAIUS
CAIUS.
Vat is you sing? I do not like des toys. Pray you, go
and vetch me in my closet un boitier vert-a box, a green-a
box. Do intend vat I speak? A green-a box.
QUICKLY.
Ay, forsooth, I'll fetch it you. [Aside] I am glad
he went not in himself; if he had found the young man,
he would have been horn-mad.
CAIUS.
Fe, fe, fe fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m'en vais a
la cour-la grande affaire.
QUICKLY.
Is it this, sir?
CAIUS.
Oui; mette le au mon pocket: depeche, quickly. Vere
is dat knave, Rugby?
QUICKLY.
What, John Rugby? John!
RUGBY.
Here, sir.
CAIUS.
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby.
Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.
RUGBY.
'Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
CAIUS.
By my trot, I tarry too long. Od's me! Qu'ai j'oublie?
Dere is some simples in my closet dat I vill not for the
varld I shall leave behind.
QUICKLY.
Ay me, he'll find the young man there, and be mad!
CAIUS.
O diable, diable! vat is in my closet? Villainy! larron!
[Pulling SIMPLE out] Rugby, my rapier!
QUICKLY.
Good master, be content.
CAIUS.
Wherefore shall I be content-a?
QUICKLY.
The young man is an honest man.
CAIUS.
What shall de honest man do in my closet? Dere is
no honest man dat shall come in my closet.
QUICKLY.
I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic; hear the
truth of it. He came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
CAIUS.
Vell?
SIMPLE.
Ay, forsooth, to desire her to-
QUICKLY.
Peace, I pray you.
CAIUS.
Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.
SIMPLE.
To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to
speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master,
in the way of marriage.
QUICKLY.
This is all, indeed, la! but I'll ne'er put my finger
in the fire, and need not.
CAIUS.
Sir Hugh send-a you? Rugby, baillez me some paper.
Tarry you a little-a-while. [Writes]
QUICKLY.
[Aside to SIMPLE] I am glad he is so quiet; if he
had been throughly moved, you should have heard him
so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I'll
do you your master what good I can; and the very yea and
the no is, the French doctor, my master-I may call him
my master, look you, for I keep his house; and I wash,
wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the
beds, and do all myself-
SIMPLE.
[Aside to QUICKLY] 'Tis a great charge to come
under one body's hand.
QUICKLY.
[Aside to SIMPLE] Are you avis'd o' that? You
shall find it a great charge; and to be up early and down
late; but notwithstanding-to tell you in your ear, I would
have no words of it-my master himself is in love with
Mistress Anne Page; but notwithstanding that, I know
Anne's mind-that's neither here nor there.
CAIUS.
You jack'nape; give-a this letter to Sir Hugh; by gar,
it is a shallenge; I will cut his troat in de park; and I will
teach a scurvy jack-a-nape priest to meddle or make. You
may be gone; it is not good you tarry here. By gar, I will
cut all his two stones; by gar, he shall not have a stone
to throw at his dog. Exit SIMPLE
QUICKLY.
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
CAIUS.
It is no matter-a ver dat. Do not you tell-a me dat I
shall have Anne Page for myself? By gar, I vill kill de Jack
priest; and I have appointed mine host of de Jarteer to
measure our weapon. By gar, I will myself have Anne Page.
QUICKLY.
Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. We
must give folks leave to prate. What the good-year!
CAIUS.
Rugby, come to the court with me. By gar, if I have
not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door.
Follow my heels, Rugby. Exeunt CAIUS and RUGBY
QUICKLY.