Beggars Bush Part 13

_Ger._ Good ev'n good fellow.

_Hub._ May a poor huntsman, with a merry heart, A voice shall make the forest ring about him, Get leave to live amongst ye? true as steel, boyes?

That knows all chases, and can watch all hours, And with my quarter staff, though the Devil bid stand, Deal such an alms, shall make him roar again?

p.r.i.c.k ye the fearfull hare through cross waves, sheep-walks, And force the crafty Reynard climb the quicksetts; Rouse ye the lofty Stag, and with my bell-horn, Ring him a knel, that all the woods shall mourn him, 'Till in his funeral tears, he fall before me?

The _Polcat_, _Marterne_, and the rich skin'd _Lucerne_ I know to chase, the Roe, the wind out-stripping _Isgrin_ himself, in all his b.l.o.o.d.y anger I can beat from the bay, and the wild Sounder Single, and with my arm'd staff, turn the Boar, Spight of his foamy tushes, and thus strike him; 'Till he fall down my feast.

_Ger._ A goodly fellow.

_Hub._ What mak'st thee here, ha? [_aside._

_Ger._ We accept thy fellows.h.i.+p.

_Hub._ _Hemskirk_, thou art not right I fear, I fear thee. [_aside._

_Enter_ Ferret, _with a Letter._

_Fer._ Here is the paper: and as he said we found it.

_Ger._ Give me it, I shall make a s.h.i.+ft yet, old as I am, To find your knavery: you are sent here, Sirra, To discover certain Gentlemen, a spy-knave, And if ye find 'em, if not by perswasion To bring 'em back, by poyson to despatch 'em.

_Hub._ By poyson, ha?

_Ger._ Here is another, _Hubert_; What is that _Hubert_ Sir?

_Hem._ You may perceive there.

_Ger._ I may perceive a villany and a rank one, Was he joyn'd partner of thy knavery?

_Hem._ No.

He had an honest end, would I had had so, Which makes him scape such cut-throats.

_Ger._ So it seems.

For here thou art commanded, when that _Hubert_ Has done his best and worthiest service, this way To cut his throat, for here he's set down dangerous.

_Hub._ This is most impious.

_Ger._ I am glad we have found ye, Is not this true?

_Hem._ Yes; what are you the better?

_Ger._ You shall perceive Sir, ere you get your freedom: Take him aside, and friend, we take thee to us, Into our company, thou dar'st be true unto us?

_Hig._ I, and obedient too?

_Hub._ As you had bred me.

_Ger._ Then take our hand: thou art now a servant to us, Welcom him all.

_Hig._ Stand off, stand off: I'le do it, We bid ye welcom three wayes; first for your person, Which is a promising person, next for your quality, Which is a decent, and a gentle quality, Last for the frequent means you have to feed us, You can steal 'tis to be presum'd.

_Hub._ Yes, venison, and if you want--

_Hig._ 'Tis well you understand right, And shall practise daily: you can drink too?

_Hub._ Soundly.

_Hig._ And ye dare know a woman from a weatherc.o.c.k?

_Hub._ If I handle her.

_Ger._ Now swear him.

_Hig._ I crown thy _nab_, with a _gag of benbouse_, And _stall_ thee by the _Salmon_ into the _clows_, To _mand_ on the _pad_, and _strike_ all the _cheats_; To _Mill_ from the _Ruffmans_, _commision_ and _slates_, _Tw.a.n.g dell_'s, i' the _stiromell_, and let the _Quire Cuffin_: And _Herman Beck strine_, and _trine_ to the _Ruffin_.

_Ger._ Now interpret this unto him.

_Hig._ I pour on thy pate a pot of good ale, And by the Rogues [oth] a Rogue thee instal: To beg on the way, to rob all thou meets; To steal from the hedge, both the s.h.i.+rt and the sheets: And lye with thy wench in the straw till she tw.a.n.g, Let the Constable, Justice, and Devil go hang.

_Hig._ You are welcom Brother.

_All._ Welcom, welcom, welcom, but who shall have the keeping Of this fellow?

_Hub._ Sir, if you dare but trust me; For if I have kept wild dogs and beasts for wonder, And made 'em tame too: give into my custody This roaring Rascal, I shall hamper him, With all his knacks and knaveries, and I fear me Discover yet a further villany in him; O he smells ranck o'th' Rascal.

_Ger._ Take him to thee, But if he scape--

_Hub._ Let me be ev'n hang'd for him, Come Sir, I'le tye ye to my leash.

_Hem._ Away Rascal.

_Hub._ Be not so stubborn: I shall swindge ye soundly, And ye play tricks with me.

_Ger._ So, now come in, But ever have an eye Sir, to your Prisoner.

_Hub._ He must blind both mine eyes, if he get from me.

_Ger._ Go get some victuals, and some drink, some good drink; For this day we'll keep holy to good fortune, Come, and be frolick with us.

_Hig._ You are a stranger, Brother, I pray lead, You must, you must, Brother. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV.

_Enter_ Goswin _and_ Gertrude.