A Select Collection of Old English Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
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No more prating, but get thee hence at once!
JENKIN CAREAWAY.
Why, my master hath sent me home in[185] his message--
JACK JUGGLER.
Pick and walk, a knave, here away is no pa.s.sage--
JENKIN CAREAWAY.
What, wilt thou let me from mine own master's house?
JACK JUGGLER.
Be tredging, or in faith you bear me a souse.[186]
Here my master and I have our habitation, And hath continually dwelled in this mansion, At the least this dozen years and odd; And here woll we end our lives, by the grace of G.o.d.
JENKIN CAREAWAY.
Why, then, where shall my master and I dwell?
JACK JUGGLER.
At the devil, if you l.u.s.t: I cannot tell.
JENKIN CAREAWAY.
_In nomine patris_, now this gear doth pa.s.s: For a little before supper here our house was; And this day in the morning I woll on a book swear, That my master and I both dwelled here.
JACK JUGGLER.
Who is thy master? tell me without lie, And thine own name also let me know shortly; For, my masters all, let me have the blame, If this knave know his master or his own name.
CAREAWAY.
My master's name is Master Bongrace: I have dwelled with him a long s.p.a.ce; And I am Jenkin Careaway his page--
JACK JUGGLER.
What, ye drunken knave, begin you to rage!
Take that: art thou Master Bongrace's page?
[_Strikes him_.
CAREAWAY.
It I be not, I have made a very good voyage--
JACK JUGGLER.
Barest thou to my face say thou art I?
CAREAWAY.
I would it were true and no lie; For then thou shouldest smart, and I should bet,[187]
Where as now I do all the blows get.
JACK JUGGLER.
And is Master Bongrace thy master, doest you then say?
CAREAWAY.
I woll swear on a book, he was once this day--
JACK JUGGLER.
And for that thou shalt somewhat have, Because thou presumest, like a saucy lying knave, To say my master is thine. Who is thy master now?
[_Strikes him again_.
CAREAWAY.
By my troth, sir, whosoever please you: I am your own, for you beat me so, As no man but my master should do.
JACK JUGGLER.
I woll handle thee better, if fault be not in fist-- [_Prepares to strike him_.
CAREAWAY.
Help! save my life, masters, for the pa.s.sion of Christ!
JACK JUGGLER.
Why, thou lousy thief, dost thou cry and roar?--
CAREAWAY.
No, faith, I woll not cry one whit more: Save my life, help, or I am slain--
JACK JUGGLER.
Yea, dost thou make a rumouring yet again?
Did not I bid thee hold thy peace?--
CAREAWAY.
In faith, now I leave crying; now I cease: help, help!
JACK JUGGLER.
Who is thy master?
CAREAWAY.
Master Bongrace--
JACK JUGGLER.
I woll make thee change that song, ere we pa.s.s this place; For he is my master, and again to thee I say, That I am his Jenkin Careaway.
Who art thou? now tell me plain.
CAREAWAY.
n.o.body but whom please you, certain--
JACK JUGGLER.
Thou saidest even now thy name was Careaway?
CAREAWAY.
I cry you mercy, sir, and forgiveness pray: I said amiss, because it was so to-day; And thought it should have continued alway, Like a fool as I am and a drunken knave.
But in faith, sir, ye see all the wit I have, Therefore I beseech you do me no more blame, But give me a new master and another name.
For it would grieve my heart, so help me G.o.d, To run about the streets like a masterless nod.[188]
JACK JUGGLER.
I am he that thou saidest thou were, And Master Bongrace is my master, that dwelleth here; Thou art no point, Careaway; thy wits do thee fail.
