A Select Collection of Old English Plays - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
FRAN. I pray G.o.d, ye may not, mother, till it be day! [_Aside_.
COOMES. 'Sblood, take heed, mistress, here's a tree.
MRS GOUR. Lead thou the way, and let me hold by thee.
BOY. d.i.c.k Coomes, what difference is there between a blind man and he that cannot see?
FRAN. Peace, a pox on thee!
COOMES. Swounds, somebody spake.
MRS GOUR. d.i.c.k, look about; It may be here we may find them out.
COOMES. I see the glimpse[359] of somebody here.-- And ye be a sprite, I'll fray the bugbear.-- There a-goes, mistress.
MRS GOUR. O, sir, have I spied you?
FRAN. A plague on the boy! 'was he that descried[360] me.
[_Exeunt_.
[_Enter_ PHILIP.]
PHIL. How like a beautous lady mask'd in black Looks that same large circ.u.mference of heaven!
The sky, that was so fair three hours ago, Is in three hours become an Ethiop; And being angry at her beauteous change, She will not have one of those pearled stars To blab her sable metamorphosis:[361]
'Tis very dark. I did appoint my sister To meet me at the coney-borough below, And Francis too; but neither can I see.
Belike my mother happ'ned on that place, And fray'd them from it, and they both are now Wand'ring about the[362] fields: how shall I find them?
It is so dark, I scarce can see my hand: Why, then, I'll hollow for them--no, not so; So will his voice betray him to our mothers, And if he answer, and bring them where he is.
What shall I then do? it must not be so-- 'Sblood,[363] it must be so; how else, I pray?
Shall I stand gaping here all night till day, And then be ne'er the near?[364] So ho, so ho!
[_Enter_ WILL.]
WILL. So ho! I come: where are ye? where art thou? here!
PHIL. How now, Frank, where hast thou[365] been?
WILL. Frank! what Frank? 'sblood, is Sir Ralph mad? [_Aside_.]
Here's the bow.
PHIL. I have not been much private with that voice: Methinks Frank Goursey's talk and his doth tell me I am mistaken; especially by his bow; Frank had no bow. Well, I will leave this fellow, And hollow somewhat farther in the fields. [_Aside_.]
--Dost thou hear, fellow? I perceive by thee That we are both mistaken: I took thee For one thou art not; likewise thou took'st me For Sir Ralph Smith, but sure I am not he: And so, farewell; I must go seek my friend.
So ho!
[_Exit_.
WILL. So ho, so ho! nay, then, Sir Ralph, so wh.o.r.e!
For a wh.o.r.e she was sure, if you had her here So late. Now, you are Sir Ralph Smith![366]
Well do ye counterfeit and change your voice, But yet I know ye. But what should be that Francis?
Belike that Francis cosen'd him of his wench, And he conceals himself to find her out; 'Tis so, upon my life. Well, I will go, And help him ring his peal of so ho, so ho! [_Exit_.
_Enter_ FRANK.
FRAN. A plague on Coomes! a plague upon the boy!
A plague, too--not on my mother for an hundreth pound!
'Twas time to run; and yet I had not thought My mother could have followed me so close, Her legs with age I thought had foundered; She made me quite run through a quickset hedge, Or she had taken me. Well, I may say, I have run through the briars for a wench; And yet I have her not--the worse luck mine.
Methought I heard one hollow hereabout; I judge it Philip; O, the slave will laugh, When as he hears how that my mother scar'd me!
Well, here I'll stand until I hear him hollow, And then I'll answer him; he is not far.
[_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.]
SIR RALPH. My man is hollowing for me up and down, And yet I cannot meet with him. So ho!
FRAN. So ho!
SIR RALPH. Why, what a pox, wert thou so near me, man, And wouldst not speak?
FRAN. 'Sblood, ye're very hot.
SIR RALPH. No, sir, I am cold enough with staying here For such a knave as you.
FRAN. Knave! how now, Philip?
Art mad, art mad?
SIR RALPH. Why, art not thou my man, That went to fetch my bow?[367]
FRAN. Indeed, a bow Might shoot me ten bows down the weather so: I your man!
SIR RALPH. What art thou, then?
FRAN. A man: but what's thy name?
SIR RALPH. Some call me Ralph.
FRAN. Then, honest Ralph, farewell.
SIR RALPH. Well-said, familiar Will! plain Ralph, i'faith.
[_Hollow within_ PHILIP _and_ WILL.][368]
FRAN. There calls my man.
SIR RALPH. But there goes mine away; And yet I'll hear what this next call will say, And here I'll tarry, till he call again.
[_Retires_.][369]
[_Enter_ WILL.]
WILL. So ho!
