[Scene Thirteenth.The Same.[1900]]

M. Gour.And every where we come, I heere some hollo,And yet it is our haps to meete with none.M. Bar.I marvell where your Hodge is, and my man.5M. Gour.I, and our wives; we cannot meet with them,Nor with the boye, nor Mall, nor Franke, nor Phillip,Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we nere stood still.Well, I am very angry with my wife,And she shall finde I am not pleasd with her,10If we meete nere so soone: but tis my hope.[1889]She hath had as blind a journey ont[1890]as we;Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be!M. Bar.This is but short liv'de envie,[1891]maister Goursey:But, come, what say yee to my pollicie?[1892]15M. Gou.I faith, tis good, and we will practise it;But, sir, it must be handeled cunningly,Or all is mard; our wives have subtill heads,And they will soone perceive a drift devise.

M. Gour.And every where we come, I heere some hollo,And yet it is our haps to meete with none.

M. Gour.And every where we come, I heere some hollo,

And yet it is our haps to meete with none.

M. Bar.I marvell where your Hodge is, and my man.5

M. Gour.I, and our wives; we cannot meet with them,Nor with the boye, nor Mall, nor Franke, nor Phillip,Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we nere stood still.Well, I am very angry with my wife,And she shall finde I am not pleasd with her,10If we meete nere so soone: but tis my hope.[1889]She hath had as blind a journey ont[1890]as we;Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be!

M. Gour.I, and our wives; we cannot meet with them,

Nor with the boye, nor Mall, nor Franke, nor Phillip,

Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we nere stood still.

Well, I am very angry with my wife,

And she shall finde I am not pleasd with her,10

If we meete nere so soone: but tis my hope.[1889]

She hath had as blind a journey ont[1890]as we;

Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be!

M. Bar.This is but short liv'de envie,[1891]maister Goursey:But, come, what say yee to my pollicie?[1892]15

M. Bar.This is but short liv'de envie,[1891]maister Goursey:

But, come, what say yee to my pollicie?[1892]15

M. Gou.I faith, tis good, and we will practise it;But, sir, it must be handeled cunningly,Or all is mard; our wives have subtill heads,And they will soone perceive a drift devise.

M. Gou.I faith, tis good, and we will practise it;

But, sir, it must be handeled cunningly,

Or all is mard; our wives have subtill heads,

And they will soone perceive a drift devise.

EnterSir Raphe Smith.

Raph.So ho!20

M. Gour.So ho!

Raph.Whose there?

M. Bar.Heers on[e] or two.

Raph.Is Will there?

M. Bar.No. Phillip?25

M. Gour.Franke?

Raph.No, no.—Was ever man deluded thus like me?I thinke some spirit leads me thus amisse,As I have often heard that some have bin30Thus in the nights.But yet this mases me; where ere I come,Some askes me still for Franke or Phillip,And none of them can tell me where Will is. [Aside.]Wil.So ho! }35Phil.So ho! }Hodg.So ho!}They hollo within.Boy.So ho! }Rap.Sownes, now I heere foure hollo at the least!One had a little voice; then thats the wench40My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [Aside.]So ho!

Raph.No, no.—

Was ever man deluded thus like me?

I thinke some spirit leads me thus amisse,

As I have often heard that some have bin30

Thus in the nights.

But yet this mases me; where ere I come,

Some askes me still for Franke or Phillip,

And none of them can tell me where Will is. [Aside.]

Wil.So ho! }35

Phil.So ho! }

Hodg.So ho!}They hollo within.

Boy.So ho! }

Rap.Sownes, now I heere foure hollo at the least!One had a little voice; then thats the wench40My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [Aside.]So ho!

Rap.Sownes, now I heere foure hollo at the least!

One had a little voice; then thats the wench40

My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [Aside.]

So ho!

[EnterHodge.]

Hodg.Whope, whope!

Raph.Whose there? Will?44

Hod.No, sir; honest Hodge: but, I pray yee, sir, did yee not meete with a boye with a torche? he is runne away from me, a plague on him!

Raph.Hey day, from Franke and Phillip to a torche,And to a boye! nay, sownes, then, hap as twill. [Aside.]

Raph.Hey day, from Franke and Phillip to a torche,

And to a boye! nay, sownes, then, hap as twill. [Aside.]

[ExeuntSir RaphandHodgeseverally.]

M. Gour.Who goes there?50

[EnterWill.]

Wil.Gesse heere.

M. Bar.Phillip?

Wil.Phillip! no, faith; my names Will,—ill will, for I was never worse: I was even now with him, and might have been still,but that I fell into a ditch and lost him, and now I am going up and downe to seeke him.56

M. Gor.What wouldst thou do with him?

Wil.Why, I would have him go with me to my maisters.

M. Gou.Whose thy maister?

Wil.Why, sir Raphe Smith; and thether he promist me he would come; if he keepe his worde, so tis.61

M. Ba.What was he[1893]doing when thou first found[1894]him?

Wil.Why, he holloed for one Francis, and Francis hollod for him; I hallod for my maister, and my maister for me; but we mist still, meeting contrary, Phillip and Francis with me and my maister, and I and my maister with Philip and Franke.66

M. Gou.Why, wherefore is sir Raphe so late abroade?

Wil.Why, he ment to kill a buck,—Ile say so to save his honestie, but my Nan was his marke [Aside]—and when[1895]he sent me for his bow, and when I came, I hollod for him; but I never saw such luck to misse him, it hath almost made me mad.71

M. Bar.Well, stay with us; perhaps sir Raphe and he Will come anon: harke! I do heere one hollo.

EnterPhillip[from the fields.]

Phil.Is this broad waking in a winters night?I am broad walking in a winters night,—75Broad indeed, because I am abroad,—But these broad fields methinks are not so broadThat they may keepe me foorth of narrow ditches.Heers a hard world!For I can hardly keep myself upright in it:80I am marvellous dutifull—but, so ho!

Phil.Is this broad waking in a winters night?

I am broad walking in a winters night,—75

Broad indeed, because I am abroad,—

But these broad fields methinks are not so broad

That they may keepe me foorth of narrow ditches.

Heers a hard world!

For I can hardly keep myself upright in it:80

I am marvellous dutifull—but, so ho!

Wil.So ho!

Phil.Whose there?

Wil.Heeres Will.

Ph.What, Will! how scapst thou?85

Wil.What, sir?

Ph.Nay, not hanging, but drowning: wert thou in a pond or a ditche?

Wil.A pestilence on it! ist you, Phillip? no, faith, I was but durty a little: but heeres one or two askt for yee.90

Phil.Who be they, man?

M. Bar.Philip, tis I and maister Goursey.

Phi.Father, O father, I have heard them sayThe dayes of ignorance are past and done;But I am sure the nights of ignorance95Are not yet past, for this is one of them.But wheres my sister?M. Bar.Why, we cannot tell.Ph.Wheres Francis?M. Gour.Neither saw we him.100Phi.Why, this is fine.What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you,Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[1896]now,Can meet, could meet, or nere, I thinke, shall meete!Cal ye this woing? no, tis Christmas sport105Of Hob man blind:[1897]all blind, all seek to catch,All misse,—but who comes heere?[1898]

Phi.Father, O father, I have heard them sayThe dayes of ignorance are past and done;But I am sure the nights of ignorance95Are not yet past, for this is one of them.But wheres my sister?

Phi.Father, O father, I have heard them say

The dayes of ignorance are past and done;

But I am sure the nights of ignorance95

Are not yet past, for this is one of them.

But wheres my sister?

M. Bar.Why, we cannot tell.

Ph.Wheres Francis?

M. Gour.Neither saw we him.100

Phi.Why, this is fine.What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you,Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[1896]now,Can meet, could meet, or nere, I thinke, shall meete!Cal ye this woing? no, tis Christmas sport105Of Hob man blind:[1897]all blind, all seek to catch,All misse,—but who comes heere?[1898]

Phi.Why, this is fine.

What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you,

Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[1896]now,

Can meet, could meet, or nere, I thinke, shall meete!

Cal ye this woing? no, tis Christmas sport105

Of Hob man blind:[1897]all blind, all seek to catch,

All misse,—but who comes heere?[1898]

EnterFrankeand hisBoye[with torch].

Fra.O, have I catcht yee, sir? it was your dooingThat made me have this pretty daunce to night;Had not you spoake, my mother had not scard me:110But I will swinge ye for it.Phil.Keepe the kings peace!Fran.How! art thou become a constable?Why, Phillip, where hast thou bin all this while?Ph.Why, where you were not: but, I pray, whers my sister?Fran.Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her116As I should seeke seeke—Phil.A needle, have yee not?Why, you, man, are the needle that she seekesTo worke withall. Well, Francis, do you heere?120You must not answere so, that you have sought her;But have yee found her? faith, and if you have,God give yee joy of that ye found with her!Fra.[1899]I saw her not: how could I finde her?M. Gou.Why, could yee misse from maister Barnses houseUnto his cunnyberry?126Fran.Whether I could or no, father, I did.Phil.Father, I did! well, Franke, wilt thou beleeve me,Thou dost not know how much this same doth greeve me:Shall it be said thou mist so plaine a way,130When as so faire a wenche did for thee stay?Fra.Sownes, man!Phi.Sownes, man! and if thou hadst bin blinde,The cunny-borow thou needst must finde.I tell thee, Francis, had it bin my case,135And I had bin a woer in thy place,I would have laide my head unto the ground,And sented out my wenches way, like a hound;I would have crept upon my knees all night,And have made the flint stones linckes to give me light.140Nay, man, I would—Fran.Good Lord, what you would doe!Well, we shall see one day how you can woe.M. Gor.Come, come, we see that we have all bin crost;Therefore lets go, and seeke them we have lost.Exeunt.

Fra.O, have I catcht yee, sir? it was your dooingThat made me have this pretty daunce to night;Had not you spoake, my mother had not scard me:110But I will swinge ye for it.

Fra.O, have I catcht yee, sir? it was your dooing

That made me have this pretty daunce to night;

Had not you spoake, my mother had not scard me:110

But I will swinge ye for it.

Phil.Keepe the kings peace!

Fran.How! art thou become a constable?Why, Phillip, where hast thou bin all this while?

Fran.How! art thou become a constable?

Why, Phillip, where hast thou bin all this while?

Ph.Why, where you were not: but, I pray, whers my sister?

Fran.Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her116As I should seeke seeke—

Fran.Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her116

As I should seeke seeke—

Phil.A needle, have yee not?Why, you, man, are the needle that she seekesTo worke withall. Well, Francis, do you heere?120You must not answere so, that you have sought her;But have yee found her? faith, and if you have,God give yee joy of that ye found with her!

Phil.A needle, have yee not?

Why, you, man, are the needle that she seekes

To worke withall. Well, Francis, do you heere?120

You must not answere so, that you have sought her;

But have yee found her? faith, and if you have,

God give yee joy of that ye found with her!

Fra.[1899]I saw her not: how could I finde her?

M. Gou.Why, could yee misse from maister Barnses houseUnto his cunnyberry?126

M. Gou.Why, could yee misse from maister Barnses house

Unto his cunnyberry?126

Fran.Whether I could or no, father, I did.

Phil.Father, I did! well, Franke, wilt thou beleeve me,Thou dost not know how much this same doth greeve me:Shall it be said thou mist so plaine a way,130When as so faire a wenche did for thee stay?

Phil.Father, I did! well, Franke, wilt thou beleeve me,

Thou dost not know how much this same doth greeve me:

Shall it be said thou mist so plaine a way,130

When as so faire a wenche did for thee stay?

Fra.Sownes, man!

Phi.Sownes, man! and if thou hadst bin blinde,The cunny-borow thou needst must finde.I tell thee, Francis, had it bin my case,135And I had bin a woer in thy place,I would have laide my head unto the ground,And sented out my wenches way, like a hound;I would have crept upon my knees all night,And have made the flint stones linckes to give me light.140Nay, man, I would—

Phi.Sownes, man! and if thou hadst bin blinde,

The cunny-borow thou needst must finde.

I tell thee, Francis, had it bin my case,135

And I had bin a woer in thy place,

I would have laide my head unto the ground,

And sented out my wenches way, like a hound;

I would have crept upon my knees all night,

And have made the flint stones linckes to give me light.140

Nay, man, I would—

Fran.Good Lord, what you would doe!Well, we shall see one day how you can woe.

Fran.Good Lord, what you would doe!

Well, we shall see one day how you can woe.

M. Gor.Come, come, we see that we have all bin crost;Therefore lets go, and seeke them we have lost.Exeunt.

M. Gor.Come, come, we see that we have all bin crost;

Therefore lets go, and seeke them we have lost.

Exeunt.

EnterMal.

[Mal]. Am I alone? doth not my mother come?Her torch I see not, which I well might see,If any way she were comming toward me:Why, then, belike shees gone some other way;And may she go till I bid her turne!5Farre shall her way be then, and little faire,For she hath hindered me of my good turne;God send her wet and wearie ere she turne!I had beene at Oxenford, and to morrowHave beene releast from all my maidens sorrow,10And tasted joy, had not my mother bin;God, I beseech thee, make it her worst sinne!How many maides this night lyes in their beds,And dreame that they have lost their maidenheads!Such dreames, such slumbers I had to[o] enjoyde,15If waking mallice had not them destroide.A starved man with double death doth dye,To have the meate might save him in his eye,And may not have it: so am I tormented,To starve for joy I see, yet am prevented.20Well, Franke, although thou woedst and quickly wonne,Yet shall my love to thee be never done;Ile run through hedge and ditch, through brakes and briers,To come to thee, sole lord of my desires:Short woing is the best, an houre, not yeares,25For long debating love is full of feares.But, hearke! I heare one tread. O, wert my brother,Or Franke, or any man, but not my mother!

[Mal]. Am I alone? doth not my mother come?

Her torch I see not, which I well might see,

If any way she were comming toward me:

Why, then, belike shees gone some other way;

And may she go till I bid her turne!5

Farre shall her way be then, and little faire,

For she hath hindered me of my good turne;

God send her wet and wearie ere she turne!

I had beene at Oxenford, and to morrow

Have beene releast from all my maidens sorrow,10

And tasted joy, had not my mother bin;

God, I beseech thee, make it her worst sinne!

How many maides this night lyes in their beds,

And dreame that they have lost their maidenheads!

Such dreames, such slumbers I had to[o] enjoyde,15

If waking mallice had not them destroide.

A starved man with double death doth dye,

To have the meate might save him in his eye,

And may not have it: so am I tormented,

To starve for joy I see, yet am prevented.20

Well, Franke, although thou woedst and quickly wonne,

Yet shall my love to thee be never done;

Ile run through hedge and ditch, through brakes and briers,

To come to thee, sole lord of my desires:

Short woing is the best, an houre, not yeares,25

For long debating love is full of feares.

But, hearke! I heare one tread. O, wert my brother,

Or Franke, or any man, but not my mother!

[EnterSir Raph Smithfrom the fields.]

S. Rap.O, when will this same yeare of night have end?Long lookt for daies sunne, when wilt thou ascend?30Let not this theefe friend, misty vale[1901]of night,Incroach on day, and shadow thy faire light,Whilst thou com'st tardy from thy Thetes bed,Blushing foorth, golden haire and glorious red;O, stay not long, bright lanthorne of the day,35To light my mist way[1902]feete to my right way!Mall.It is a man, his big voice tels me so,Much am I not acquainted with it tho;And yet mine eare, sounds true distinguisher,Boyes[1903]that I have been more familiar40With it then now I am: well, I doe judge,It is not envies fellon, not of grudge[1904];Therefore Ile plead acquaintance, hyer his guiding,And buy of him some place of close abiding,Till that my mothers mallice be expired,45And we may joy in that is long desired [Aside].—Whose there?Ra.Are ye a maide?—No question this is sheMy man doth misse: faith, since she lights on me,I doe not meane till day to let her goe;50For what[1905]she is my mans love I will know [Aside].—Harke ye, mayde, if mayde, are ye so lightThat you can see to wander in the night?Mal.Harke ye, true man, if true, I tell you, no;I cannot see at all which way I goe.55Ra.Fayre mayde, ist so? say, had ye nere a fall?Mal.Fayre man, not so; no, I had none at all.Ra.Could you not stumble on one man, I pray?Mal.No, no such blocke till now came in my way.Ra.Am I that blocke, sweete tripe? then, fall and try.60Ma.The grounds too hard a feather-bed; not I.Ra.Why, how and you had met with such a stumpe?Mal.Why, if he had been your height, I meant to jumpe.Ra.Are ye so nimble?Mal.Nimble as a doe.65Ra.Backt in a pye.Mal.Of ye.Ra.Good meate ye know.Mall.Ye hunt sometimes?Ra.I do.70Mal.What take ye?Ra.Deare.Mall.You'l nere strike rascall[1906]?Ra.Yes, when ye are there.Mal.Will ye strike me?75Rap.Yes: will ye strike againe?[1907]Mall.No, sir; it fits not maides to fight with men.Ra.I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know.Mall.Why, you may finde it, sir, in the Christcrosse row.Rap.Be my schoolemistresse, teach me how to spell it.80Mall.No, faith, I care not greatly if I tell it;My name is Marie Barnes.Ra.How, wench? Mall Barnes!Mal.The verie same.Rap.Why, this is strange.85Mal.I pray, sir, whats your[1908]name?Raph.Why, sir Raph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this;Why, whats the cause thou art abroad so late?Mal.What, sir Raph Smith! nay, then, I will discloseAll the hole cause to him, in him repose90My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did sendOur loves and both our mothers hates to end. [Aside].—Gentle sir Raph, if you my blush might see,You then would say I am ashamed to beFound, like a wandring stray, by such a knight,95So farre from home at such a time of night:But my excuse is good; love first by fateIs crost, controulde,[1909]and sundered by fell hate.Franke Goursey is my love, and he loves me;But both our mothers hate and disagree;100Our fathers like the match and wish it don;And so it had, had not our mothers come;To Oxford we concluded both to go;Going to meete, they came; we parted so;My mother followed me, but I ran fast,105Thinking who went from hate had need make hast;Take me she cannot, though she still persue:But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you;Be you my orator and plead my right,And get me one good day for this bad night.110Ra.Alas, good heart, I pitty thy hard hap!And Ile employ all that I may for thee.Franke Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choyse:Now I remember I met one Francis,As I did seeke my man,—then, that was he,—115And Philip too,—belike that was thy brother:Why, now I find how I did loose myself,And wander[1910]up and down, mistaking so.Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leaveTill I have made your mothers friends againe,120And purchast to ye both your hearts delight,And for this same one bad many a good night.Twill not be long ere that Aurora will,Deckt in the glory of a goldon sunne,Open the christall windowes of the east,125To make the earth enamourde of her[1911]face,When we shall have cleare light to see our way:Come; night being done, expect a happy day.Exeunt.

S. Rap.O, when will this same yeare of night have end?

Long lookt for daies sunne, when wilt thou ascend?30

Let not this theefe friend, misty vale[1901]of night,

Incroach on day, and shadow thy faire light,

Whilst thou com'st tardy from thy Thetes bed,

Blushing foorth, golden haire and glorious red;

O, stay not long, bright lanthorne of the day,35

To light my mist way[1902]feete to my right way!

Mall.It is a man, his big voice tels me so,Much am I not acquainted with it tho;And yet mine eare, sounds true distinguisher,Boyes[1903]that I have been more familiar40With it then now I am: well, I doe judge,It is not envies fellon, not of grudge[1904];Therefore Ile plead acquaintance, hyer his guiding,And buy of him some place of close abiding,Till that my mothers mallice be expired,45And we may joy in that is long desired [Aside].—Whose there?

Mall.It is a man, his big voice tels me so,

Much am I not acquainted with it tho;

And yet mine eare, sounds true distinguisher,

Boyes[1903]that I have been more familiar40

With it then now I am: well, I doe judge,

It is not envies fellon, not of grudge[1904];

Therefore Ile plead acquaintance, hyer his guiding,

And buy of him some place of close abiding,

Till that my mothers mallice be expired,45

And we may joy in that is long desired [Aside].—

Whose there?

Ra.Are ye a maide?—No question this is sheMy man doth misse: faith, since she lights on me,I doe not meane till day to let her goe;50For what[1905]she is my mans love I will know [Aside].—Harke ye, mayde, if mayde, are ye so lightThat you can see to wander in the night?

Ra.Are ye a maide?—No question this is she

My man doth misse: faith, since she lights on me,

I doe not meane till day to let her goe;50

For what[1905]she is my mans love I will know [Aside].—

Harke ye, mayde, if mayde, are ye so light

That you can see to wander in the night?

Mal.Harke ye, true man, if true, I tell you, no;I cannot see at all which way I goe.55

Mal.Harke ye, true man, if true, I tell you, no;

I cannot see at all which way I goe.55

Ra.Fayre mayde, ist so? say, had ye nere a fall?

Mal.Fayre man, not so; no, I had none at all.

Ra.Could you not stumble on one man, I pray?

Mal.No, no such blocke till now came in my way.

Ra.Am I that blocke, sweete tripe? then, fall and try.60

Ma.The grounds too hard a feather-bed; not I.

Ra.Why, how and you had met with such a stumpe?

Mal.Why, if he had been your height, I meant to jumpe.

Ra.Are ye so nimble?

Mal.Nimble as a doe.65

Ra.Backt in a pye.

Mal.Of ye.

Ra.Good meate ye know.

Mall.Ye hunt sometimes?

Ra.I do.70

Mal.What take ye?

Ra.Deare.

Mall.You'l nere strike rascall[1906]?

Ra.Yes, when ye are there.

Mal.Will ye strike me?75

Rap.Yes: will ye strike againe?[1907]

Mall.No, sir; it fits not maides to fight with men.

Ra.I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know.

Mall.Why, you may finde it, sir, in the Christcrosse row.

Rap.Be my schoolemistresse, teach me how to spell it.80

Mall.No, faith, I care not greatly if I tell it;My name is Marie Barnes.

Mall.No, faith, I care not greatly if I tell it;

My name is Marie Barnes.

Ra.How, wench? Mall Barnes!

Mal.The verie same.

Rap.Why, this is strange.85

Mal.I pray, sir, whats your[1908]name?

Raph.Why, sir Raph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this;Why, whats the cause thou art abroad so late?

Raph.Why, sir Raph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this;

Why, whats the cause thou art abroad so late?

Mal.What, sir Raph Smith! nay, then, I will discloseAll the hole cause to him, in him repose90My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did sendOur loves and both our mothers hates to end. [Aside].—Gentle sir Raph, if you my blush might see,You then would say I am ashamed to beFound, like a wandring stray, by such a knight,95So farre from home at such a time of night:But my excuse is good; love first by fateIs crost, controulde,[1909]and sundered by fell hate.Franke Goursey is my love, and he loves me;But both our mothers hate and disagree;100Our fathers like the match and wish it don;And so it had, had not our mothers come;To Oxford we concluded both to go;Going to meete, they came; we parted so;My mother followed me, but I ran fast,105Thinking who went from hate had need make hast;Take me she cannot, though she still persue:But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you;Be you my orator and plead my right,And get me one good day for this bad night.110

Mal.What, sir Raph Smith! nay, then, I will disclose

All the hole cause to him, in him repose90

My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did send

Our loves and both our mothers hates to end. [Aside].—

Gentle sir Raph, if you my blush might see,

You then would say I am ashamed to be

Found, like a wandring stray, by such a knight,95

So farre from home at such a time of night:

But my excuse is good; love first by fate

Is crost, controulde,[1909]and sundered by fell hate.

Franke Goursey is my love, and he loves me;

But both our mothers hate and disagree;100

Our fathers like the match and wish it don;

And so it had, had not our mothers come;

To Oxford we concluded both to go;

Going to meete, they came; we parted so;

My mother followed me, but I ran fast,105

Thinking who went from hate had need make hast;

Take me she cannot, though she still persue:

But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you;

Be you my orator and plead my right,

And get me one good day for this bad night.110

Ra.Alas, good heart, I pitty thy hard hap!And Ile employ all that I may for thee.Franke Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choyse:Now I remember I met one Francis,As I did seeke my man,—then, that was he,—115And Philip too,—belike that was thy brother:Why, now I find how I did loose myself,And wander[1910]up and down, mistaking so.Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leaveTill I have made your mothers friends againe,120And purchast to ye both your hearts delight,And for this same one bad many a good night.Twill not be long ere that Aurora will,Deckt in the glory of a goldon sunne,Open the christall windowes of the east,125To make the earth enamourde of her[1911]face,When we shall have cleare light to see our way:Come; night being done, expect a happy day.Exeunt.

Ra.Alas, good heart, I pitty thy hard hap!

And Ile employ all that I may for thee.

Franke Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choyse:

Now I remember I met one Francis,

As I did seeke my man,—then, that was he,—115

And Philip too,—belike that was thy brother:

Why, now I find how I did loose myself,

And wander[1910]up and down, mistaking so.

Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leave

Till I have made your mothers friends againe,120

And purchast to ye both your hearts delight,

And for this same one bad many a good night.

Twill not be long ere that Aurora will,

Deckt in the glory of a goldon sunne,

Open the christall windowes of the east,125

To make the earth enamourde of her[1911]face,

When we shall have cleare light to see our way:

Come; night being done, expect a happy day.

Exeunt.

EnterMistresse Barnes[with torch].

Mis. Ba.O, what a race this peevish girle hath led me!How fast I ran, and now how weary I am!I am so out of breath I scarce can speake,—What shall I doe?—and cannot overtake her.It is[1913]late and darke, and I am far from home:5May there not theeves lye watching heere about,Intending mischiefe unto them they meete?There may; and I am much affrayde of them,Being alone without all company.I doe repent me of my coming foorth;10And yet I do not,—they had else beene married,And that I would not for ten times more labour.But what a winter of colde feare I thole,[1914]Freecing my heart, least danger should betide me!What shal I do to purchase company?15I heare some hollow here about the fields:Then here Ile set my torch upon this hill,Whose light shall beacon-like conduct them to it;They that have lost theyr way, seeing a light,For it may be seene farre off in the night,20Will come to it. Well, here Ile lye vnseene,[1915]And looke who comes, and chuse my company:Perhaps my daughter may first come to it. [Retires to one side.]

Mis. Ba.O, what a race this peevish girle hath led me!

How fast I ran, and now how weary I am!

I am so out of breath I scarce can speake,—

What shall I doe?—and cannot overtake her.

It is[1913]late and darke, and I am far from home:5

May there not theeves lye watching heere about,

Intending mischiefe unto them they meete?

There may; and I am much affrayde of them,

Being alone without all company.

I doe repent me of my coming foorth;10

And yet I do not,—they had else beene married,

And that I would not for ten times more labour.

But what a winter of colde feare I thole,[1914]

Freecing my heart, least danger should betide me!

What shal I do to purchase company?15

I heare some hollow here about the fields:

Then here Ile set my torch upon this hill,

Whose light shall beacon-like conduct them to it;

They that have lost theyr way, seeing a light,

For it may be seene farre off in the night,20

Will come to it. Well, here Ile lye vnseene,[1915]

And looke who comes, and chuse my company:

Perhaps my daughter may first come to it. [Retires to one side.]

[EnterMistresse Goursey.]

Mi. Gour.Where am I now? nay, where was I even now?Nor now, nor then, nor where I shall be, know I.25I thinke I am going home: I may as wellBe[1916]going from home; tis so very darke,I cannot see how to direct a step.I lost my man, pursuing of my sonne;My sonne escapt me too: now, all alone,30I am enforst[1917]to wander up and downe.Barnses wife's abroad: pray God, that sheMay have as good a daunce, nay, ten times worse!Oh, but I feare she hath not; she hath lightTo see her way. O, that some[1918]bridge would breake,35That she might fall into some deep digd ditch,And eyther breake her bones or drowne her selfe!I would these mischiefes I could wish to herMight light on her!—but, soft; I see a light:I will go neere; tis comfortable,40After this nights sad spirits dulling[1919]darknes.How now? what, is it set to keep it selfe?Mis. Bar.A plague ont, is she there? [Aside.]Mis. Gou.O, how it cheares and quickens up my thoughts!Mis. Bar.O, that it were the besseliskies fell eye,45To poyson thee! [Aside.]Mi. Gou.I care not if I take it,—Sure none is here to hinder me,—And light me home.Mi. Bar.I had rather she were hangd50Then I should set it there to doe her good. [Aside.]Mis. Go.I faith, I will.Mi. Ba.I faith, you shall not, mistresse;Ile venter a burnt finger but Ile have it. [Aside.]Mi. Gou.Yet Barnses wife would chafe, if that she knew55That I had this good lucke to get a light.Mi. Ba.And so she doth; but praise your[1920]lucke at parting. [Aside.]Mi. Go.O, that it were[1921]her light, good faith, that sheMight darkling walke about as well as I!Mi. Ba.O, how this mads me, that she hath her wish! [Aside.]Mi. Go.How I would laugh to see her trot about!61Mi. Bar.Oh, I could cry for anger and for rage! [Aside.]Mi. Go.But who should set it here, I marvel, a Gods name.Mi. Bar.One that will hav'te from you, in the devils name. [Aside.]Mi. Go.Ile lay my life that it was Barnses sonne.65Mi. Ba.No, forsooth, it was Barnses wife. [Advancing to seize torch.]Mi. Gou.A plague upon her, how she made me start! [Aside].—Mistresse, let go the torch. [They struggle for it.]Mis. Bar.No, but I will not.Mh. Gou.Ile thrust it in thy face, then.70Mi. Bar.But you shall not.Mi. Gou.Let go, I say.Mi. Ba.Let you go, for tis mine.Mis. Go.But my possession saies, it is none of thine.Mi. Bar.Nay, I have holde too.75Mi. Gou.Well, let go thy hold,[1922]or I will spurn thee.Mi. Bar.Do; I can spurne thee too.Mi. Go.Canst thou?Mi. Ba.I, that I can.

Mi. Gour.Where am I now? nay, where was I even now?

Nor now, nor then, nor where I shall be, know I.25

I thinke I am going home: I may as well

Be[1916]going from home; tis so very darke,

I cannot see how to direct a step.

I lost my man, pursuing of my sonne;

My sonne escapt me too: now, all alone,30

I am enforst[1917]to wander up and downe.

Barnses wife's abroad: pray God, that she

May have as good a daunce, nay, ten times worse!

Oh, but I feare she hath not; she hath light

To see her way. O, that some[1918]bridge would breake,35

That she might fall into some deep digd ditch,

And eyther breake her bones or drowne her selfe!

I would these mischiefes I could wish to her

Might light on her!—but, soft; I see a light:

I will go neere; tis comfortable,40

After this nights sad spirits dulling[1919]darknes.

How now? what, is it set to keep it selfe?

Mis. Bar.A plague ont, is she there? [Aside.]

Mis. Gou.O, how it cheares and quickens up my thoughts!

Mis. Bar.O, that it were the besseliskies fell eye,45To poyson thee! [Aside.]

Mis. Bar.O, that it were the besseliskies fell eye,45

To poyson thee! [Aside.]

Mi. Gou.I care not if I take it,—Sure none is here to hinder me,—And light me home.

Mi. Gou.I care not if I take it,—

Sure none is here to hinder me,—

And light me home.

Mi. Bar.I had rather she were hangd50Then I should set it there to doe her good. [Aside.]

Mi. Bar.I had rather she were hangd50

Then I should set it there to doe her good. [Aside.]

Mis. Go.I faith, I will.

Mi. Ba.I faith, you shall not, mistresse;Ile venter a burnt finger but Ile have it. [Aside.]

Mi. Ba.I faith, you shall not, mistresse;

Ile venter a burnt finger but Ile have it. [Aside.]

Mi. Gou.Yet Barnses wife would chafe, if that she knew55That I had this good lucke to get a light.

Mi. Gou.Yet Barnses wife would chafe, if that she knew55

That I had this good lucke to get a light.

Mi. Ba.And so she doth; but praise your[1920]lucke at parting. [Aside.]

Mi. Go.O, that it were[1921]her light, good faith, that sheMight darkling walke about as well as I!

Mi. Go.O, that it were[1921]her light, good faith, that she

Might darkling walke about as well as I!

Mi. Ba.O, how this mads me, that she hath her wish! [Aside.]

Mi. Go.How I would laugh to see her trot about!61

Mi. Bar.Oh, I could cry for anger and for rage! [Aside.]

Mi. Go.But who should set it here, I marvel, a Gods name.

Mi. Bar.One that will hav'te from you, in the devils name. [Aside.]

Mi. Go.Ile lay my life that it was Barnses sonne.65

Mi. Ba.No, forsooth, it was Barnses wife. [Advancing to seize torch.]

Mi. Gou.A plague upon her, how she made me start! [Aside].—Mistresse, let go the torch. [They struggle for it.]

Mi. Gou.A plague upon her, how she made me start! [Aside].—

Mistresse, let go the torch. [They struggle for it.]

Mis. Bar.No, but I will not.

Mh. Gou.Ile thrust it in thy face, then.70

Mi. Bar.But you shall not.

Mi. Gou.Let go, I say.

Mi. Ba.Let you go, for tis mine.

Mis. Go.But my possession saies, it is none of thine.

Mi. Bar.Nay, I have holde too.75

Mi. Gou.Well, let go thy hold,[1922]or I will spurn thee.

Mi. Bar.Do; I can spurne thee too.

Mi. Go.Canst thou?

Mi. Ba.I, that I can.

EnterMaster GourseyandBarnes.

M. Gou.Why, how now, woman?[1923]how unlike to women80Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say.M. Ba.Why, what immodesty is[1924]this in you!Come, part, I say; fie, fie.Mi. Ba.Fie, fie! I say, she shall not have my torch.—Give me thy torch, boy:—I will run a tilt,85And burne out both her eyes in my encounter.Mi. Go.Give roome, and lets have this hot cariere.[1925]M. Go.I say, ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughtsThat are so mad with fury.M. Ba.And, sweet wife,90Temper your rage with patience; do not beSubject so much to such misgovernment.Mi. Bar.Shal I not, sir, when such a strumpet wrongs me?Mi. Go.How, strumpet, mistris Barnes! nay, I pray, harke ye:I oft indeed have heard you call her so,95And I have thought upon it, why ye shouldTwit her with name of strumpet; do you knowAny hurt by her, that you terme her so?M. Ba.No, on my life; rage onely makes her say so.M. Go.[with pretended suspicion]. But I would know whence this same rage should come;100Whers smoke, theres fire; and my heart misgivesMy wives intemperance hath got that name;—And, mistresse Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[1926]doubt,And some great cause begets this doubt in me,Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both.105M Ba.[with assumed indignation]. How! thinke ye so? nay, master Goursey, then,You run in debt to my opinion,Because you pay not such advised wisedomeAs I thinke due unto my good conceit.M. Go.[angrily]. Then still I feare I shall your debter proove.[M. Bar.].[1927]Then I arrest you in the name of love;Not bale, but present answere to my plea;112And in the court of reason we will tryIf that good thoughts should beleeve jelousie. [They make as if they were fighting.]

M. Gou.Why, how now, woman?[1923]how unlike to women80Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say.

M. Gou.Why, how now, woman?[1923]how unlike to women80

Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say.

M. Ba.Why, what immodesty is[1924]this in you!Come, part, I say; fie, fie.

M. Ba.Why, what immodesty is[1924]this in you!

Come, part, I say; fie, fie.

Mi. Ba.Fie, fie! I say, she shall not have my torch.—Give me thy torch, boy:—I will run a tilt,85And burne out both her eyes in my encounter.

Mi. Ba.Fie, fie! I say, she shall not have my torch.—

Give me thy torch, boy:—I will run a tilt,85

And burne out both her eyes in my encounter.

Mi. Go.Give roome, and lets have this hot cariere.[1925]

M. Go.I say, ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughtsThat are so mad with fury.

M. Go.I say, ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughts

That are so mad with fury.

M. Ba.And, sweet wife,90Temper your rage with patience; do not beSubject so much to such misgovernment.

M. Ba.And, sweet wife,90

Temper your rage with patience; do not be

Subject so much to such misgovernment.

Mi. Bar.Shal I not, sir, when such a strumpet wrongs me?

Mi. Go.How, strumpet, mistris Barnes! nay, I pray, harke ye:I oft indeed have heard you call her so,95And I have thought upon it, why ye shouldTwit her with name of strumpet; do you knowAny hurt by her, that you terme her so?

Mi. Go.How, strumpet, mistris Barnes! nay, I pray, harke ye:

I oft indeed have heard you call her so,95

And I have thought upon it, why ye should

Twit her with name of strumpet; do you know

Any hurt by her, that you terme her so?

M. Ba.No, on my life; rage onely makes her say so.

M. Go.[with pretended suspicion]. But I would know whence this same rage should come;100Whers smoke, theres fire; and my heart misgivesMy wives intemperance hath got that name;—And, mistresse Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[1926]doubt,And some great cause begets this doubt in me,Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both.105

M. Go.[with pretended suspicion]. But I would know whence this same rage should come;100

Whers smoke, theres fire; and my heart misgives

My wives intemperance hath got that name;—

And, mistresse Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[1926]doubt,

And some great cause begets this doubt in me,

Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both.105

M Ba.[with assumed indignation]. How! thinke ye so? nay, master Goursey, then,You run in debt to my opinion,Because you pay not such advised wisedomeAs I thinke due unto my good conceit.

M Ba.[with assumed indignation]. How! thinke ye so? nay, master Goursey, then,

You run in debt to my opinion,

Because you pay not such advised wisedome

As I thinke due unto my good conceit.

M. Go.[angrily]. Then still I feare I shall your debter proove.

[M. Bar.].[1927]Then I arrest you in the name of love;Not bale, but present answere to my plea;112And in the court of reason we will tryIf that good thoughts should beleeve jelousie. [They make as if they were fighting.]

[M. Bar.].[1927]Then I arrest you in the name of love;

Not bale, but present answere to my plea;112

And in the court of reason we will try

If that good thoughts should beleeve jelousie. [They make as if they were fighting.]

[EnterPhillip, Frank, Coomes, &c.]

Phil.Why, looke you, mother, this is long of you.—115For Gods sake, father, harke! why, these effectsCome still from womens malice: part, I pray.—Comes, Wil, and Hodge, come all, and helpe us part them!— [They try to part the combatants.Father, but heare me speake one word, no more.Franke.Father, but heare me[1928]speake, then use your will.120Phil.Crie peace betweene ye for a little while.Mi. Gou.[pulling her husband off]. Good husband, heare him speake.Mis. Bar.[pulling at hers]. Good husband, heare him.

Phil.Why, looke you, mother, this is long of you.—115

For Gods sake, father, harke! why, these effects

Come still from womens malice: part, I pray.—

Comes, Wil, and Hodge, come all, and helpe us part them!— [They try to part the combatants.

Father, but heare me speake one word, no more.

Franke.Father, but heare me[1928]speake, then use your will.120

Phil.Crie peace betweene ye for a little while.

Mi. Gou.[pulling her husband off]. Good husband, heare him speake.

Mis. Bar.[pulling at hers]. Good husband, heare him.

Coom.[pulling atGoursey]. Maister, heare him speake; hees a good wise young stripling for his yeeres, I tell ye, and perhaps may speake wiser then an elder body; therefore heare him.126

Hod.Master, heare, and make an end; you may kil one another in jest, and be hanged in earnest.

[He parts them.]

M. Go.Come, let us heare him.—Then, speake quickly, Phillip.129

M. Ba.Thou shouldst have done ere this; speak, Phil, speak.

Mis. Bar.O Lord, what haste you make to hurt your selves!—Good Phillip, use some good perswasionsTo make them friends.Phi.Yes, Ile doe what I can.—Father, and master Goursey, both attend.135It is presumption in so young a manTo teach where he might learne, or [to][1929]derectWhere he hath had direction; but in duetyHe may perswade as long as his perswaseIs backt with reason and a rightfull sute.140Phisickes first rule is this, as I have learned,Kill the effect by cutting of the cause:[1930]The same effects of ruffin outragesComes by the cause of mallice in your wives;Had not they two bin foes, you had bin friends,145And we had bin at home, and this same warIn peacefull sleep had nere bin dreamt upon.—Mother, and mistresse Goursey, to make them friends,Is to be friends your selves: you are the cause,And these effects proceed, you know, from you;150Your hates give life unto these killing strifes,But dye and if that envy dye in you.—[The fathers make as if to renew the combat.]Fathers, yet stay.—O, speake!—O, stay a while!—[They desist.]Francis, perswade thy mother.—Maister Goursey,If that my mother will resolve[1931]your minde[1932]155That tis but meere suspect, not common proofe,And if my father sweares hees innocent,As I durst pawne my soule with him he is,And if your wife vow truth and constancy,Will you be then perswaded?160M. Gou.Phillip, if thy father will remitThe wounds I gave him, and if these conditionsMay be performde, I bannish all my wrath.M. Bar.And if thy mother will but cleere me, Phillip,As I am ready to protest I am,165Then master Goursey is my friend againe.Phi.Harke, mother; now you heare that your desiresMay be accomplished; they will both be friends,If you'l performe these easie[1933]articles.Mi. Ba.Shall I be friends with such an enemy?170Phil.What say you unto my perswase?Mi. Ba.I say shees my deadly enemie.Phil.I, but she will be your friend, if you revolt.[1934]Mi. Ba.The words I said! what, shall I eate a truth?Phi.Why, harke ye, mother.175Fra.Mother, what say you?Mis. Go.Why, this I say, she slaundered my good name.Fra.But if she now denie it, tis no defame.Mi. Go.What, shall I thinke her hate will yeeld so much?Fra.Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such.180M. Go.[Impatient for the reconciliation.] Why, will it be?Phi.Yet stay, I have some hope.Mother, why, mother, why, heare ye.[1935]Give me your hand; it is no more but thus;Tis easie labour to shake hands with her:185A[1936]little breath is spent in speaking of faire words,When wrath hath violent deliveries.[1937]M. Bar.What, shall we be resolved? [As if to renew the fray.]Mi. Bar.O husband, stay!— [Stepping between them.]Stay, maister Goursey: though your wife doth hate me,190And beares unto me mallice infiniteAnd endlesse, yet I will respect your safeties;I would not have you perish by our meanes:I must confesse that onely suspect,And no proofe els, hath fed my hate to her.195Mi. Gour.And, husband, I protest by heaven and earthThat her suspect is causles and unjust,And that I nere had such a vilde intent;Harme she imaginde, where as none was ment.Phil.Loe, sir, what would yee more?200M. Bar.Yes, Phillip, this;That I confirme him in my innocenceBy this large universe.M. Gour.[with show of continued impatience.] By that I sweare,Ile credit none of you, until I heere205Friendship concluded straight betweene them two:If I see that they willingly will doe,Then Ile imagine all suspition ends;I may be then assured, they being friends.Phil.Mother, make full my wish, and be it so.210Mi. Bar.What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe?Phil.No: if she yeeld, will you?Mi. Ba.It may be, I.Phil.Why, this is well. The other I will trie.—Come, mistresse Goursey, do you first agree.215Mi. Gour.What, shall I yeeld unto mine enemie?Phil.Why, if she will, will you?Mi. Gou.Perhaps I will.Phil.Nay, then, I finde this goes well forward still.Mother, give me your hand,—give me yours to[o];220Be not so loath; some good thing I must do;But lay your torches by, I like not them;Come, come, deliver them unto your men:Give me your hands.—So, now, sir, heere I stand,Holding two angrie women in my hand:225And I must please them both; I could please tone,[1938]But it is hard when there is two to one,Especially of women; but tis so,They shall be pleasd whether they will or no.—Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither!230Why, then, yond may helpe that come both together.[1939]So, stand still, stand[1940]but a little while,And see how I your angers will beguile.Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let meJoyne these two hands, and see how theil agree:235[They kiss.]Peace, peace! they crie; looke how they friendly kisse!Well, all this while there is no harme in this:Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike,If tone speakes faire, the tother should not strike:Jesus, these warriours will not offer blowes!240Why, then, tis strange that you two should be foes.O, yes, youle say, your weapons are your tongues;Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs:Go to, imbrace, and say, if you be friends,That heere the angrie womens quarrels ends.245[They embrace.]Mi. Gou.Then heere it ends, if mistres Barnes say so.Mi. Bar.If you say, I, I list not to say, no.M. Gou.If they be friends, by promise we agree.M. Bar.And may this league of friendship ever be!Phil.What saist thou, Franke? doth not this fall out well?250Fran.Yes, if my Mall were heere, then all were well.

Mis. Bar.O Lord, what haste you make to hurt your selves!—Good Phillip, use some good perswasionsTo make them friends.

Mis. Bar.O Lord, what haste you make to hurt your selves!—

Good Phillip, use some good perswasions

To make them friends.

Phi.Yes, Ile doe what I can.—Father, and master Goursey, both attend.135It is presumption in so young a manTo teach where he might learne, or [to][1929]derectWhere he hath had direction; but in duetyHe may perswade as long as his perswaseIs backt with reason and a rightfull sute.140Phisickes first rule is this, as I have learned,Kill the effect by cutting of the cause:[1930]The same effects of ruffin outragesComes by the cause of mallice in your wives;Had not they two bin foes, you had bin friends,145And we had bin at home, and this same warIn peacefull sleep had nere bin dreamt upon.—Mother, and mistresse Goursey, to make them friends,Is to be friends your selves: you are the cause,And these effects proceed, you know, from you;150Your hates give life unto these killing strifes,But dye and if that envy dye in you.—[The fathers make as if to renew the combat.]Fathers, yet stay.—O, speake!—O, stay a while!—[They desist.]Francis, perswade thy mother.—Maister Goursey,If that my mother will resolve[1931]your minde[1932]155That tis but meere suspect, not common proofe,And if my father sweares hees innocent,As I durst pawne my soule with him he is,And if your wife vow truth and constancy,Will you be then perswaded?160

Phi.Yes, Ile doe what I can.—

Father, and master Goursey, both attend.135

It is presumption in so young a man

To teach where he might learne, or [to][1929]derect

Where he hath had direction; but in duety

He may perswade as long as his perswase

Is backt with reason and a rightfull sute.140

Phisickes first rule is this, as I have learned,

Kill the effect by cutting of the cause:[1930]

The same effects of ruffin outrages

Comes by the cause of mallice in your wives;

Had not they two bin foes, you had bin friends,145

And we had bin at home, and this same war

In peacefull sleep had nere bin dreamt upon.—

Mother, and mistresse Goursey, to make them friends,

Is to be friends your selves: you are the cause,

And these effects proceed, you know, from you;150

Your hates give life unto these killing strifes,

But dye and if that envy dye in you.—

[The fathers make as if to renew the combat.]

Fathers, yet stay.—O, speake!—O, stay a while!—[They desist.]

Francis, perswade thy mother.—Maister Goursey,

If that my mother will resolve[1931]your minde[1932]155

That tis but meere suspect, not common proofe,

And if my father sweares hees innocent,

As I durst pawne my soule with him he is,

And if your wife vow truth and constancy,

Will you be then perswaded?160

M. Gou.Phillip, if thy father will remitThe wounds I gave him, and if these conditionsMay be performde, I bannish all my wrath.

M. Gou.Phillip, if thy father will remit

The wounds I gave him, and if these conditions

May be performde, I bannish all my wrath.

M. Bar.And if thy mother will but cleere me, Phillip,As I am ready to protest I am,165Then master Goursey is my friend againe.

M. Bar.And if thy mother will but cleere me, Phillip,

As I am ready to protest I am,165

Then master Goursey is my friend againe.

Phi.Harke, mother; now you heare that your desiresMay be accomplished; they will both be friends,If you'l performe these easie[1933]articles.

Phi.Harke, mother; now you heare that your desires

May be accomplished; they will both be friends,

If you'l performe these easie[1933]articles.

Mi. Ba.Shall I be friends with such an enemy?170

Phil.What say you unto my perswase?

Mi. Ba.I say shees my deadly enemie.Phil.I, but she will be your friend, if you revolt.[1934]

Mi. Ba.I say shees my deadly enemie.

Phil.I, but she will be your friend, if you revolt.[1934]

Mi. Ba.The words I said! what, shall I eate a truth?

Phi.Why, harke ye, mother.175

Fra.Mother, what say you?

Mis. Go.Why, this I say, she slaundered my good name.

Fra.But if she now denie it, tis no defame.

Mi. Go.What, shall I thinke her hate will yeeld so much?

Fra.Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such.180

M. Go.[Impatient for the reconciliation.] Why, will it be?

Phi.Yet stay, I have some hope.Mother, why, mother, why, heare ye.[1935]Give me your hand; it is no more but thus;Tis easie labour to shake hands with her:185A[1936]little breath is spent in speaking of faire words,When wrath hath violent deliveries.[1937]

Phi.Yet stay, I have some hope.

Mother, why, mother, why, heare ye.[1935]

Give me your hand; it is no more but thus;

Tis easie labour to shake hands with her:185

A[1936]little breath is spent in speaking of faire words,

When wrath hath violent deliveries.[1937]

M. Bar.What, shall we be resolved? [As if to renew the fray.]

Mi. Bar.O husband, stay!— [Stepping between them.]Stay, maister Goursey: though your wife doth hate me,190And beares unto me mallice infiniteAnd endlesse, yet I will respect your safeties;I would not have you perish by our meanes:I must confesse that onely suspect,And no proofe els, hath fed my hate to her.195

Mi. Bar.O husband, stay!— [Stepping between them.]

Stay, maister Goursey: though your wife doth hate me,190

And beares unto me mallice infinite

And endlesse, yet I will respect your safeties;

I would not have you perish by our meanes:

I must confesse that onely suspect,

And no proofe els, hath fed my hate to her.195

Mi. Gour.And, husband, I protest by heaven and earthThat her suspect is causles and unjust,And that I nere had such a vilde intent;Harme she imaginde, where as none was ment.

Mi. Gour.And, husband, I protest by heaven and earth

That her suspect is causles and unjust,

And that I nere had such a vilde intent;

Harme she imaginde, where as none was ment.

Phil.Loe, sir, what would yee more?200

M. Bar.Yes, Phillip, this;That I confirme him in my innocenceBy this large universe.

M. Bar.Yes, Phillip, this;

That I confirme him in my innocence

By this large universe.

M. Gour.[with show of continued impatience.] By that I sweare,Ile credit none of you, until I heere205Friendship concluded straight betweene them two:If I see that they willingly will doe,Then Ile imagine all suspition ends;I may be then assured, they being friends.

M. Gour.[with show of continued impatience.] By that I sweare,

Ile credit none of you, until I heere205

Friendship concluded straight betweene them two:

If I see that they willingly will doe,

Then Ile imagine all suspition ends;

I may be then assured, they being friends.

Phil.Mother, make full my wish, and be it so.210

Mi. Bar.What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe?

Phil.No: if she yeeld, will you?

Mi. Ba.It may be, I.

Phil.Why, this is well. The other I will trie.—Come, mistresse Goursey, do you first agree.215

Phil.Why, this is well. The other I will trie.—

Come, mistresse Goursey, do you first agree.215

Mi. Gour.What, shall I yeeld unto mine enemie?

Phil.Why, if she will, will you?

Mi. Gou.Perhaps I will.

Phil.Nay, then, I finde this goes well forward still.Mother, give me your hand,—give me yours to[o];220Be not so loath; some good thing I must do;But lay your torches by, I like not them;Come, come, deliver them unto your men:Give me your hands.—So, now, sir, heere I stand,Holding two angrie women in my hand:225And I must please them both; I could please tone,[1938]But it is hard when there is two to one,Especially of women; but tis so,They shall be pleasd whether they will or no.—Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither!230Why, then, yond may helpe that come both together.[1939]So, stand still, stand[1940]but a little while,And see how I your angers will beguile.Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let meJoyne these two hands, and see how theil agree:235[They kiss.]Peace, peace! they crie; looke how they friendly kisse!Well, all this while there is no harme in this:Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike,If tone speakes faire, the tother should not strike:Jesus, these warriours will not offer blowes!240Why, then, tis strange that you two should be foes.O, yes, youle say, your weapons are your tongues;Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs:Go to, imbrace, and say, if you be friends,That heere the angrie womens quarrels ends.245[They embrace.]

Phil.Nay, then, I finde this goes well forward still.

Mother, give me your hand,—give me yours to[o];220

Be not so loath; some good thing I must do;

But lay your torches by, I like not them;

Come, come, deliver them unto your men:

Give me your hands.—So, now, sir, heere I stand,

Holding two angrie women in my hand:225

And I must please them both; I could please tone,[1938]

But it is hard when there is two to one,

Especially of women; but tis so,

They shall be pleasd whether they will or no.—

Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither!230

Why, then, yond may helpe that come both together.[1939]

So, stand still, stand[1940]but a little while,

And see how I your angers will beguile.

Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let me

Joyne these two hands, and see how theil agree:235[They kiss.]

Peace, peace! they crie; looke how they friendly kisse!

Well, all this while there is no harme in this:

Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike,

If tone speakes faire, the tother should not strike:

Jesus, these warriours will not offer blowes!240

Why, then, tis strange that you two should be foes.

O, yes, youle say, your weapons are your tongues;

Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs:

Go to, imbrace, and say, if you be friends,

That heere the angrie womens quarrels ends.245[They embrace.]

Mi. Gou.Then heere it ends, if mistres Barnes say so.

Mi. Bar.If you say, I, I list not to say, no.

M. Gou.If they be friends, by promise we agree.

M. Bar.And may this league of friendship ever be!

Phil.What saist thou, Franke? doth not this fall out well?250

Fran.Yes, if my Mall were heere, then all were well.

EnterSir Raphe SmithwithMall[who stands aside].

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