A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 08

[91] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 271.] Properly _super ungulum_, referring to knocking the jack on the thumb-nail, to show that the drinker had drained it. Ben Jonson us...

GRIM. Nay, but, Joan, have a care! bear a brain[475] for all at once. 'Tis not one hour's pleasure that I suspect more than your mother's good, countenance. If she be asleep, we...

MOR. Thou holy man, to whom the higher powers Have given the gift of cures beyond conceit, Welcome thou art unto Earl Morgan's house: The house of sorrow yet, unless by thee Our...

WAR. Banish'd from all, of all I am bereft! No more than what I wear unto me left. O wretched, wretched grief, desertful fall! Striving to get all, I am reft of all. Yet if I co...

JEN. Forsooth, I straw'd[278] the dining bowers, And smooth'd the walks with herbs and flowers. The yeomen's tables I have spread, Dress'd salts, laid trenchers, set on bread. N...

JOHN. As God's vicegerent, John ascends this throne, His head impal'd with England's diadem,[212] And in his hand the awful rod of rule, Giving the humble place of excellence, A...

ROB. The devil himself take all such dames for me! 'Zounds, I had rather be in hell than here. Nay, let him be his own man, if he list, Robin means not to stay to be us'd thus....

BRUCE. Will not my bitter bannings[366] and sad plaints, My just and execrable execrations, My tears, my prayers, my pity-moving moans Prevail, thou glorious bright lamp of the...

ROB. The doctor's self would scarce know Robin now. Curs'd Marian may go seek another man, For I intend to dwell no longer with her, Since that the bastinado drove me thence. Th...

FITZ. Now doth fair fortune offer hope of speed; But howsoe'er we speed, good cousin Bruce, March with three hundred bows and pikes to Windsor, Spreading a rumour that the day i...

DON. A plague upon his kindness! let him die. I never temper'd poison in my life, But I employ'd it. By th'mass, and I lose this, For ever look to lose my company.

WID. You shall have Jenny sent you with all speed. Sons, farewell, and, by your mother's reed, Love well your master: blessing ever fall On him, your mistress, and these yeomen...

LIT. JOHN. Ye bark at me like curs, but I will down With twenty "Stand, and who goes there?"[175] of you, If ye stand long tempting my patience. Why, Master Sheriff, think you m...

BRAND. Good, by this hand! exceeding, passing good! The dog no sooner drank it, but yugh! yugh! quoth he: So grins me with his teeth, lies down and dies: Yugh! quoth I: by God's...

ROB. H. As I am outlaw'd from my fame and state, Be this day outlawed from the name of days. Day luckless, outlaw luckless, both accurs'd! [_Flings away his napkin and hat, and...

FITZ. Why, how now, votary! still at your book? Ever in mourning weeds? For shame, for shame! With better entertainment cheer our friends. Now, by the bless'd cross, you are muc...

FITZ. An argument of my free heart, my lord. That lets the world be witness of my thought. When I was taught, true dealing kept the school; Deeds were sworn partners with protes...

MUCH. O, ay, sir: Warman came but yesterday to take charge of the jail at Nottingham, and this day he says he will hang the two outlaws. He means to set them at liberty!

KING. Now I perceive this only was a dream. Divine Matilda's angel did appear, Deck'd like a vestal ready for heaven's quire, And to this earthly trunk will not come near. Well,...

FRIAR. Scarlet and John, so God me save, No mind unto my beads I have: I think it be a luckless day, For I can neither sing nor say; Nor have I any power to look On portace or o...

ST. DUN. Envy, that always waits on virtue's train, And tears the graves of quiet sleeping souls, Hath brought me after many hundred years To show myself again upon the earth. K...

TIP. Room, my masters, give place, stand by: Sir Equity hath sent me to let you understand, That hither he will resort out of hand, To sit upon the arraignment of Prodigality.

PROD. Set cock-on-hoop then; by some means, good or bad, There is no remedy, but money must be had. By the body of an ox, behold here this ass, Will be my familiar, wheresoever...

QUEEN. Now are ye, worthy and resolved men, Come to the cage where the unclean birds bide, That tire[328] on all the fair flight in the realm. Summon this castle, or (to keep my...

ELT. So full well he might: These two hours it pleased his majesty To use my service in surveying maps, Sent over from the good King Ferdinand, That to the Indies, at Sebastian'...

LADY B. I am betray'd! alas, I am betray'd! And little thought your highness had been bent So much against me for my many loves, As to prepare an entrance for my foe.

SHER. Then, may it please you, the effect is this: There is a certain roister, named Prodigality, That long about this town hath ruffled in great jollity! A man long suspected o...

SAL. You are a king, and high are princes' thoughts: It may be, with your sight you could have chas'd A host of armed men; it may be so: But we, your subjects, did the best we c...

OX. Now, by my faith, you are to blame, madam, Ever tormenting, ever vexing you: Cease of these fretting humours: pray ye, do. Grief will not mend it; nought can pleasure you Bu...

BEL. Now is Belphegor, an incarnate devil, Come to the earth to seek him out a dame: Hell be my speed! and so, I hope, it will. In lovely London are we here arrived; Where, as I...

PROD. Thinkest thou so? Thou, Fortune, hearest thou? by fair means, I advise thee, Restore my Money to me again: deal plainly and wisely; Or by this sharp-edged sword, shalt see...

TEN. By Gog's bores, these old stumps are stark tired. Chave here roundabout for life conquired, Where any posting nags were to be hired, And can get none, would they were all v...

PROD. [_to_ MONEY.] Come on, my bulchin;[404] come on, my fat ox:[405] Come, porkling, come on; come, pretty twattox.[406] Why, will it not be? yet faster, a cur'sy![407] This g...

Now, benedicite! What foul absurdity, Folly and foolery Had like to follow me! I and my mates, Like addle-pates, Inviting great states To see our last play, Are hunting the hay,...

LADY B. Once more hear me! there's a precious gem, You have not any richer in all the realm: If fire do blemish it, art never more To his true colour can the same restore.

POST. Why, sir, you have to go but six small mile; The way is fair, the moon shines very bright. Best now go on, and then rest for all night.

TEN. Ho, ho, ho, ho! dost thou vear that, friend Fanity? Shalt not need, man, chill keep him safe, che warrant thee. O, that chad him in my clutches, shouldst see, I trow, Wheth...

MOR. My Lord of Kent, your honour knows my mind, That ever has, and still does honour you, Accounting it my daughter's happiness (Amidst her other infelicities), That you vouchs...

VIR. My lords, you see how far this worldly state perverted is; From good declin'd, inclined still to follow things amiss: You see but very few that make of Virtue any price: Yo...

CAP. W. Sir, I beseech you, speak a good word for me to the prince, That by her letters I may be commended to some province, Where service is to be had, either there to die with...

Fortune, of-worldly state the governess: Fortune, of man's delight the mistress: Fortune, of earthly bliss the patroness: Fortune, the spring of joy and happiness. Lo, this is s...

BRAND. I tell thee true, compassion is my foe; Yet have I had of thee compassion. Take in thy child: as I have faith or troth, Thou and thy boy shall be but prisoners, And I mus...

TOSS. Hold thy peace, Dick, it cannot still keep at this stint: We are now lighted upon such a mint, As (follow it well) I dare warrant thee, Thy turn shall be served in every d...

MON. Both ween it and wot it! I have pass'd a wilderness Of most mischievous and miserable distress; Sharp brambles, sharp briars, and terrible scratchers, Bears, wolves, apes,...

VAN. O rotten rope, that thou must be so brittle! Hadst thou but happened to have held a little, I had taught my princocks against another time So to presume Dame Fortune's bowe...

In words to make description of my name, My nature or conditions, were but vain; Sith this attire so plainly shows the same, As showed cannot be in words more plain. For lo, thu...

LIB. And would you so soon be preferred? In sooth, my friend, I would be glad, as I may, To do you any good: but this I say: Who seeks by virtue preferment to attain, In virtuou...

DAN. Now, i'faith, ye little peevish harlotry,[393] I'll one day make you spit your meat more handsomely. By my truth, truly had I not come in the rather, She had laid me to the...

CON. Marry, sir, here-by. Not far from this place, A plain simple man, riding on his ass, Meaning home to his country in God's peace to pass, By certain roisters, most furious a...

How seldom is it seen, that Virtue is regarded, Or men of virtuous sort for virtuous deeds rewarded! So wonts the world to pamper those that nought deserve, Whiles such as merit...

VIR. O most unhappy state of reckless humane kind! O dangerous race of man, unwitty, fond and blind! O wretched worldlings, subject to all misery, When fortune is the prop of yo...

LIB. The more a man with virtuous dealing doth himself inure, The less with worldly business he is molested sure; Which maketh proof that, as turmoils still toss the worldly min...

TOSS. Marry, first, sir, we both pray you heartily, To take a poor supper with us here hard by, Where we will determine by common consent, What pastimes are fittest for us to fr...

VAN. Prodigality, is it true? young, wasteful, roisting Prodigality, To encounter old, sparing, covetous, niggard Tenacity? Sure, such a match as needs must yield us sport: Ther...

MON. _Liberty, liberty_! now I cry _liberty_! Catch me again, when you can, Prodigality! Never was there poor soul so cruelly handled. I was at the first, like a cockney[398] da...

MON. _As light as a fly, In pleasant jollity: With mirth and melody, Sing Money, Money, Money! Money the minion, the spring of all joy; Money, the medicine that heals each annoy...

PRIOR. Awhile, farewell, and thanks to them and you. Come, Master Sheriff, the outlawry is proclaim'd, Send therefore quickly for more company, And at the back-gate we will ente...

HUB. We will make issue, ere ye enter here. Who have we there? Richmond and Bruce, is't you? What, up so soon? are ye so early here? In you, i' faith, the proverb's verified, Y'...

TEN. Well, since che see there is none other boot, Chill now take pains to go the rest afoot; For Brock mine ass is saddle-pinch'd vull sore, And so am I even here--chill say no...