SCENE III.[2177

_Enter the_ L. MAYOR _and_ MASTER SCOTT.

_L. Mayor._ Good Master Scott, I have been bold with you, To be a witness to a wedding-knot Betwixt young Master Hammon and my daughter. O, stand aside; see where the lovers come.

_Enter_ MASTER HAMMON _and_ ROSE.

_Rose._ Can it be possible you love me so? 5 No, no, within those eyeballs I espy Apparent likelihoods of flattery. Pray now, let go my hand.

_Ham._ Sweet Mistress Rose, Misconstrue not my words, nor misconceive Of my affection, whose devoted soul 10 Swears that I love thee dearer than my heart.

_Rose._ As dear as your own heart? I judge it right, Men love their hearts best when th’ are out of sight.

_Ham._ I love you, by this hand.

_Rose._ Yet hands off now! If flesh be frail, how weak and frail ’s your vow!

_Ham._ Then by my life I swear.

_Rose._ Then do not brawl; 16 One quarrel loseth wife and life and all. Is not your meaning thus?

_Ham._ In faith, you jest.

_Rose._ Love loves to sport; therefore leave love, y’ are best.

_L. Mayor._ What? square[2178] they, Master Scott?

_Scott._ Sir, never doubt, 20 Lovers are quickly in, and quickly out.

_Ham._ Sweet Rose, be not so strange in fancying me. Nay, never turn aside, shun not my sight: I am not grown so fond, to fond[2179] my love On any that shall quit it with disdain; 25 If you will love me, so;—if not, farewell.

_L. Mayor._ Why, how now, lovers, are you both agreed?

_Ham._ Yes, faith, my lord.

_L. Mayor._ ’T is well, give me your hand. Give me yours, daughter.—How now, both pull back! What means this, girl?

_Rose._ I mean to live a maid. 30

_Ham._ (_Aside._) But not to die one; pause, ere that be said.

_L. Mayor._ Will you still cross me, still be obstinate?

_Ham._ Nay, chide her not, my lord, for doing well; If she can live an happy virgin’s life, ’T is far more blessed than to be a wife. 35

_Rose._ Say, sir, I cannot: I have made a vow, Whoever be my husband, ’t is not you.

_L. Mayor._ Your tongue is quick; but Master Hammon, know, I bade you welcome to another end.

_Ham._ What, would you have me pule and pine and pray, 40 With “lovely lady,” “mistress of my heart,” “Pardon your servant,” and the rhymer play, Railing on Cupid and his tyrant’s-dart; Or shall I undertake some martial spoil, Wearing your glove at tourney and at tilt, 45 And tell how many gallants I unhors’d— Sweet, will this pleasure you?

_Rose._ Yea, when wilt begin? What, love rhymes, man? Fie on that deadly sin!

_L. Mayor._ If you will have her, I’ll make her agree.

_Ham._ Enforced love is worse than hate to me. [_Aside._] There is a wench keeps shop in the Old Change, 51 To her will I—it is not wealth I seek. I have enough—and will prefer her love Before the world.—[_Aloud._] My good lord mayor, adieu, Old love for me, I have no luck with new. _Exit._

_L. Mayor._ Now, mammet,[2180] you have well behav’d yourself, 56 But you shall curse your coyness if I live.— Who’s within there? See you convey your mistress Straight to th’ Old Ford! I’ll keep you straight enough, Fore God, I would have sworn the puling girl Would willingly accepted Hammon’s love; 61 But banish him, my thoughts!—Go, minion, in! _Exit_ ROSE. Now tell me, Master Scott, would you have thought That Master Simon Eyre, the shoemaker, Had been of wealth to buy such merchandise?

_Scott._ ’T was well, my lord, your honour and myself 66 Grew partners with him; for your bills of lading Shew that Eyre’s gains in one commodity Rise at the least to full three thousand pound Besides like gain in other merchandise. 70

_L. Mayor._ Well, he shall spend some of his thousands now, For I have sent for him to the Guildhall. _Enter_ EYRE. See, where he comes.—Good morrow, Master Eyre.

_Eyre._ Poor Simon Eyre, my lord, your shoemaker.

_L. Mayor._ Well, well, it likes[2181] yourself to term you so. 75 _Enter_ DODGER. Now Master Dodger, what’s the news with you?

_Dodger._ I’d gladly speak in private to your honour.

_L. Mayor._ You shall, you shall.—Master Eyre and Master Scott, I have some business with this gentleman; I pray, let me entreat you to walk before 80 To the Guildhall; I’ll follow presently. Master Eyre, I hope ere noon to call you sheriff.

_Eyre._ I would not care, my lord, if you might call me King of Spain.—Come, Master Scott. [_Exeunt_ EYRE _and_ SCOTT.]

_L. Mayor._ Now, Master Dodger, what ’s the news you bring? 85

_Dodger._ The Earl of Lincoln by me greets your lordship, And earnestly requests you, if you can, Inform him where his nephew Lacy keeps.

_L. Mayor._ Is not his nephew Lacy now in France?

_Dodger._ No, I assure your Lordship, but disguis’d 90 Lurks here in London.

_L. Mayor._ London? Is’t even so? It may be; but upon my faith and soul, I know not where he lives, or whether he lives: So tell my Lord of Lincoln.—Lurk in London? Well, Master Dodger, you perhaps may start him; 95 Be but the means to rid him into France, I’ll give you a dozen angels[2182] for your pains: So much I love his honour, hate his nephew. And, prithee, so inform thy lord from me.

_Dodger._ I take my leave. _Exit_ DODGER.

_L. Mayor._ Farewell, good Master Dodger. Lacy in London? I dare pawn my life, 101 My daughter knows thereof, and for that cause Deni’d young Master Hammon in his love. Well, I am glad I sent her to Old Ford. Gods Lord, ’t is late! to Guildhall I must hie; I know my brethren stay[2183] my company. _Exit._ 106