The Puritan Widow

[Enter the Lady Widdow-Plus, her two daughters Frank and Moll, her husband’s Brother an old Knight Sir Godfrey, with her Son and heir Master Edmond, all in mourning apparel, Edm...

PYE. What’s to be done now, old Lad of War? thou that wert wont to be as hot as a turn-spit, as nimble as a fencer, and as lousy as a school-master; now thou art put to silence...

[Enter at one door Corporal Oath, a Vain-glorious fellow; and at the other, three of the Widdow Puritain’s Servingmen, Nicholas Saint-Tantlings, Simon Saint-Mary-Overaries, and...

CAPTAIN. Whether I live or die, thou’art an honest George. I’ll tell you—silver flowed not with me, as it had done, (for now the tide runs to Bawds and flatterers.) I had a star...

MOLL. Not Marry? forswear Marriage? why, all women know ’tis as honorable a thing as to lie with a man; and I to spite my Sisters vow the more, have entertained a suitor already...

NICHOLAS. Oh, I have found an excellent advantage to take away the chain: my Master put it off e’en now to say on a new Doublet, and I sneak’t it away by little and little most...

CORPORAL. Aye, thou art not angry with the figures, art thou? I will prove it unto thee: 12. and 1. is thirteen, I hope, 2. fourteen, 3. fifteen, 4. sixteen, and 5. Seventeen; t...

WIDDOW. O wondrous happiness, beyond our thoughts: O lucky fair event! I think our fortunes, Were blest e’en in our Cradles: we are quitted Of all those shameful violent presage...

PUT. His Hostess where he lies will trust him no longer: she has feed me to arrest him; and if you will accompany me, because I know not of what Nature the Scholar is, whether d...

PYE. We will attend his worship.—Worship, I think, for so much the Posts at his door should signify, and the fair coming in, and the wicket; else I neither knew him nor his wors...

PYE. The time is busy, and calls upon out wits. Let it suffice, Here I stand safe, and scapt by miracle. Some other hour shall tell thee, when we’ll steep Our eyes in laughter....

PENNY. But I hope you will not serve a Knight so, Gentlewoman, will you? to cashier him, and cast him off at your pleasure? what, do you thiunk I was dubbed for nothing? no, by...

FRAILTY. Oh, a wondrous rare fellow, Mistress, very strongly made upward, for he goes in a Buff-jerkin: he says he will fetch Sir Godfrey’s Chain again, if it hang between heave...

PYE. Then I release him freely, and will take upon me the death that he should die, if within a little season, I do not cure him to his proper health again.

MOLL. Ifaith, you shall stay, for, Sir John, you must note the nature of the Climates: your Northern wench in her own Country may well hold out till she be fifteen, but if she t...

SKIRMISH. Dare we? een to their wezen pipes. We know all their plots, they cannot squander with us; they have knavishly abused us, made only properties on’s to advance their sel...

[Enter the two Bridegrooms, Captain and Scholar; after them, Sir Godfrey and Edmond, Widdow changed in apparel, Mistress Frances led between two Knights, Sir John Pennydub and M...