SCENE II.

_A Room in_ IMPERIA’s _House_.

_Music suddenly plays and birds sing: enter_ LAZARILLO _bareheaded, in his shirt, a pair of pantaples[722] on, a rapier in his hand and a tobacco-pipe: he seems amazed, and walks so up and down_.[723]

LAZ. Saint Jacques and the Seven deadly Sins (that is, the Seven Wise Masters of the world), pardon me, for this night I will kill the devil! [_Within._] Ha, ha, ha! LAZ. Thou prince of blackamoors, thou shalt have small cause to laugh, if I run thee through. This chamber is haunted: would I had not been brought a’ bed in it, or else were well delivered! for my heart tells me ’tis no good luck to have any thing to do with the devil; he’s a paltry merchant.

[_Song within._]

_Midnight’s bell goes ting, ting, ting, ting, ting; Then dogs do howl; and not a bird does sing But the nightingale, and she cries twit, twit, twit, twit; Owls then on every bough do sit; Ravens croak on chimneys’ tops; The cricket in the chamber hops; And the cats cry mew, mew, mew; The nibbling mouse is not asleep, But he goes peep, peep, peep, peep, peep;_ _And the cats cry[724] mew, mew, mew, And still the cats cry mew, mew, mew._ LAZ. I shall be moused by puss-cats, but I had rather die a dog’s death: they have nine lives a piece (like a woman), and they will make it up ten lives, if they and I fall a-scratching. Bright Helena of this house, would thy Troy were a-fire, for I am a-cold; or else would I had the Greeks’ wooden curtal[725] to ride away. Most ambrosian-lipped creature, come away quickly, for this night’s lodging lies cold at my heart. [_The Spanish pavin[726] played within._] The Spanish pavin? I thought the devil could not understand Spanish: but since thou art my countryman, O thou tawny Satan,[727] I will dance after thy pipe. [_He dances the Spanish pavin._] Ho,[728] sweet devil, ho! thou wilt make any man weary of thee, though he deal with thee in his shirt. Sweet beauty! she’ll not come: I’ll fall to sleep, And dream of her; love-dreams are ne’er too deep. [_Lies down and falls through a trap-door._

_Enter_ FRISCO _above laughing_.

FRIS. Ha, ha, ha! LAZ. Ho, ho, Frisco, madonna! I am in hell, but here is no fire; hell-fire is all put out. What ho, so ho, ho! I shall be drowned. I beseech thee, dear Frisco, raise Blurt the constable, or some scavenger, to come and make clean these kennels of hell; for they stink so, that I shall cast[729] away my precious self.

_Enter_ IMPERIA _above_.

IMP. Is he down, Frisco? FRIS. He’s down: he cries out he’s in hell; it’s heaven to me to have him cry so. IMP. Fie, fie, fie, let him lie, and get all to bed. [_Exit._ FRIS. Not all; I’ve[730] fatting knavery in hand. He cries he’s damn’d in hell: the next shall cry He’s climbing up to heaven; and here’s the gin:[731] One woodcock’s ta’en; I’ll have his brother in. [_Exit._