SCENE III.

_A street by the Thames._

_Enter_ TOUCHWOOD _senior and_ TOUCHWOOD _junior_.

TOUCH. SEN. I had been taken, brother, by eight sergeants, But for the honest watermen; I'm bound to them; They are the most requitefull’st people living, For as they get their means by gentlemen, They’re still the forwardest to help gentlemen: You heard how one ’scap’d out of the Blackfriars,[134] But a while since, from two or three varlets came Into the house with all their rapiers drawn, As if they’d dance the sword-dance on the stage, With candles in their hands, like chandlers' ghosts; Whilst the poor gentleman so pursu’d and banded, Was by an honest pair of oars safely landed. TOUCH. JUN. I love them with my heart for’t!

_Enter several Watermen._

FIRST W. Your first man, sir. SEC. W. Shall I carry you, gentlemen, with a pair of oars? TOUCH. SEN. These be the honest fellows: take one pair, And leave the rest for her. TOUCH. JUN. Barn Elms. TOUCH. SEN. No more, brother. [_Exit._ FIRST W. Your first man. SEC. W. Shall I carry your worship? TOUCH. JUN. Go; and you honest watermen that stay, Here’s a French crown for you [_gives money_]: there comes a maid With all speed to take water, row her lustily To Barn Elms after me. SEC. W. To Barn Elms, good, sir.— Make ready the boat, Sam; we’ll wait below. [_Exeunt Watermen._

_Enter_ MOLL.

TOUCH. JUN. What made you stay so long? MOLL. I found the way more dangerous than I look’d for. TOUCH. JUN. Away, quick; there’s a boat waits for you; and I'll Take water at Paul’s wharf, and overtake you. MOLL. Good sir, do; we cannot be too safe. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ SIR WALTER WHOREHOUND, YELLOWHAMMER, TIM, _and Tutor_.

SIR WAL. Life, call you this close keeping? YEL. She was kept Under a double lock. SIR WAL. A double devil! TIM. That’s a buff sergeant, tutor; he’ll ne’er wear out. YEL. How would you have women lock’d? TIM. With padlocks, father; The Venetian uses it; my tutor reads it. SIR WAL. Heart, if she were so lock’d up, how got she out? YEL. There was a little hole look’d into the gutter; But who would have dreamt of that? SIR WAL. A wiser man would. TIM. He says true, father; a wise man for love Will seek every hole; my tutor knows it. TUTOR. _Verum poeta dicit._ TIM. _Dicit Virgilius_, father. YEL. Prithee, talk of thy gills somewhere else; sh’as play’d The gill[135] with me: where’s your wise mother now? TIM. Run mad, I think; I thought she would have drown’d herself; She would not stay for oars, but took a smelt-boat; Sure I think she be gone a-fishing for her. YEL. She’ll catch a goodly dish of gudgeons now, Will serve us all to supper.

_Enter_ MAUDLIN _drawing in_ MOLL _by the hair, and Watermen_.

MAUD. I'll tug thee home by the hair. FIRST W. Good mistress, spare her! MAUD. Tend your own business. FIRST W. You’re a cruel mother. [_Exeunt Watermen._ MOLL. O, my heart dies! MAUD. I'll make thee an example For all the neighbours' daughters. MOLL. Farewell, life! MAUD. You that have tricks can counterfeit. YEL. Hold, hold, Maudlin! MAUD. I've brought your jewel by the hair. YEL. She’s here, knight. SIR WAL. Forbear, or I'll grow worse. TIM. Look on her, tutor; She hath brought her from the water like a mermaid; She’s but half my sister now, as far as the flesh goes, The rest may be sold to fish-wives. MAUD. Dissembling, cunning baggage! YEL. Impudent strumpet! Sir Wal. Either give over, both, or I'll give over.— Why have you us’d me thus unkind[ly], mistress? Wherein have I deserv’d? YEL. You talk too fondly, sir: We’ll take another course and prevent all; We might have done’t long since; we’ll lose no time now, Nor trust to’t any longer: to-morrow morn, As early as sunrise, we’ll have you join’d. MOLL. O, bring me death to-night, love-pitying fates; Let me not see to-morrow up on[136] the world! YEL. Are you content, sir? till then she shall be watch’d. MAUD. Baggage, you shall. TIM. Why, father, my tutor and I Will both watch in armour. [_Exeunt_ MAUDLIN, MOLL, _and_ YELLOWHAMMER. TUTOR. How shall we do for weapons? TIM. Take you No care for that; if need be, I can send For conquering metal, tutor, ne’er lost day yet, ’Tis but at Westminster; I am acquainted With him that keeps the monuments; I can borrow Harry the Fifth’s sword; it will serve us both To watch with. [_Exeunt_ TIM _and Tutor_. SIR WAL. I never was so near my wish As this chance makes me: ere to-morrow noon I shall receive two thousand pound in gold, And a sweet maidenhead worth forty.

_Re-enter_ TOUCHWOOD _junior and Waterman_.

TOUCH. JUN. O, thy news splits me! WATER. Half-drown’d, she cruelly tugg’d her by the hair, Forc’d her disgracefully, not like a mother. TOUCH. JUN. Enough; leave me, like my joys.— [_Exit Waterman._ Sir, saw you not a wretched maid pass this way? Heart, villain, is it thou? SIR WAL. Yes, slave, ’tis I. TOUCH. JUN. I must break through thee then: there is no stop That checks my tongue[137] and all my hopeful fortunes, That breast excepted, and I must have way. SIR WAL. Sir, I believe ’twill hold your life in play. TOUCH. JUN. Sir, you will gain the heart in my breast first.[138] SIR WAL. There is no dealing then; think on the dowry For two thousand pounds. [_They fight._ TOUCH. JUN. O, now ’tis quit, sir. SIR WAL. And being of even hand, I'll play no longer. TOUCH. JUN. No longer, slave? SIR WAL. I've certain things to think on, Before I dare go further. TOUCH. JUN. But one bout! I'll follow thee to death, but ha' it out. [_Exeunt._