SCENE III.--_London: a Room in the_ LORD MAYOR’S

_House_.

_Enter the_ LORD 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? 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 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; 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 they, Master Scott?

_Scott._ Sir, never doubt, 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[59] my love On any that shall quit it with disdain; If you will love me, so--if not, farewell.

[59] Found, set; a play upon fond.

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

_Ham._ Yes, faith, my lord.

_L. Mayor._ ’Tis 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.

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

_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, ’Tis far more blessed than to be a wife.

_Rose._ Say, sir, I cannot: I have made a vow, Whoever be my husband, ’tis 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, 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, And tell how many gallants I unhorsed-- 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, 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,[60] you have well behaved yourself, 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; 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?

[60] Puppet: derived from Mahomet.

_Scott._ ’Twas well, my lord, your honour and myself 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.

_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 yourself to term you so.

_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 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?

_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 disguised 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.--Lurks in London? Well, Master Dodger, you perhaps may start him; Be but the means to rid him into France, I’ll give you a dozen angels[61] for your pains: So much I love his honour, hate his nephew. And, prithee, so inform thy lord from me.

[61] Coins worth about 10_s._ each.

_Dodger._ I take my leave. [_Exit_ DODGER.

_L. Mayor._ Farewell, good Master Dodger, Lacy in London? I dare pawn my life, My daughter knows thereof, and for that cause Denied young Master Hammon in his love. Well, I am glad I sent her to Old Ford. Gods Lord, ’tis late; to Guildhall I must hie; I know my brethren stay my company. [_Exit._