Volume Xi Part 11 (1/2)

SCENE II.

_Music. Enter with table-napkins_, COUNT FREDERICK, SIR JOHN WORLDLY, NEVILL, PENDANT, SIR INNOCENT NINNY, LADY NINNY, SIR ABRAHAM. _Servants with wine, plate, tobacco, and pipes._

SIR J. WOR. Sir, had you borne us company to church, You had been the better welcome.

C. FRED. Faith, you had; I must needs say so too.

PEN. And I must needs say as my lord says.

NEV. Sir John, I thank you and my honour'd lord: But I am sorry for this other news Concerning Mistress Kate and my good friend.

SIR J. WOR. Tis certain true: he keeps his word well too!

He said he would come to dinner.

L. NIN. All we cannot get Mistress Katherine out of her chamber.

SIR J. WOR. O good old woman, she is top-shackled.

L. NIN. 'Tis pestilence sack and cruel claret: knight, stand to me, knight, I say: up, a cold stomach! give me my aqua-vitae bottle.

SIR INN. O Guiniver! as I am a justice of peace and quorum, 'twere a good deed to commit thee. Fie, fie, fie!

ABRA. Why, alas! I cannot help this, and I should be hanged: she'll be as drunk as a porter. I'll tell you, my lord, I have seen her so be-p.i.s.s the rushes, as she has danced at a wedding. Her belly and that aqua-vitae bottle have almost undone my father. Well, I think in conscience she is not my natural-begotten mother.

OMNES. Ha, ha, ha!

NEV. Well said, my wise Sir Abraham.[34]

C. FRED. O, this music And good wine is the soul of all the world.

SIR J. WOR. Come, will your lords.h.i.+p make one at primero, Until your bride come forth?

NEV. You can play well, my lord.

C. FRED. Who, I?

PEN. Who? my lord? the only player at primero i' the court.

ABRA. I'd rather play at bowls.

PEN. My lord's for you for that, too: the only bowler in London that is not a churchwarden.

NEV. Can he fence well, too, Master Pendant?

PEN. Who? my lord? the only fencer in Christendom. He'll hit you.

ABRA. He shall not hit me, I a.s.sure you, now.

NEV. Is he good at the exercise of drinking, sir?

PEN. Who? my lord? the only drunkard i' th' world--drinker, I would say.

ABRA. G.o.d-a-mercy for that.