Volume III Part 46 (1/2)

My pretty Nan is gone away 60 To seek her love upon the green.

[I cannot see her 'mong so many:]

She shall have me, if she have any.

NAN.[674]

Welcome, sweet-heart, and welcome here, Welcome, my [true] love, now to me.

This is my love [and my darling dear], And that my husband [soon] must be.

And, boy, when thou com'st home thou'lt see Thou art as welcome home as he.

GENTLEMAN.

Why, how now, sweet Nan! I hope you jest. 70

NAN.[675]

No, by my troth, I love the fool the best: And, if you be jealous, G.o.d give you good-night!

I fear you're a gelding, you caper so light.

GENTLEMAN.

I thought she had jested and meant but a fable, But now do I see she hath play'[d] with his bable.[676]

I wish all my friends by me to take heed, That a fool come not near you when you mean to speed.

FOOTNOTES:

[670] First printed in _The Alleyn Papers_ (for the Shakespeare Society), p. 8, by Collier, who remarks:--”In the original MS. this dramatic dialogue in verse is written as prose, on one side of a sheet of paper, at the back of which, in a more modern hand, is the name 'Kitt Marlowe.' What connection, if any, he may have had with it, it is impossible to determine, but it was obviously worthy of preservation, as a curious stage-relic of an early date, and unlike anything else of the kind that has come down to us. In consequence of haste or ignorance on the part of the writer of the ma.n.u.script, it has been necessary to supply some portions, which are printed within brackets. There are also some obvious errors in the distribution of the dialogue, which it was not easy to correct. The probability is that, when performed, it was accompanied with music.”

[671] MS. ”Jack.”

[672] MS. ”W. Fre.”--which Dyce supposed to be an abbreviation for _Wench's Friend_.

[673] MS. ”Frend.”

[674] MS. ”Wen” (_i.e._ Wench).

[675] MS. ”Wen.”

[676] Bauble.

APPENDICES.