Part 4 (2/2)

But since the matter grows unto this pa.s.s, I must not seem to cross my Father's will; But when thou list to visit her by night, My horses sadled, and the stable door Stands ready for thee; use them at thy pleasure.

In honest marriage wed her frankly, boy, And if thou getst her, lad, G.o.d give thee joy!

MOUNTCHENSEY.

Then, care, away! let fates my fall pretend, Backt with the favours of so true a friend!

FABELL.

Let us alone, to bussell for the set; For age and craft with wit and Art have met.

I'll make my spirits to dance such nightly jigs Along the way twixt this and Totnam cross, The Carriers jades shall cast their heavy packs, And the strong hedges sca.r.s.e shall keep them in: The Milk-maids Cuts shall turn the wenches off, And lay the Dossers tumbling in the dust: The frank and merry London prentises, That come for cream and l.u.s.ty country cheer, Shall lose their way; and, scrambling in the ditches, All night shall whoop and hollow, cry and call, Yet none to other find the way at all.

MOUNTCHENSEY.

Pursue the project, scholler: what we can do To help indeavour, join our lives thereto!

[Exeunt.]

ACT II.

SCENE I. Waltham: The house of Banks.

[Enter Banks, Sir John and Smug.]

BANKS.

Take me with you, good Sir John! A plague on thee, Smug, and thou touchest liquor, thou art founderd straight.

What, are your brains always water-mills? must they ever run round?

SMUG.

Banks, your ale is a Philistine fox; z'hart, there's fire i'th tail on't; you are a rogue to charge us with Mugs i'th rereward. A plague of this wind; O, it tickles our catastrophe.

SIR JOHN.

Neighbour Banks of Waltham, and Goodman Smug, the honest Smith of Edmonton, as I dwell betwixt you both at Enfield, I know the taste of both your ale houses, they are good both, smart both. Hem, Gra.s.s and hay! we are all mortal; let's live till we die, and be merry; and there's an end.

BANKS.

Well said, Sir John, you are of the same humor still; and doth the water run the same way still, boy?

SMUG.

Vulcan was a rogue to him; Sir John, lock, lock, lock fast, Sir John; so, sir John. I'll one of these years, when it shall please the G.o.ddesses and the destinies, be drunk in your company; that's all now, and G.o.d send us health: shall I swear I love you?

SIR JOHN.

No oaths, no oaths, good neighbour Smug! We'll wet our lips together and hug; Carrouse in private, and elevate the hart, and the liver and the lights,--and the lights, mark you me, within us; for hem, Gra.s.s and hay! we are all mortall, let's live till we die, and be Merry, and there's an end.

BANKS.

But to our former motion about stealing some venison; whither go we?

SIR JOHN.

Into the forest, neighbour Banks, into Brian's walk, the mad keeper.

SMUG.

Z'blood! I'll tickle your keeper.

BANKS.

Yfaith, thou art always drunk when we have need of thee.

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