Just. Oh, from the city; 'tis a reverend place [mory, Curio. An his justice be as short as his meA dudgeon-dagger 37 will serve him to mow down [this? Sin withal: what clod-pole commissioner is Just. And, by my faith, govern'd by worthy Discreet and upright. [inembers, Curio. Sir, they're beholding to you; You've given some of them a commendation, They were not worthy of this twenty years. Just. Go to, go to! you have a merry meaning; I've found you, sir; i'faith, you are a wag; Away, fy!-Now I'll read your letter. Curio. Pray do, sir. What a misery it is To have an urgent business wait the justice Of such an old tuff-taffata, that knows not, Nor can be brought to understand, more sense Than how to restore suppress'd ale-houses, And have his man compound small trespasses, For ten groats! Just. Sir, it seems here your Business is of a deeper circumstance Than I conceiv'd it for.-What do you mean, sir? [your worship. Curio. "Tis for mine own ease, I'll assure Just. It shall not be, i'faith, friend.Here I have it, That one Antonio, a gentleman I take it so; yes, it is so-a gentleman, Curio. Sure this fellow Deals in revelation, he's so hidden: Go thy ways! thou wilt stick a bench, spit 38 as formally, And shew thy agot and hatch'd chain, as well As the best of them. Just. And now I have consider'd, I believe Just. That he was murder'd. Curio. Nor how it is suppos'd? I care not two-pence, those are toys; and yet As sure as I believe thou art a man. I never fail'd in these things yet. Ware a Curio. I think it be, sir; I would be loth you should be the wisest. But I think it had been as soon dispatch'd And with sufficient credit, and they may Just. I thank you, sir; I know it. You should have play'd, for any business now. But will it please you to proceed in this? Just. An honest weaver, and as good a workman As c'er shot shuttle, and as close-- [live, Curio. But, sir, you have forgot my business. "Dudgeon-dugger.] Cotgrave explains dague a roclles, a Scottish dagger, or dudgeon haft dagger. R. 39 Stick a bench spit.] Amended in 1750. Just. I'll do discreetly what is fitting. What, Serv. [within] Your worship! And let your fellow Mark go to the constable, Curio. Yes; what else? I came to that end, to accuse both parties. That to be known would not profit you, more [mother: That he had no more grace; 'twill kill his She is a good old woman. Will you walk in? I will but put my cloak on, and my chain off, And a clean band, and have my shoes black'd The night, she could not wander far. Fair Ric. Peace!-Fair Viola! Fair Viola!-Who should have left her here On such a ground? If you had meant to lose her, [here You might have found there were no echoes To take her name 39, and carry it about, When her true lover came to mourn for her, "Till all the neighbouring vallies and the hills, Resounded Viola; and such a place You should have chose! You pity us Because the dew a little wets our feet 40; (Unworthy far to seek her, in the wet!) And what becomes of her? where wander'd she, [eyes With two showers raining on her, from her Continually, abundantly, from which There's neither tree nor house to shelter 38 Long sword.] In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Capulet says, 'Give me my long sword;' and Dr. Johnson remarks, The long sword was the sword used in war, which was sometimes wielded with both hands.' 39 If you had meant to lose her, You might have found there were no echoes here To take her name.] Sympson reads, If you meant to lose her, You might have found where there no echoes were. To take her name; but surely the old text conveys the same sense. 40 You pity us because The dew a little, &c.] These lines are so unworthy of our authors, that I can hardly think 'em theirs; and I am sure the author of Jeronimo (whom our poets, as well as Shakespeare and Jonson, abuse) might, when they quote in derision this line of his, 'Who calls Jeronimo from his naked bed?' have justly retorted, where wandred she, With two showers raining on her, from her eyes There's neither tree nor house to shelter her? Sympson. Ric. But there is no hope To gain my end in any shorter way. Val. Why, what's your end? Ric. It is to search the earth, 'Till we have found two in the shapes of men, As wicked as ourselves. Val. "Twere not so hard To find out those. Ric. Why, if we find them out, It were the better; for what brave villainy Might we four do!-We would not keep together; For every one has treachery enough [Asia; For twenty countries: one should trouble Another should sow strife in Africa; [rope, But you should play the knave at home in EuAnd for America let me alone. Val. Sir, I am honester Than you know how to be, and can no more Be wrong'd but I shall find myself a right. Ric. If you had any spark of honesty, You would not think that honester than I Were a praise high enough to serve your turn: If men were commonly so bad as I, Thieves would be put in kalendars for saints; And bones of murd'rers would work miracles. I am a kind of knave, of knave so much, There is betwixt me, and the vilest elseBut the next place of all to mine is yours. Enter Viola, Nan, and Madge, with Pails. Val. That last is she; 'tis she! Ric. Let us away; We shall infect her! let her have the wind, And we will kneel down here. Viola. Wenches, away! For here are men. Val. Fair maid, I pray you stay. Viola. Alas! again? I pray heartily, let her go. [hurt her. Val. With all my heart; I do not mean to Ric. But stand away then! for the purest bodies Will soonest take infection; stand away! God b'w'ye, sir! Now you are here together, I'll leave you so; God send you good luck, both! When you are soberer you'll give me thanks. [Exit. [away. Man's mad to kneel there. Nay, come, come Non. An you be a man, come hither, Ric. Come hither? You are a fool. vou are. [near Ric. Come hither? 'twas my being now so That made her swoon; and you are wicked people, Or you would do so too: my venom eyes Strike innocency dead at such a distance; Here I will kneel, for this is out of distance. Nan. Thou'rt a prating ass! there's no goodness in thee, I warrant. How dost thou? [Viola recovers. Viola. Why, well. Madge. Art thou able to go? Table Viola. No; pray go you and milk: If I be To come, I'll follow you; if not, I'll sit here 'Till you come back. Nun. I'm loth to leave thee here with yon wild fool. [not hurt me. Viola. I know him well; I warrant thee he'll Madge. Come then, Nan. [Ere. Maids. Ric. How do you? Be not fearful, for I hold My hands before my mouth, and speak, and so My breath can never blast you. Viola. "Twas enough To use me ill, tho' you had never sought me To mock me too: why kneel you so far off? Were not that gesture better us'd in prayer? Had I dealt so with you, I should not sleep, 'Till Heav'n and you had both forgiven me. Το Ric. I do not mock; nor lives there such a Confess you did the fault, yet scorn to come I leave behind with you; I'll carry none Ric. Do not leave me yet, for all my fault! Search out the next things to impossible, And put me on them; when they are effected, I may with better modesty receive Forgiveness from you. Viola. I will set no penance, To gain the great forgiveness you desire, it A hunter after whores! I do beseech you Viola. For Heav'n's sake, urge your faults All the forgiveness I can make you, is, make More lasting than the marble monuments) [thing, Viola. Methinks I would not now, for any For I think I hear my fellows coming. Enter Madge and Nan with their Pails. Viola. Why, very well, I thank you. It is Shall I haste home? Nan. I prithee! we shall be shent*1 Soundly. [with us? Nan. There was never any so [Exeunt. Enter Mother, Alexander, Andrugio, and Mother. How now, Alexander? What Alex. Indeed, forsooth, I know not; Therefore I was bold to tell him of her, mistress. You know she is a poor wench, and Mother. It may be so, I'll promise you. Andr. She was something bold indeed, to take such things That night she left me. [lie; Mother. Then belike she run away? Mother. Nay, An she be given to filching, there's your jewel; you Shall answer me for what is lost since she Aler. As I am virtuous, I have the lyingst Old gentlewoman to my mistress, and the most malicious The devil a good word will she give a servant; [sides. they will Give her as few; there's perfect love on both It yearns my heart to hear the wench misconstrued; A careful soul she is, I'll be sworn for her; And when she's gone, let them say what they will, They may cast their caps at such another. Audr. What you have lost by her, with all I'll see you double paid for; you have sav'd, Mother. Alexander, run, 41 Shent.] This word occurs in Hamlet, and Mr. Steevens says, ' To shend is to treat with injurious language.' 42 By all subscription in the world.] If Alexander was an affecter of hard words, I should be inclined to let this stand; but as he seems throughout a sensible good-natured fellow, I would choose to read, description. Sympson. 43 This strikes off none of her offences.] Sympson, totally mistaking Andrugio's meaning, says, Why then he paid his jewel for nothing;' and reads, This strikes off one of her offences, mistress. It did not occur to him, that the jewel was meant as a gift, not as a payment. And And bid her make haste home; she's at the milking-close: But tell her not by any means who's here; I know she'll be too fearful. Aler. Well, we'll have A posset yet at parting, that's my comfort; And one round too, or else I'll lose my will. [Exit. Andr. You shall find Silvio, Uberto, and Pedro, Enquiring for the wench at the next town: Tell them she's found, and where I am; and, with The favour of this gentlewoman, desire them To come hither. [come. Mother. I pray do; they shall be all wel[Exit Rowland. Enter Justice, Curio, and Mark. Just. By your leave, forsooth! you shall The parties by a sleight. [see me find Mother. Who's that? Mr. Justice? Mother. For what? Just. Away, I say! This gentleman shall certify you for what. [Exeunt Officers. Mother. He can accuse my son of nothing; He came from travel but within these two Just. There hangs a tale. [days. Mother. I should be sorry this should Fall out at any time, but especially now. Sir, will you favour me so much as to let me Of what you accuse him? [know Curio. Upon suspicion of murder. Prove himself innocent. Enter Mark and Officers, with Mercury and Oh, welcome, welcome, Mark! [minations Just. The more shame for you both! Mark, your pen and ink. [knew Mother. Pray God all be well! I never Any of these travellers come to good. I beseech you, sir, Be favourable to my son. Just. Gentlewoman, [that! Hold you content; I would it were coine to Merc. For God's sake, mother, Why kneel you to such a pig-brib'd fellow? H' has surfeited of geese, and they have put him Into a fit of justice: let him do his worst! Enter Antonio. Just. Accuse them, sir; I command thee to lay down Accusations against these persons, in behalf Of the state: and first look upon the parties To be accus'd, and deliver your name. Curio. My name is Curio; my murder'd If he were living now, I should not know him, Curio. But thus much (from the mouths Of his servants and others, whose examinations I have In writing about me) I can accuse them of: But of likelihood, finding Antonio's house Not a fit place to murder him in, he suffer'd him To go to bed again; but in the morning Early he train'd him I think forth; after which time [found He never saw his home. His cloaths were Near the place where Mercury was, and the people At first denied they saw him; but at last They made a frivolous tale, that there he shifted himself Into a footman's habit: but in short, |