Brain. Faith, sir, the thing is extraordinary, and the gentleman may be of great account: yet, be what he will, if you will lay me down a brace of angels in my hand, you shall have it, otherwise not. Mat. How shall we do, captain? he asks a brace of angels, you have no money. Bob. Not a cross, by fortune. Mat. Nor I, as I am a gentleman, but two pence left of my two shillings in the morning for wine and raddish; let's find him some pawn. Bob. Pawn? we have none to the value of his demand. Mat. O, yes, I can pawn my ring here. Bob. And harkee, he shall have my trusty Toledo too: I believe I shall have no service for it to-day. Mat. Do you hear, sir? we have no store of money at this time, but you shall have good pawns; look you, sir, I will pledge this ring, and that gentleman his Toledo, beCause we would have it dispatch'd. Brain. I am content, sir; I will get you the warrant presently. What's his name, say you, Down-right? Mat. Ay, ay, George Down-right. Brain. Well, gentlemen, I'll procure you the warrant presently; but who will you have to serve it? Mat. That's true, captain, that must be consider'd. Bob. Body o' me, I know not! 'tis service of danger! Brain. Why, you were best to get one of the varlets o' the city, a serjeant: I'll appoint you one, if you please. Mat. Will you sir? why, we can wish no better. Bob. We'll leave it to you, sir. [Exeunt Bobadil and Matthew Brain. This is rare! now will I go pawn this cloke of the justice's man's, at the brokers for a varlet's suit, and be the varlet myself; and so get money on all sides. SCENE. II. The Street before COBB's House. Enter KNO'WELL. [Exit. Kno. O, here it is; I have found it now. -Hoa, who is within here? [Tib appears at the window. Tib. I am within, sir, what is your pleasure? Kno, O, fear you the constable? then I doubt not you have some guests within deserve that fear-I'll fetch him straight. Tib. For heavens sake, sir Kno. Go to, come tell me, is not young Kno'well here ? Tib. Young Kno’well, I know none such, sir, o' my honesty. Kno. Your honesty, dame! it flies too lightly from you: there is no way but fetch the constable. Tib. The constable! the man is mad, I think. Enter CASH and Dame KITELY. Cash. Hoa! who keeps house here? Kno. O, this is the female copesmate of my son. Now shall I meet him straight. (Aside.) Dame. Knock, Thomas,, hard. Cash. Hoa! good wife. Tib. Why, what's the matter with you. Dame. Why, woman, grieves it you to open the door! belike, you get something to keep it shut. Tib. What mean these questions, pray you? Dame. So strange you make it, is not my husband here! Kno. Her husband! [Aside. Dame. My tried and faithful husband Master Kitely. Tib. I hope he needs not to be tried here. Dame. Come hither, Casb-I see my turtle coming to his haunts; let us retire. [They retire. Kno. This must be some device to mock me withal. Soft-who is this?-Oh! 'tis my son disguis'd. I'll watch him, and surprise him. Enter KITELY muffled in a cloke. Kite. 'Tis truth, I see, there she skulks. But I will fetch her from her hoid-I will 1 tremble so, I scarce have power to do the justice Her infamy demands. [As Kitely goes forward, Dame Kitely and Kuo'well lay bold of him. Kno. Have I trapped you, youth? You-can't 'scape me now. Dame. Dame. O, sir! have I forestall'd your honest market? In any honest judgment, than myself, I'll be content with it; but she is change; Kno. What mean you, woman? let go your hold. I see the counterfeit-I am his father, and claim him as my own. Kite. [discovering himself] I am your cuckold, and claim my vengeance. Dame. What, do you wrong me, and insult me too? thou faithless man ! Kite. Out on thy more than strumpet's impudence! Close at your villany and would'st thou 'scuse it, And feed the inticements of a lustful woman? Dame. Out, I defy thee, thou dissembling wretch! Kite. Defy me, strumpet, ask thy pander here, Can he deny it, or that wicked elder? Kno. Why, hear you, sir Cash. Master, 'tis in vain to reason, while these passions blind you-I'm griev'd to see you thus, Kite. Tut, tut, never speak, I see thro' every Veil you cast upon your treachery: but I have Done With you, and root you from my heart for ever. [Draws. Kno. What unacy is this? put up your sword, and ur.deceive yourself-no arm that e'er pois d weapon can atfright me. But I pity folly, nor cope with madness. Kite. will have proofs I will so you good wife bawd, Cab's wife and you that make your husband such a mon ster, ster, and you, young pander, and old cuckold maker, I'll` ha' you every one before the justice-nav, you shall auswer it; I charge you go. Come forth, thou bawd. [Goes into the house and brings out Tib.. Kno. Marry, with all my heart, sir; I go willingly. Tho' I do taste this as a trick put upon me, To punish my impertineut search; and justly; Dame. Go, to thy shame believe it. Kite. Tho' shame and sorrow both my heart betide, Come on-I must and will be satisfy'd [Exeunt Brain. Well, of all my disguises yet, now am I most like myself; being in this serjeant's gown. A man of my present profession never conterfeits 'till he lays hold upon a debtor, and says, he rests him! for then he brings him to all manner of unrest. A kind of little kings we are, bearing the diminutive of a mace, made like a young artichoke that always carries pepper and salt in itself. Well, I know not what danger undergo by this exploit pray heaven I come well off. Enter BOBADIL, and Mr. MATTHEW. Mat. See, I think, vonder is the varlet, by his gown. 'Save you, friend: are you not here by appointment of jutice Clement's man? Brain. Yes, an't please you, sir: he told me two gentlemen had will'd him to procure a warrant from his master (which I have about me) to be serv'd on one Down-right. Mat. It is honestly done of you both; and see where the party come, you must arrest: serve it upon him quick by, before he be aware― Enter Mr. STEPHEN in DOWN-RIGHT's Cloke. Bob. Bear back, master Matthew, Brain. Master Down-right, I arrest you in the queen's name : name, and must carry you before a justice, by virtue of this warrant. Step. My friend, I am no Down-right, I. I am master Stephen, you do not well to arrest me, 1 tell you truely: I am in nobody's bonds or books, I would you should know it. A plague on you heartily, for making me thus afraid before my time. Brain. Why now you are deceiv'd gentlemen. Bob. He wears such a cloke, and that deceiv'd us; but see, here a comes indeed! this is the officer. Enter DowN-RIGHT. Down. Why, how now, signior Gull! are you turn'd filcher oflate? Come, deliver my cloke. Step. Your cloke, sir? I bought, it even now in open market. Brain. Master Down right, I have a warrant I must serve it upon you, procured by these two gentlemen. Down. These gentlemen? these rascals? Brain. Keep the peace, I charge you in her majesty's name. Down. I obey thee. What must I do, officer? Brain. Go before master justice Clement, to answer what they can object against you, sir. I will use your kindly, sir. Mat. Come, let's before, and make the justice, captain Bob. The varlet's a tall man, before heaven! [Exit. [Exit. Step. Sir, I bought it, and I'll keep it. Down. You will? Step. Ay, that I will Down. Officer, there's thy fee, arrest him. Brain. Master Stephen, I must arrest you. Step. Arrest me, I scorn it. There take your cloke, I'll have none on't. Down. Nay, that shall not serve your turn, now, sir. Officer, I'll go with thee to the justice's: bring him along. Down. Why, is not here your cloke, what would you Step. I'll ha' you answer it, sir. [have? Brain. Sir, I'll take your word, and this gentleman's too, for his appearance, Down. I'll ha' no words taken. Bring him along. Step. Must I go? |