 | All-Hallow-Eve |  |
SCENE I.
—As before.Enter Shepherds and Maids as before, laughing— the former carrying long stalks of Colwort.
Gelon.
Ha, ha! such brave mates as our lads have got!
1st Shep.
By my life, but mine is a strapper!
2d Shep.
See what a crooked carling I have got!
Confound her!—witch!—who can this be?
Ben.
Mine has neither root nor branch;
A dry, bare, barren wilderness mine is!
Look at it, beauteous Maldie—this is you.
Mal.
Begone, you naughty thing!—it is not me:
My fortune's otherwise, I'd have you know.
Ben.
I think it is you—see to what you'll turn:
A wither'd bargain I shall have of you!
29
But where is Gemel's? Gemel has got none;
Poor man! he gets no wife at all!
Gem.
Sooth, I forgot!—I will go seek one now.
Ben.
What ails you, Gemel? you are not yourself;
Some sickly, thoughtful mood oppresses you.
Gem.
I never was so well, nor yet so merry.
Ha, ha! what a runt Ben has got. Ha, ha!
(Forces a laugh.)
Gel.
This is unprofitable game—We get
A laugh, but nothing more.
Ben.
And pray, what more would Madam Gelon have?
Gel.
Say, maidens—would it not be better play
That brought our lovers in before our eyes?
Omnes.
Oh, far, far better!—Let us to that!
Mal.
I love to see the fellows face to face.
Ben.
And I the maidens—Come, let's have the sleeve.
30
We may meet face to face without the sleeve.
Mal.
I tell you, go; I'll none of you;
I would not speak nor look to such a thing,—
A faithless flatterer that changes still.
Come, let us wake the slieve.—Is there a stream
Near by that runs straight southward?
Ben.
Yes, the burn of the linn—straight south.
Gel.
There will we dip the sleeve, and watch it there
With the wierd women; they will manage all
Most properly, and sure to the effect.
Gem.
Oh, by all means!—we'll go
And try them once again, I long for that.
Gel.
How you are alter'd in so short a time!
Gem.
Pray you, let me go first, I do entreat.
Gel.
No; all must go by chance—here cast we lots.
(They draw lots.)
31
Maldie is first again; she is to be
The first a bride.
Ben.
How you miscalculate!
The first is aye the last—the last the first.
I will not have her for seven years at least.
Mal.
And who would wait that time for such a man?
Look at him, comrades! who would wait for him?
Would any living wait for shred like that?
Ben.
(Fetching his runt.)
Here is the prototype—pray look at this!
What comeliness is here! Ah, Maldie! look—
(Exit Maldie.)
I'll steal away and watch behind the wall
To see what form my Maldie's lover is.
(Exit Ben on the other side.)
| All-Hallow-Eve | |