University of Virginia Library

Scæn. 1.

Enter Guardiano and Ward.
Guard.
Speak, hast thou any sence of thy abuse?
Do'st thou know what wrong's done thee?

Ward.
I wear an Ass else.
I cannot wash my face, but I am feeling on't.

Guard.
Here take this Galtrop, then convey it secretly
Into the place I shew'd you; look you Sir,
This is the trap-door to't.

Ward.

I know't of old Uncle, since the last triumph;
here rose up a Devil with one eye I remember,
with a company of fire-works at's tail.


Guard.

Prethee leave squibbing now, mark me,
and fail not; but when thou hear'st me give a stamp,
down with't: The villain's caught then.


Ward.

If I miss you, hang me; I love to catch a
villain, and your stamp shall go currant I warrant
you: But how shall I rise up, and let him down too?
All at one hole! that will be a horrible puzzle. You
know I have a part in't, I play Slander.


Guard.

True, but never make you ready for't.


Ward.

No, my clothes are bought and all, and a
foul Fiends head with a long contumelious tongue


188

i'th' chaps on't, a very fit shape for Slander i'th'
out-parishes.


Guard.
It shall not come so far, thou understandst it not.

Ward.
Oh, oh!

Guard.
He shall lie deep enough ere that time,
And stick first upon those.

Ward.
Now I conceive you Gardiner.

Guard.
Away, list to the privy stamp, that's all thy part:

Ward.

Stamp my Horns in a Morter if I miss you,
and give the powder in White-wine to sick Cuckolds,
a very present remedy for the head-ach.

Exit Ward.

Guard.
If this should any way miscarry now,
As if the fool be nimble enough, 'tis certain,
The Pages that present the swift wing'd Cupids,
Are taught to hit him with their shafts of love,
Fitting his part, which I have cunningly poyson'd;
He cannot 'scape my fury; and those ills
Will be laid all on Fortune, not our Wills,
That's all the sport on't; for who will imagine,
That at the celebration of this night
Any mischance that hap's, can flow from spight?

Exit.