University of Virginia Library

Scene 9.

Enter three old men with sachells, &c.
All. 3.
‘Domine, domine duster. Three knaves in a cluster, &c.

Gent.
O this is gallant pastime Nay come on,
Is this your schoole? was that your lesson, ha?

1 Old.
Pray now good son, indeed, indeed.

Gent.
Indeed
You shall to schoole, away with him; and take
Their wagships with him; the whole cluster of 'hem.

2 Old.
You shant send us now, so you shant.

3 Old.
We be none of your father, so we beant.

Gent.
Away with 'hem I say; and tell their Schoole-mistris,
What trewants they are, and bid her pay 'hem soundly.

All. 3.
O, O, O.

Byp.
Come, come, ye Gallows-clappers.

Dia.
A lasse, will no body beg pardon for
The poore old boyes?

Doct.
Sir, gentle Sir, a word with you.

Byp.
To strangers Sir I can be gentle.

Let.
Good,
Now marke that fellow, he speakes Extempore.

Dia.
Extempare call you him? he's a dogged fellow
To the three poore old things there, fie upon him.

Per.
Do men of such faire years here go to schoole?

Byp.
They would dye dunces else.

Per.
Have you no young men schollers, sir I pray;
When we have beard lesse doctors?

Doct.
He has wip'd my lips, you question very wisely Sir.

Byp.
So sir have wee; and many reverend teachers,
Grave counsellors at law; perfect statesmen.
That never knew use of Rasor, which may live
For want of wit to loose their offices.
These were great schollers in their youth. But when
Age growes upon men here, their learning wasts,
And so decayes; that if they live untill
Threescore, their sons send them to schoole againe.
They'd dye as speechlesse else as new born children.

Per.
Tis a wise nation; and the piety
Of the young men most rare and commendable,
Yet give me as a stranger leave to beg
Their liberty this day; and what they loose by't,
My father when he goes to schoole, shall answer.

Ioy.
I am abus'd on that side too.

Bypt.
Tis granted.
Hold up your heads and thanke the gentleman
Like schollers, with your heeles now.

All. 3.
Gratias, Gratias, Gratias.—

Exit.
Dia.
Well done sonne Peregrine, he's in's wits I hope.

Joy.
If you lose yours the while, where's my advantage?

Dia.
And trust me, twas well done too of Extempore
To let the poore old children loose. And now
I looke well on him he's a proper man.

Ioy.
She'll fall in love with the Actor, and undoe me.

Dia.
Do's not his Lady love him, sweet my Lord?

Let.
Love; yes, and lye with him, as her husband do's
With's mayd. It is their law in the Antipodes.

Dia.
But we have no such lawes with us.

Ioy.
Doe you approve of such a law?

Dia.
No; not so much
In this case, where the man and wife doe lye
With their inferiour servants; But in the other,
Where the old Citizen would arrest the gallant
That tooke his wares and would not lye with's wife,
There it seemes reasonable, very reasonable.

Ioy.
Do's it?

Dia.
Mak't your owne case, you are an old man,
I love a gentleman, you give him rich presents,
To get me a child (because you cannot) must not
We looke to have our bargaine?

Ioy.
Give me leave
Now to be gone my Lord, though I leave her
Behinde me; shee is mad, and not my wife,
And I may leave her.

Let.
Come; you are mov'd I see,
I'll settle all; But first, prevaile with you
To taste my wine and sweet meats. The Comedians
Shall pause the while. This you must not deny me.

Exit.
Ioy.
I must not live here alwaies, that's my comfort.

Exit.
Per.
I thanke you Sir, for the poore mens release,
It was the first request that I have made
Since I came in these confines.

Byp.
Tis our custome
To deny strangers nothing: yea, to offer
Of any thing we have, that may be usefull,
In curtesie to strangers. Will you therefore
Be pleas'd to enter Sir this habitation,
And take such vyands, beverage, and repose
As may refresh you after tedious travailes?

Doct.
Thou tak'st him right: for I am sure he's hungry.

Per.
All I have seene since my arrivall, are
Wonders. But your humanity excells.

Byp.
Vertue in the Antipodes onely dwells.