 | The Antipodes |  |
Scene 3.
Enter Constable, and Watch.Con.
What's the matter?
Ser.
But and we were your match.—
Watch.
What would you doe?
Come, come afore the Constable: now if
You were her match, what would you doe sir?
Maid.
Doe?
They have done too much already sir: a Virgin
weeps.
Shall not passe shortly for these street-walkers,
Gent.
Heare me the truth.
Con.
Sir, speake to your companions,
I have a wife and daughters, and am bound,
By hourely precepts, to heare women first,
Be't truth, or no truth, therefore virgin speake,
And feare no bug beares, I will doe thee justice.
Mayd.
Sir, they assayld me, and with violent hands,
When words could not prevaile, they would have drawne mee
Aside unto their lust till I cryed murder.
Gent.
Protest Sir, as I am a gentleman,
And as my man's a man she beat us both,
Till I cryd murder.
Ser.
That's the woefull truth on't.
Con.
You are a party, and no witnesse sir,
Besides y'are two, and one is easier
To be beleev'd: moreover as you have the oddes
In number, what were justice, if it should not support
The weaker side? Away with them to the Counter.
Per.
Call you this justice?
Doct.
In th'Antipodes.
Per.
Here's much to be reform'd, young man thy vertue
Hath wonne my favour, goe, thou art at large.
Doct.
Be gone.
Gent.
He puts me out, my part is now
To bribe the Constable.
Doct.
No matter goe—
Exit. Gent. and Servant.
Per.
And you sir, take that sober seeming wanton,
And clap her up, till I heare better of her,
Ile strip you of your office and your eares else.
Doct.
At first shew mercy.
Per.
They are an ignorant nation,
And have my pitty mingled with correction:
And therefore, damsell (for you are the first
Offender I have noted here, and this
Your first offence (for ought I know)
Maid.
Yes truely.
Doct.
That was well said.
Per.
Goe and transgresse no more,
You be not cruell to your grandmother,
When she returnes from beare-baiting.
Doct.
So all be gone.
Ex.
Enter Buffe woman, her head and face bleeding, and many woman, as from a Prize.
Per.
And what are these?
Doct.
A woman Fencer, that has plaid a Prize,
It seemes, with Losse of blood.
Per.
It doth amaze me.
They passe over.
What can her husband be, when shee's a Fencer?
Doct.
He keepes a Schoole, and teacheth needle-worke,
Or some such Arts which we call womanish.
Per.
Tis most miraculous and wonderfull.
Man
scould within.
Rogues, Varlets, Harlots, ha you done
Your worst, or would you drowne me? would you take my life?
Women
within.
Ducke him againe, ducke him againe.
Per.
What noise is this?
Doct.
Some man it seemes, that's duckt for scolding.
Per.
A man for scolding?
Doct.
You shall see.
| The Antipodes | |