 | The Rivall Friends |  |
Scen. 4.
Stipes with a cudgell in his hand. Anteros. Loueall.Stip.
Fie Ieoffry, are you not asham'd, to touch one by the
skinne? My daughter denies all this most stifly but I will Ferret-claw
my Lobcock i'faith. So, now I am arm'd. Goe to, goe to,
come you knaue, where are you?
Lou.
Ha, ha, he.
Stip.
Ha? ha? ha? How now by'r Lady?
How now? I, I, by'r Lady? what's this? What's this? gaudy?
gaudy? Fine cloathes? fine cloathes? Ha? has no body stole
my eyes? let me be sure of that in the first place. Am I Stipes
or not? ha? ha? ha? Is this our Ieoffry or not?
Ant.
Stipes,
Stipes I say.
Stip.
This is another voyce an other face
Without all question this is Fayrie Ground;
My man is chang'd.
Lou.
ha, ha, he.
Ant.
St.
Stip.
hi, hi, hi.
A sweard too? a sweard too? a whiniard too?
Ant.
Stipes.
Stip.
Well I will venture to speake what ere come on't, but
stay, I'le first say o're the charme my Mother learnt me.
There's sauce for your Ecles what e're you are. Now see if I
cannot shape you an answere.
Ant.
Come nearer to mee.
Stip.
Are you auis'd of that? older and wiser, Soft fire makes
sweet Mault, No hast to hang true men; come nearer quoth you?
I am neare enough already for the good you'le doe me I doubt,
Come nearer say you? No good M. Deuill I am very wel I thank
you, goe to, come nearer when you haue a Sweard, a Twybill?
Ant.
My hands are bound man.
Lou.
What wil becom of this?
Ant.
St'.
Stip.
If your feet were bound too, I'le not trust you
As long as you have a Sweard by your side, a Whiniard.
Ant.
Do but heare me. Had not you a man to day call'd Ieoffry?
Stip.
Yes marry had I; what say you to that now? Nay I'le
keepe my selfe out of your clouches I warrant you.
Ant.
But what's become of that same Ieoffry?
Stip.
Become? become? 'spose I spurd you an answere, and
said I know not, what can you make of that now? make mee a
horsenaile of that.
Ant.
Doe you desire to know?
Stip.
Yes marry doe I. Crack mee that nut now if you be a
Gentleman Deuill.—
Ant.
I am that Ieoffry, but no seruant now
Of your's, but mine owne man: and am become
Since your departure, noble, rich, valiant,
Am form'd a new out of the Mint,—behold me.
And this great miracle Obron the Fayry King
Has wrought vpon me.
Stip.
Oberum? Oberum? you tell me
strange things.
Ant.
But shal I tel thee stranger things thē these?
Stip.
'Spose you did.
Ant.
And such as shall be for thy benefit?—
Stip.
Would you would else. Nay stare on with your gogles
till Barly comes to six pence a bushell. You know your wages,
some wiser then some, cry I: I'le keepe farre enough off you:
I'le tell you but so. Goe to, goe to, I am a crafty colt.
Ant.
You know I vvas your seruant to day.
Stip.
Well put the case.
Ant.
Poore, ill apparelled.
Stip.
Put the case the second time.
Ant.
But now you see
how strangely altered.
Stip.
Well put the case againe.
Ant.
VVhat vvill you say now to the man that shall
Put you into the same condition?
Recouer you from rag's and Russet, and
Into the shape, and garbe o'th court? or (once)
Make you a gentleman as I am now?
Would you not thanke him Stipes? ha? would you not
thanke him?
Stip.
Thanke him Mr. Ieoffry? I, with all my heart.
Ant.
Set him at liberty then that will performe it.
Quickly vnloose me?
[Hee vntyes him.]
Stip.
I, I by'r Lady? will you so Mr. Ieoffry? will you so?
goe to, goe to, a gentleman? sayd you mee so? I con you thanke
Mr. Ieoffry.
Ant.
So, now will I vnfold the mysterie.
But first you here shall promise mee that you
Will take noe prentises to learne your trade,
When I haue taught you the art; you will impouerish
The herald's office, and forestall his market.
Stip.
No truely Mr. Ieoffry.
Ant.
I am satisfied;
Seest thou that tree? 'twas made for thy aduancement.
Giue mee thy hands that I may tye them quickly.
Stip.
Are you avis'd o' that?
Ant.
What doe you meane?
You'le bee preuented by another—death!
Yonder comes one will be before you—quickly
There's such a vertue (man) in this same tree,
That who-soere is bound vnto it, shall
Bee turn'd immediately to a gentleman.
Nay come.
Stip.
but is this true?
Ant.
beleeue your eyes.
Heart of my father, man! youle bee preuented.
Stip.
A gentleman? sayd you me so? goe to, goe to,
[He tyes Stipes to the tree.]
Good Master Ieoffry quickly—so but stay.
When I'me a gentleman may I not vse, my old trade of sheepherd
still? I would not leaue it.
Ant.
O, and inclose; 'tis all in
fashion.
Stip.
I, I, by'r Lady? thats well, but stay againe.
Ant.
Nay you are like to stay now, I haue you sast enough
Stip.
'Sduds, if thou be'st a good coniurer make me a knight
to. I haue a pestilent itch after a knighthood.
Ant.
You must take gentleman first 'ith way.
Stip.
Let mee skip gentleman good Mr. Ieoffry, 'duds
I know knights in this countrey that neuer were
Gentlemen—but vpsolue me this question? can you make
My daughter Merda a gentleman too?
Ant.
A gentle woman
Stip.
I, I, so I meant it—Merda, Merda,
A bots on you, Merda, are you dreaming againe?
Ant.
O for some nimble pated fellow now
To make an Ob'ron of.
Lou.
Ile furnish thee.
There is a notable witty bedlam begging
At our back gate iust now. I'le fetch him to thee.
Ant.
If thou do'st loue mee, doe.—
Exit Loveall.
Stip.
Why Merda, you'l come when your nowne father cals?
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