University of Virginia Library

Scene VI.

To them
John, Maudlin, and Scathlock after.
Joh.
Here's Mother Maudlin come to give you thanks,
Madam, for some late guift, shee hath receiv'd—
Which shee's not worthie of, shee saies, but crakes,
And wonders of it; hoppes about the house;
Transported with the joy.

Shee daunceth.
Mau.
Send mee a Stagge!
A whole Stagge, Madam! and so fat a Deere!
So fairelie hunted, and at such a time too!
When all your freinds were here!

Rob.
Do you mark this, Clarion?
Her owne acknowledgement?

Mau.
Shee turnes round, till shee falls.

Rob.
Look to her, shee is mad.

Mau.
My Son hath sent you
A pott of Strawberries, gather'd i' the wood
(His Hoggs would els have rooted up, or trod)
With a choice dish of wildings here, to scald
And mingle with your Creame.

Mar.
Thank you good Maudlin,
And thanke your Sonne. Go, beare 'hem in to Much
Th'Acater, let him thanke her. Surelie, Mother
You were mistaken, or my Woodmen more,
Or most my selfe, to send you all our store
Of Venison, hunted for our selves, this day!
You will not take it, Mother I dare say,
If wee'lld intreat you; when you know our ghests:
Red Deere is head still of the forrest feasts.

Mau.
But I knaw yee, a right free-hearted Ladie,
Can spare it out of superfluitie:
I have departit it 'mong my poore Neighbours
To speake your Largesse.

Mar.
I not gave it, Mother;
You have done wrong then: I know how to place
My guifts, and where; and when to find my seasons
To give, not throw away my Curtesies.

Mau.
Count you this thrown away?

Mar.
What's ravish'd from mee
I count it worse; as stolne: I loose my thanks.
But leave this quest: they fit not you, nor mee,
Maudlin, Contentions of this qualitie.
How now?

Sca.
Your Stag's return'd upon my shoulders,
Scathlock enters.
Hee has found his way into the Kitchin againe:
With his two Leggs, If now your Cooke can dresse him;
Slid, I thought the Swine'ard would ha' beat mee,
Hee lookes so big! the sturdie Karle, lewd Lorel!

Mar.
There Scathlock, for thy paines, thou hast deserv'd it.

Marian gives him Gold.
Mau.
Do you give a thing, and take a thing, Madam?

Mar.
No, Maudlin, you had imparted to your Neighbours;
As much good doo't them: I ha' done no wrong.

Mau.
The Spit stand still, no Broches turne
Before the fire, but let it burne
The first Charme.
Both sides, and haunches, 'till the whole
Converted be into one Cole.

Cla.
What Devills Pater noster mumbles shee?

Alk.
Stay, you will heare more of her witcherie

Mau.
The Swill and Dropsie enter in
The Lazie Cuke, and swell his skin;
2.
And the old Mort-malon his shin
Now prick, and itch, withouten blin.

Cla.
Speake out Hagge, wee may heare your Devills Mattens.

Mau.
The Pæne, wee call S. Antons fire
3.
The Gout, or what wee can desire,
To crampe a Cuke, in every lim,
Before they dine, yet; seize on him.

Alk.
A foule ill Spirit hath possessed her.

Am.
O Karol, Karol, call him back againe.

Lio.
Her thoughts do worke upon her, in her slumber.
And may expresse some part of her disease.

Rob.
Observe, and marke, but trouble not her ease.

Am.
O', ô.

Mar.
How is't Amie?

Mel.
Wherfore start you?

Am.
O' Karol, he is faire, and sweet.

Mau.
What then?
Are there not flowers as sweet, as faire, as men?
The Lillie is faire! and Rose is sweet!

Am.
I', so!
Let all the Roses, and the Lillies goe:
Karol is only faire to mee!

Mar.
And why?

Am.
Alas for Karol, Marian, I could die.

Karol.
He singeth sweetly too!

Mau.
What then?
Are there not Birds sing sweeter farre, then Men?

Am.
I grant the Linet, Larke, and Bul-finch sing,
But best, the deare, good Angell of the Spring,
The Nightingale.

Mau.
Then why? then why, alone,
Should his notes please you?

Am.
I not long agone
Tooke a delight, with wanton kidds to play,
And sport with little Lambes a Summers Day!
And view their friskes! me thought it was a sight
Of joy, to see my two brave Rammes to fight!
Now Karol, onely, all delight doth move!
All that is Karol, Karol I approve!
This verie morning, but—(I did bestow
(It was a little' gainst my will, I know)
A single kisse, upon the seelie Swaine,
And now I wish that verie kisse againe.
His lip is softer, sweeter then the Rose
His mouth, and tongue with dropping honey flowes.
The relish of it was a pleasing thing.

Mau.
Yet like the Bees it had a little sting.

Am.
And sunke, and sticks yet in my marrow deepe
And what doth hurt me, I now wish to keepe.

Mar.
Alas, how innocent her Storie is!

Am.
I doe remember, Marian, I have oft
With pleasure kist my Lambes, and Puppies, soft,
And once a daintie fine Roe-fawne I had,
Of whose out-skipping bounds, I was as glad
As of my health: and him I oft would kisse:
Yet had his, no such sting, or paine, as this.
They never prick't or hurt my heart. And, for
They were so blunt, and dull, I wish no more.
But this, that hurtes, and prickes doth please; This sweet,
Mingled with sower, I wish againe to meet:
And that delay, mee thinks, most tedious is
That keepes, or hinders mee of Karols kisse.

Mar.
Wee'll send for him sweet Amie, to come to you.

She goes murmuring out.
Mau.
But, I will keepe him of if Charmes will doe it.

Cla.
Doe you marke the murmuring hagge, how shee doth mutter?

Rob.
I like her not. And lesse her manners now.

Alk.
Shee is a shrewd deformed peice, I vow.

Lio.
As crooked as her bodie.

Rob.
I beleeve
Shee can take any Shape; as Scathlock saies.

Alk.
Shee may deceive the Sense, but really
Shee cannot change her selfe.

Rob.
Would I could see her,
Once more in Marians forme! for I am certaine
Now, it was shee abus'd us; as I think
My Marian, and my Love, now, innocent:
Which faith I seale unto her, with this kisse,
And call you all to witnesse of my pennance.

Alk.
It was beleiv'd before, but now confirm'd,
That wee have seen the Monster.