University of Virginia Library

Scæna prima.

Sophia, Corisca, Hilario.
Sophia.
Are they then so humble

Hilario.
Hunger and hard labour
Haue tamde 'em Madam, at the first they below'd
Like staggs tane in a toyle and would not worke
For sullennesse, but when they found with out it
There was no eating, and that to starue to death
Was much against their stomachs, by degree
Against their wills they fell to it.

Corisca.
And now feed on
The little pittance you allow with gladnesse

Hilario.
I do remember that they stop'd their noses
At the sight of beefe, and mutton as course feeding
For their fine palats, but now their worke being ended
They leape at a barley crust and hold chose parings
With a spoonefull of pal'd wine pour'd in their water,
For festiuall excedings.

Corisca.
When I examine
My spinsters worke hee trembles like a prentice
And takes a boy on the eare when I spie faults
And botches in his labour, as a fauour
From a curst mistrisse.

Hilario.
The other to reele well
For his time, and if your ladiship would please.
To see 'em for your sport, since they want ayring
It would do well in my iudgement, you shall heere
Such a hungry diologe from 'em.

Sophia.
But suppose
When they are out of prison they should grow
Rebellious?

Hilario.
Neuer feare't Ill vndertake
To lead 'em out by the nose with a course thred
Of the ones spinning and make the other reele after
And without grumbling, & when you are weary of
Their company as easily returne 'em.

Corisca
Deere Madam it will helpe to driue away
Your melancholy.

Sophia.
Well on this assurance
I am content, bring 'em hither.

Hilario.
I will do it
In stately Equipage.
Exit Hilario.

Sophia.
They haue confessed then
They were set on by the Queene to taynt mee in
My loyalty to my Lord?

Corisca.
Twas the maine cause,
That brought 'em hither.

Sophia.
I am glad I know it
And as I haue begun before I end
Ill at the height reuenge it, let vs steppe aside
They come the obiects so ridiculous
In spight of my sad thoughts I cannot but
Lend a forc'd smile to grace it.

Enter Hilario, Vbaldo spinning, Ricardo reeling.
Hilario.
Come away
Worke as you go, and loose no time 'tis precious
You'll find it in your Commons.

Ricardo.
comons call you it
The word is proper I haue graz'd so long
Vpon your commons I am almost staru'd heere

Hilario.
Worke harder and they shall be better'd

Vbaldo.
better'd?
worser they cannot be would I might lye
Like a dogge vnder her table and serue for a footstoole
So I might haue my belly full of that
Her Island curr refuses.

Hilario.
How do you like
Your ayring? is it not a fauour?

Ricardo.
Yes
Iust such a one as you vse to a brace of gray-houndes
When they are ledd out of their kennels to scumber
But our case is ten times harder, we haue nothing
In our bellies to be vented, if you will bee
And honest yeoman phenterer, feed vs first,
And walke vs after?

Hilario.
Yeomen phenterer?
Such another word to your Gouernor, and you goe
Supperlesse to bed fort.

Ubaldo.
Nay euen as you please.
The comfortable names of breake-fasts, dinners,
Collations, supper, beuerage, are words
Worne out of our remembrance.

Ricardo.
O for the steame
Of meat in a cookes shoppe?

Vbaldo.
I am so drie
I haue not spittle enough to wett my fingers
When I draw my flax from my distaffe

Ricardo.
Nor I strength
To raise my hand to the top of my reeler. oh.
I haue the crampe all ouer me

Hilario.
What do you thincke
Were best to apply to it, a crampstone as I take it
Were very vsefull.

Ricardo.
Oh no more of stones
We haue beene vsd to long like hawkes already.

Ubaldo.
We are not so high in our flesh now to need casting
We will come to an empty fist.

Hilario.
Nay that you shall not
So hoe birdes, how the eyaffes scratch, and scramble
Take heed of a surfet do not cast your gorges,
This is more then I haue commission for, be thankefull.

Sophia.
Were all that studie the abuse of women
Vsd thus, the citty would not swarme with Cuccholds
Nor so many trads-menbreake.

Corisca.
Pray you appeare now
And marke the altetation.

Hilario.
To your worke
My Lady is in presence, show your duties
Exceeding well.

Sophia.
How do your scollers profite?

Hilario.
Hold vp your heads demurely. Prettily
For young beginners.

Corisca
and will do well in time
If they be kept in awe.

Ricardo.
In awe I am sure
I quake like an aspen leafe.

Vbaldo.
no mercy Lady?

Ricardo.
Nor intermission?

Sophia.
Let me see your worke.
Fie vpon't what a thredds heere, a poore coblers wife
Would make a finer to sow a clounes rent start vp
And heere you reele as you were druncke.

Ricardo.
I am sure it is not with wine

Sophia.
O take heade of wine
Could water is far better for your healths
Of which I am very tender, you had foule bodies
And must continue in this phisicall diet
Tell the cause of your disease be tane away
For feare of a relaps and that is dangerous
Yet I hope alredy that you are in some
Degree recouerd and that way to resolue me
Answer me truely, nay what I propound
Concernes both neerer, what would you now giue
If your meanes were in your hands to lye all night
With a fresh and hansume ladie?

Ubaldo.
How a lady?
O I am pasd it, hunger with her razor
Hath made me an euenuch

Ricardo.
for a messe of porridge
well sop'd with a bunch of raddish and a carret
I would sell my barr on rie but for women. oh
Noe more of women not a doyte for a doxeic
After this hungry voyage.

Sophia.
These are truly
Good symptomes, let them not venture to much in the ayre
Till they are weaker.

Ricardo.
this is tyranie

Ubaldo.
Scorne vpon scorne

Sophia.
You were so
In your malitious intents to me
Enter a seruant
And therefore tis but iustice whats the busnesse?

Seruant.
My Lords great frend signior Baptista Madam
Is newly lighted from his horse with certaine
Assurance of my Lords arriuall.

Sophia.
How
And stand I trifling here, hence with the mungrells
To there seuerall kennels, there let them houle in priuat
Ile bee no farther troubled.

Exeunt Sophia and seruant.
Vbaldo.
O that euer
I saw this fury

Ricardo.
Or look'd one a woman
But as a prodigie in nature

Hilario.
Silence
Noe more of this

Corisca.
me thincks you haue noe cause
To repent your being heere

Hilario
haue you not learnt
When your states are spent your seuerall trades to liue by
and neuer charge the hospitall?

Corisca.
Worke but titely
And wee will not vse a dishe-cloute in the house
But of your spinning

Ubaldo.
O I would this hempe
Were turnd to a halter

Hilario
Will you march

Ricardo.
A soft one
Good generall I beseech you

Ubaldo.
I can hardly
Draw my legs after me

Hilario.
For a crouch you may vse
Your distaffe, a good wit makes vse of all things.

Exeunt.